My Paranormal Valentine: A Paranormal Romance Box Set

by Michelle M. Pillow

  My vision stopped with her slamming the front door, and suddenly I was back, looking up from the floor at the towering and still very naked Babel. “Ow.” My head, my back, my butt—everything hurt. “Did you drop me?”

  “What the hell just happened?” He looked a little freaked out.

  I got up on my elbows and rubbed the back of my skull. “Did you drop me on the ground?”

  “You were having a seizure or something. I laid you on the floor.” He was definitely freaked. “If I’d had a phone I’d have called for the doc, but…”

  “I’m fine now. You can stop worrying.” I moved my feet off the chair Babel had propped them up on.

  “I’m sorry. I’m squeamish about blood.”

  Which wasn’t a complete lie. Blood tended to bring on funky psychic mojo that left me drained and pained. Although, I’ll admit, these visions had been much stronger than normal. Apparently, Chavvah wasn’t the only Trimmel who put my psychic stuff on speed dial.

  “I’m getting that about you.” At least he sounded less upset.

  I closed my eyes. “Why would you let someone do that to your back?”

  “That’s a story for another day, darlin’.”

  Yeah, I knew the story. Not so sure I wanted the blow-by-blow again. I felt his arms go under me, and I opened my eyes, staring into the deep abyss of his gorgeous, Midwest baby blues.

  I let him carry me upstairs to the apartment. I’m not a small woman, but he held me like I weighed next to nothing, which made me think kindlier of him. With my arms around his shoulders, I could smell an unidentifiable musk and spice to his skin. He sat me down on a couch—the scent went from musky to musty—then he went into another room. I heard water running in the sink. More than a whisper of regret passed through me. I barely knew the man and I missed being in his arms. I looked around the living room.

  This was the seventies place where my vision had started. The retro decorum lacked any sophistication that could’ve made the space sensational. I knew this had been where Judah lived when he’d been in town. He’d rented this building before his disappearance, and Chav had used our stake to purchase it during her search for him. His vanishing had hit her hard.

  Chav told me once that she hadn’t agreed with her oldest brother’s “lifestyle choice,” but she respected him. I’d asked her what she meant, but she had shaken her head, unwilling to elaborate. I knew it wasn’t as simple as him being gay or anything like that, because Chav, like myself, was socially liberal. Hell, she’d have started her own PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in Peculiar if that had been the case. No. There was something else she hadn’t approved of.

  I heard the water turn off in the kitchen. Babel returned and proceeded to wipe my face and neck with a cool cloth.

  “There now, all better.” For a second, he sounded like my father. Which totally squicked me, considering the hard-core fantasies I had about him. He put the washcloth in my hand and patted my shoulder. “I’m going to jump in the shower real quick. I’ll be back in a few.”

  Part of me wanted to watch him walk away strictly for the view, but since that part seemed to have done gone and lost its damn mind, I waited until I heard water running before looking in his direction.

  He’d left the bathroom door open. Perv.

  I couldn’t believe it, less than an hour in a new town and I’d witnessed a Red Shoe Diary moment, and the star was lathering up less than ten feet away. I would’ve been downright disgusted by the whole morning if I hadn’t been so preoccupied with thoughts of slippery suds sliding along his perfectly formed pecs. (Now I understand how bad porn gets started. Bow chick-a bow-wow.)

  I will not go stare at the naked man. I repeated this mantra in my head over and over as I ran down the stairs to the kitchen.

  Grabbing his clothes from the freezer, I contemplated where they’d been and how they got there as I carried them back upstairs. They were cold and held the scent of sweat, but at least he’d have something to put on so he could go away. I placed them on the couch, and dear Lord, it was a really ugly couch. It would be the first piece of furniture to go when Chav and I started fixing the place up. And with that thought, I went downstairs to wait for him.

  Fifteen minutes later, the light flickered on in the stairwell. Babel’s arms and face glistened with dewy goodness as he walked down the steps. He rubbed a tea towel, barely big enough to dry a fish’s butt, against his loose mane of wet hair. His blue T-shirt clung to his chest. Water soaking through the fabric made spots the color of midnight.

