The Secret Ingredient of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell Page B

the first place would have to live with the consequences. All because Rachel had hoped the wishes wouldn’t follow her here and she had let her guard down.
    Everley’s husky laugh pulled her attention back. She hung up and said, “Good thing I called. He was fixing to deploy a search party for you.”
    â€œOh, God.” Heat rushed to Rachel’s cheeks, and she turned to look for him out the window.
    â€œI’m kidding. He just noticed you were gone. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
    Rachel glanced down at the curled paper in the basket and then quickly turned back to Everley. “Thanks.”
    â€œSo, how do you know Ashe?” Everley’s eyebrow cocked in interest.
    â€œâ€˜Know’ is a strong word. We just met yesterday when I ran out of gas and Catch let me crash at her house. He’s showing me around as a favor to her.”
    â€œAh, that explains it. I thought I was going to have to give him hell for seeing someone and not telling me.”
    â€œSo the two of you are friends?” Rachel asked. She bumped the water bottle against her thigh and drops of cool condensation dribbled down the skin below her shorts.
    â€œSince we were kids,” Everley said. “My boyfriend, Jamie, is his best friend, so we’re sorta like family.”
    The door opened a few minutes later, letting in a wave of hot air and Ashe a step behind. His eyes swept over Rachel and settled on Everley. “Thanks for calling, Ev,” he said.
    Everley winked. “No problem, cutie.”
    â€œYou okay?” he asked Rachel.
    â€œYeah, I’m fine. Sorry I walked away,” Rachel said, hoping the flush was gone from her cheeks. “Just wanted to do a little sightseeing.”
    â€œC’mon, Ashe, what do you think’s gonna happen to her here? Nowhere’s like the safest town ever.”
    â€œHave you looked at her?” Ashe gestured to Rachel. He didn’t look happy. “She looks like she’s seen a ghost.”
    There’s no way he knows. Rachel pinched the crook of her arm. Snap out of it. She looked up, his icy-blue eyes narrowing on her. She forced a smile.
    â€œIt’s just the heat. I gave her some water. She’ll be fine,” Everley said.
    â€œYeah, ’cause your water’s about as refreshing as drinking a salad.”
    â€œI gave her bottled water, smartass.”
    Ashe grinned at her and turned to Rachel. “You ready?”
    She nodded. “Thanks for your help, Everley. It was really nice to meet you.”
    â€œSure thing. Come back and see me sometime, okay?” Everley said.
    Ashe cupped Rachel’s elbow and ushered her out into the steamy air. Whether he was trying to steady her or keep her from wandering off again, Rachel couldn’t tell.
    â€œPlease don’t tell Catch about this,” she said. “I don’t want her to worry.”
    â€œWasn’t planning to. But are you gonna tell me what happened?”
    â€œIt’s not important.”
    â€œSure it’s not,” he said. His voice was a mix of annoyance and amusement. But he didn’t push. He turned a corner and gently pulled her with him.
    â€œDo you think we can just go—” Rachel stopped herself. Nowhere wasn’t home. It was just a town she was temporarily living in. “Back to Catch’s?” she said.
    â€œWhatever you want to do.”
    The thought of lying to Catch about why she’d left Ashe made her dizzy. She concentrated on the steadying hand on her arm. His palms were calloused, his fingers rough. She stared at the spot of sweat that blossomed on the front of his shirt instead of watching where they were going.
    They reached his truck within minutes. She’d walked up and down the street and still had no clue where she’d gone or how she’d gotten there. She swiveled to look at the ancient buildings and wooden street signs behind her, but it was like seeing