Page 80 of Dragon Charmed

“So this is Ben Wells, our make-believe PI?” John said.

“Yes,” Megan said. “We’re here to explain what’s going on.”

“I’m waiting on pins and needles,” John deadpanned.

Tessa hadn’t exaggerated about his crankiness.

Eric did some scowling of his own. “This is my brother, Adam.”

John blinked. Otherwise he kept any reaction off his face. “Your dead brother. Let’s sit down. I have a feeling this is going to take a while.”

John and Ben sat on the rough-hewn front porch chairs while Megan and Eric sat on the swing. And they brought John up to speed with what had happened since he’d stumbled through the woods.

When they stopped for a moment, John sat back. “Well, I don’t have much that shocks me any longer, but you just did it.” He focused on Ben. “And you haven’t been able to remember anything?”

“No.” He took a breath to keep his frustration in check. “The necklace that helped Eric hasn’t done anything for me.”

“I’m not surprised. The spell on that would have to be damn powerful to give you all your memories back. In Eric’s case it helped him recollect a couple of events, correct?”

Eric nodded. “Yes. And Megan talked me through most of them so that they came back to me.”

Ben’s hands curled into fists. “Well, we can’t talk through every event in my life.”

“No. And I have no way of knowing what the witch used to cast the spell,” John said. “And even if I did, I don’t have the power to reverse it,” John admitted rather reluctantly.

Ben wanted to scream. “Can you think of any way for me to get my memories back?”

John thought for a moment before responding. “I would say the more time you spend around your family, the better. The spell may break down on its own after time, or some trigger event might unleash your memories.”

Before Ben could respond, a car sped down the dirt drive.

“Were you expecting someone else?” John asked.

“Yes,” Eric said.

“No,” Megan said at the same time.

The familiar car came to a stop, dust billowing up around the tires. The car door squeaked open, and Tessa popped out in all her fearless glory. “Sorry I’m late. My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.”

What was it about this woman that made his nerves thrum in the best way. He’d thought her eyes were his kryptonite, but on second thought it might be her smart mouth.

Chapter 31

Errands… seriously? Tessa drove down the deserted road and turned onto the drive. Did they really think she wouldn’t figure out where they were going? She had been the one to suggest it in the first place.

Well, she would just have to crash the party.

They were all sitting on the front porch watching her as she came to a stop in front of John’s cabin and got out of her car. “Sorry I’m late. My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.”

A large man with what looked like a perma-frown narrowed his eyes. From Megan’s description, this had to be John. “I would recognize that sarcastic tone anywhere. Tessa. I hear you’ve decided to become a PI in your spare time.”

Sarcasm out the gate…grudging respect. Tessa shrugged. “Somebody had to. And you must be Sir Grumps-A-Lot.”

He stared at her for a drawn-out moment. “Should have known you would show up. Since you do the opposite of what you’re told to do.”

Anger bubbled under her skin. “Well, that’s because no one gets to tell me what to do.”

Megan held up her hands as if she was going to referee while Eric seemed way too happy at the exchange.