  He must have felt me staring, because he dropped his arm to his side and looked at me. “Where’d you find my clothes?”

  “The freezer.” I wrapped my knuckle on the counter. “Guess you can go home now.”

  “Guess so.” He shrugged as he stretched his body to tuck in his shirt. “But we should probably talk.”

  “I’m in no mood.” For talk. Damn, he was super-fine.

  “Well, you kind of need to get in the mood.” He shook his hair out, droplets spraying out around him. It began to feel like a bad (or really good, depending on who you asked) shampoo commercial. “There’s been a mistake. My sister should’ve never invited you out here, Sunny.”

  “You’ve said that already, but unfortunately for you, my name’s on the property, same as hers, all legal and binding. I’m staying. Period. End of discussion. Besides, I’m not going anywhere until I find Chav.”

  Babel chewed his lower lip and narrowed his eyes at me. “I don’t think you understand the situation.”

  “Oh, I think I do. You don’t like me. Fine. I get that.”

  “It’s a might more complicated than that.” He scratched at his five o’clock shadow.

  I resisted the temptation to offer him a hand. “Why do you care, anyway? Don’t you have a real life you want to get back to? You seem awfully concerned for a guy who isn’t even sticking around.”

  “And what makes you think that?” Babel asked.

  “Uh…” Fair question. I couldn’t exactly tell him that I’d heard him tell his cuh-razy lover in a vision. “Well, you didn’t exactly stick around after the search was called off for Judah.”

  A pained expression crossed his face. I instantly regretted being such an ass. It was a low blow, and petty even.

  “I stayed for as long as I could stand it.” He shook his head. “I’m not meant for this place, Sunny. And neither are you.”

  Another twinge. “It doesn’t matter.” We would find Chavvah, then he would be gone. “Have you heard anything? Are the police searching for her?”

  “No and yes. I haven’t heard from Chavvie, but Sheriff Taylor isn’t giving up.” He flicked his thumbnail against his ring fingernail. “Not yet, anyways.”

  “She’ll show up, Babel. I just know it.” But I didn’t know it. In my heart, I believed she was alive, and not because of any vision. “She’s my best friend. I’d feel it if she was gone. Now, go on back to wherever you’re staying…” Oh, crap. Maybe he’d been staying here. “You do have another place to stay don’t you?”

  Babel nodded once. “I’ve been staying at Chavvie’s cabin down by the lake.”

  “Good,” I whispered. I’d want to check out her place later for clues to what happened. “It’s been a long drive for me, and I need a nap so I can figure out what I have to do next to find her.”

  He shook his head as if he was having an argument with himself. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours with some cleaning supplies and get the floor behind the counter scrubbed.”

  I didn’t want to talk anymore. I wanted to get my bags out of the truck. I’d hassle with unpacking the U-Haul later, but the bags were a must. I needed something personal, something of mine in this place. I held out my hand. “That’s a nice offer. I can manage. Thanks.”

  Babel took my hand, and gave me a tight-lipped smile. “You don’t handle blood very well. After I clean it up, maybe we can compare notes about Chavvie.”

 
I nodded, afraid that if I spoke the dams would open and I wouldn’t be able to stop the tears. Then I heard a voice like a whisper in my ear.

  Save her.

  Babel let go of my hand. “I’ll be back.” The way he said it sounded more like a threat than a promise. As he walked out the front door, he added, “You’ve got an audience.”

  Chapter Two

  AFTER A LITTLE exploring, I’d found a brick in the kitchen to prop the front door open. I needed the fresh air almost as much as the place did. Outside and across the street, a small crowd of about ten men and women gathered under the awning of the Johnson’s General Store. They kept looking over my way and talking amongst themselves. Babel relaxed against the hood of the Toyota. “Looks like you’ve given them something to talk about.”

  Apparently, I was quite the buzz about town. Hell, if they’d pulled out barbecue grills, we’d have had a regular block party going on. For a second, I thought they might be the welcome wagon, but no one held pies or baskets of goodies, so…Probably not.

  Bravely, I smiled, showing lots of teeth, and waved.

