Page 19 of When the Storm Breaks
“Yeah.” I smiled. “She’s the one who raised me and my brother. Some people thought she was crazy. Others were true believers.”
“Believers of what?”
“She was a psychic.” I watched his face for signs of disbelief but there were none. He accepted it as if it was perfectly natural that some people had those powers.
“You got the gift too?”
“So she said.”
“But you don’t believe it?”
“Sometimes I do. Some things can’t be explained. And sometimes I know things that people don’t tell me.” He looked wary and I hastened to reassure him. “Not specifics. I’m not a mind reader. Just... I get a feeling about people. Kind of like a vibe. I don’t get it with everyone. Only certain people.”Like you. “But some people have an aura and give off strong vibrations.”
“Some people... like me?”
Noting the wariness in his tone, I hesitated before answering. Sounded to me like Brody had a lot to hide. “Would it scare you if I said yes? Would it send you running?”
“Running from what exactly?”
“Me.”
“If this is your idea of hitting on me, you get points for originality.”
“I’m not hitting on you. I’m just making conversation. Thought you might be interested. Considering you’re obviously some kind of horse whisperer.”
He snorted. “I’m not a horse whisperer.”
“Okay. Whatever you say.”
“Here she comes,” he said quietly as he rose to his feet and tested the fence panels to make sure they were strong.
I turned around and watched Rebel as she crept closer to us then stopped.How had he even seen her with his back turned?
I stood statue-still and waited to see what she’d do. After about a minute of this stand-off, she took a few more hesitant steps closer and then a few more until she was standing right in front of me.
“Aren’t you a pretty girl?” I reached out a tentative hand and when she didn’t back off, I rubbed the side of her neck. She nickered softly so I kept doing it, my strokes growing bolder until she nudged my thigh with her nose, a playful gesture that made me smile.
“She likes you.”
He sounded surprised. I should have been insulted, really. “Maybe she’s trying to tell you something.”
“And what would that be?” he asked, packing up his tools.
“Be nicer to Shiloh.”
“How much nicer do you want me to be?” he scoffed, slipping a bridle onto Rebel and clipping on the lead rope.
I shrugged one shoulder. “I could use a friend.”
“You want to be friends?” he asked skeptically.
“Sure. Why not?” He was standing next to me now, close enough that I could smell his singular scent and feel the warmth radiating from his skin. “I’m not looking for a relationship.”
“Good thing. Because I don’t do relationships.”
“What do you do?” I asked as I led Rebel out of the pasture while Brody carried his tools.
“Casual hookups. How about you?”
