Three Wishes (14 page)

“What are you going to do?”

“Well,” she leaned closer. “I wanted Dad to tell Ian that if he did it again he’d have to shave off all of his own pubic hair.”

Sorry I asked.

“But Dad was afraid that might be seen as child abuse.” Mom sighed. “We’re exploring other options.”

I so did not want to make my mother mad. I couldn’t bring myself to ask about Richard Williams. I’d have to try my other sources.

“Can’t you cut Sean some slack?” I asked as Ian drove the route to school.

“He’s a pain in the ass,” Ian said, turning a corner with a loud screech of the tires.

“Yeah, and…”

“Dad threatened to take away the car, so I guess I’ll back off the little weasel for a while.”

“You know he might be able to kick your ass once he goes through puberty.”

He snorted. “Yeah, right.”

“Seriously. Dad’s younger brother is way bigger than him.”

“I’ll start worrying when he starts puberty,” Ian quipped.

Or maybe he’d start worrying when he thought Sean had started puberty. If I waited for Sean to start puberty, I’d never have any peace. Ian would never stop picking on him.

“Any progress?” I asked Leo when he met me outside my first period class.

“Not really,” he said.

“Have you ever heard of someone named Richard Williams? He must work with Mom and it sounds like he’s done something wrong.”

Leo thought for a moment. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him. You think he might have something to do with my father?”

“I got a very negative feeling from my mother’s conversation. I think it’s worth checking.”

He nodded. “Will do.”

“Now for the big news, I forgot to tell you I managed to find addresses and photos of the Directorate.”

“No way!”

I handed him his copy. “Pretty cool, huh? Do you think the conspiracy against your dad goes this far?”

“I don’t know. If it’s one of the Directorate, he could probably do it all on his own.”

“Do you recognize anyone?”

He scanned the pages. “No. But this gives us a whole new road to go down.” He looked up. “Can you come with me after school? I want to show you some things. You’ve done so much for my dad and I thought you might want to learn a little more about him.”

What I wanted was to learn more about Leo. “Sure. I’d like that.”

He grinned. “Great. I’ll meet you at your locker after school.”

Leo stood waiting for me when I got out of class. Alex kept making kissy faces behind his back as I walked up.

I tried to glare at her but managed to glare at Leo instead. Oops. Misfire.

“Alex is a good friend to you,” Leo said as we walked away.

“Shows what you know,” I said, irritated by her antics.

“You haven’t even noticed that she practically ignores me.”

Was he saying she was rude? Alex talked to him all the time.

In response to my puzzled expression, he said, “Compared to other girls around here.”

“Oh.” Now, I was getting it. “She doesn’t throw herself at you like everyone else.”

“Right.”

“So your mojo doesn’t work on all the women?”

“Not if they don’t let it. She doesn’t because she’s loyal to you.”

“That’s crazy. I mean she’s totally loyal, but maybe she just doesn’t find you attractive.”

He actually laughed. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

The way he said it made me think it totally would be the first time.

“All I’m saying is she’s a good friend.”

He stopped next to a motorcycle and I almost tripped over him.

With an evil glint in his eye, he nodded toward the bike.

“Oh no. You’re kidding me, right.” I looked frantically around the parking lot. “Where’s the Prius?”

“At home.”

“Leo!”

He reached out and touched my arm. “Calm down, Jen. You’ll love it.”

“Nah uh.” I shook my head vehemently.

“C’mon,” Leo said. “I brought you my dad’s helmet.” He held up a bright red helmet with yellow lightning on the sides.

I cringed.

“Yeah, he thinks he’s cool. But I’ll let you wear mine.” He held up a solid black number that was way more sophisticated.

I eyed the motorcycle and the hot guy standing before me. I stomped my foot in frustration. “Okay, fine. But I’m wearing the lightning helmet.”

Leo’s face lit with a grin. “Sweet.”

I walked over to him. “How do I do this?”

“First put the helmet on.”

Got it. I took the helmet and with Leo’s help stuck my head in the fiberglass.

When I passed them on the street, motorcycles seemed so small. Leo’s bike seemed huge.

