Page 17 of Stripped Bare

“Because the person was already gone,” Ally answered softly.

Meaning the person had been dead.Stace stayed still, refusing to react to the possibility Chloe might be one Ally couldn’t locate through her gift.

“Take your time,” Ally offered.

“My time?”Stace asked.

“Deciding if you want my help.Really want it.You won’t hurt my feelings if you decide it’s not for you.I’m not for everyone,” Ally told her.“Psychic phenomena can be a lot to take.”

“How long have you been aware of your gift?”Stace asked, appreciating Ally’s easy acceptance of any reservations Stace might have.Even those left unvoiced.

“Since I was a child.”

“Not sure if that would be a gift or a curse for a child,” Stace mused.

“A curse as a child,” Ally admitted.“A blessing as a woman.It helped me find the man who’d murdered my mothers.”She leaned into the man at her side.“Which brought me to Blake.”

“Definitely a blessing for me,” he mused, dropping a kiss onto her upturned face.

The love between them was easy to see.Stace let her gaze move to Shep, but he wasn’t looking at Ally and Blake, and the longing in his eyes wasn’t for another woman.It was for her.

“Well, it seems Shep didn’t tell us everything,” Ally said, pulling Stace’s gaze back to her.“If you decide this isn’t for you, I hope you’ll allow us to stay the night.It was a bit of a drive.One I’d rather not make again so soon.”

“What didn’t I tell you?”Shep asked.

“That you’re sleeping together.”

Blake chuckled at Ally’s comment.Shep looked down with a shake of his head.Stace glanced at her hand.The one Ally had shaken and the watch she’d touched.

“You could tell we’re sleeping together by touching my watch?”Stace asked.

“No.”Ally laughed.“I could tell the moment you walked into the room.It’s in the way you two look at each other.Besides, I didn’t touch your watch long enough to get a read on it, and thankfully, my gift doesn’t work when I touch people.That would really suck.”She glanced at Blake.“Especially for you.”

“I think we’d both lose if touch was out,” Blake murmured.

“Why don’t I show Ally where your room is while you two get started on dinner?”Stace suggested.“You did say you’re grilling, right?”

“I did.”Shep pulled her to him and gave her a soft kiss before whispering, “Thank you.”

She nodded, understanding he was thanking her for accepting his friend, which she had.She would try anything to find her sister, and despite her reservations before she’d met Ally, she would have accepted her help for Chloe.Ally was so easy to like, which made her decision easier.Stace stepped away from Shep, felt his hand graze across her buttocks before tapping as he moved.

“Want a beer?”he asked Blake as he led the other man toward the kitchen.

“This way.”Stace motioned as she took Ally to the room she’d prepared earlier.It was directly across from the one Griff had used and on the other side of the house from her and Shep.She pushed the door open and motioned Ally in.“Let me know if you need anything.I’ll leave you to get settled.”

“Stace,” Ally called, stopping her just outside the door.“I hope we can be friends.”

Stace nodded.“I’d like that.”

“Good.I’ll see you at dinner then.”

Stace gave another nod then walked away, avoiding the kitchen and the rumble of conversation between the two men as she made her way back upstairs.She’d take a moment to collect herself.If things went the way Shep believed, she might finally find answers to where her sister was.

Dinner was quieter than Stace had expected.She and Shep spent most of the time walking Ally and Blake through Chloe’s final call for help and what they’d investigated since.It was devastating to lay out all the ways she’d failed her sister.Whether her dinner companions picked up on her mood or were as tired as Ally proclaimed, they’d all decided to call it an early night.Stace wasn’t surprised when Shep followed her into her room once they were upstairs.

“We’ll pick up the car in the morning,” Shep said softly, coming up behind her and tugging her back against his chest.

Stace nodded.Ally had requested the car, the last thing Chloe had been in, as well as Chloe’s keys and phone.She wanted them all together before she tried to find a connection with Chloe.Stace needed it to work more than she was willing to admit.

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