Lingering Touch: The Summer Park Psychics, Book 3

by Cassandra Chandler

  Jazz’s stomach sank. “He’s not letting you cook, is he?”

  After the bombshell Jazz had dropped—introducing Elsa to Finn—Elsa was certain to be even more distracted than usual. She had tried to make food for them both a couple of times when they were roommates in college. The results were revolting.

  Elsa had a tendency to grab the wrong item, like putting cayenne pepper in oatmeal instead of cinnamon. The worst was when she thought she was using honey but had grabbed amber-colored dish soap instead. Jazz shuddered at the memory.

  “I’m just bringing him what he needs and carrying things.” Elsa glared at her.

  “Yes, but you didn’t give him any of the ingredients, did you?”

  Elsa let out a little huff of breath. “It’s just sandwiches.”

  “I’ve had your sandwiches.” Jazz made sarcastic air quotes.

  “He smelled everything to make sure it was right. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

  Jazz and Elsa had been friends for so long, they had their own secret language hidden in regular conversation. Elsa had effectively told Jazz to eff-off. It was an added treat that Jazz was the only one Elsa was comfortable enough to let loose with that way.

  Jazz grinned. “Sure.”

  Elsa stalked away.

  “What was that all about?” Tommy said.

  “I’ll explain later. Come on.”

  Jazz led them to the patio through the solarium that Elsa had converted into her art studio. The windows that made up the walls and ceiling had steamed up, but still let the last of the evening’s sunlight into the room. More filtered in from the double doors that opened onto the stone tile sun and walkways surrounded by plants that hugged Elsa’s house. Laughter and conversation floated toward them.

  Garrett was sitting in a chair next to the patio table, with its big umbrella coming out of the middle. Dante was lying on the sun lounger. Half of his face was covered in bandages and he was wearing pajamas. He started to sit forward when they walked outside, but Garrett put a hand on Dante’s chest to keep him in his chair.

  “You know the deal,” Garrett said. “You can rest in the sun lounger or go back to your room.”

  Dante sighed, then leaned back. “I suppose I can forgo formalities for once.”

  “And no alliteration.” Garrett looked at Jazz and her group. “Dante’s been driving us nuts with it. It’s only funny for the first five minutes.”

  “I do believe it comes round again.” Dante grinned.

  Garrett laughed.

  “Wow,” Tommy said. “You’re Dante Lucerne?”

  “I am. Have we met?”

  “No, I just…” Tommy glanced at Finn. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  Finn stepped forward and offered his hand. It must be such a relief for him to not be afraid to touch people anymore. He grasped Dante’s hand and shook it gently.

  “Finn Connelly. This is my dad, Thomas.”

  Tommy stepped forward and shook Dante’s hand as well. “Call me Tommy.”

  “I am very pleased to meet you,” Dante said.

  Tommy was beaming. No wonder. He loved reading historical fiction of any kind. Meeting someone who had actually lived in a different era must have him over the moon.

  “If you guys can keep an eye on Dante here,” Garrett said, “I’m going to go check on my other patient.”

  “Other patient?” Tommy asked.

  Jazz’s stomach clenched. She thought everybody was okay. Winston must be fine if he was working in the kitchen. They had seen everyone except Rachel.

  “Is Rachel all right?” Jazz said. “She sounded fine when we talked to you guys on the phone.”

  “She got cut up pretty bad, but she’s going to be okay.”

  Jazz let out a breath. Garrett passed close to them as he walked toward the house. He put his hand on Finn’s shoulder.

  “Are you kidding me, man?” Finn shook his head. “After everything we just went through?”

  Finn grabbed Garrett and pulled him into a hug, clapping his back and then just holding on.

  “Garrett, check out my makeshift wheelchair.” Rachel’s bright voice rang out behind them. “Elsa said I can use this old broom as a paddle.”

  Finn stepped away from Garrett, turning to face Rachel who was…pushing herself onto the patio using a broom, just like she’d said. She was sitting in a wheeled office chair, holding her feet off the ground. Jazz would have laughed at the spectacle if Rachel’s feet weren’t wrapped in bandages. There were more on her arms.