He got on and I lifted my leg and threw it across the surprisingly wide seat. I didn’t know what kind of motorcycle it was, but it was one giant piece of heavy machinery. Ooh baby.

He showed me where to put my feet, and told me to wrap my arms around him. I could so get used to this.

I wrapped my arms around his rock hard chest, aiming higher than his waist to avoid any unintentional groping of his nether regions.

“Whatever you do, avoid touching the tailpipe,” he told me.

“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,” I said, but I wasn’t willing to let go of him to get off the bike.

“Trust me. It’s a great idea.” His deep voice rumbled through me. “I’m going to start her up now.”

I glanced down at the huge motorcycle. “Are you sure it’s not a boy?”

With a laugh, Leo turned over the ignition and I gripped him tightly as she rumbled to life with a roar. If his bike was a girl, she was taking some serious steroids.

The thrilling sensation of power swept through me as he drove us out of the parking space. The lot had emptied out quickly, and we didn’t have to stop until we reached the school entrance.

Make sure not to touch the tailpipe, I muttered to myself.

Leo pulled out onto the road and hit the gas. Or, well, whatever you do to make a motorcycle go really fast. Because all of a sudden we were speeding down the road.

And instead of being terrifying, it was exhilarating!

Like flying. Way better than roller blading down the big hill in my neighborhood, even before the part where I fell and ended up with a chunk of gravel in my forehead.

Okay, maybe not the right time for reminiscing with the giant cars whizzing by us. Bike against car. Not odds that I liked.

Focus on the hot guy in my arms.

Oh yeah.

He raced down back roads, avoiding traffic with a success I’d never seen anyone in Atlanta achieve. Instead of the faint scent of Leo, all I could smell was exhaust.

I didn’t even know where he lived with his dad.

We finally zoomed into the driveway of a small, gray house in Decatur.

Leo cut the motor but I could still hear the roaring in my ears.

I climbed off with less grace than I’d have liked.

Leo pulled off his helmet with a wide grin. He ran his fingers through his hair. “You can’t tell me that wasn’t awesome.”

I reached up to pull off my helmet. Once free, I handed it to him and swiped at my hair. “It was awesome,” I admitted looking into his eyes. I couldn’t help matching his grin.

He set down the helmets and motioned to the house. “So this is it. Our place.”

The house looked a lot like a cute little cottage. A sign reading “Home Sweet Home” would have fit right in on the front porch.

“Cool.”

He unzipped the side pocket of his jacket and pulled out some keys.

“You’ve been staying here by yourself ever since the, um, arrest?”

“No,” Leo said, turning the key in the lock and opening the door. “Katie’s been crashing here. And I’ve spent some nights at her place. At first she was afraid for me to be here, but no one has come near the place.”

I glanced around thinking for the first time about possible danger. “Good.”

He ushered me in to find a neat living room. The couches weren’t the black leather I’d expected. Instead the room was furnished with a stylish neutral green with boldly printed throw pillows.

“I like it,” I said. “Homey.”

Leo’s grin faltered, and I realized that it might not be his home for too much longer.

“Dad’s a carpenter. Did I mention that? He built the dining room table and custom built all the cabinets.”

“Wow.” What I could see of the table was beautiful, but most of it was piled with Leo’s research. He’d been working day and night to find the Lexus.

Next to the table was a small kitchen with beautiful cherry cabinets and outdated appliances. The refrigerator was spray painted red and about fifty years old.

“It really does work,” Leo said following my gaze. “When we moved in, it was pink. Dad doesn’t really do pink.”

“The red’s nice,” I said.

He went over to the dining room wall and removed a picture. “This is my dad.”

In the photo, Leo stood next to a slightly shorter man who didn’t look anywhere near old enough to be his father. Like Leo, the man was tough-looking, dark haired, and lean. At odds with their intimidating physique, both were standing on the front porch of the cottage smiling at the person with the camera. Probably Katie.

“You aren’t falling in love with him, are you?” he asked. “The genie mojo doesn’t usually work through pictures, but…”

I playfully smacked at his arm. “No, I’m not falling for your father. That’s ridiculous.”

“I should have known. After all,” he said, lowering his voice, “you certainly seem to be immune to me.”

I met his gaze and gulped as I realized how close he was.

