by Amy Hale
“Now, you are both going to shut up and listen to me for a change. Got it?”
They both nodded.
“Lance, you’re a nice guy. I’m glad we’re friends. And I really appreciate the meal and the ride today. I hope we will always be friends.”
She watched some of the light dim in Lance’s eyes. She felt bad for him, but she couldn’t allow him to think they were anything more than friends.
“And, you!” She turned her head to address Colt. “You have no right to be angry! You made it very clear that what we had was temporary. If you’re mad because I’m the one who walked away, you need to get over yourself.”
Colt opened his mouth, and she dug her fingers into his chest causing him to close it again.
“I want to make this clear, Colt. You don’t own me.”
She glanced between the two of them. “No one owns me. I’m not a toy to be fought over. Do you understand me?”
They both nodded once again.
“Good!”
She removed her hands, and both men took a deep breath and rubbed their chests. Lance looked slightly horrified by her touch where Colt was trying to hide a grin as he watched her.
She turned to Lance and leaned forward, kissing him on the cheek. He tried hard not to flinch, but she noticed the almost imperceptible movement. It made her sad to think Lance was bothered by her gifts even if only a little.
“Thank you again, Lance. I’ll hopefully see you soon. Right now, Colt and I need to talk.”
ONCE MORE, I TRY TO SHINE THE LIGHT,
TO MAKE THE SHADOWS FLEE.
Lance said his good-byes and drove away with the promise that he would be available anytime Jane needed a friend. Colt had done his best to stay out of their final conversation even though he still didn’t like the way Lance looked at her or talked to her—or that he thought about her at all.
Damn, I am jealous.
This was another new experience for him. He normally didn’t give a crap about what his lady friends did or whom they did it with. With Jane, he felt as if he could easily dismember any man who even glanced at her. He had the profound sense that Jane had changed everything he ever believed about relationships, and she hadn’t even tried.
Over the years, many women had attempted to change Colt’s view of commitment. He’d wanted casual flings, and they’d wanted a future filled with a house, kids, and toys in the yard. He’d never wanted any of that—ever.
Then, some wisp of a girl had fainted on his porch, and his life had changed forever. He couldn’t figure out how it had happened. He still wasn’t sure he wanted the whole family-life thing, but he did know the last couple of days of looking for Jane had been total hell. She’d left him feeling empty, and he never wanted to feel that again.
Jane stared at Colt. He gave her a smile that would have had most women ready to disrobe, but Jane only frowned at him.
“We need to talk.” She continued to frown at him.
“Yeah, you said that.” He gave her an amused smirk.
She sighed. “Colt, I’m serious.”
“So am I. I’ve never been more serious in my life.”
“Why are you smiling at me like that?”
“Because I’m so damn happy to see you.” The playfulness faded, and his smile transformed into something a little more serious. “I was really worried about you.”
She took a moment to study his face. He looked tired.
“I’m sorry, Colt. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just needed some time.”
He tried to hold his temper in check. “Time? Away from me? So, you could run off and spend time with Lance?”
She smacked his arm. “No, you idiot. I needed time alone. I just happened to run into Lance when I was leaving the hospital.”
“Hospital? Why were you in a hospital?”
“It’s a long story. How did you find me anyway?”
He sighed. “I was making a run up the highway, hoping to find you. That’s when I noticed Lance’s car here and thought I should check with him.”
She nodded. “Can we go somewhere else to talk? I don’t really want to do this in the parking lot.”
Colt nodded as he pulled his keys from his pocket, and he turned to walk toward his motorcycle.
She followed behind him, looking for his truck. “What happened to the pickup?”
“It’s not running, so I’m using the bike.”
As they got closer, she hesitated. She was trying to be strong. Just the sight of him made her spine tingle, and then he had given her that smile, and she’d been struggling to keep her knees from collapsing. Being on the back of his bike with her arms wrapped around him was not going to help her resolve one bit.
He climbed on and then watched her cautious approach. She looked nervous.
“C’mon, Jane. I don’t bite—unless you want me to.” He gave her an exaggerated eyebrow wiggle that had her fighting back a grin. He patted the seat behind him. “Hop on. I didn’t bring my helmet. Do you mind not having one?”
A helmet was the least of her worries. “No, I don’t mind.”
She reached up and put a hand on his shoulder to steady herself. She placed one foot on the peg and then swung the other leg over the seat. She adjusted herself into a comfortable position and then put her hands on his waist.
She leaned forward. “Where are we going?”
“I thought maybe back to the cabin.”
She didn’t want to go back there, not yet. There were too many memories that might sway any ability to think logically, assuming she still could. “Can we go somewhere else?”
Colt gave her an odd glance but didn’t comment on her reluctance to visit the cabin. “Sure. We can’t go back to my house yet, so I have another idea.”
He started the bike, and she gripped him a little tighter. He smiled and enjoyed the feel of her pressed against his back. He pulled out of the parking lot and made a left turn. He drove for less than a mile before he made another left. This was one of his favorite riding routes. He loved the beauty of the countryside, the lonely back roads, and the various curves that gave him a feeling of freedom. He drove for several miles, taking her past all his prized spots.
