Taylor whistled as he maneuvered Francis Capra down Ventura Boulevard. What a great day. What a glorious, wondrous, fabulous day. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and even the smog had thinned out, giving him a stunning view of the mountains at the far side of the valley.

He zipped through the light at Coldwater and hooked a left, heading into the canyon and back toward the west side. Time to jump-start Mr. Mordon’s little assignment. If someone else wanted him to find that gemstone, then dammit, that was exactly what he was going to do. Find it, hand it over to Mordon, and cut himself loose from the hounds of hell that had decided to stalk him.

Once Mordon had his rock back, those thugs would bother someone else, and Taylor could head back to Zoe, which was exactly where he wanted to be.

He punched the speakerphone and dialed the office, humming a little as he waited for Hoop to pick up.

“Yo. I mean, Investigations. Can I help you?”

Taylor chuckled. “It’s me. Yo works fine.”

Hoop exhaled into the phone. “Damn, but we need a full-time secretary. I’m lousy at this.”

“Yeah, well, you get the job for a few more minutes. I need you to call a florist for me.” He remembered Zoe’s allergies. “No. Make that a candy store.” He remembered the way she’d avoided anything chocolate at the party. “Aw, hell, never mind. I don’t have a clue what to send her.”

“I take it the evening went well.”

Oh, yeah. “She’s fabulous. I’m crazy about her.”

“Zoe’s a great kid.”

Taylor tapped the brakes, slowing as he approached a red light. “Lane’s never going to let me hear the end of it, though.”

“What’s Lane got to do with your love life?”

“I told her I wanted a normal girl. No added color in my life.”

Hoop snorted. “Zoe’s a librarian. How much more normal can you get.”

“That’s what I thought.” He drummed his fingers on the gear shift, trying to get a handle on the little oddities that had been niggling at him. “But there’s some color there, too.”

“Oh?”

“I don’t get it. The girl’s a magnet for weirdness. The first time I met her, I swear she was psychic—how else could she have heard me pawing through Emily’s desk? And that stunt when she landed on the hood of my car—I mean, those kind of gymnastics would put Dorothy Hamill to shame.”

“Hamill’s an ice skater.”

“Whatever. And I swear the guy in the Ferrari just disappeared. But she kept on talking to him.”

“What guy?”

“Never mind. Not important. There’s just all that, plus the cretins at the party, and the fake cop—who shimmered, by the way—”

“Shimmered?”

“—and on top of all that, man-oh-man, that woman can run!” He took a breath, realizing he was falling over his words. “And it’s all incredibly odd stuff, but none of it bothers me in the least. It’s her I’m interested in. And, Hoop, I am so very, very interested.”

“So then just forget about the rest. Trust me. The weird stuff isn’t what’s important. My best friend married a cat and it didn’t mess his life up any.”

“Say again? There must have been static. I thought you said cat.”

“Nothing. My point is that even normal people have quirks. I mean, hey, look at me.”

Taylor laughed. “Now you’re making me nervous.”

“So? You want me to order chocolates?”

“Nah. I’ll figure something out. Thanks for the free advice.”

“You get what you pay for.”

He hung up, grinning, as his fingers tapped a rhythm on the steering wheel. A few miles later, he realized he was smiling. Well, why not? He’d just spent the best night of his life with the most fascinating woman he’d ever met—warm and sweet and genuine.

He smiled again, remembering the fond way she looked at her mother, gently enduring Tessa’s not-so-subtle attempts at matchmaking. The woman was special.

And she made him feel special, too.

The car phone rang and he punched the button for the speaker. “Taylor,” he said, expecting Hoop.

“Well, hello, Taylor.”

He grinned. Speak of the devil. “Hi, Tessa.”

“I got your number from information and dialed your office. Where do you work? In a wind tunnel?”

“Sorry. Did Hoop patch you through?” He frowned, suddenly worried. “Is something wrong?”

“I don’t know,” she answered lightly. “Is there? Or is everything okay?”

He laughed, understanding dawning. He’d arrived at the post-first date checkpoint. “Everything’s excellent.”

“Is Zoe with you?” she asked hopefully.

He tried not to smile at the eager tone in her voice. “Just left her.”

“And you’ll be seeing her again when?”

Well, that was the tricky question. He imagined Tessa tapping her foot impatiently, standing in front of a calendar, and wondered what the appropriate premarital interval was. “I’m working a somewhat dangerous case. I don’t want to accidentally get Zoe involved.”

“I see.”

“Well, the truth is I’m going to stop by later today.” The thought of being away from her had chilled him, and he’d latched onto his forgotten jacket as an excuse. He didn’t need the jacket, but he did need to see Zoe. Just one quick visit. There was some risk, true, but he could make sure he wasn’t followed. Spotting and losing a tail were easy enough tasks, if you knew what you were doing.

