Trouble [New Crescent 1] (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Mary Lou George

  Regina smiled and teased her, “What…you mean…like cooties or something?”

  “Not funny, a house can hold the energies of those who’ve lived in it. You’re in real estate, that’s something you know very well, Regina, especially in this town. Althea Stevens was not an easy woman. I wouldn’t want to live in her house.”

  “Are exorcists listed in the Yellow or White pages?” Reggie asked soberly.

  Gillian giggled, “I felt terrible and Marcus seemed so disappointed, but I was glad when we moved into the house on the cliff. It’s a dream come true. Marcus came around in the end. He’s coming for a visit next weekend. It’ll be good to see him.” She looked at Regina, who smiled distantly and applied herself to her dessert.

  Ruth barreled ahead. “Are you romantically involved with Marcus, Gillian?”

  “No” She answered quickly. “We’re just friends. He was there for me when I needed him and for that, I’ll always be grateful, but no, there is nothing romantic between us.” Gillian’s voice was firm as she directed her answer to Regina.

  “Well, that’s good, I think. From the look I see on Travis’ face when someone mentions you, I can tell my son has his eye on you.” She laughed. “Even when he was a small boy, he made this face when he really wanted something. He was always a generous child who had no problem sharing with his younger brothers, but when he got that look in his eye, everyone knew to steer clear. He gets that very look when he talks about you, my dear.”

  Reggie snorted. “I’ve seen that look. Like a little boy with his eye on the last piece of birthday cake. Poor you, Gillian.”

  “And you, Regina, what about Marcus?” Ruth’s question stopped Regina’s laughter abruptly.

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Oh yes you do. We’re all friends here, dear. Do you still have feelings for Marcus?” Ruth pressed her.

  “I haven’t seen him in years How would I know?”

  Ruth let her off the hook more easily than anticipated. “Fair enough. I guess we’ll find out next weekend when he comes to town. Gillian, you’ll have to make sure to get them together or something. If Marcus and Travis were closer I’d have a dinner and bring them together myself.” She addressed Gillian “Travis and Marcus aren’t the best of friends. He’s never told me what happened and gets a hard look on his face whenever Marcus’s name is mentioned. He doesn’t talk about it. I’ve always thought that Althea had something to do with it.”

  Reggie said, “All I know is that neither of them would ever explain it to me. Maybe we’ll find out one day but I doubt today is the day.”

  “On that, we agree.” Ruth smiled at Gillian and said. “I guess we should talk about Ernestine’s party.”

  The rest of the lunch was spent discussing the look Ruth wanted for the announcement and about plans for the party. The Sinclairs certainly knew how to throw a bash. Gillian found herself looking forward to the day more and more.

  She was sorry when the hour grew late and she and Regina prepared to leave. Ruth had managed to make her feel very welcome. Gillian liked the older woman more with each passing moment. There was no doubt the feeling was mutual, when they bid farewell, Ruth embraced Gillian in a warm hug. Hank was there to lend support so Gillian was able to accept the embrace in the spirit with which it was bestowed. All in all, it was a most enjoyable afternoon.

  In the car on the way back to Gillian’s house, Reggie said “I told you so.” At Gillian’s sidelong glance she laughed “You can’t possibly be surprised that I’m the type of person who loves to say that. I’ve been Travis’s friend for years. There are very few things in life that give me greater pleasure than saying “I told you so” to him. And who can blame me?”

  “Ruth Sinclair is a wonderful woman.” Gillian said. “Her husband seems just as wonderful, from what I could tell.”

  “You’d be right there. He’s just as great. I’m really looking forward to that dinner at their place on Thursday night. I love how he just invited you on first sight. He took to you right away. Typical.”

  “I suppose Travis will be there too. It should be interesting to see him with his parents.” Gillian mused.

  Regina had just pulled her Land Rover into the driveway when she spied Travis’ truck in her rear view mirror. “Speak of the devil,” she said

  Gillian was beginning to get used to the way her heart jumped in her chest whenever she laid eyes on him. That didn’t mean she liked the feeling, and without realizing it, she scowled at him.