Jane tightly held on to Colt and watched as fields, trees, and creeks passed by. It was almost serene. She knew she probably shouldn’t, but she couldn’t help but smile and enjoy being so close to Colt. The wind was blowing her long hair out behind her. It felt amazing even if it would take a miracle to get the tangles out later. She felt like she was flying.
If only that were one of my gifts, too…
She chastised herself for the thought.
Then, I really would be a freak.
Colt glanced at her through his side mirror. She had her eyes closed, a smile graced her beautiful face, and her hair looked like a trail of fire behind her. She was mesmerizing. He wanted to always make her smile. He had to be sure she never shut him out again. Determination took root in his mind. He’d do whatever it took to make her see that they needed each other.
He continued to drive until he came to a small town of less than four thousand people. He knew of a little place on the outskirts where they could have some privacy. He pulled the bike into a circle drive that sat in front of a modest brick house, and then he turned off the engine.
Jane relaxed her grip and then carefully slipped off the seat until her feet were on the concrete driveway. Colt dismounted the bike and stuck the key in his pocket. He reached for Jane’s hand, but she quickly stuck them both in the pockets of her hoodie—or rather, his hoodie. He hid a smirk and walked to the front door. He pulled back a loose brick near the door, retrieved a key, and replaced the brick.
Jane stared. “How did you know that was there?”
Colt shrugged. “This house belongs to a friend. He’s a trucker, so he’s rarely here. He has me check on things for him every now and then.”
He unlocked the door and pushed it open, and then he gestured for her to enter first. She cross
ed the threshold and looked around at the neatly furnished little house. It lacked clutter but also lacked that personal touch that indicated someone had made this house a home. She heard Colt enter behind her before shutting the door.
Then, she heard the lock click. She turned to see Colt staring at her like he was dying of thirst, and she was the only water for miles. She cleared her throat and tried to look at anything but him.
He took a couple of steps in her direction, and she took a couple of steps backward. He smiled then and continued to get closer. She backed up until she could go no farther without turning. Her lower body was against the back of a loveseat. He sauntered forward until he was directly in front of her. She had no choice but to look at his face. His smile was still in place, and his eyes roamed her face and body like a caress.
She needed to break the silent tension. “Colt, listen—”
He put a finger to her lips. “No. I have something I need to say first.”
Jane nodded, and he lightly moved his finger to stroke her bottom lip. Then, his hand moved to her face, and he cupped her jaw. Her breath hitched at the familiar touch. She’d missed it badly the last couple of days, but she wasn’t about to admit that to him.
He seemed to know what she was thinking. He leaned closer until his lips were almost touching hers, and she closed her eyes. His hand moved to the back of her head, and he threaded his fingers in her hair before pulling her to him.
His kiss was tender and sweet. She fought the urge to kiss him back, but it was a lost cause. She parted her lips, and he wasted no time in deepening the kiss. His other hand roamed down her back and stopped just above her waistband. Then, he pressed into her, showing her just how much he wanted her. She moaned, and he pulled back to look at her.
She slowly opened her eyes at the loss of contact and noticed he was intensely studying her face. His expression was serious, and it made her anxious. His fingers were making small circles over the skin on her back, and his other hand was still in her hair.
“You said you had something to say?”
His mouth was set in a grim line, and she was afraid he wasn’t going to answer—or maybe she was afraid he would. Both prospects were causing her some apprehension.
He finally let out a small sigh. “Do me a favor. Next time you decide you need some time, talk to me first. Please. I’ll give you whatever time you need. Just don’t scare me like that again.”
Jane felt guilty. She sincerely hadn’t meant to worry him. In all honesty, she hadn’t thought he’d be overly concerned over her absence. Obviously, she was wrong. That knowledge made her stomach do little somersaults, but she knew better than to read too much into it. Tamping down her elation, she kept her expression indifferent.
She inhaled a shaky breath. “Okay.”
He continued to look at her.
She started to become self-conscious. “What? Why do you keep looking at me like that?”
He moved his hand from her back and brought it to her face, his fingertips gently outlining her face from her temple to her chin. This time, it was his turn to inhale an unsteady breath.
“I just…” He swallowed, fighting to find the right words. “I can’t go through that again. Brett and I looked everywhere. When the storm passed, we spent the entire night searching. I thought I’d lost you forever.”
Colt’s emotional wall dropped long enough for Jane to see and feel the pain he was experiencing. Her instinct was to comfort him. She closed her eyes and pulled him to her until their foreheads touched. When she opened her eyes, a tear broke loose and rolled down her cheek.
Colt reached up to wipe it away. “Damn. Don’t cry, sweetheart. It’s gonna be okay.” He paused for a moment. “You and I…we’re gonna be okay. I promise.”
She shook her head. “I want to believe you, Colt, but we can’t be sure about the future.”
“You might be right, but I prefer to be optimistic.” He reached down and put his arm under her knees before lifting her off the floor. “I do know that we have today. Let me show you how important today is. Let me give you that.”
He carried her to a small bedroom down the hall and kicked open the door. He entered and then wasted no time in getting to the bed. He placed her on her back and then covered her body with his own.