“But after that, we’re not going to see each other until this case is wrapped up.” That was more to remind himself than for Tessa’s benefit.

Silence.

“I want to see her. Believe me, Tessa, I want to.”

More silence.

“Tessa?”

“Tomorrow,” she said.

“Excuse me?”

“Zoe’s birthday. You can take a break from your case and come, can’t you?”

Pass up her birthday? Not in a million years. “I’d love to come,” he said, realizing that he was now scheduled to see Zoe twice in the next twenty-four hours, despite having promised himself he’d stay far, far away.

So much for all his good intentions.

She gave him her address. “One o’clock sharp, then. And Taylor,” she added. “Don’t give up on her.”

He frowned. “What?”

“Zoe,” she said. “She’s not your average girl.”

“Believe me, I figured that out.”

“Promise me.”

“I’d sooner rip out my heart than give up on your daughter,” Taylor said, absolutely certain it was true.

He could almost hear her smile from across the phone connection. “Well, then. That’s all I wanted to know.”

“This ugly retro belt?” Deena raised an eyebrow, the belt dangling between two fingers. “No way. If it were some ancient artifact with mystical powers, surely it wouldn’t be so . . . well. . . tacky.” She gave Zoe a confident look as she dropped it into her tote bag. “I think your brother is pulling your leg.”

Zoe closed her eyes and leaned back against the lounge chair—they were sitting out on the deck near the apartment complex’s pool—wishing Deena was right. But the truth was inescapable. She twirled a quarter between her fingers like a magician readying for a trick. With a sigh, she pitched the coin into the pool. “It’s been missing for a while, and somehow that thrift store ended up with it.”

Deena stood up. “Well, I’m going to go give him a piece of my mind. How the heck does he know what Taylor was feeling?” Zoe grabbed the hem of her skirt and tugged her back. “Don’t,” she pleaded. “Hale isn’t in the best of moods.”

“Because you slept with a mortal?”

Zoe shrugged. “Well, yeah.”

“That’s the goofiest—”

“He’s just trying to protect me.”

“From what? Mortalitis? Is it catching? Are we not worthy?”

“It’s not that.” Actually, with Hale, it was. There were mortals, and there were Protectors, and never the twain should meet. “Mostly it’s my parents.”

Deena squinted at her. “Tessa?”

“She left my dad before I was born. He told her his secret, and she told him to get out.” Zoe shrugged, blinking back tears as she tried to act nonchalant. “It’s pretty common, actually. Throughout our history, I mean. Mortals don’t stay.”

“But Taylor’s not like that. He adores you. I saw how he was looking at you.”

“But that’s just it,” Zoe said, wiping away a renegade tear with the back of her hand. “He doesn’t really. It’s the belt. I like him, and so the belt made him want me, too. But it’s not real. And if he knew the truth—the real truth—he’d run so far so fast.” The damn tears were flowing now, and she turned away. “Just like my mom ran from my dad.”

“Hey, come on.” Deena took Zoe’s hand between hers. “You don’t know that. And I don’t believe it. Taylor’s a good guy. Hoop trusts him, and Hoop’s one of the best judges of character I’ve ever met.”

“He’s a normal guy, Deena. He lives a pretty normal life. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not normal.” No matter how much she sometimes wished she were. “You should have seen him playing knight in shining armor when we were attacked at the party. I don’t think he’ll be too cool with the whole truth.”

Deena’s jaw tensed. “He’ll get over it. Chivalry’s cute and all, but please. This is the new millennium.”

She swallowed. “But what if he’s not cool? My mom wasn’t, and that didn’t have anything to do with chivalry. And the thing is, I don’t want to give up the council. I want to make a difference.”

“Then tell him. You shouldn’t have to give anything up. Take a risk and tell him. He might surprise you.”

Zoe wished like heck it were true, wished she had the strength to try. Not that it mattered anyway. Most everything he felt for her was a girdle-induced fake.

“I mean, even if he is a little weirded out that you can beat the crap out of him, it’s not like he’s gonna expect you to stay home barefoot and pregnant,” Deena added. Then said, “Hey, look at the puppy.”

Zoe followed the line of Deena’s finger to the far side of the pool area. A gargantuan black Lab was sniffing around. “That’s not a puppy. That dog’s bigger than a Humvee.”

“Hey, baby,” Deena said. “You want a snack?” She rummaged around in her tote bag and came up with a bag of kitty treats.

“You carry cat food?”

“Long story.”

Then Deena crossed over to the puppy. “Here you go, guy,” she said, dropping a few treats in front of the dog.

It ignored the food, instead sniffing around Deena—all over her, actually. Zoe watched, frowning. Something about that dog . . .

