Page 18 of In Dangerous Water

“Oh gods.” I tossed up my hands in a combination of aggravation and dread. “Pleasedon’t call them either. I’m not in any shape for the three of them to start in on me. I truly need some space from all their concern.”

Arianna gently touched my arm. “You’re an empath, right?”

I nodded. “I am.”

Immediately she withdrew her hand. “So, you’re on psychic overwhelm at the moment.” Arianna’s deep blue eyes searched mine. “Too much adrenaline, and you’re hurting over the breakup. I bet you’ve also had way too much exposure to the emotions and pain of everyone at the hospital.”

I felt myself begin to shake. “Yes,” I told her. “Yes, to it all.”

“That settles it,” Arianna said. “You’re coming back to Ames Crossing with me and Rafe.”

I opened my mouth to argue.

“I insist,” she said firmly. “You can stay in our guest room.”

“It might not be safe for your family,” I admitted. “Especially with you expecting. Someone has been sending me threatening letters and—”

“We know,” Rafe said, cutting me off. “But they’ll never think to look for you at our house.”

“That’s very kind of you—”

“Look, Blondie,” Rafe began again, “you can either come along with us or I can drop your happy ass off at the police station. I bet they’dloveanother interview with you. Probably take hours. You’d be there all night.”

“Rafe!” Arianna sounded horrified.

“There’s always protective custody,” Rafe said, rubbing at his chin as if thinking it over. The man was as tough as nails, and I had no doubt he’d do as he threatened.

“Well...” I said, changing my mind. “When you put it that way.”

He took my arm firmly in his. “Let’s go then.”

“Rafe,” Arianna began, “being touched right now might make Cordelia feel overwhelmed on a psychic level, or even ill.”

Rafe stopped and looked me dead in the eye. “Does it?”

I tilted my head to one side and considered the attractive and rangy man who stood beside me. He was wearing old jeans, a T-shirt, and work boots. His dark blonde hair was brushed back from his face and held in place by a backward ball cap. With his arm in mine, I could readily get a sense of the man he was: there was strength, an intense love for his family, and a genuine wish to help and to give me someplace safe to stay for the night.

Rafe Tremaine was confident enough and strong enough that his emotions didn’t push at me. They were simply there.

“You are a good man,” I said. “Your touch doesn’t bother me at all.”

With a nod at my words, he then reached out and hooked his wife’s arm with his free one. “Let’s go then.” He gave me a firm tug and guided us both across the parking lot.

Arianna snickered. “You have such style, Rafe.”

He pressed a kiss to his wife’s cheek. “It got me you, didn’t it?”

CHAPTER FOUR

We walked across the parking lot, and the two of them kept up a sassy banter. It made me smile, listening to the couple. They were obviously crazy about each other.

So, I ended up going home with the Tremaines. It was funny, but the farther we traveled away from the city of Alton, the lighter I felt. The three of us were crammed together on the bench seat of his truck, and an 80s classic rock station was playing on the radio. The windows were down, and I began to unwind and enjoy the breeze and the smell of the river as we drove along.

One by one my muscles began to unclench. My stomach stopped cramping, and my stress and anxiety lessened considerably as Rafe drove competently down the Great River Road to the historic riverside village of Ames Crossing.

I found their rambling stone cottage charming. Surrounded by a picket fence and located smack in the middle of the village, there was a definite magickal vibe in the home. It was strong, secure and rock solid. In fact, my shoulders dropped in relief as soon as I stepped over the threshold. I spotted various magickal talismans above the doorways and crystals on every windowsill as I was shown around by Rafe’s thirteen-year-old daughter, Caroline.

She was bouncy and full of energy. Tall and blonde like her father, the girl was excited at having company. A scruffy mutt, the family dog, Ford, followed Arianna around like a loving shadow. As she chattered away, I soon learned the guest room they’d offered to me was a recent addition to the back of the house.

---