  This action must’ve startled them because they all looked away at once. Well, if they were going for inconspicuous, they were failing miserably.

  “Hello,” I said loudly, sounding more in command than I felt, and more foolish than brave, I walked across the street to join them. After all, we were going to be neighbors, and they might as well meet me face-to-face. “I’m Sunny. Sunny Haddock.” I pointed to the sign over the diner. “The Sunny in Sunny’s Outlook. Chavvah Trimmel’s partner.” Just in case they missed the connection. They were looking at me as though I’d just beamed down from the mothership after creating crop circles. Maybe it was the clothes. “I’m from California,” I explained.

  “I’ve got a brother in California,” a young woman with brown hair and warm brown eyes said.

  “Oh, whereabouts?” Finally someone brave enough to make small talk, and I wasn’t going to let the opportunity go by.

  She gave me a funny look. “Just outside the town. He’s got a few acres of land up there.”

  Up there? “Up around Pismo Beach? Or closer to Oxnard?”

  “No, just outside California.” She looked as confused as I felt. “You know, the county seat of Moniteau. Where are you from again?”

  “California. Lakeside. It’s in San Diego County.”

  “Oh.” She grinned, and it was nice. Friendly even. “My brother lives in California,

  Missouri. My fault.” She held out her hand. “I’m Ruth. Ruth Thompson.”

  I laughed, and she chuckled, throaty and real. I liked her. She seemed sassy. Taking her hand, I shook it firmly, placing my left hand over the top. “It’s so nice to meet you, Ruth.”

  “My husband Ed and I own Doe Run Automotive at the end of town. Once you get settled in, come on down for some coffee and pie.” She garnered several harsh stares and mutters from the others after her generous offer. “Oh, shut up, y’all. I’m allowed to invite someone for pie if I want to.”

  While they hadn’t said anything out loud, I knew exactly where she was coming from. Two men sporting long white beards, and desperately in need of grooming tips, stepped forward next. They had milky blue eyes and wide mouths and looked identical.

  Both wore overalls covering their rounded bellies. “I’m Delbert Johnson,” one of them said, then nodded toward the other. “This is my brother Elbert. We own the general store.”

  Delbert and Elbert; that explained the similarities. They had to be twins. “Nice to meet you, neighbor.” I smiled, and despite their crotchety demeanors, they smiled back.

  Nice white teeth. Unexpected really. Then one by one, the rest introduced themselves. “Elton Brown, I own the used furniture shop up the way.”

  A brunette with a severe bun went next. “Becky Baker, I have a bakery just down the block. I know, I’m a baker who married a Baker.” She grinned at her own joke. “Life’s funny like that sometimes.”

  “Blondina Messer. Blonde Bear Cafe.” The largish woman, with big platinum blonde hair, bright blue eye shadow, and a tan that would make George Hamilton jealous, pointed up the road. “You can see the sign from here, sugar.”

  There was Tammy Tolliver, the local seamstress, and Neville Lutjen, owner of the C Bar and mayor of Peculiar, and finally, Robbin Clubb, who owned the used bookstore in town. It was like the whole damn Chamber of Commerce had shown up. Definitely a tight community.

  “Well, it’s really nice to meet each of you,” I finally said after the introductions wound to a halt.

  Ruth placed a slender hand on my shoulder. “Have you heard from Chavvie? I’ve been really worried.”

  Dizziness hit me, then a flash of trees, the wind brushing against me, and the feeling of sheer freedom as I leaped over a small brook. I jerked my shoulder away from Ruth’s touch.

  She frowned. “You okay?”

  “Sorry, I…no, I mean, yes, I’m okay. But no, I haven’t heard from Chav, not for almost a week now.”

  Ruth’s eyes softened, sadness brimming on the surface. “She’s a good friend. If you hear anything, you let me know.”

  “Of course.”

  “You think you’ll be opening the diner up soon?” Delbert asked. “What are you planning on serving? Some of that fancy West Coast cuisine. We’ve been hoping to find out, but Chav’s been pretty tight-lipped.”