She looked over the rims of her glasses, and the deep brown doggie eyes suddenly appeared a vivid green.

Uh-oh.

Deena bent over the dog, then whispered puppy nonsense in its pointy little ear. “Isn’t it precious?”

“Why don’t we go inside?” Why the devil was Mordi sniffing around Deena? It didn’t make any sense. But the one thing she knew for certain was that she didn’t want Mordi to know she was on to him. “I think I’ve got some leftover roast in the fridge,” she said, edging toward the stairs and hoping Deena would follow. “Let’s go get it and give him a snack.”

“I think he likes me,” Deena said.

“Now, Deena. Let’s go.”

Reluctantly, Deena stood up. “We’ll be right back,” she said. “You stay.”

The Mordi-dog’s ears twitched, as if he were trying to decide if she really was coming right back.

Zoe inched toward the stairs to her apartment, silently urging Deena along. With a flip of her skirt, Deena followed. Thank goodness. Zoe turned and was just about to head up when—“Shit!”

At Deena’s cry, she whipped around, and there was Mordi, doggie fangs bared, practically standing on Deena’s chest as she struggled underneath him. Zoe lunged, flying off the stairs, and landed a good solid kick to Mordi’s snout.

He jumped back, his head shaking like a cartoon dog’s, the effect exacerbated by the shimmer of his change. In a blink of an eye he’d changed from doggie to gang member, complete with baggy pants and attitude.

“What the—” Deena whispered.

“That’s really not your best look,” Zoe said, circling him, wary of the length of chain coiled in his hand.

“Cousin, you don’t know me at all.”

“Cousin?” Deena scooted further back, her voice raspy. “Okay. You really do win the dysfunctional family of the year award.”

“Don’t I know it,” Zoe said, keeping a wary eye on Mordi. “What the heck are you doing, anyway?”

“That’s the trouble with spending so much time with mortals, isn’t it?” Mordi asked. “Like all that quality time you spend with your mother. You never really know what’s happening, do you?”

Zoe opened her mouth, then shut it again. What he said was true. Tessa didn’t know about what went on with the council, the treaty between mortals and Protectors, anything. “Just being with my mom’s important. She loves me.”

“She won’t when she finds out the truth.” He sneered. “She’ll dump you; they all do. But you already know that, don’t you? Otherwise you would have already told her. Time’s running out, after all. Just one more day.”

“Tessa won’t care,” Deena said from behind Zoe. “Why the hell would she?”

Mordi whipped around, a ball of fire flying from his fingers. “What the hell do you know about it?” The fire exploded in front of Deena, and she jumped backward toward the swimming pool, unscathed but gasping.

He turned back to Zoe. “Mortals don’t stay with us. You know it, even if you won’t believe it.” His eyes burned like green fire. “And Zeus knows I’ve seen enough to know it’s true. Your mother won’t, your Mr. Taylor won’t—”

Zoe gasped. “What do you know about him?”

A sly smiled tugged at the corner of Mordi’s mouth. “Trust me. I know plenty.”

“You’re wrong. Your—”

He held up a hand, his cold green eyes softening. “Wish I had time to chat, cousin. Maybe when this is all over we can have tea.”

“When what is all over?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, then leaped over her before she realized what was going on.

Deena’s scream ripped the air, and Zoe whipped around, to see Mordi grabbing Deena by the back of her dress. Zoe launched herself, jumping onto his back and kicking like crazy.

“What are you doing?” she yelled. Her cousin had a hold of Deena’s arm, but Zoe managed to pull him off, then kicked him in the gut with her heel. He went flying back, landing with a splat against the staircase.

When he got up, any hint of kindness in his eyes had vanished. They were cold. Cold and cruel and definitely not those of the little boy she’d grown up with.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” he whispered. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then don’t hurt my friends,” she said, dropping into a crouch. If he tried to go for Deena again, he’d have to go through Zoe.

“I’m not interested in your friend,” he said. “Just in what she has.” With that, he lunged. Zoe leaped, catching him by the ankles as he pulled her over and over again. He landed on top of her, straddling her so that she couldn’t get any leverage, his weight pressing down so she couldn’t breathe.

And then she realized that his fingers were clamped viselike around her throat. She gasped, trying to suck in air, her lungs burning.

He was going to win again. Somehow Mordi always managed to win their tests. Too bad she didn’t even know what this test was about.

The world spun. Thoughts darted about like minnows. Deena, Hale, the belt, Taylor.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she heard her name, and then there was air—cool, crisp air.

Coughing and confused, she sat up. Where was Mordi?

And then she saw him—and Taylor.

“No!” she screamed. She was on her feet, running to help Taylor, who was dodging the whip of ruffian Mordichai’s steel chain.

“Stay out of this, Zoe!”

“But—”

“Dammit, Zo, let me handle this.”