  Garrett headed over to Rachel and put his hands on the back of her chair. “That’s a pretty slick system, but on this rough stone, I think I’ll feel better pushing you.”

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt your bromantic moment,” she said.

  Tommy let out a laugh. Finn was just staring. Jazz realized she was as well. She couldn’t help it, seeing the two together for the first time.

  They had the same hair, eyes, and smile. Even their builds were similar—both tall and athletic. Well, when Rachel was standing, anyway.

  Garrett wheeled Rachel closer. She patted his hand when they paused in front of Finn.

  “You must be Finn,” she said.

  “Uh…yeah.”

  Rachel reached for his hand and he let her take it. Jazz stepped forward a moment too late.

  “I’m so happy to…meet…” She broke off, eyebrows furrowing. “Wait. I know you. You’ve been looking for me. I felt you trying to reach me.”

  Shit. Jazz should have kept them from touching. Who knew how their powers would interact?

  She and Finn and Tommy had already decided not to tell Rachel about their relationship until things had settled down. They didn’t want to give Rachel any more to deal with than she already had.

  So much for that idea.

  Rachel’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open for a moment. She snapped it shut and shook her head.

  “I’ve been dreaming about you for months. I don’t understand.”

  “I can explain,” Finn said. He tried to pull his hand away, but she wouldn’t let him.

  “You all have been through a lot today.” Tommy stepped forward. “Maybe we should have waited till tomorrow.”

  “To tell me that Finn is my brother?” Rachel said.

  Garrett laughed. “Have you been dipping into Dante’s pain meds?”

  “I’m serious.” She grabbed Garrett’s hand as well, keeping her hold on Finn’s.

  Garrett’s brow furrowed as his gaze became unfocused, then his face relaxed and a huge smile spread across it. “Well, I’ll be.”

  “What the hell was that?” Finn said.

  “Empathic bond,” Garrett said. “It lets me feel whatever she’s feeling, including the connection between you two.”

  Damn, that would be useful. Jazz sort of wished she and Finn had something like that going on. It would certainly cut back on their miscommunications.

  Then again, that level of intimacy was not something she was comfortable with. She was pretty sure he’d feel the same. They’d have to muddle through their relationship the old-fashioned way, and just start talking more.

  “Well, I can feel enough of what you guys have going on to really want my hand back,” Finn said. “Dude, she’s my sister.”

  “And that makes you my brother.” Garrett grabbed Finn in a huge hug, pinning his arms to his sides and lifting him off the ground. He laughed the whole time.

  Finn let out an exasperated grunt. “God, this is embarrassing. Put me down.”

  Garrett did, but then ruffled Finn’s hair.

  “Stop it.” Finn ran his fingers through his hair and looked over at Jazz.

  She just smiled. “I’ve got nothing for you. I think this whole thing is disgustingly adorable.”

  Tommy spoke up in a
gentle voice. “Are you two married then?”

  “No, sir.” Garrett returned to Rachel’s side, resting his hand on her shoulder. “But at this point, the wedding feels like a formality.”

  “A really big formality,” Rachel said. “With a huge venue, and a jazz band, and… Wait a minute, we’re getting off track.”

  Jazz laughed as Elsa and Winston walked out onto the patio carrying trays loaded with food, paper cups, and pitchers of iced tea and lemonade. She didn’t want to leave Tommy’s side, and was grateful when Finn stepped forward to help carry everything to the table.

  “It isn’t fancy,” Elsa said, “but since I was helping out, we figured we should keep it simple.” She pulled up a chair next to Dante and held his hand. “What did I miss?”

  “I do not know where to begin,” Dante said.

  Winston let out a hmph. He angled his head toward the others as he sat in a chair close by.

  “Let me help you out there.” In his thick cockney accent, he said, “Rachel and Garrett are finally engaged and she wants a big wedding. She and the muscled one who likes to strut are siblings somehow, and their psychic mumbo-jumbo makes them able to read each others’ minds or something.”

