The Price of Power (The Price of Secrets Series Book 2) by Ashley Drake Read Free Book Online Page B

chant.
        “A change of heart you will have,
         you think that sweater is kinda drab,
         lay it down for me to grab.”
        At first I didn’t think it was going to work, but after about the sixth or seventh time Jaycee repeated her rhyme I saw the woman stop. She held the sweater up to examine it. She hesitated, yet she eventually laid down the sweater and headed toward the checkout.
        Jaycee did a little dance and ran over to retrieve it. “I can’t believe that worked.”
        Guilt laid heavily in my stomach. “Jaycee, that’s not right. That sweater could have been for her daughter who might have asked for it specifically.”
        “It’s no big deal.” Oblivious to my moral meter, she put her cappuccino down on a shelf and held the sweater up to her in front of a mirror. “Damn, Kayla’s skinny.”
        “Next time it will be something bigger, then something meaner, before you realize it, it turns evil.”
        Jaycee laughed. “Over a sweater I’m gonna turn evil? I don’t think so. Let’s pay for this and go look for our dads something.” She handed me the sweater. “Oh wait, I forgot my cappuccino.” She grabbed her drink, took a step and ended up tripping over her own feet, and she fell on the floor. The cappuccino went airborne, eventually landing all over the front of her shirt. “Shit!”
        I helped her up and dug some tissues out of my purse to help wipe off her shirt. The best she could do was take off the jacket, from around her waist, and put it on to hide the stain.
        Once she was settled I laid my hand on her shoulder. “I think that was one of those consequences Daniels was talking about. We should find that woman and give the sweater back before you break a leg or something.”
        “You suck. I hate it when you’re right.”
     
                         
        After giving the woman the sweater, and leaving her a bit confused, we ended up crossing off everyone’s name off my list with the exception of Jaycee and Daniel. I will have to get theirs later. Maybe I can talk Mom into going with me one day next week. Finally, after miles worth of walking, Jaycee and I meet up with everyone at the food court.
        Daniel saw that I was struggling with all the shopping bags I was carrying. “Here, let me get those for you.” He grabbed the bags in one hand with ease. “I ordered your usual, I hope that’s okay.” He sat the bags down beside the chair he pulled out for me.
        He got it right; waffle fries, chicken sandwich and a diet drink. “It’s exactly what I was gonna get, thanks.” He really is pretty dreamy.
        We listened to Mike tell us all about him kicking Daniel’s butt at some fighting game. Everyone gave the usual loser insults and Daniel took it like a champ, laughing at each one.
        “What’s everyone doing tomorrow night?” Phoebe question was to us all, but I had a feeling she was really fishing to see what Chase would say.
        Kayla was the first to answer. “I will be at church helping the kids practice for the Christmas play and Jacob volunteered to help me. Afterwards we are going out to eat, my treat to thank him.”
        “I told you that you don’t have to do that. I want to help.” Jacob stole an onion ring off of Kayla’s plate. “Besides, it gives me an excuse to be with you.”
        “You’re seriously gonna give me a cavity with all that sweetness. Or worse, some of it might actually rub off on me.” Jaycee faked a shiver. “What about you Han?”
        “I get to spend the evening with Megan working on our English project. Don’t be jealous.”
        “Oh yes, can’t you see me turning green with envy? I will be thinking about you while Mike and I are ice skating. I got lucky with my project partner. Sara is a control freak and asked to do it all by herself. I pretended to struggle with her proposal before