Her eyes darted to Deena, who mouthed the words, Tell him, and then, “Get in there and kick some butt.”

Tell him? No way. And certainly not now. As for the butt-kicking, that she itched to do even though it might show off her powers. For half a second she considered; then she took a breath and made the leap.

“Zoe!” Taylor cried.

She ended up plastered like a crab on Mordi’s back, her arms wrapped around his face and her legs locked about his waist. It probably looked pretty silly, but with her strength, she knew she could hold on. And if he was struggling with her, Mordi wouldn’t be able to get to Taylor or Deena.

He twisted and shoved and turned, trying to get her off, while Taylor rushed him, trying to get the chain.

“Stay back, Taylor!”

“The hell I will.”

Hot. She was sweltering hot. She closed her eyes and hung on, trying to keep her grip despite the fire suddenly burning in her muscles. Her skin was slippery with sweat, then blistering from the intense heat.

“Jump, Zo!” Deena yelled. “His clothes are catching on fire.”

Hopping Hades! So were hers. Already the heat was making her woozy.

Taylor was rushing at them both, and Zoe stifled the urge to shout at him to stand back. She needed to get them both safe, but how?

With all her strength she held on, ignoring the pain as she looked around, oblivious to Mordi’s thrashing beneath her.

And then she knew what to do.

With a single jerk, she lunged away, but kept her hand deep in the flames, grabbing on to his collar. Mordi stumbled toward her and they both went tumbling into the pool.

A cloud of steam rose into the air, a faint hiss drifting away on the wind.

They went under then, rolling over and over until Zoe was sure she was going to be sick from being dizzy.

And then there was a big metal stick in front of her, but no Mordi—somehow he’d won again.

She gasped for air, looking into Taylor’s eyes as he held the pole end of the pool skimmer out for her. “Where’d he go?”

“Took off that way,” he said, nodding toward the front staircase. His face hardened as he helped her out of the pool. “Are you burned?”

She made a quick check, pleased that her halfling blood had protected her and kept her singe-free. “No.”

“Good.” He hugged her close, managing to soak his clothes in the process. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Deena crawled over. “Wow.”

Zoe raised an eyebrow as she stood dripping on the concrete. “That’s it?”

Deena shrugged. “I never thought I’d see me speechless, but wow.”

“I don’t think you answered me.” Taylor leaned back, then kissed the tip of her nose. “So I’ll try again. What the hell were you thinking?”

She stepped back, out of his embrace. “I was thinking of helping you.”

He frowned. “Well, don’t. I had it under control.”

“Taylor, that’s silly. I’m—” She stopped, not sure what she planned on saying.

“You’re what? You’re fine? Yes, you are. But only because you’re lucky.” He pulled her close again, wrapping his arms around her. “Jesus, Zoe,” he whispered into her hair. “Do you think I can stand watching you put yourself in danger? I’d rather die than see you hurt.”

He pushed a soggy curl off her face. “Stay here. I want to make sure he’s gone.” He disappeared under the stairway, then returned immediately. “Nobody there. Just a big dog sniffing around.”

Deena coughed, and Zoe flashed her a “be quiet” look as Taylor swung his arm around her shoulder.

“Let’s get you upstairs,” he said.

She nodded and let him lead her. Hale would be back any minute, but surely she could get Taylor out of her apartment before his return.

Because, truth be told, she wanted Taylor with her. Maybe she didn’t need his help to fight her cousin, but she certainly wanted his strength after the battle.

As for why she was fighting her cousin, or why Mordi was sniffing around Deena . . . about that, she had no idea. What could Deena have that he wanted?

Or maybe Deena was the subject of Zoe’s tests—protect the mortal and make it into the council. She frowned. But that didn’t really make sense either.

She glanced at her friend, still sitting on the concrete looking a little dazed. The fact was, she had no idea. But she did know one thing for certain—whatever was going on, it couldn’t be good.

Mordi planted his rump on the sun-warmed sidewalk and scratched behind his ear with his back leg.

He didn’t have the stone in hand, but still, it had been a successful encounter. He’d pulled the stone’s scent off of the setting, and then he’d let his sensitive doggie nose go to work following his best lead—the blonde.

And his bet had panned out. The mortal still had the stone. He was certain of it.

Excellent.

Of course, Zoe might realize what he was after—first the woman at the tower and now Deena. The only thing they had in common was the stone. Would she make the connection? He let out a little doggie sigh. Best to focus on the good news. The stone was here, with the female mortal. By tonight it would be his, and Hieronymous would finally be proud.

All he had to do was wait.

After all, she couldn’t stay in Cousin Zoe’s apartment forever.

Hale glared at the mortal, not at all sure how to handle this latest bit of news.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Deena said. “It wasn’t like I asked to be jumped by some shape-shifting doggie gangster.”