  Winston leaned back with a sigh. The silence stretched on for a moment, then he added, “Oh, and Garrett and Rachel have an empathic bond. I miss anything?”

  “I don’t strut,” Finn said.

  “You totally strut,” Jazz said. “But how did you know all that, Winston?”

  “I keep telling you all, I’ve got ears like a bat.” Winston pointed over his shoulder. “That’s the kitchen window and the one just past is my bedroom. You people think you’re being all sneaky and whatnot, but it’s really just a pain in the arse keeping all these secrets.”

  Jazz had heard that being blind could increase other senses—including hearing. This was outright amazing, though.

  Elsa and Dante exchanged looks.

  “Do you know about us too?” Elsa said.

  Winston laughed. “Oh, my love. I know more about you pair than I ever wanted to.” He put on a mock shiver, then smiled at them.

  Elsa turned scarlet.

  “Great,” Jazz said, trying to keep Rachel away from her line of inquiry. “Now everyone knows everything about everybody.”

  It didn’t work.

  “Not even close,” Rachel said. “I still need to know how Finn is my brother.”

  “I have to admit, I’m curious about that myself,” Garrett said. “You never mentioned anything about that before.”

  “I didn’t know before,” Finn said. “We discovered it while investigating the case.”

  “I don’t understand,” Rachel said. “Did my dad have an affair or something?”

  “No.” Finn let out a sigh. “It’s complicated.”

  Her eyes snapped to Tommy. “Why did my question upset you?”

  “Uh…” he stammered.

  “Enough with the empathic readings already,” Jazz said. “Rachel, you know how your mom’s an evil, lying, manipulative—”

  Three voices of protest cut her off. Jazz was surprised that the Connellys jumped to Mrs. Montgomery’s defense. She suppressed a smile thinking of them as a family unit already. Damn, they were good people.

  “Am I wrong?” Jazz said. When no one argued the point, she went on. “Did you ever notice that you look nothing like Edward Montgomery?”

  “Well, yes,” Rachel said. “But not all children favor both parents.”

  Jazz pointed at Tommy. “Have you not noticed yet that you look just like Tommy and honestly more like Finn than I’m comfortable thinking about?”

  Rachel stared at Tommy and Finn for a moment, her eyes growing wide. “Oh my God. You’re my father?”

  Tommy looked over to Jazz, and she nodded encouragement. He stepped forward, crushing his hat in his hands.

  “Well, yeah,” he said. “I know this must be a shock for you. I don’t expect you to—”

  She launched herself out of her chair and hugged him. Tommy wrapped his arms around her and held her above the ground as best he could. She was almost as tall as he was.

  “Sweetie, you need to stay off those feet,” he said.

  Rachel let out a sob, her eyes clenching shut and tears rolling down her cheeks. Jazz didn’t need empathy to guess what Rachel was feeling. Her parents had treated her terribly. It was probably the first time a parent had shown her true concern.

  Tommy rubbed her back. “It’s okay,” he said. “It’s all going to be okay.”

  Garrett approached and put his hand on the pair’s shoulders. They helped Rachel back into her seat.

  “You’re so tall.” Tommy face was filled with pride as he smiled at her. “You grew up so beautiful.”

  Rachel held on to his hand, staring into his eyes. Finn picked up a chair and brought it over so Tommy could sit right next to her, then he knelt at their side himself.

  “Finn, don’t you dare heal her wounds,” Jazz said. “We still don’t know how doing that affects you.”

  Garrett’s interest perked up. “Heal her?”

  Jazz shrugged. “Yeah, it’s something new he can do. Turns out, Finn’s the most psychic of them all.” She looked over at Elsa and Dante. “Well, except maybe for Elsa.”

  Dante beamed at Elsa. “As someone saved by her psychic sagacity, I certainly—”

  “Dante,” Elsa said.

  His smile became a bit more subdued.