  “I’m not sure. She and I have talked about adding a vegetarian menu,” I mumbled, feeling stupid for talking about the diner. What if I couldn’t find her? No, I wouldn’t let myself go there. I would find Chav.

  “Vegetarian? That some kind of newfangled religion?” Elbert asked.

  “No, just regular food, but without meat products.”

  Delbert started chuckling, and I realized Elbert had been teasing me. Delbert nudged his brother with an elbow. “Good one, El.” Ah. Country humor. Interesting.

  Mayor Lutjen cleared his throat, and the brothers stopped laughing. While Neville Lutjen’s appearance was that of a good ol’ boy—short-cropped chestnut hair, jeans, cowboy boots, button-down shirt with pockets—his brown eyes were sharp with intelligence.

  I was hot and tired, and I didn’t want to talk to these people anymore. At least not now. I needed a bed, or anywhere soft to lie down and relax my brain for a minute. I rubbed my arms as goose bumps formed, causing the little hairs to stand on end. With the temperature ninety-plus degrees, it wasn’t from the cold.

  Suddenly, a medium-sized dog, with reddish-brown fur and large ears that stood alert, appeared from I don’t know where and circled the mayor. Its left ear, snow white in contrast to the rest of the beast, moved forward and back, its lips curling into a snarl.

  “Is that your dog?”

  Mayor Lutjen looked around. “What dog?”

  “That one.” I pointed to where the animal had been just seconds before, but it had disappeared. “Uh, well, the one that was just in front of you.” Glancing around, I silently asked for someone to confirm what I’d seen.

  “I didn’t see no dog.” Elton Brown shrugged.

  Withholding a heavy sigh, I dropped my shoulder in concession. “All right, fine. No dog.” The low droning buzz was getting worse in my ears.

  “Ms. Haddock.” Neville smiled, wide and charming. “Sunny,” he said, using my first name to soften his next statement. “I’m afraid everyone has to get back to work. Town doesn’t run on its own.”

  “Oh, yeah, completely,” I said. A truck-load of boys raced down the street, the wheels kicking up dust. Wolf calls ensued. “Nice,” I muttered.

  There were four of them, two boys up front, two in the truck bed, and they couldn’t have been much older than seventeen or eighteen.

  “Damn pups,” I heard Delbert mumble before he went back into his store. I wondered if that was a local gang or something, or if “pups” was an Ozark euphemism for rowdy teenagers.

  One of the boys in the back of the truck smiled at me. I won’t call it a wolfish gr
in, because it was friendlier than that, and without thinking, I smiled back. He jumped out of the moving vehicle with catlike grace.

  Too stunned to move, I watched as he coolly sauntered up the street toward me. His hair was cut short. It was brown with bleached-blond spots. He wore a sleeveless T-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. His arms were covered in tattoos, and his face glinted with piercings in his ears, nose, eyebrows, and lower lip.

  Tall and lanky, the kid was a walking billboard for angst and rebellion. As he approached, his smile became more confident—that is until he tripped over his own feet and landed in a push-up position at mine. He looked up and blushed.

  I held out my hand and pulled him up. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” he said, his voice two octaves lower than I thought it would be considering his age. He dusted his hands on his jeans. The smile was back. “You are one hot mamma. New in town?”

  As pick-up lines go, this one was pretty amateurish. I fought hard not to laugh at him, didn’t want to crush his self-esteem so early in life. “Yes, I’m new. Sunny. And you’d be?”

  “Jo Jo, but you can call me Jo Jo.”

  I couldn’t help myself any longer. I laughed.

  He put his hands on his hips, like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with them, and I noticed the black polish on his fingernails. “Something funny?”

  I pulled myself together. “Not a thing.”

  Babel pulled up in a small compact car. I laughed at the sight. He must have had it parked close by because I hadn’t been distracted by the townies long enough for him to have gone very far. His head in the small driver window looked like someone had zoomed it in. I nearly laughed again.

  “This boy bothering you, Ms. Haddock?”

  The way he said my name carried the weight of possession that metaphysically drew me to him. I actually started a step toward him before I stopped myself. Closing my eyes, I took a few deep breaths to shake off the feeling.