Hale had to give the mortal credit. She hadn’t burst into tears or run screaming from the room, swearing to never look Zoe in the face again. Not yet, anyway.

“Mordichai.” He said the name like a curse. Damn their cousin for siding with his father. If the little worm had any backbone, there’d be no problem.

“What the heck did he want?” Zoe asked.

The stone, of course, but Hale couldn’t tell her that. From what Zephron claimed, all hell would break loose if he did. Instead he shook his head in feigned ignorance.

“Even more,” she added, “what did he want with Deena?”

“Probably trying to get to you. The tests and all.”

“He seemed so sweet as a dog,” the mortal said.

“He’d just as soon bite your head off,” Hale said, just to shake her up.

“Hey,” she said, staring him right in the eye. “I didn’t say he was sweet, I said he looked sweet.”

“Fair enough,” Hale said, his estimation of Zoe’s mortal friend increasing.

“Sweet or not, what was he looking for?” Zoe asked. Her eyes widened. “Of course! He wanted the belt.” She looked at Deena. “He smelled it on you.”

“You’re probably right,” Hale said, thinking fast. The fact was, Mordichai sniffing around Zoe meant one of two things: either Mordi had given up looking for the stone and was simply going to tail Zoe, figuring one of them would end up with it before the eclipse, or Mordi knew something the rest of them didn’t.

Both options meant bad news for Zoe, and the best thing Hale could do was get back to Olympus, report in, and see if Zephron or Donis had learned anything useful. He glanced around aimlessly, trying to think up an excuse for leaving, and his gaze landed on Deena’s overstuffed tote bag. “If he wants the belt, I should get rid of it,” he said, pointing at the bag and urging the belt up and into his waiting hand.

“Cool trick,” Deena said.

Zoe’s brow furrowed. “Get rid of it how?”

“I’m taking this back to Zephron. I should have done it earlier.” He shoved the belt into his backpack and headed for the door. He took a quick look around for Elmer, but the little guy wasn’t to be found. The ferret had been hiding since he’d snapped at him earlier, and he was probably still sulking. Well, he’d just have to camp at Zoe’s then, because Hale didn’t have time to scour the place looking for him.

“Hale?” Deena said.

He turned to the mortal, his hand resting on the doorknob. She smiled. “It was nice to meet you.”

Hale stared at her, trying to decide what to say. He didn’t have mortal friends, didn’t want mortal friends. Didn’t want or need any warm, fuzzy feelings for these creatures he’d sworn to protect.

But this one had stuck by his sister, so maybe he could make an exception. The world probably wouldn’t come crashing down if he added one mortal to his list of friends. He sighed. “Yeah,” he finally said. “It was nice to meet you, too.”

Lane was waiting in the doorway to her apartment when Taylor got there. “Well, well, well,” she said with a grin.

“What?”

She stepped into the apartment, tossing him a knowing glance over her shoulder. “The clothes, hotshot. Those were what you were wearing yesterday. Guess the job went well, huh?”

He rolled his eyes skyward. “Lane—”

“Not that I’m prying or anything. I’m just glad to see you back in the saddle. So tell me, brother mine, is she normal?”

Shaking his head, he could only grin.

“All right, Taylor. Good going. Maybe I’ll get a sister-in-law yet.” She bent down to scoop up Davy, who waved at Taylor and then buried his face in Lane’s shoulder.

“What’s the matter, buddy?” And thanks, kid, for helping me change the subject.

The boy shook his head, but no smiling face appeared.

“He missed his nap,” Lane explained, an apology in her voice. “It’ll make it easier on Janet, though. He’ll probably sleep the whole time we’re gone.”

“Did you talk to any of the store owners yesterday? Or is that on today’s agenda?”

“Talk?” A wide grin split her face. “I did a lot more than talk. Big brother, I found our flying mystery woman.”

“What?”

She nodded, clearly pleased with herself. “Yup. Managed to track down her home address and everything.”

“How the hell did you manage that?” He stifled a sigh, suddenly feeling rather useless. First Zoe fighting like a banshee, then his sister doing all the gumshoeing, and doing it well.

“Easy.” She took a deep breath. “Boomer figured she had to be one of the two girls who hang out on top of the tower, so I talked to the guard, and he told me their names—they have to sign in to get to the roof—and then I went to the school, but it was closed for the break, but the principal was there this morning, and I told her who I was looking for, and she pulled the file, and while it was on her desk, I read the address upside down.” She’d rattled the whole thing off without taking a breath, and now she sucked in air. “That’s it.”

He blinked. He’d barely followed her speech, and he had no idea who Boomer was, but it had sure sounded good.

“So can we go talk to her? I’ve been waiting for you all morning, but you were otherwise indisposed.” Her gentle smile told him that she’d forgive his tardiness since his love life was looking up.