  “What’d I do?”

  Reggie answered for her, “You’re freakishly tall.” She sniffed. “Do I smell something? Oh yes, that would be an overabundance of testosterone.”

  He ignored his friend as he took Gillian’s face in both his hands. “Gilly? Are you ok?”

  She nodded, not saying a word.

  He sighed and kissed her lingeringly. He took his time about it, his tongue teasing hers into response. He pulled away for a moment, looked into her eyes and smiled with satisfaction. “There, that’s better.” He kissed her again, soundly.

  Reggie cleared her throat loudly. “Should I leave?”

  Gillian pulled away from Travis with embarrassment. He wouldn’t let her get far, as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and said, “Impatient as always huh, Reg?”

  “I’m way too spectacular to be ignored like this, you troglodyte.” She gave him a playful nudge. “We’ve just spent the afternoon with your Mom.”

  He looked down at Gillian with a bright smile, “So, you met the parental units, did you? How’d it go? Aren’t I the lucky one?”

  “You are lucky, that’s for sure. I just met your Dad for a sec and he invited me to dinner, he was very friendly and your mother is amazing.”

  “Good old Dad. He never misses with a pretty woman. So when’s the big dinner?”

  Reggie chimed in. “Thursday. If you’re a really good boy, maybe you’ll get an invitation. And speaking of invitations, Gillian has agreed to design Ernestine’s birthday announcement.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. “That’ll make the old girl happy.”

  Growing tired of standing in the gravel driveway, Gillian started in the direction of the house saying, “Would anyone like something to drink?”

  Reggie declined, saying that three was a crowd and that she’d promised she’d meet a client after lunch. She said her goodbyes and left in a cloud of dust.

  Travis followed Gillian into the house and watched as she made a pitcher of lemonade. His silent study unnerved her just enough to make her drop the same lemon twice. He joined her at the counter and stroked the nape of her neck with a calloused hand. “I don’t really want any lemonade. You know that, don’t you?”

  She nodded, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensations his hand created. She felt feline and wanted to arch her back and purr at him.

  “I’m sorry Gillian. I just can’t seem to keep my hands off you.” His lips brushed her bare shoulder, gently. She responded immediately by grabbing a chunk of his mused hair. She wanted his lips on hers. He kissed her with tenderness. She wanted more. As her passion rose and she responded with heat, he matched her, kiss for kiss. His body pressed hers against the counter. He knew it the minute the hard counter bit into her back painfully and adjusted their position so she rested against him, and only him.

  She could feel his arousal and didn’t shy away from it. In fact, she reveled in it, as she moved her hips against his hardness. It gave her a tremendous feeling of power to know she had such an effect on this man and that feeling fueled the heat between them. He groaned low. His hands tangled in her hair and pulled her head back to expose her vulnerable throat. She arched her back, bringing her lower body into even closer contact with his. His lips almost singed her shoulder and his fingers eased her strap down to expose a rosy nipple. He cupped her breast in his hand, his thumb teased the peak, making it erect. He then bent and replaced his thumb with firm lips. Gillian was struck with such an extreme sensation, she
cried out and her knees buckled.

  Travis held tight, taking her weight against him. He cooled things off a little by straightening and pushing her strap back up. His kisses became less passionate and he started to pull away from her, inch by inch.

  Gillian was confused. Wasn’t this what he’d wanted all along? Embarrassed, she stepped away from him. She could only imagine what she looked like. She smoothed a shaking hand over her tousled hair and adjusted the line of her dress. She could still feel the flush on her skin. There was no way to hide it. She was thoroughly turned on, and he knew it. Hell, she’d practically screamed. He rejected what she’d so blatantly offered and now she didn’t know what to do. With both hands on the counter, she took a deep breath, afraid to look at him.

  He moved to touch her hair and she flinched away from him.

  “Ice, I need ice for the lemonade.” She opened the freezer, grateful for the chill on her overheated skin.

