A Deep and Dark December(16)

Opening her eyes fully, she realized she was in his lap on the floor. He smoothed her hair back from her face. His hands were warm and gentle, not cold. They smelled like soap.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I…” What? What could she tell him? Someone or something was interfering with her ability, getting into her head and bending her visions. There was almost a purposefulness to it, as though a tripwire had been installed in her brain, triggering a trap.

“This young lady isn’t well enough to give her statement,” Elmer said, slipping his watch back in his pocket. He stood up. “I’m calling a halt to these interrogations until the young miss is well enough to sustain them.” He thumped his cane on the floor to punctuate his point and left for his bingo game.

Graham’s eyes had a curious blue-black ring around the paler blue of his irises. His lashes looked like they’d been tipped with gold. He stared down at her with concern and something that felt strangely like interest. He lifted a strand of hair off her face. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

It was interest. She blinked up at him, caught by an unexpected answering tug of longing. His gaze dropped to her mouth and for a moment she thought he might kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her. This had to stop. She had a boyfriend. What was she doing entertaining these thoughts, let alone encouraging them? She pushed at him, trying to scramble off his lap.

In her haste she accidentally planted her palm on his groin.

He doubled over, knocking his head against hers.

They both jerked back. “Ow!” they said in unison, then, “Sorry.”

Graham had one hand on his crotch and one on his head and suddenly it was all too much for her. This whole thing was ridiculous. The very idea of them was ridiculous. She burst into giggles. Graham’s concern morphed into surprise, and then laughter. His laugh was deep and rich, the sexy throatiness of it arrowed straight through her. She reached out to touch the bump on his forehead, lifting strands of hair away with the tips of her fingers. He caught her wrist and their laughter slowed, then died altogether. Frozen in the moment, she couldn’t look away. He held her gaze, then slowly turned his head and kissed the underside of her wrist. She lost her breath.

Mirroring her, he reached out and touched his fingertips to her forehead, then trailed them around her face to her temple, her cheek, her jaw. His gaze followed the movement as though memorizing the curve of her face.

“So soft,” he whispered.

She clasped his wrist, stilling his hand.

“Tell me what happened,” he said, pulling her ever so slightly toward him.

She couldn’t look away, didn’t want to pull away, caught by whatever was going on between them. “I-I’m not sure.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Erin, I know.”

She shook her head. He couldn’t.

“I know about you. I know all about you.”

All about her? The hard thump of her heart echoed in her ears. He was close, so close. She felt herself arching toward him as though he were a magnet. Everything else in the room faded and it was just him and her and this overwhelming link they seemed to share.

“You can’t.”

“I do.” His breath whispered across her skin as he leaned closer. “I know about your ability. I know something’s wrong, something’s happening to you.”

She thought to deny it, then nodded. Unable to resist.

“Tell me about it. Let me help you.”





The loud thump of a door closing broke through the haze that had invaded Erin’s brain. She shook her head, suddenly realizing where she was and whom she was with.

What the hell just happened?

She’d almost told Graham her secret, that’s what. No good could come from that. He’d never understand. How could she explain the unexplainable? What if he told other people about her? What if he told Keith?

Then another thought struck. How did he know about her ability?

“You can’t help me.” She pulled free and stood. Too many things were happening inside her. She couldn’t catalog them all fast enough to put them neatly in their slots to deal with later. She had to get out of there.

He rose and shook his head as though he didn’t understand what had just happened either. “What was that?”

She didn’t think he was only talking about her collapse. Hugging herself to ward off the sudden chill, she shook her head. She had no answers for him.

Graham watched her closely. “You know what I think—”

“Elmer left,” Keith said from the doorway.

Erin started. She’d been so focused on trying to figure out what Graham did and didn’t know about her that she hadn’t noticed Keith’s entrance.

“He said you were sick or something.” Keith walked over and put his arm around her. “Are you feeling okay, angel face?”

“Not really.”

“You’re pale and you’ve been through so much. Let me take you home.” Keith gave Graham a look that dared him to argue.

“I can finish getting your statement tomorrow.” Graham didn’t look happy about having to wait. Or was it Keith’s sudden appearance? Had something gone on between them that she didn’t know about?

Erin started to gather her things, and realized her cell phone wasn’t among them. “My phone’s missing.” She looked to Graham, thinking maybe he might have taken it.