Chapter Twenty-three. “I think you should take me to South America,” Grace said.

“I think you should take me to South America, ” Grace said.

Margo and Joseph simultaneously looked up from their dinners and stared at her. The request surprised Margo, since Grace and Dina had been seeing each other for two months.

“Why would you want me to do that? I think you and Dina have incredible chemistry.”

“We do, ” Grace agreed, reaching for the bottle of merlot and pouring another glass for herself. “But she’s so much younger, and I’m worried that I won’t excite her for very long.”

“You’re not old, ” Joseph said. “It’s not like you’ve got a shelf life that’s about to expire. Has she complained? ”

“No, I just don’t think it can last. She has so much energy. She’d go out every night if she could. I’m much more of a homebody.”

“You seem to be enjoying the night life just fine, ” Margo observed. “How many times have I called you in the last month and the two of you already had plans? You were going to a club opening or a party. Your calendar is packed! ”

Grace rolled her eyes. “That’s all Dina. She’s the social planner. She tells me what to wear and when to be ready. Half the time I don’t even enjoy where we go. I’d be much more content staying home and watching a DVD, at least some of the time—”

“Is that before or after the hot sex? ” Joseph asked.

Margo laughed and noticed Grace was blushing. Since the trip to Vegas, the Root of Passion and Dina, Grace was a different person. She’d learned to balance the demands of her job with a healthy social life, and, until tonight, she’d never mentioned needing any chemical help. In fact, a few of her antics worried Margo since Grace was pushing the envelope of risk-taking. She’d skydived, signed a short-term lease on a motorcycle and sent most of her wardrobe to the Salvation Army. Margo approved of that decision, since she was the one who’d led Grace on a three-day shopping spree through Scottsdale Fashion Square, spending thousands of dollars on fashionable clothes and accessories that telegraphed her beauty and sex appeal.

“No more relaxed jeans and big T-shirts, ” she’d declared, filling a cardboard box with most of Grace’s weekend wear.

She smiled at the silk tank top and designer jeans Grace had chosen for dinner. She’s sexy as hell, and she likes it, she thought.

“You haven’t answered my question. Could we fly to South America and find the store where you bought it? ”

“Honey, I doubt I could ever find that shop again. It was a total accident that I stumbled down that alley in the first place.” She paused, unsure of how to say the next part. “And, truthfully, I don’t think I’m supposed to find it again.”

Joseph began humming eerie music and Grace smacked his arm. “What do you mean? ”

She couldn’t explain. They’d never talked about how she acquired the potion. The focus had always been its powers or dangers. And that’s where it needs to stay, she thought. She could never rehash that afternoon with anyone, least of all a skeptical scientist.

She sighed and set down her wineglass. “Grace, sweetie, there’s something that Joseph and I need to tell you. It’s partly why we wanted to have you out for dinner.”

“Oh? ”

Joseph cleared his throat and squeezed her hand. “Margo asked me to test the little bit of potion that you had left in the vial.”

Grace withdrew her hand and sat up straight. “What did you find? ”

“It was nothing, really, mostly some benign liquids that when brought together create a chemical reaction quite pleasing to the eye.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Which chemicals? ”

He pulled a list from his pocket and read. “Threonine, eugenol, capsaisin and some jasmonic acid.” He glanced at her, his expression serious. “There was also a slight trace of pesticide, but miniscule, ” he quickly added. He folded the list and returned it to his pocket. “So, while I doubt that the substance will have any long-term effects, I wouldn’t recommend combing the streets of Rio for another dose.”

Grace rubbed her chin, deep in thought. “Much of what you named is organic, right? ”

“Yes, ” he said slowly. “That’s why I don’t believe it was harmful.”

“Just let it go, ” Margo said. “I can’t believe that potion contained pesticide! And I encouraged you to drink it. You were right all along. I never should have spiked your wine.”

Grace opened her mouth to argue the point, but her cell phone chimed. She smiled and Margo knew it was Dina. Saved by the sex goddess!

“Hey, babe. Where are you? ”

Margo glanced at Joseph, who had returned to eating his dinner. She did the same while Grace and Dina finalized their evening plans. Grace snapped her cell phone shut and scooted out of the booth.

“Sorry, but I’ve got to go. Dina’s picking me up outside.”

“You’ve hardly touched your shrimp, ” Margo said, pointing at her dinner.

She waved slightly, and they watched her go. After she’d exited the restaurant, they stared at each other until Joseph said, “Do you think she believed us? ”

“Yes. That was quite a performance you gave, ” Margo said with admiration. “What the hell is all that stuff you named? ”

“They are different substances, all real, and as the good doctor knows, all organic. I knew if I made shit up, she’d be suspicious. Are you sure she bought it? ” he asked again. Both of them knew how easily Grace could spot a liar.

“I think so. She seemed to, at least for now. I don’t know if she’ll want to see that report again.”

He dismissed her concern with a wave of his hand. “It won’t matter. It looks very official. Besides, she’s far too involved in her life. She won’t give it another thought. But I still feel bad about lying to her.”

“I know, but we needed to do that. She has to believe that she’s in control of her life, despite the fact that you and I know she got a little help. How is your new girlfriend, anyway? Will we hear wedding bells soon? ”

He grinned. “We’ll see.”

“We did a good thing, ” she concluded.

He raised his glass in salute and she joined him.

“So, did you really test the sample I gave you? ”

His smile vanished, and he swallowed hard. “Yes, I tested it.”

“Jesus, you look so serious. What did you find? Grace isn’t going to die, is she? ”

He set his glass down and stared at her. “I’ve been a chemist for nearly twenty years, and I’ve never seen anything like that potion. It derives from three substances, of this I’m sure, but whatever was in that vial has no name. It’s undiscovered, and I’ve got no idea what it is.”

A knot formed in the pit of her stomach. What if the Root of Passion is deadly?

“Oh, God, Joseph, what have I done? ”

He wiped a hand across his face and shook his head. “As a scientist, if I was you, I’d be a little worried. The three of us have imbibed a liquid of unknown origin, and Grace drank an entire vial herself. She could drop dead at any moment.”

“Thanks, I feel much better now, ” she snapped.

He held up a hand. “But I don’t think she’s in danger, honey. You’re going to think I’m insane, and if I ever said this to my colleagues, I’d be fired and sent to a mental ward. When I put that slide under the microscope, I watched the blues and the reds separate and come together, over and over, and, well…”

“What? ”

He gazed at her and smiled. “It looked… friendly. ”