Free Circle of Fire by Keri Arthur Page A

visions.
    He walked into the room several minutes later, and she almost choked on her yogurt. How could any man manage to walk when his jeans were so tight? Not that she was complaining … There was nothing nicer than a set of well-defined thighs in tight jeans. Except, maybe, a well-defined rear—and, to her disappointment, his shirttails covered that.
    He glanced at her, a hint of a smile dancing across his lips and touching the bright depths of his eyes. Heat invaded her cheeks again.
Good lord, I really do hope he can’t read my thoughts
.
    She quickly averted her gaze and took another spoonful of yogurt, looking up only after he sat down.
    “I gather most of this is for me,” he said in amusement.
    “Wasn’t sure what you’d want, so I ordered a mix.”
    He nodded, sending shimmers of gold running through his damp hair. Maddie watched him reach for the plate of bacon and eggs and smiled.
Right the first time
. The smell wafted across the table, and she wrinkled her nose.
    “I gather from your expression you don’t like bacon.”
    She glanced up. From the way he arched his eyebrow, she gathered she’d scored another point against herself.
Not that it matters. He doesn’t have to like me to help me find Evan
. “No. I had a pet pig when I was a kid that became a family meal when it was big enough. I haven’t been able to eat pork since.”
    “Ah, I see.”
    She wondered if he did. His easygoing manner told her he’d never wanted for friendship—that he’d never been forced to find companionship from a pet because he couldn’t find it anywhere else.
    “I noticed an incense burner on the mantel,” he said. “Would you like me to light it?”
    She nodded, surprised he’d even noticed the burner, let alone would offer to light it, especially given his earlier hostility.
    He walked to the mantel, and she resisted the temptation to watch him, looking up only when he sat back down. He placed the burner between them and flashed her a smile that made her heart do an odd flip-flop.
    She obviously needed to sleep. She had to be exhausted if a simple smile sent her over the edge. She glanced away from the warmth of his gaze and found herself staring instead at his long, strong hands as he made short work of his meal. For the first time sinceshe’d met him, she noticed he was wearing a ring. She was oddly relieved to see it was on his right hand, not his left.
    Maybe she should get another room. Being confined with this man for any length of time was not a good idea.
Especially if he keeps wearing those damn jeans
.
    She ran the spoon around the edge of the container, collecting the last of the yogurt. The small candle flickered and danced, and the smell of incense wafted toward her. She put the empty container on the table and sniffed the fragrance.
    The pit of her stomach suddenly fell. Citrus smoke—the same sweet smell that had been in Evan’s room.
    Darkness swept around her. She gripped the edge of the table fiercely, fighting the desire to follow wherever the dream might lead.
Please, don’t let this happen to me now
. Why couldn’t it hit when she was alone? As much as she wanted to find Evan, she didn’t want Jon to see her trapped in a vision.
    “Maddie? Are you okay?”
    No, I’m not! Can’t you see that? I’ve never been all right
. But she couldn’t speak as the darkness encased her, sweeping her along for the ride …
    Smoke coiled around the cabin, a dark plume that filled the twilight with the rich scent of citrus. In the far corner lay Evan and the other teenager, the mounds of their bodies almost lost among the heavy blankets covering them.
    But her dream was not here for them this time. It swirled away, centering on the opposite side of the cabin. Two figures were silhouetted against the dancing light of a bright fire. Though she could see nofeatures or clothing, it was obvious from their size and shape that one was male, the other female.
    “Maddie.”
    The soft voice broke