“Let’s go.” He moved back out of the apartment and waited while she passed Davy off to her across-the-hall neighbor.

“It’s almost too bad you had a hot date last night,” she teased as they headed toward Francis Capra.

“Yeah? Why’s that?” Lord knew Taylor couldn’t think of a reason in the world why his night with Zoe could even remotely be classified as “too bad.”

She shrugged as he held the door open for her. “It’s just that this woman—the one who flew off the building—is right up your alley. Normal, I mean.”

“Flying off buildings is normal?”

“Well, not that part. But everything else about her sure is.”

He circled the car and opened his door, amused by her smug expression. “Okay, give.”

One eyebrow raised as the corner of her mouth curled up. “She’s an elementary school librarian. Wasn’t that just the kind of woman you said you were looking for?” Lane chuckled. “Her last name’s even Smith. How much more average can you get?”

“You jumped off a building?” Taylor ran his hands through his hair as he paced Zoe’s living room, confusion and fear clinging to him like dust.

She cringed and shrugged, wanting to explain. But she couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth. Not yet. “I—”

“She didn’t jump,” Lane said. “She flew. I told you.” She grinned. “I still can’t believe Zoe is your girlfriend. This is just too—”

“Lane.” He held up a hand as Zoe warmed to the sound of the word girlfriend. “I’m trying to figure out what’s going on.” He turned back to Zoe. “Tell me. Sweetheart, what’s going on?”

“It was no big deal, Taylor,” Zoe said, her eyes darting to Deena, silently pleading for help.

“No big deal? Thirty stories is a very big deal.” He looked from Deena to Zoe.

“What difference does it make to you?” Deena asked.

“What difference? The woman I love jumps off a building—”

Love? Zoe twisted back around to look at him.

“—and you think I’m just going to—” He snapped his mouth shut and closed his eyes, apparently realizing what he’d just said.

Lane clapped her hands and generally looked like she’d just won the lottery.

The room seemed to vanish as Zoe lost herself in his words. Oh, Hera. He loved her.

Then she remembered—the belt.

He didn’t love her at all. Not really. No matter how much she might care about him, he just was feeling the after-effects of what the belt had told him to feel.

She blinked back tears and looked to Deena, who managed to look both sympathetic and encouraging at the same time. Elmer padded over and pawed frantically at her foot. She swooped down and picked him up, hugging him tightly against her.

Taylor’s eyes opened and the corner of his mouth twitched. His shoulder rolled in the slightest of shrugs. “It’s true,” he said, and she could see in his eyes that he really believed it. He ran his fingers through his hair. “I had planned on saying it under more romantic circumstances, but it’s true.”

“Oh, Taylor, I. . .” She trailed off. What could she say? She needed to tell him the truth. No matter how much she wished it were true, he really didn’t love her.

Elmer twisted in her arms, and she scowled down at him. “What?”

He squeaked and fidgeted, but she had no idea what he wanted.

“Maybe he wants down,” Deena said.

Taylor’s eyes were still on her, ignoring the ferret’s antics.

“Tell me the truth, babe. What’s going on?”

Zoe shrugged and put Elmer on the back of the couch.

“There was no movie, was there?” Taylor asked, taking her hand.

“Not exactly. I, um, I—”

“Work part-time in R and D,” Deena rushed to put in.

“Right,” Zoe said, grateful Deena could still think. Zoe’s brain was more or less fried.

“R and D,” Taylor repeated.

“You know, research and development,” Deena said.

“They did tell me it was some big experimental project,” Lane admitted.

“That’s the craziest thing I ever heard,” he said.

“Let’s back up,” Zoe said. Too much was going on. She needed to focus, to get her head clear so she could decide what to do, what to say. She looked to Lane. “How did you know it was me who saved your child?” Then she looked at Taylor. “And how do you know Lane?”

“She’s my foster sister,” Taylor explained.

“But why was she—” She turned to Lane. “Why were you looking for me in the first place?”

“The necklace I gave you,” said Lane. “That’s the heirloom Taylor was hired to find.”

Elmer lost his footing and tumbled off the back of the couch, landing upside down on the overstuffed cushions. Someone had hired Taylor to find the stone? That could mean only one thing: Mordichai.

“I asked around at the tower,” Lane continued, “and they said you and Deena hang out there.”

“I thought you said that necklace was junk,” Deena said.

Lane shrugged. “Apparently jewelry appraisal isn’t my thing.” She looked at Zoe. “Do you still have it? Will you sell it back to the guy?”

Zoe looked at Deena.

“I kind of broke it,” Deena admitted. “At the Hollywood Bowl.”

“It’s gone?” Taylor asked, deflating.

