only because he was looking for it. Like dealing with a skittish colt, he’d have to take it slowly. Maybe she’d rethink moving on. “I guess I’ll deal with that if it happens.”
He reached out to her again still with some hesitation. Would she see the colors? His finger traced her jaw line and she didn’t pull away. Instead her eyes closed, her face leaning into his touch.
A murmur escaped her lips. “We can’t do this now.”
“I know, but I’m going to kiss you.”
He brought his lips to hers as lightning sent a sizzle through him. He’d kissed many women, some of them expert kissers. Right now his knees wanted to buckle. Instead, he dug his fingers into her hair as if it were a lifeline.
She responded by grabbing his shirt front and pulling him closer. No room for the Holy Spirit here.
Just as he was settling into the rhythm of her lips, she nudged him away. “I heard a car,” she said, her voice sandpaper.
His cop radar went on overload. The kiss still burned his lips, but the hair on the back of his neck stood.
“Damn. We’ll revisit that,” he said, glancing out the window.
He raced down Grace’s steps with her close behind. “It’s Mark.”
Sure enough her squat friend climbed out of a compact car. “What’s up guys?”
Chapter Twenty
Grace’s breath slowed. She was out of breath more from Zach’s kisses than from the trek down the steps.
Mark eyed them both.
Her hand went to her probably swollen lips. “Where have you been?” Her breathy voice held no venom. Guilt tinged her consciousness even though rationally she had no reason. Mark had no claim to her.
She just didn’t need to rub it in his face.
His gaze went to Zach who had moved closer to her. He couldn’t have been more obvious about possessing her than if he’d peed on her leg.
“Police station,” Mark said, more to Zach than to her. He looked like a kid daring Zach to tell on him.
Grace stepped away from Zach’s overbearing presence. Mark didn’t need this, nor did she. “You went in?”
“Sure, I got nothing to hide. They let me go finally. What have you two been up to?”
“Nothing,” she said, more quickly than she should have.
Mark faced Zach. “So you’ve moved in on her already.”
“Mark, it isn’t what you think,” Grace said.
“Oh, I can just imagine. I’m out of here.”
He slammed the car door and squealed his tires on the way out. Grace had never seen him so upset. “Has he been drinking?”
“I didn’t smell anything,” Zach said.
She rubbed a hand through her hair. What a mess she was making. Of her life. Of everyone’s around her. Zach’s arms hung at his sides, as if the crisis were over now. Was it just beginning?
He wasn’t here because he believed her. He was here because of his attraction to her. Not that she could deny there were feelings inside of her for him. She couldn’t act on them. She couldn’t get distracted.
She’d cost someone’s life once already. Her mind wouldn’t take that again.
“You better go check on Dolores,” Grace said.
Zach nodded. “Not until you’re inside, with the door locked.”
She trudged up the steps, wanting only sleep, knowing it would have to wait. Besides, with the sun up, she’d never sleep.
Her phone rang. Mark.
“I’m leaving town. I’ll be in touch,” he said.
“You okay?”
She didn’t want him to leave on this note. They’d been friends for too long to ruin the friendship now.
He sighed. “I’ll be okay. I just need some time, Gracie. I’ve loved you a long time. It’ll take me time to stop.”
“Mark, I wish I’d known.”
“No, I wish I hadn’t said anything.”
“Why?”
“Then I’d be here for you instead of running away licking my wounds. Just don’t call me for a few days.”
“Fair enough, Mark.”
He grunted.
“Mark?”
“Yeah, Gracie?”
“I’m sorry I don’t feel the same.”
“Not as sorry as I am.”
The dial tone shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did. She returned the receiver with a heavy heart.
Grace’s phone rang again an hour later. She snatched it hoping it was Mark.
Instead a woman’s voice came on the line. “I know what you are.”
She’d had prank calls before, when she was more open about her gift. Since she didn’t broadcast her ability anymore, she hadn’t received any.
Until now. Her voice left her for a moment.
“What?”
She couldn’t hear any noise in the background so the person was calling from their home. Was it a neighbor? Had someone figured out who she was and what she could do?
She bit her lip. She’d have to shake the dust of this town off of her when she finished. Regret eased through her. Used to moving when a job was done she’d hoped she could stay in Glen Hills.
No such luck.
“I know what you are. And I’m going to tell people.”
“What will you tell them?”
“About your gift.”
There was no sneer in the woman’s voice. Usually the person who called told her she was spawn of the devil. This woman sounded as if she wanted to help Grace.
She wasn’t believing it. “Tell them what you want.”
Once her birthday came this would all be done. Her powers would be gone and she could live a normal life. That was only two hours away.
“I know.”
“How?”
Who had ratted her out?
“I just know.”
A click on the other end finished the conversation.
Zach let himself in, then called out Dolores’ name. Her nurse greeted him in the kitchen. “She wants to see you.”
“Good. Take a break. We might be awhile.”
The nurse poured herself a cup of coffee then sat at the kitchen table. Zach strode down the hallway and found
