“I guess my tea needs failed to register.”
“She’s pretty, but she’s blonde.”
“Poor thing isn’t aware of your aversion to fair-haired females.”
“I’m not averse to you.”
“No, but you’re not interested in me, either. Don’t you ever wish for more? How long will we remain like this, Nodin?” She cast him a sideways glance before sighing heavily, and then resting her elbow on the table and cupping her forehead in her hand. “Does anyone know why we are what we are? What would be the reason for Terran joining us? It doesn’t make sense. He’s lived a good life. He isn’t like us.”
“We’re all the same in the end. I think he’ll surprise you.”
“He’s a scientist, Nodin.” Rubbing at a sudden ache in her temple, she sighed then met his gaze. “I doubt he’ll accept his Elemental gifts without question. He’ll be stuck in his lab conducting experiments on himself.”
“Really, Maya, sometimes I wonder at the things you come up with.”
“How can you remain so calm when we are about to experience a major change in our Elemental crew?” She shoved his shoulder. “This poor man’s life could undergo a radical shift. Are you so far removed from when you were human that you cannot sympathize?”
“Maya, Quint is at the forefront of my thoughts right now. As for Terran, he will complete our circle. The fact that he is an educated rational thinker only strengthens our cause. Aldous Huxley said, ‘Scientists simplify, they abstract, they eliminate all that, for their purposes, is irrelevant and ignore whatever they choose to regard as inessential; they impose a style, they compel the facts to verify a favorite hypothesis, they consign to the waste paper basket all that, to their mind, falls short of perfection.’”
“Oh good God, you’ve moved to science quotes now?” Maya covered her face with both hands and shook her head. After running both hands up and down her face, she folded them together on the table and sent up a silent prayer for forbearance. “What happened? Did your book of great philosophical quotes get lost in the wind?”
Nodin laughed and adjusted the chair next to him so he could prop up his legs. He leaned back and closed his eyes. “I hope your Earthman joins us soon, because I want to discuss the possibility of containing and potentially converting Quint by using a high-energy magnetic field. We need access to instrumentation that can produce this field and a person who can find the right resonant frequency. In theory, this would convert Quint from dark matter into a photon. I am not sure of the particulars or how we would even get him into our trap, but…” He opened his eyes, straightened, and tapped a finger against the table. “This is where Terran will prove invaluable.”
Maya gleaned Nodin’s brain patterns as they searched through his memory-banks for the appropriate quote. “Do not rattle off another quote that will take me ten minutes to decipher.”
“Hmm, how about this quote? ‘The desire that guides me in all I do is the desire to harness the forces of nature to the service of mankind.’”
“Nikola Tesla.” Terran’s deep baritone sounded directly behind her. “Great quote.”
“Lordy lou, you snuck up on me.” Maya pressed a hand over her heart.
“Good morning, Ms. Conway.” Terran rested his hands on her shoulders.
Arching her neck, she flashed an upside-down grin.
He tapped her nose with a finger. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Nodin pushed back in his chair and offered his hand in introduction. “Forgive our girl, Terran. She’s a bit water logged this morning. I’m Nodin.” He gestured to the empty seat at their wrought-iron table. “So, Maya tells me you’re a scientist?”
# # #
As Terran shook the man’s hand, an image of an Indian riding bareback across a golden prairie flashed through his mind. Nodin could have stepped straight out of a history book. His square jaw, red-brown skin, and ebony hair—neatly braided and tied with what looked like twine, were all throwbacks to the quintessential Native American.
Introductions finished, Nodin sat and stretched his long legs under the faded wrought-iron table. His demeanor seemed friendly, not territorial. “Please, join us.”
Maya stood and brushed her fingers against his arm. “May I get you something?”
“No, please sit. I ran out of coffee at home, so I came by here before going to work. You live in town?” Terran swept his hand before him to include them both in his question.
Maya reached for Nodin’s coffee, swallowed visibly before scrunching her nose, and sticking out her tongue. “Coffee’s cold.”
Nodin rolled his eyes. “I prefer a more natural environment, so I live on the outskirts. Maya lives in a small apartment above the gym.”
“To be clear, you don’t live together?” Green fragments of jealousy rumbled across his mind. This man would pose quite a rival for Maya’s affections.
How involved are they?
Nodin shook his head, and his lips lifted in a crooked grin.
Mindy, the waitress and long time local stepped outside and placed a steaming cup of coffee on the table. “Hey Terran, haven’t seen you in awhile.” She bumped his shoulder with her hip.
“I ran out of coffee, Mindy. Do you think you could set me up with a very black, very large to-go cup?”
“Absolutely. I’ll be right back. I’ll just take this cold coffee off the table. I can assure you this new cup is hot and sweet.” Mindy winked at Nodin then walked back inside.
Nodin watched Mindy walk away before returning to the prior question. “Maya and I have known each other for a long, long time, but she is not for me.”
Maya sipped Nodin’s coffee then slammed down the cup, jostling liquid over the edge. “She has to get to work, so she will see you boys later.”