“Everything but the stone.” Deena rummaged in the pocket of her skirt, then held out her hand, the green stone sitting like a lump on her palm. Elmer started to move toward it, then stopped, realizing that leaping for the stone just wouldn’t work the way he wanted it to. Oh, why had he indulged in that snit earlier when Hale was around?

“You’re welcome to have it back,” Zoe said.

Deena tossed the rock to Lane, who caught it with one hand. Elmer danced back and forth from his front feet to his back. If the stone was here and Mordi was looking for it, that meant that Mordi would likely show up here, too. Or worse . . . Hieronymous. He gulped.

“Oh, no,” Lane said, looking at the gem. “I can’t take this back. I gave it to you.”

“Of course you can,” Zoe argued.

“But—”

“I’m serious. I wasn’t expecting to be paid for helping you, and you didn’t know what you had. Keep it, and I hope you get a lot for it.”

Taylor looked at Zoe. “You’re sure?”

“Of course.”

No, no, no, Elmer squeaked, but he was ignored as usual.

“Thanks,” Lane said.

“But I should keep it,” Taylor added. “Until this guy buys it off you.”

Zoe shook her head. “She’s perfectly safe, Taylor. Those muggers weren’t after you. They wanted me.”

“You?”

Elmer leaped up and started hopping around. He had to get their attention. No, no, no! Don’t send it out into the world with a mortal. Mordi won’t have any trouble taking it off her!

He hopped and hopped, and then hopped some more. But did anyone notice the ferret? No, sirree.

Yeesh. You’d think he was a hamster or something.

“Why would they be after you?” Taylor asked.

“The flying cloak,” Zoe said. She frowned, dropping her gaze so she wasn’t looking at his face. “And that belt I was wearing last night. They’re both top-secret projects.”

Poor kid. Poor, gullible kid. She actually believed Hale’s belt story. Not that Elmer himself was any great mortalphile, but so far this Taylor guy seemed okay. And he sure seemed to really love Zoe.

Aw, hell. He’d been watching too many old movies on late-night cable. Love conquering adversity and all that. He was turning into a sap.

“Top secret?” Taylor repeated.

“It’s all very hush-hush,” Deena added.

“I guess it would be, if you can fly off a thirty-story building,” Taylor said.

“That’s how I knew Mord . . . uh, that fake cop was bad. I couldn’t tell you then, but I did tell you to get out of there. Remember?”

Taylor nodded slowly. “Yeah. You did.” His forehead creased. “Industrial espionage? We were being chased for your clothes?”

Zoe nodded. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you. Nondisclosure agreement. I promise I didn’t expect anything to happen that night. I wouldn’t do anything to endanger you.”

“Well,” said Taylor, “I’ve heard of the fashion police, but this. . .”

“There’s more.” Zoe licked her lips. “We need to talk,” she said, looking like she’d rather have major surgery without anesthetic. “Alone.”

Taylor nodded. “All right.” He dug in his pocket and then pitched Lane his keys. “Your choice. The car or the stone.” Elmer didn’t think Lane could have looked more surprised if Ed McMahon had handed her a thirty-million-dollar check. “Me?” Lane asked. “You’re letting me drive Francis Capra?”

“Only if you leave the rock with me. Zoe can give me a ride.” He looked at her, his eyes soft. “Right?”

“Of course she can,” Deena said. “She’d be thrilled to give you a ride.”

“Deena. . .” Zoe said, and Elmer could hear the note of warning in her voice.

A wide smile spread across Lane’s face. “Hey, I’m no fool. I know when not to argue. It was great to meet the real you, but now I need to go take my brother’s car for a joyride.”

With a grin, she tossed Taylor the stone, and he caught it with one hand.

Elmer fidgeted beneath him, his eyes on the stone. And when Taylor dropped it into a silver candy dish on Zoe’s coffee table, that was when he made his move. In a frenzy of flying ferret, he leaped and curled up on top of the candy dish, the stone tucked safely beneath him.

He might have screwed up and not told Hale where the stone was, but darn it, this time he wasn’t letting the thing out of his sight.

“I think that’s my cue to leave.” Deena stood up and hooked her tote bag over her arm as Lane pulled the door open.

“You guys don’t have to go so soon, do you?” Zoe asked. If they left, then Zoe was all out of excuses. She’d be all alone with Taylor. Her heart twisted. The man she’d fallen in love with.

The man who thought he was in love with her.

The man who wouldn’t want her if he knew she could bench-press his car.

It was all fake—everything. She needed to tell him he didn’t love her, needed to tell him they couldn’t be together.

And she would.

Later.

Right now maybe they could just hang out. Play cards, charades, Pictionary. Something to keep them occupied so she didn’t have to confess.

She flashed a perky smile toward Deena and Lane. “How about some coffee? We could watch a movie.”