  Garrett shook his head. “Yeah, well wait till you hear about how Rachel got the better of Michael.”

  “I’d be really interested to hear about that, myself,” Tommy said.

  “Well, first I shot him seven times.”

  Tommy let out a half-strangled laugh. He cleared his throat, and said, “Only seven?”

  “I ran out of bullets.”

  Tommy pressed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, then set it in her lap, but held on. “That’s my girl.”

  “This is a lot,” she said.

  Jazz picked up a chair and brought it closer for Finn to use. “There’s one more thing. Finn’s not just your brother—he’s your twin.”

  Rachel smiled up at Finn and squeaked, “Twin? Really?”

  “Yeah,” Finn said. “We were split up in the divorce right after we were born.”

  More tears flowed down Rachel’s face. She shook her head, and said, “God, our mom sucks.”

  Jazz let out a big laugh. She pulled Finn up from where he was kneeling so he could sit in his chair, then sat in his lap. He wrapped one arm around her waist and let the other rest on her thighs. It felt like the most natural thing in the world. Nobody said a word about the display of affection.

  Buoyed by that, Jazz said, “I’ve already warned Finn about your mom. Just in case he gets curious or nostalgic and wants to meet her someday.”

  “Good.” Rachel turned to Finn and said, “Whatever Jazz told you, it’s all true—and worse.”

  “Believe that,” Garrett said.

  He was scowling more deeply than Jazz had ever seen. Whatever Mrs. Montgomery had done to get on his bad side, she’d better watch out for him. Jazz somehow doubted Mrs. Montgomery’s dreams of her husband launching his political career in Summer Park would come true without the Wolfstroms’ endorsement. From the look on Garrett’s face, she sure as hell wasn’t going to get it.

  “Well, I’m curious right now,” Rachel said. “I want to know everything.”

  Jazz broke in. “We have time to catch up later. Let’s just…be together. Okay?”

  Rachel hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. “Sure.”

  Elsa and Garrett started handing everyone paper plates loaded with chips and sandwiches. Jazz couldn’t believe a day that had started out filled with chaos and death could end so…peacefully. Her stomach starte
d to churn as the familiar fear eked in. She felt at any moment the other shoe was going to drop.

  Rachel glanced over from her conversation with Tommy.

  “Don’t,” she said. “Don’t let fear in. This is the moment we have. Hold on to it.”

  Everyone was silent for a moment.

  “Well said.” Tommy raised his cup toward her. “And if I might propose a toast… To family. And a brighter future.”

  “Here here.”

  “To family.”

  They lifted their glasses one by one, then took a sip.

  Jazz wrapped her arms around Finn’s neck and smiled down at him. This was the moment they had. She was going to hold on to it for all she was worth.

  About the Author

  Cassandra Chandler has studied folklore and mythology for her entire life and been accused of taking fairy tales a bit too seriously. Raised in a household where tarot readings and viewing auras were considered mundane, she spends her time writing and trying to appear normal. At least the writing is working out.

  Her romances range from sweet to scorching, set in extraordinary worlds and driven by characters searching for a deep and lasting love. She sees the starry sky as a destination rather than a matte painting, though her primary residence is on Earth.

  You can follow her thoughts on writing, life and mostly writing at www.cassandra-chandler.com or see her real-time ramblings on Twitter (@casschandler). She loves to hear from readers through email at cassandrachandler15@gmail.com.

  Look for these titles by Cassandra Chandler

  Now Available:

  Department of Homeworld Security

  Gray Card

  Resident Alien

  The Summer Park Psychics

  Wandering Soul

  Whispering Hearts

  Lingering Touch

  Don’t miss the other titles in Cassandra Chandler’s The Summer Park Psychics Series!

  A leap across time is easy...if you throw your heart first.

  The Summer Park Psychics, Book 1

  A woman with a secret…

  Elsa Sinclair’s ability to bring stunning realism to her historical novels is a secret she must never reveal. She does her research first-hand—by traveling back in time.