Jane had all these amazing and terrifying powers, but nothing she was capable of could protect her from her need for Colt. She was defenseless against his touch. At that moment, she would follow him to the ends of the earth, but she prayed it would never come to that.
Dr. Weston had finished with his last appointment and was looking over his notes when his secretary called his office phone.
“Doctor, there’s a George Daniels here to see you.”
“Does he have an appointment?”
“No, sir. He says he needs to discuss a personal matter.”
Dr. Weston frowned. He didn’t recognize the name, so he had no idea what this man could want with him. He decided he’d never know if he didn’t talk to the man.
“Okay, Terri. Send him on back.”
He put down the phone and quickly put away the last of the patient records he’d been reviewing. A knock at the door signaled that his strange visitor had arrived.
“Come in.”
A tall, thin man entered the room. He had a touch of gray at the temples and along his hairline. He smiled warmly at Dr. Weston. “I’m sorry to intrude so late in the day, doctor. If I could have waited until tomorrow, I would have.”
Dr. Weston motioned for him to take a seat. “No, not a problem at all, Mr. Daniels. How can I help you? My secretary said it was a personal matter.”
“Indeed it is. You see, I’ve heard rumors about a special young lady who recently arrived in the area. I’m hoping it’s my daughter. Her name is Alice Daniels.”
Dr. Weston applied his best poker face as he worked to learn more. “Your daughter? Hmm…I can’t say for sure. What does she look like? How old is she?”
“Oh my. You can’t miss her. She’s twenty-two and taller than average, and she has the most gorgeous red hair you’ve ever seen.” George paused for a moment, seeming a little nervous. “Also, she’s very, uh…gifted.”
Dr. Weston couldn’t hold back his surprise. This man did seem to know about Jane. “Gifted how?”
George looked him in the eyes. “You’ll think I’m crazy.”
“Try me, Mr. Daniels.”
“She can do things…things other people, normal people, can’t do. When I heard the rumors, I was hoping I’d finally found her at last.”
Dr. Weston smiled at him. “Do you happen to have a photo?”
George looked a little embarrassed and pulled a worn photo from his wallet. “Well, sort of. I have one from when she was a little girl. She was taken from us when she was twelve, so I don’t have anything more recent.”
“Taken? As in, kidnapped?”
“Yes, sir. We’ve been looking for her all these years. I’m trying not to get too excited. But like I said, the rumors I’ve heard make me think it could be her.”
Dr. Weston stood up. “I’m so sorry to hear you lost your daughter, Mr. Daniels. I assure you, I’ll do some asking around and see what we can learn. Is there a number where I can reach you?”
George wrote his number down on a slip of paper and handed it to Dr. Weston. “Thank you so much, doctor. You’ll never know how much your help means to me. I’ve missed her so much, and with her mother gone…” He cleared his throat. “Well, it’d just be nice to have her back in my life.”
Dr. Weston clapped George on the back and walked him to the door. “I’ll contact you soon, Mr. Daniels. Keep the faith that you will find her.”
George nodded and walked away, looking slightly dejected.
Dr. Weston waited until he pulled away and then rushed back to his office, writing down everything the man had said.
Jane was a kidnap victim?
That certainly might explain some things. When she had first been br
ought in, her injuries and health status had indicated possible abuse, but because she couldn’t remember anything, there had been little recourse. Now that he possibly had some backstory on her and her real name, she might be able to piece the truth back together.
The man claiming to be her father had seemed to know a lot about her, and he’d had that picture of a child who resembled Jane remarkably. He had also known about her specific gifts.
Dr. Weston felt sure that had to count for something. Maybe the man knew how to help her. Those very gifts could be the reason she had been taken from him in the first place.
He ran all the possible scenarios through his head, and then decided the best course of action would be to just call Colt. Hopefully, he’d located Jane, and he could pass on this newest information. If she decided she wanted to contact George Daniels, Dr. Weston would give her the cell number. If she didn’t feel comfortable meeting or talking to this stranger, then the man would never be the wiser.
Dr. Weston turned off the lights and bid his secretary good night as she finished shutting down her computer. He let her lock up as he loaded a large box of research papers into his car. He’d been dying to dive into these, especially since meeting Jane. Tonight, he hoped that he could finally sit down and learn something. His colleagues were studying telekinesis and various other phenomena in a private facility upstate. Maybe they could give some insight into what Jane was dealing with.
BUT SHADOWS COME IN MANY FORMS,
THEY CLAIM TO COMFORT ME.
Colt was just waking up when he heard his cell phone ringing. He reached over to the nightstand and hit the Accept button.
As he rubbed the sleep from his face, he answered in a husky voice, “Hello?”
“Colt, it’s Dr. Weston. Have you found Jane?”
Colt looked to his right. Jane was asleep on her stomach, her hair pulled to one side, exposing her bare back to him.
He smiled. “Yeah, Doc. I found her yesterday. Sorry. I should have called you. We just got busy, and it slipped my mind.” He intended to replay their busy day every chance he got. Each time he touched her was like feeding an addiction—one he never wanted to overcome.
