Dreamfire by Kit Alloway Page A

said. “It’s not important.”
    From the way he looked at each of them, as if fixing the scene in his mind, she could tell that he didn’t agree.
    â€œWhy don’t you come in?” Winsor suggested.
    Josh’s eyes flew to her. “What?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s late, and that’s a lot of pizza,” Winsor explained calmly. “Maybe Will could give us a hand eating it? He drove all the way out here, after all.”
    Josh sent her a What the hell do you think you’re doing? look, but Winsor ignored it.
    â€œYeah,” Will said, in a tone that meant, no way . He was watching them like a cop locked in a room with three suspected serial killers. “Nice offer and all, but it sounds like you guys have stuff to talk about.”
    â€œThis is all my fault,” Deloise burst out.
    â€œBe quiet, ” Josh said.
    â€œAre you trying to get with Louis?” Will asked. “’Cause you could just ask him out. He’d be cool.”
    â€œOh my god, no.”
    Josh couldn’t tell him the truth. She didn’t know how the situation appeared from his perspective, but she was certain it was bizarre. And yet, he kept looking at her with his steadfast eyes and a complicated expression that—while it was suspicious—seemed to suggest he was willing to think the best of her if she’d just confide in him.
    Don’t look at me like that, she thought frantically.
    â€œIt’s…” She stumbled over her words. If only he would look away. “We’re recruiting. We need to hire someone. My family has a business, and we were hoping to get Louis out here and talk to him about it.”
    â€œYou couldn’t just call and ask him?”
    â€œNo, because…” At least now he didn’t think she was trying to lure Louis into a date. She was gaining back some credibility. “It’s a hard business to explain. We have a workshop here, and we thought Louis might understand better if we showed him.”
    Winsor nodded almost imperceptibly. Josh walked back up the front steps, still carrying the pizzas. Over her shoulder, she blurted out in a rush, “But since you’re here you might as well have the job, so just come inside and I’ll show you what to do.”
    She stopped at the door. She couldn’t reach the handle and hold the bulky pizza boxes at the same time, so she stood there on the stoop, banging the boxes against the doorframe over and over as her hand lunged for the knob. She felt Will’s eyes on her back.
    â€œOkay,” Will said finally. His voice was guarded now, as if he’d given up hope of coaxing the truth out of them. “I don’t know what’s really going on here, but I’ll admit you’ve got my attention.” Josh heard his steps brushing the grass as he walked up to the porch. “People at the pizzeria know where I am tonight,” he added.
    â€œUnderstood,” Josh said. She finally pushed the pizza boxes into Deloise’s arms and opened the front door. “Come inside,” she said, gesturing to Will.
    His steps weren’t hesitant, but they were measured. “Nice house,” he said. He thought to wipe his filthy shoes on the mat before stepping onto the living-room carpet.
    The entire household—five people—was waiting in the living room. Even Josh’s father had gotten out of bed to meet the apprentice. Except for Dustine—who sat, a queen in a rocking-chair throne—they were all standing and facing the door like badgers waiting outside a snake hole. Will stiffened visibly at the sight.
    â€œYou guys having a party?” he asked.
    â€œThe Avishes live here,” Josh told him. “The house is a triplex.”
    She made quick introductions, aware that the warmth with which everyone greeted Will confused him further. Halfway through, he tilted his head toward Josh and whispered, “What’s your name