Terran and Nodin rose when she stepped away from the patio table and flounced down the sidewalk.
Terran caught white sneakers peeking out from under her faded jeans. Today, she’d been sensible enough to wear shoes. He nodded in her direction. “Where does she work?”
“Today, I believe, she’ll be at the library. She works there part-time.”
“Today? Does she work other places?” Terran considered asking about the strip club but refrained.
“Yes.”
“I haven’t seen either of you around before. Are you new to the area?”
“Yes and no.”
“You certainly answer questions in the same manner.”
“Yes.” Nodin tapped his finger against the side of the mug before dumping the contents into the shrubbery. He pinched his bottom lip before he spoke, “You are interested in her, but then you are interested in many things. She is unsure of the path she should take with you, but has been led to this crossroads by a hand that sees with an all-encompassing view. Maya’s path will cross with yours, and as you join her journey, it may not be anything you seek. Choices are not given. Links will forge closed. She wishes to stop fate, but after meeting you, I see she will lose. I wonder with your science and your logic how long you will take to accept that life sometimes defies explanation.”
“Our paths will cross? Links forging?” This conversation was too peculiar to quantify before caffeine fortification. “I’m sorry. I don’t follow.”
“You will. Soon.” Nodin pushed away from the table, stood, and followed the same path as Maya.
They were both on the far side of odd. No wonder they were friends. No one else stood a chance in comprehending them.
Chapter 7
Maya pushed her library cart between shelves lined with children’s books. The squeaky wheel joined the whispers of mothers reminding their children to use their inside voices, while allowing their own cell phones to blare with the popular ring tone du jour.
She hid her exasperation with smiles at the children as they chose their picture books and early readers.
The dusty smell of overused books calmed her, which was why she volunteered twice each week. People who visited the library ge
nerally thought about the books and videos they planned to rent, so any devious intent was readily apparent, but few mental images raised red flags.
Her abilities allowed her to glean negative energies. At times, the sheer amount of just one human’s inner darkness could wear her down. In the beginning of her Elemental life, dark thoughts threatened to overtake her mind, and she had fought to differentiate her own thoughts from others. Under control now, she focused her energies on where true harm sprung and let the rest fade away. Years passed before she’d completely grasped whether or not a person was actually capable of their intent. Even now, there were times she followed someone who in the end became incapable of committing his or her planned crime. Or she’d encounter others whose minds were in a repetitive cycle of causing chaos and pain. Her powers cleansed their minds and pushed them to follow a better path. This mental gift, along with others, came packaged with her new existence. No directions or shut off switch included.
Her waterlogged heart pounded a little harder when she spotted her sexy scientist weaving past tiny tables and chairs in the children’s area. Brown eyes caught blue as he walked down the aisle toward her cart.
“Mr. Forrester, I would have thought your reading level was a bit higher?” She teased as she placed another thin book upon the shelf.
“Hello, Maya.”
One of Terran’s hands was wrapped around a hardbound book, and the other was tucked away in the front pocket of his Dockers. Dockers he filled out very well. “May I help you find something?” She flashed a bubbly smile.
“Sure, I thought I might look for a book in the self-help department.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, one on relationships, dating, that general topic.”
“I do believe you know quite a bit on that subject already. If you were interested in a woman, I’m sure you would only have to crook your finger, and she would be more than willing.”
“Really, and why is that?” He tapped his book against her cart.
“Well, it’s obvious you take care of your body. You have a very attractive face and most importantly—you’re smart, which allows for a successful career, which equals financial stability. You offer quite an appealing package.” She bit her bottom lip as she considered just how attractive.
His gaze locked on her lips and his breath hitched. He cleared his throat before asking, “Am I appealing enough for you to join me for dinner?”
What? Good Lord, after a hundred years, Maya shouldn’t be flustered when a man asked her on a date. It did happen on occasion, so why did his request have her blushing like a schoolgirl? Not that my cheeks can turn pink. Maybe they turn blue. That’s attractive.
She flipped through the books on her cart. After picking one, she placed it where it belonged in order to avoid answering the question.
“It’s actually more of a get-together with my friends. Since you’re new to the area, I thought you might like to meet some people. We’ll grill up burgers. Have a few beers. Would like you to come?”
“I have a restrictive diet.” A very restricted diet. “I’m sorry, Terran. I don’t attend many backyard barbeques.”
“We can work with your diet. A lot of people don’t eat meat or whatever your food allergies happen to be.”
At that comment, she refrained from laughing out loud. There was no way for him to “work” with her food issues. “I won’t come for the food, but I imagine your friends stay after sometimes and um… hang-out, right?”
“Yes. Some people stick around after.”
Should I do this? Enter his world and befriend him. Her lonely heart and empty arms clashed with her Elemental duties. Destiny teased with an opportunity to explore their connection without spying from afar. Of course, she would follow her heart. Hadn’t she always leapt without thinking?
His head was tilted a little to the side. His unease obvious by his incessant finger tapping on the book in his hand. How sweet. Time to relieve his mind. “I will come for that part, the not-eating part. Very kind of you to ask. Thank you.”