  Travis moved to the table and said, “I visited Sandy this morning. She’s doing okay. I sent the clothes she wore that night to the forensics lab. I doubt they’ll find any evidence, but I figure it’s worth a try.” When she didn’t answer, he continued, “I also checked with some friends in the FBI and had them search for anyone with this particular MO. Nothing so far, but they’ll keep looking.”

  Gillian still didn’t respond; she kept making lemonade. She couldn’t turn around and look at him. She didn’t know what to do. She was mortified. She’d never wanted anyone like she had wanted Travis, right there against the counter in her kitchen. She’d finally given in to it. To have him reject her, struck her pride a solid blow and she was left feeling confused and more than just a little irritated. What game was he playing now? He’d wanted her too, had from the start and he took every opportunity to make that fact abundantly clear. Now here he was acting like nothing happened. The kitchen filled with uncomfortable silence.

  “Damn it, Gillian, look at me.” Travis’s voice was rough. “Gillian, please.” He ran a hand through his hair and moved towards her. She heard the scrape of his chair on the tile and turned to him.

  She held out a hand to halt his progress. “Just stay right where you are. I think it’s best you keep your distance.”

  “You’re telling me. I get within a foot of you and all I want to do is put my hands on you. It’s getting embarrassing, walking around like this all the time. I feel like I’m back in high school. People will talk.” He laughed. “Believe me, I’m doing all I can to behave myself. It’s just that I don’t always have my usual control when you’re around. You have no idea what it cost me to step away from you just now Gillian, but I understand now is not the right time. I want to be sure there will be no interruptions when I finally get my hands on you. Besides, I need you to want this as much as I do and not because I pressured or manipulated you.”

  She nodded once and handed him a glass of lemonade. “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”

  “I should have seen that coming.” He smirked.

  She sat across the table from him, doing her level best to force her wayward pulse to behave. “You have wonderful parents.”

  “I’m glad you like them but I can’t take credit. They came with the house.”

  “Some house.”

  “Yeah, it is a monster isn’t it? Been in the Sinclair family for generations…of course, my mother has added her own personality here and there.”

  “She has a great sense of style.”

  “That’s quite a compliment coming from a designer of your reputation.”

  “What would you know of my reputation?”

  Caught, he sat in silence for a moment while she looked at him with suspicion.

  “I ran a check on you.”

  “You did what?” She nailed him to the chair with a look of outrage.

  “I checked you out. Ernestine had agreed to show you her house. That set off alarm bells in my head. Hell, she wouldn’t let me buy the house from her and I’m a relative. And you come along, a total stranger, and she simply hands over the keys. I didn’t like it, someone I knew nothing about, was getting involved with my family; you could have been a con artist for all I knew. I protect those I love. I protect this town.” He tried to capture one of her hands in his.

  She folded her hands in her lap, out of his reach. “And you felt you had to protect the entire town from me. You didn’t even know me.”

  “No. I didn’t, that’s just the point isn’t it?”

  “Oh, it’s okay to want me, but not to trust me? Do you investigate everyone who comes to town? Are you that jaded Travis?”

  “I never used to be.” He looked at her intently but his gaze gave nothing away.

  “What happened to you?” For the first time since she’d met him she wished she could read him like she could other people. She placed her hand over his and without thought, reached out to him with her mind.

  He gave her a sharp glance, “No. Sorry, Gillian. It’s hard enough for me to keep you out of my head when you’re not trying to get inside.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Just that I’m not completely immune to your abilities. It isn’t a fluke that you can’t read me, you know. It’s all I can do to keep you out of my head when we touch. You reach out without even realizing you’re doing it, sometimes.”

  She looked at him, astonished. Had she been digging into his mind without meaning to? How was he aware of it? “You can feel it?”

  “Yeah, it’s like drums that have no sound. It’s a familiar sensation. I’ve been able to detect Ernestine’s probing since I was a kid.”

  “I’m so sorry, Travis. It’s never been intentional until just now. As a rule, I do all I can to stay out of people’s heads. Touching makes that hard with some people, but I can’t read you at all. It is a tremendous invasion of your privacy. Forgive me.” She looked away from him. “I’ve worked so hard to get control of this thing. I guess I need to keep working on it.”