Deena rolled her eyes.

“Thanks,” said Lane, “but I want to take Francis Capra out on PCH One before the sun sets.”

“You guys are sure? I’ve got Monopoly.”

Taylor flashed her a quizzical look.

“No, Zoe,” Deena said firmly. “Thanks.”

“Fine.” She was stuck with Mr. Midnight. “At least let me walk you down.”

“Zo, for cryin’ out loud. You don’t need—”

“In case my neighbor’s dogs are still loose,” Zoe said, trying to aim a meaningful look Deena’s way.

“Oh,” Deena said. “Right. Okay.”

“I’ll come, too,” Taylor said.

“No!”

He frowned. “But if these dogs are vicious . . .”

Zoe looked to Deena for help.

“It’s a code, Taylor. Girl talk.”

Lane laughed as Taylor’s cheeks went a little pink. “Oh. Well. Then I’ll just walk Lane to the car. I need to get some stuff out of the trunk, anyway.”

Zoe nodded, and they all left the apartment and trailed down the stairs, turning in opposite directions when they reached the sidewalk.

“I don’t think I can tell him,” Zoe said, the second Taylor and Lane were out of earshot. “What am I supposed to say?”

“Don’t say anything,” Deena said. “I don’t believe Hale’s nonsense for a minute, anyway.”

“I don’t know . . .”

“Taylor loves you, Zo,” Deena said as she opened the door to her car. “No matter what the fashion mags say, no piece of clothing was what made him feel that way.”

“Maybe—”

“Holy cripes,” Deena yelped, jumping back away from the poodle that had suddenly appeared and was sniffing her ankles. “Hey!”

Zoe swatted at it. “Get away!”

The dog looked from Zoe to Deena, a perky pink bow a counterpoint to its bored expression.

Zoe leaned in for a closer look. “Mordi?”

“Is it him?” Deena asked, her voice a low, worried whisper. The dog snuffled a bit—testing the air for the scent of belt?—and then yawned.

“I can’t tell,” Zoe said. “I can’t see its eyes. But it sure isn’t acting like Mordi was earlier. And this dog’s tiny.”

The dog sniffed around the tires, then squatted and peed right next to Deena’s whitewalls.

Deena and Zoe looked at each other. “Not Mordi,” they said in unison.

Totally uninterested, the poodle trotted up the sidewalk toward Taylor as Lane peeled away from the curb in Francis Capra. The tiny dog sniffed around his ankles before turning up its nose and trotting across the street to disappear behind a building.

“Friend of yours?” Taylor called.

Zoe shrugged. “Never seen it before.” At least it seemed to really be a dog. She hoped. She should have taken off her glasses. Still, it had certainly acted like a dog . . . and no matter what, it wasn’t Mordi.

She shrugged, turning back to Deena. “Maybe it smelled Mordi on you.”

“Who knows. Apparently I’m no longer all the rage in the doggie world, though. That poodle couldn’t have been less interested.”

And then she saw him—the green-eyed black Lab sitting next to a fire hydrant on the far side of the street.

“I think we spoke too soon,” she said, nodding across the street.

“Uh-oh,” said Deena. “Mordi?”

“Yup.” She grabbed Deena’s arm, ready to push her aside should the Mordi-dog attack. “Be careful.”

The Mordi-dog yawned, then—tail wagging—headed off down the street in the direction the poodle had taken.

How totally bizarre.

“Where’d he go?” Deena asked.

Zoe shrugged. “I don’t have a clue. Maybe you should stay here.”

Deena put a hand on her hip. “I don’t think so. You just don’t want to be alone with Taylor.”

“But all these dogs—”

“Weren’t in the least bit interested.”

“Deen—”

“No. I’ll call you when I get home.”

Zoe sighed, defeated. “Fine.”

Deena slid into her car. “And you need to call me tomorrow with a full report. Okay?”

Before Zoe could agree, Deena cranked the engine and pulled out.

Zoe just stood there a moment, trying to steel her emotions.

Time to go break the news to Taylor.

Time to go tell the man she loved that he didn’t love her at all.

From the roof across the street, Mordi watched the detective and Zoe head up the stairs to her apartment. He’d sent one of his father’s shape-changers on his little errand, and she’d come back empty-handed—no sign of the stone with Zoe, the detective, or that Deena person. Bad news, but at least he had his information. Maybe those disgusting Henchmen were useful after all.

He drummed his fingers on the slate, irritated, then realized what he was doing and slapped his hand down hard.

Damn. She’d obviously passed the stone off. And that left only one from the usual suspects—the brunette who’d had the stone in the first place. She was the only one Lola hadn’t sniffed.

Funny how fate worked.

He’d almost retrieved the stone from her before, but Zoe had interfered. This time he wouldn’t fail.