“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking,” Remi said.
“Lord, I hope not. I do not want to be in the middle of that,” Barron said.
“Middle of what?” Jobe asked.
“I do believe that ‘Mr. I am better off alone and maintain ultimate control at all times’ has just met his match. And she’s here searching for his uncle— not him,” Remi said.
~~~
“No way, there’s just no way,” Brandt muttered to himself as he followed the bike as it led him back toward town. He was careful to stay far enough back that the rider wouldn’t see him behind her, but still he followed. He followed her all the way back to town. He parked his truck at his Aunt Everly’s studio on the edge of town, and followed on foot, using the sound of the woman’s bike to trail her when he briefly lost sight of her. He watched her as she drove her bike around the back of the coffee shop, and sneaking around the side of the building a few minutes later, he heard a door open and close. Only then did he brave possibly being seen to get a look at where the female had gone. He kept to the fence that marked the edge of the yard, and only went far enough to be able to see the upper part of the building clearly. He could see her moving around inside, through the large windows giving insight into the interior of the apartment. He watched her walk over to the kitchen counter and brace herself with both hands, leaning against it as she let her head hang. Then slowly she raised her head, staring straight ahead at the cabinets before her, very deliberately turning her head to look out of her windows. She pushed herself away from the counter top and approached the windows, scanning the back yard.
But Brandt didn’t see that part, because the moment she started toward the windows, he went up and over the fence and lay flat on his stomach on the other side so she wouldn’t see him watching her.
~~~
Tempest leaned against the small kitchen counter, letting her head fall forward as she tried to make sense of everything she’d just experienced. She was shaken. For the first time in her life, she was truly shaken, and she didn’t know what to do with that. As she stood there, trying to make heads or tails of it all, she got the uncanny feeling she wasn’t alone. Lifting her head and sending out her senses, she knew whoever was watching her was doing so from behind the building. She moved toward the windows, everything in her screaming that she find whoever was stalking her there. But she didn’t see anyone. Tempest closed her eyes and felt for a presence, sure enough she felt someone there. Smirking, she sent out a whisper to the mind of the person watching her. You should step softly, I see you.
Just when she turned to walk away from the window, she got a message back.
I see you, too.
Tempest hesitated, surprised by a reply. No one should have been able to reply to her except her mother or her Uncle Lore. She looked back over her shoulder, only to see Brandt defiantly stand to his full height near the back of the neighboring property, and walk down the fence line keeping eye contact with her the entire time until he was finally out of view.
Standing at the window, lost in thought and a little on edge, she was startled when Bailey was suddenly smiling at her.
Tempest inhaled sharply, her hands lifting in preparation of defending herself before she realized she knew the person smiling at her. Forcibly tamping down the adrenalin coursing through her, she stepped forward at the same time she moved her hands behind herself to prevent Bailey from seeing any of the purple mist that might have left her fingertips before she realized her latest visitor was Bailey.
She took her time reaching out to unlock the door to be sure the mists were gone, then she plastered a smile on her face so Bailey wouldn’t pick up on the fact that she’d been unnerved.
“Hey! I was checking to see if you made it home. I just finished up for the day, want to go get a burger with me?” Bailey asked hopefully.
“You know, I think I’d enjoy that. And I’m hungry. Where is it? Should I meet you there?”
“No, I’ll drive. I’ll meet you out front. Take your time getting changed, I’ll be waiting whenever you’re ready.”
Tempest looked down at herself, then at Bailey. “Okay.”
Bailey grinned and ran down the stairs.
Tempest looked down at her clothes again. She was still wearing her leather riding suit. She had a pair of dungarees, but they looked nothing like Bailey’s. Summoning her mists, she dressed herself in a pair of dungarees like those Bailey wore, and a powder blue sweater. She kept her riding boots on her feet. When she walked out of the door, she made sure it was locked, then hurried to get downstairs to meet Bailey.
When she walked around the outside of the building, she smiled when she saw the pale yellow vehicle Bailey was sitting in. She walked over to the car, leaned over and waved at her through the window.
Bailey smiled and waved her in.
“I love your car,” Tempest said, getting into the front seat of the vehicle.
“Thank you! I’ve always loved Beetles.”
“Beetles?”
“Yes. That’s what they’re called. Volkswagen Beetles.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize that. They do kind of look like a little round bug. A happy little round bug.”
“They do. And some people call them bugs, too.”
“I like it. It makes me think of fun.”