He smiled, lighting up the room. Every drop of water in her body glistened from the warmth found in that simple expression.
“All right, I can give you my number. Call when you’re ready and I’ll pick you up.”
“Terran, I’ll get there on my own.”
He nodded. “Good.”
Her special skills weren’t needed to glean the kicked-up beat of his blood. A wave of sexual energy bubbled through her as a red-hot vision broadcasted from his mind. Her legs were wrapped around his body, and her shoulders jostled the shelves as he kissed her. Appreciating the direction of his vision, she dusted off her flirting skills.
After watching him place the book he’d been holding on a shelf, she said, “Are you sure that’s where that book belongs? If not, poor workers like me get in trouble.” She reached over the cart and ran a hand down his arm.
He raised a brow, aware enough to interpret the not-so-subtle acceptance of him as a potential mate. Her body went from slow simmer to roiling boil, as his mental picture switched to him bending her over the library cart.
Terran kept his gaze locked on hers. “I’m not sure where this book belongs. Perhaps you should come closer and make sure I put it in the right slot.”
Well, well, double-entendre much? She’d enjoy putting his thoughts into action, but not in the middle of Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog. “The right slot? Sorry, my cart seems to be in the way. What is the title of that book you so carelessly placed on the shelf?”
Terran tapped a finger against the binding. “The Call the Cthulhu by HP Lovecraft. It was in the Sci-Fi section.”
Ironic. “I’m familiar with the story. An octopus like being with tentacles and tiny wings awaiting its awakening at the bottom of the sea. Interesting reading material. You should watch out for sea-creatures. You never know which ones will bite.”
“Very true.” He smiled and shook his head. “Where did you take off to the other night?”
What? He couldn’t possibly remember seeing her the night of the gas station robbery. She’d wiped his memory clean. “What night?”
“The other night at the gas station when it was robbed. You were outside talking to this lady in the van. Stupid move by the way, since she was with the crazy guy waving around the gun. Where did you go? I didn’t see you once the police came. Do you know what happened?”
“We already discussed this.” She crouched and pulled some books from the cart’s lower shelf, gathering her calm.
“No, not in depth.” He filched one of her books and flipped through the pages.
She sighed. Obviously, he wouldn’t drop the subject until she answered him. “I heard a child cry in the van, so I asked the lady if everything was all right. Then I went home. You’re saying the place got robbed? Wow. I’m glad I left.” She hated lying, but she had to tread carefully. Admitting she transformed into a menacing fog would send him searching for her straightjacket.
“Yes, it was robbed. One minute I was buying an apple, and then I woke up on the floor soaking wet.”
Coughing to cover a laugh, Maya asked, “You don’t remember anything other than that?”
“We spoke, don’t you remember? You weren’t very friendly.”
“It was late and some strange man approached me. I’m not apologizing if that’s what you’re after.”
Terran moved around her cart, placed his hands against the shelves, and pinned her between his arms. “No, that’s not what I’m after.”
Hazy heat shot through her body. “Not shy at all, are you?” If only he knew how easily she could push him away.
“I’m very clear about what I want.” His dominant position was much too commanding, but at the same time, Maya found his boldness intriguing.
His lips hovered above hers and the scent of cinnamon enticed her senses. Their elemental connection vibrated throughout her body—strong, sensual, primal. Why him? Why had she never felt this attraction to Nodin
or Flint? Was it because water flowed toward the shore? Was he the grounding force beneath her feet?
If she stretched, her lips would meet his. The flames from their kiss would burn down the building.
Fahrenheit 451 had nothing on them.
However, book burning in the children’s section would most likely get her dismissed as a volunteer. Tonight was soon enough to find out just how good cinnamon-flavored Terran tasted.
“I’ll drop by later.” She pushed a book against his chest and waited until he took it before stepping from under his cage. “You should read that book. It’s very informative.”
His brows drew together as he read the title aloud, “The Little Mermaid?”
Chapter 8
A low beat of classic rock came from the backyard as Maya stood on Terran’s front porch. Always one to forge her own trail, she fought the notion that this pull toward him was predestined. Hadn’t she, so many years ago, left behind her birthplace to begin a new life? At eighteen, she had traveled across America by train to California. Forever frozen at age twenty-one, she fought the notion this relationship was chosen for her. Fate did not have her at Terran’s doorstep—hope did.
At the door’s threshold, indecision raced through her mind. Should she cross into his life and get release for this pent-up need, or should she walk away? If she left, could she keep him safe and ignore the pull attempting to anchor her in place? Could she stand still, neither in, nor out?
Nodin and Flint could keep an eye on Terran if she chose to leave. No, she refused to step back. She would take this one night, this one moment as her own. Only Terran could deliver the escape into pleasure she craved. Why not surrender to a night of bliss? The chance might never come again once Terran discovered her identity as an Elemental water-girl.
Indecision time was over.
Choice made, she knocked on the front door, but no one answered. She took a deep breath, turned the knob, and stepped over the threshold. Eyes closed, she searched for his mental signature—upstairs and irritated.
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