"Oh, you can say that again," Clarissa said.

"Good thing Ronan was there to save the day."

Clarissa looked at Micky to see if hidden sarcasm resided there, but she didn't detect anything but a genuine smile on the other woman's face. "I owe him, believe me. There are things I don't understand about what's happened to me since I got here. I'm hoping everyone can help me clear things up."

Micky paused as she put plates on the table. "In just the short time I've been in Pine Forest, I've had a rude awakening."

"How's that?"

"By discovering there is so much in Pine Forest that's strange and evil. So much bizarreness it's hard to define. Some of it is like a nightmare."

Clarissa smiled. "I've picked that up already."

"Are you prepared to listen to things that might not make sense? Things that don't seem real?"

"Believe me, I'm used to that."

For several moments they exchanged information on their connections to Pine Forest.

"I read about what happened at your inn, Micky. So are you living there now?"

"We thought at first we would, but everyone encouraged us to stay out at least until we can decipher what's going to happen here in Pine Forest."

Clarissa knew what would happen in Pine Forest if they didn't stop the darkness from overtaking the town, but she wanted to wait until they'd gathered around the table before she explained what she knew. She returned to the kitchen with Micky and they'd been there less then a minute when Ronan walked in the room and came up behind her.

He placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently. "Hurry up. The men are getting ravenous."

She elbowed him gently, and his deep, rumbling laugh made her entire body tingle with sweet, gentle arousal. Being with him in a nonsexual environment still guaranteed she'd be driven batty in more ways than one. As his hands massaged her shoulders, she placed her right hand over his. When she realized what she was doing, she took her hand away.

Micky and Erin moved into the other room a moment, chattering away.No, no. Don't leave me alone with him.

If you don't want me to touch you, sweet colleen, just tell me.

The telepathy shocked her each time it happened, even when it shouldn't. After the evening ended she'd ask him about his extraordinary ability once and for all.

He leaned down and whispered against her ear. "Feeling more relaxed?"

"No."

His hands moved with gentle persistence, his voice low-pitched so no one else could hear. "Because my touch makes you aware of things you haven't felt before?"

She turned toward him, and his hands dropped from her shoulders. His gaze appeared more serious than passionate, more worried than seductive.

Before she could answer, Micky and Erin came back into the kitchen.

Erin clapped once. "Okay, everyone, I think this show is on the road. Let's eat. Sorley is late again, but we aren't waiting on him."

After placing serving dishes on the table, Micky, Erin, and Clarissa settled into their chairs. Lachlan and Jared sat down while Ronan filled everyone's glasses with wine.

They settled into a companionable pace, passing around dishes and making the inevitable chitchat.

As they started eating, Clarissa experienced a strange tension entering the room she didn't understand. Everyone seemed tired, and she understood the feeling. It had already been two long days for her. Maybe they waited for her to speak up, to tell them why she needed to see them. If she didn't get this off her chest she would scream. She might as well jump into the fire.

"Tell us why you needed to see everyone tonight," Ronan said.

Clarissa paused as she sipped the delicious fruity white wine. Had he read her mind again? His calm facade told her nothing.

"I don't know where to start."

"Maybe she'd like to eat first," Erin said, glaring at Ronan. "Give her a little time."

Ronan winked at Clarissa, then smiled at Erin. "Sorry. I'm just eager to hear her story."

Clarissa took another healthy swallow of her drink before she answered. "It's all right. If I don't tell you now, I might lose my nerve." She cut into the succulent chicken and began. "I mentioned to Erin on the phone earlier today that I grew up in Pine Forest, so I'm aware of its strange history." She smiled. "It was a weird place to be a child."

"Was it frightening?" Jared asked as he speared a cauliflower floret.

Clarissa took a deep breath. "I imagine it was for many children, but it was especially bizarre for me. I was able to see and hear many things other children couldn't."

Before she could continue, a strange popping sound came from the living room.

Everyone seemed to go on full alert. Ronan sat up straighter, and so did Jared and Lachlan.

"It's just me," a distinctly Irish male voice said from the living room.

A skinny man walked into the room, his smile wide. His narrow, slightly pockmarked face would never be called handsome. Yet the charm in his grin almost made up for his lack of looks. Short, untamed black hair tousled over the small man's head. He was dressed in a blue flannel shirt, jeans, and boots.

As he walked toward Clarissa, he said, "This must be the lovely Clarissa."

Ronan introduced them. "Sorley, this is ClarissaGaines. Clarissa, Sorley Dubhe."

"Or as they said in Ireland many moons ago, Somhairle Dubhe," Sorley said.

"YourGaelic name." Clarissa shook his hand and smiled.

"That it is. Has the big guy here-" he slapped Ronan on the back, "-told you his Irish name?"

"Not yet," Ronan said. "We're barely acquainted."

Ronan sat to Clarissa's left, and she felt the weight of his stare. The implication lay in his eyes, saying for her what she couldn't admit for herself. Despite their ravenous physical reaction to each other, they didn't know each other well.

"It's Ronan Ciaran," Sorley said. "Which really means little seal black. Very strange name if you were to ask me."

"No one's asking," Ronan said with a polite, but definite edge.

Suitably chastised, Sorley made a courtly bow.

Unable to resist his quirkiness, Clarissa returned his grin. "Very pleased to meet you, Sorley."

"Sure, and a supreme pleasure it is to meet a friend of Ronan's," Sorley said.

While everyone else looked amused, Ronan's raised eyebrow and cynical expression made her hesitate to joke with Sorley.