Page 48 of Phoenix Falling
Turning to the new woman, I smiled despite my brain still being half occupied with my friend. “Good morning.” I moved to the cash register, busied my hands with pulling my notepad from my apron pocket. “Have you visited us before?”
I’d asked that question of every customer I hadn’t met before. It was sort of my opener to get people talking, create a friendly atmosphere inside the coffee shop. Personalize the experience. And yet when I met the woman’s eyes, it was almost as if she were the one making me feel at home. There was something about her, an aura—as panicked as the past hour had been, I immediately felt myself calm. Relax. I smiled.
“I haven’t, actually,” the woman said. Even her voice was serene.
“Well, welcome.” I held out my hand. “I am Raine.”
“Nice to meet you.” She took my hand, and warmth seemed to travel up my arm from where we touched. “I’m Nala.”
Risk was still staring. I could see it, sense it, the same way I’d sensed her from the moment we met in the hospital. Like a fragile tether connected us somehow. She’d been the one to explain what had happened to me, the things I had sworn I saw but also that I was crazy for seeing. I trusted her more than anyone I’d ever met—not that there had been many trustworthy people in my life. She was the sister I’d never had.
I realized I was still holding Nala’s hand. I dropped it. “What can I get you?”
I went through the motions of getting Nala’s order. As I began making her coffee, I saw her wander Risk’s way.
My friend kept a wary eye on her. I watched them from under my eyelashes as I worked. What was it about this new woman? I didn’t know, but there was something…
And then my breath started to quicken. My hands began to shake. Because I realized I was sensing this woman much like I sensed Risk. I’d never felt that with anyone else, but it was definitely there, running beneath my skin—an awareness, as if there was something special about the three of us and only we could feel it.
Therewassomething special about the three of us. All three of us.
Heat seared the skin along the backs of my fingers. “Shit!”
I set down the cup I was holding and made a dash for the sink to thrust my burning skin under the faucet. Cool water eased the sting made by too-hot coffee but couldn’t ease the jangle of shock in my gut. I stood there for a moment, trying to breathe, trying to appear normal, but there was no way for me to do that. I’d never met another female like Risk, but now one had just walked into my coffee shop, and that couldn’t be a coincidence, could it?
Forcing myself to dry my hands wasn’t easy when they were shaking like leaves, but I managed it. I even managed to make Nala’s coffee and not spill it on myself again. It took a couple of attempts before I could get my body under enough control to transfer the coffee to the counter, though. As I approached, I saw Nala standing on the other side, eyeing me.
“Are you all right?”
I jerked my head up to meet her eyes. “O-of course.”
She smiled, that calm that she wore like a cloak seeming to reach out to me from her eyes. Holding me spellbound, she reached for her coffee, her hand landing on mine as I held the cup.
Peace traveled up my arm. “There’s no reason to be afraid, Raine. I won’t harm you.”
“W-what?”
“Stop touching her.”
Risk. I startled. Nala lifted her hand, carefully turning to take in the addition to our conversation.
“I don’t know you,” Risk said, studying the woman.
“No.” Nala shook her head. “You don’t. But nevertheless, neither of you have anything to fear.”
Risk snorted. “There’s plenty to fear out there, lady.”
“I mean from me.” That smile reappeared. “I can see I’ve startled you. I hadn’t realized the awareness would be so strong in both of you. For some it is, and for some it isn’t.” She eyed Risk. “I hadn’t reckoned on you at all.”
“So you came here on purpose, to see me?” I swallowed hard.
“I did, but not to hurt or scare you. I’m sorry for that.” She lifted her coffee and took a small sip. “This is good, Raine. Thank you.” Holding her cup, she stepped back from the counter. “I wanted to introduce myself; that’s all. Get to know you.”
“How did you know I was here?” I asked.
She tipped her head, seeming to study us both before saying, “The good guys sent me.” She saluted us with her cup. “I’ll be back to visit again soon.”
With those words she turned and made her way back outside, her steps steady, no rush. I watched her, confused. I didn’t live in a world where you trusted people you’d just met, or their words, but somehow I believed Nala. And when I glanced at Risk, I saw the same confusion staring back at me.