  “It’s okay, Gilly. Damn it, I didn’t mean to tell you this way. I’m on edge. I’m not used to denying myself what I really want. I felt guilty about investigating you and tried to turn the tables a little. I’m sorry.”

  “No, I’m the one who needs to apologize. I can’t be close to anyone. I was supposed to come to New Crescent and get distance from people, gain more control. I thought I was making progress.” She got up from the table and walked towards the door. “This isn’t going to work, Travis. It’s just not good for me right now. I think you should go.”

  With a sigh of resignation, he rose and took her by the shoulders, forcing her to look up at him. “Fine, just for now Gillian. I’ll keep my distance, but think for a second. I may be the only person you can touch.” His thumbs caressed her bare skin almost absently. “I can keep you out of my head. Isn’t that a good thing? For both of us? You don’t want to invade my privacy and I’d kind of like to maintain a little mystery. I can keep you out even when we touch. How many people can say the same thing?”

  Gillian was confused. She didn’t know what to do. He made sense, but there was so much she hadn’t worked out about her gift, yet. She needed more control. She bent and hugged Hank to her, taking deep breaths and absorbing his peaceful composure. Looking up at Travis, she said, “I don’t know what to say. It’s no good. This is all too much for me right now.”

  He nodded with an understanding half-smile. “Okay. Maybe we should take it a little more slowly. Like you said last night, we have a lot to deal with right now. I need your help with this investigation still.”

  “You have it. I’ll do everything I can.”

  “Thanks. I’ll get back to work now.” He looked over his shoulder at her and smiled, “Do you think my parents will let me horn in on your dinner with them?”

  “Maybe. I figure you’re the best judge of that.”

  “You never know with them. I’ll just have to be on my best behavior.” With an amused, predatory glint in his eyes, he moved closer to her.r />
  She backed away from him, laughing. “It sucks being you, huh?”

  He looked meaningfully at her mouth and said, “It sure does today.” He was gone before she could say another word.

  Chapter 14

  “I wish he’d stop doing that.” Hank agreed with a hearty “Woof.”

  Gillian picked up the phone and dialed Sandy’s number. She made arrangements to take her to the appointment with the doctor Travis had contacted. Sandy assured her that she was feeling stronger and was ready to take whatever action needed. Her resilience was impressive.

  Gillian’s phone rang again just as she hung up. She picked it up on the first ring. It was Dr. Smythe calling to check up on her.

  She smiled at the sound of his voice and said, “It’s kind of you to call. I know as well as anyone how busy you are.”

  “Well, I support what you’re trying to do and you’re still my favorite patient.”

  He’d told her that very same thing many times during her recuperation. She was beginning to believe it. She’d always thought specialists were distant and cold. They had to be, to be the best in their field. Dr. Smythe was the exception to the rule, at least with her, and Gillian was more grateful than she could say.

  “Are you heading back to the city today?” she asked.

  “Uh, yeah, I have other patients to poke and prod.”

  “Well, I can’t thank you enough. I guess fate was smiling at me when you decided to visit your friend here, just when I needed you.”

  “I’m glad I could help. Keep me posted.” They said their goodbyes and Gillian was left smiling when she hung up the phone. He definitely had a way with her. She always felt better when she spoke to him. Maybe it was his healing gift.

  She had deliberately neglected to tell Smythe about Travis’s revelation that he could feel her probing into his thoughts even when she didn’t know she was doing it. She wanted to think about that for a bit before confiding in her doctor. He was a scientist after all. She wasn’t sure she could convey to him what lay beneath New Crescent’s Anytown, USA façade and how it called to her on some deep, psychic level. It would also mean discussing her reaction to Travis. A part of her was worried that he’d agree with her first instinct and tell her starting up a relationship so early in her recovery was a very bad idea. She wasn’t prepared to talk to him about it yet. Her loss of control around Travis was too embarrassing to discuss with anyone. Instead, she resolved to try even harder to gain control over her life.