The glow in his eyes flashed brighter and I licked my lips.

“Just how immune are you, Jen,” Leo whispered huskily. He put one hand on my hip and the other behind my head and pulled me gently to him.

I hugged the framed picture to my chest and wrapped my other arm around his waist.

Fire rushed through me as his lips touched mine.

The heat intensified as he gently nudged my lips open. His velvet tongue caressed mine sending fever racing through my veins.

Until a screeching sound shocked me back from the passion.

Beep. Beep. The shrill sound hurt my ears.

Leo cursed and grabbed a notebook to wave under the detector. I set down the picture before I could drop it.

Had the heat been real?

Leo finally got the detector to quiet. He set down the notebook. “I guess when two genies kiss, weird things happen.”

I touched my lips as I looked up at the detector. “Do you think we really could start a fire?”

“Probably not,” he said. “But I’m up for trying if you are.”

I was about to say, “Maybe one more time,” when my cell rang.

My mother’s ring.

Chapter Twelve

“It’s my mother calling,” I said. “Don’t say a word.”

He nodded, but the mischief in his eyes made me worry.

“Hey, Mom. What’s up?”

“Hi, Jen. Ian said you’re still out. Would you mind to run by the store and get a gallon of milk? Tell Alex I appreciate her stopping.”

Oh, right. Mom assumed I was with Alex. Because I always was with Alex.

“Uh, sure. I’m on my way.”

“Thanks, hon.”

I pushed end and turned to Leo. “Is there a way to get a gallon of milk home on your motorcycle?”

His shoulders slumped as he exhaled. “Yeah.”

“Sorry.”

He stepped over and kissed me on the cheek. “No problem.”

After locking up and climbing back on the bike, we headed north. We stopped at a convenient store, and I hopped off. “Want anything?” I asked. “A soft drink?”

He shook his head. “Can’t drink and drive.”

“Oh.” I could never ride a motorcycle regularly. I needed a cup holder and some ice cold liquid refreshment. Who knew my love for soft drinks so limited my lifestyle choices?

I went in and grabbed the milk. I was almost to the counter when I saw the girly mags in their brown paper wrappers. Perfect. Just what Sean needed to shut Ian up.

I grabbed two of the familiar names, hoping they were on the milder side. Then I went up to the register where an overweight woman in her twenties rang me up.

“You know you don’t have to buy these, right?”

Huh. What are those things free?

I just blinked at her.

“If you want to Photoshop your face onto one of these bodies, you can get photos online just as easily.” She smiled. “I do it all the time.”

The images running through my head almost made me hurl.

“Um,” I finally managed to say. “Thanks, I’ll try that. But I’ll take these too.”

She shrugged and finished ringing me up.

I handed her the money, grabbed the mags and the milk, and rushed out the door.

“You have the weirdest look on your face,” Leo said as I ran up to him.

“Don’t ask.” I lifted the milk. “How do we work this?”

“We’ll put it between us. What else did you buy?”

“Nothing,” I said like an idiot and hid the magazines behind my back.

Leo just looked at me.

“Okay, fine,” I said, showing him. “Ian’s been really hard on Sean, so I got Sean some evidence to support his, um, allegations that he has started puberty.”

“Wow,” Leo said with wide eyes. “You’re a cool sister.”

Fighting a blush, I said, “Don’t tell Ian.”

Leo gave me an affronted look. “I would never.”

“So how do we manage all this?”

“Tuck the magazines in the back waistband of your jeans. Then climb on and wedge the milk between us.”

The ride home wasn’t nearly as fun, with the cold milk chilling my nether regions.

Leo pulled up to the curb one street over so I could cut through the back yard to my house.

“Thanks, Leo. And thanks for showing me your house and your father.”

“See you in the morning.”

“You’ll be at school?”

He grinned. “Definitely.”

My heart thumped thinking about our kisses. I walked through the yard and around the front with the milk.

Everyone was already in the kitchen, so I was able to rush upstairs and stash the mags under Sean’s mattress before making my milk delivery.

“There you are,” Mom said as I came into the kitchen. “Thanks, hon.”

“No problem,” I said, smiling a little at the lengths we’d gone to carry it home.