Almost Midnight (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3.5)(60)

“We’re just taking a break,” she said, hoping that didn’t sound as lame to Shawn as it had to her when Perry had said it.

“I see,” he said.

She looked at him again. Did that mean he understood? Because if he did, would he please explain it to her?

Their gazes met and held.

Or they did until voices started booming on the other side of the door.





Chapter Seven


“I said no, Ms. Kane. She’ll not be interviewed or photographed until I’ve checked out the media!” Burnett’s baritone voice penetrated the door.

Miranda’s heart went out to him. Sure, he was accustomed to dealing with rogues and serial killers, but he’d never dealt with her mom. And she was a whole other animal.

“Why?” her mom asked. “Someone pulled a prank with that fireball. Granted, it was dangerous, but why so much precaution?”

“Because I care about your daughter,” Burnett answered.

“Can I at least see her?” Her mom’s high-pitched voice rose.

“I would never keep a mother from her child,” Burnett seethed and slung open the door. It banged against the wall, causing Miranda to jump.

Her mom stormed in, and on her heels was a bright-eyed Burnett, looking ready to kill. Thank goodness Miranda knew his moral ethics prevented him from murder. Then again, this was her mom, who could skew moral ethics with her headstrong personality.

“This man is ruining your victory!” her mom spouted out. “You deserve your five minutes of fame!”

“It’s okay,” Miranda said. She didn’t need fame—she wasn’t even sure she wanted fame, period—but this was what her mom lived for. “I won, that’s what matters.” She hugged her mom, hoping to calm her and prevent Burnett from wringing her neck. Arms still wrapped around her mom, she spotted Kylie and Della standing in the doorway.

Kylie smiled with concern. Della looked half pissed. The vamp didn’t like Miranda’s mom. Not that Della’s parents were all that much better.

The clearing of a throat had Miranda dropping her arms from around her mother. “Sorry, Ms. Kane,” Shawn said as he stood from his chair. “I’m about to really upset you.”

Oh, great! Now Shawn wasn’t afraid of her mother. Miranda eyed Shawn with warning. What was he up to?

He met her eyes briefly and then turned to her mother. “You see, your daughter needs to recuse herself from this competition.”

Miranda’s jaw dropped open. “We already talked about this.”

“Are you insane?” her mom snapped.

Miranda ignored her mom and stared daggers at the blond warlock.

He wiped his face with a palm then took a step back from her mom. Fear flashed in his eyes. And rightfully so.

Shawn glanced back at Miranda. “Yeah, we talked, and I disagreed with you.”

Miranda dropped a hand on her hip. “You didn’t say you disagreed with me.”

“I didn’t say I agreed with you either.”

She felt a bit speechless. “As if that matters. I don’t need you to agree with me.” Miranda shook her head and then glanced back at Burnett. “I’m not recusing myself from the competition. It will just put someone else in danger.”

“That’s a hell no! My daughter will not recuse herself,” her mom added and came to stand by Miranda as if to create a solid front. Then she turned and looked at Miranda. “Wait. Why would it put someone else in danger?”

Before Miranda could address her mom’s question, Shawn countered with, “Then I’ll have to confess to the council.”

“Confess what?” Burnett asked.

“You will not!” Miranda said, and her hot tone now sounded a bit like her mom.

“Confess what?” Her mom repeated Burnett’s inquiry.

“Your daughter got some outside help with the competition.”

“My daughter does not cheat!” Her mom started moving toward Shawn.

Miranda caught her arm and held on for dear life. Her mom did Pilates and aerobics three times a week, so it wasn’t easy.

Burnett shot between Shawn and her mom as if fearing for his junior agent’s life. About time Burnett realized what he was dealing with.

“What are you saying?” Burnett asked Shawn, holding out a hand in case her mom got free.

“I sent her a surge of calm.”

“You? You sent it?” her mom seethed and yanked out of Miranda’s hold.

“Yes,” Shawn said.

Her mom cut her eyes back to Miranda. “Did you ask him to send that to you?”

“No,” she and Shawn said at the same time.

“Good!” Her mom stretched out her hand and pointed her pinky.

“No.” Burnett moved closer to her mother and ever so gently lowered her arm. “Can we please calm down and let me figure out what’s going on?”

“Winning this competition puts your daughter’s life at risk.” Shawn moved around Burnett.

“Why would it put her life at risk?” she asked, and when Shawn didn’t answer, she turned her head and glared at Burnett. Miranda knew that look. It was the same one her mom shot her dad before she turned him into a baboon.

“You,” she said, her voice tight with anger. “You had better start talking before I render you mute.”