Through Her Touch (Mind's Eye Book 5)

by Deborah Camp

  After a moment’s hesitation, Trudy shook it and instantly felt a little zing bloom in her palm and race up her arm. It wasn’t a sexual thing – like with Levi – but more like a premonition of trouble ahead. She figured it had to do with the other feeling she was receiving loud and clear from the man beside her. Levi’s arm around her shoulders tightened and she could feel the quickening of his pulse and the rise of his temper. The man was a menace when it came to guarding what he considered to be his and his alone.

  “It’s nice to meet you, too, Chason.” She extracted her hand with a gentle tug. “We’ll see you all at the Crescent. Save us a couple of good seats if you get there first.”

  “Right, see you there,” Sunshine said, her eyes still locked on Chason. “You want to ride with us, Chason? We have plenty of room in Perchance’s van.”

  “It’s not a van, Sunny,” Perchance said, drolly. “It’s a friggin’ SUV. Get it right!”

  “Okay, okay. SVU. Whatever. There’s room.”

  Chason smiled at them. “Thank you, but I’ll take my car.” He gave a quick nod and strode toward the red sports car.

  Trudy watched him. Weird how he never once looked at Levi. That did not bode well. Once she and Levi were in the Maserati and maneuvering along the narrow cemetery road, Trudy leaned forward a little to see Levi’s expression. His mouth was taut and his eyes were slightly narrowed. He was simmering, coming down from a boil.

  “So, what’s the deal between you and Chason? I knew you didn’t care for him, but it goes deeper than that. Did he actually do something to you or is this just your run-of-the-mill clash of the egos?”

  He sent her a slicing glance. “You saw how he ogled you at the funeral and then made a point of singling you out back there, right? So, the answer is obvious. He always wants what’s mine. My notoriety, my publisher, my clients, my acquaintances, and now my woman.” His glance was rapier sharp. “Yeah, I despise the slick fucker.”

  She sat back with an exhale, stunned by his vehemence. “Jeesh! Really, Levi? He gets under your skin that badly?” It seemed that intense anger bubbled beneath his surface most of the time, ready to flare up at any perceived threat. She’d sensed it in him the moment they’d met at Quintara’s Psychic Roundtable a couple of years ago. It had intrigued her, but now that she was part of his life, one of her missions was to drastically dilute that pent up anger with her love for him. “So, he communes with movie stars. That’s not your thing anyway, so why are you so worked up about him?”

  “I just told you. He’s always dogging my footsteps. I go on a show and then he books himself on it. I sign a publishing deal and he takes a meeting with the same publisher. Before you, I’d go out with someone and the next thing I knew, he’d be photographed with the same woman.” He shot her another sharp glance. “That won’t happen with you.”

  “Of course not.” She folded her arms and stared out the windshield, irritated that he’d voice such a stupid notion. “Give me some credit, will you?” She flashed her wedding set at him. “I’m taken. Good and taken. I have a raging stallion in my stall, so why in the world would I be remotely interested in a prancing, little gelding?” She’d said it to get a laugh out of him, and was glad when it paid off. Laughter always dissipated his anger. Worked like a charm.

  “A raging stallion, huh?” He rocked a cocky nod. “Yeah. I like that.” His eyes glinted with deviltry. “And I like your ‘stall,’ too. It’s right comfy. Once I’m in there, I don’t want to leave. Ever.”

  She laughed under her breath, then shifted in her seat as her body responded to the purr in his voice. “I’ve noticed. Keep your eyes on the road, Levi. We want to get to the Crescent without incident.”

  It only took ten minutes to arrive at the stately hotel. They parked the car and crossed the lot to the front door, which was held open by a bellhop. The man greeted them and gave them directions to the top floor bar that provided a panoramic view of the heavily wooded Ozarks that surrounded Eureka Springs.

  As they rode the elevator up, Levi reached for her hand and held it firmly. Trudy glanced at him, saw the tense set of his mouth and shoulders, and bumped her hip against his.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  “Yes. This place gets to me, that’s all.”

  “You’re feeling spirits around you?”

  He winced. “It’s an oppressive feeling. This hotel has a long, strange history. There are poltergeists here, too. They always make me feel squirmy.”

  “I’ve never encountered any of those.” The elevator doors opened and she stepped out with Levi. They walked along the carpeted corridor and spotted Quintara and the others waving at them through the glass doors leading into the bar.

  Quintara, Rhema, Alan, and the pretty brunette who had been at the funeral were already seated at a long table by the windows. A man in a sheriff’s uniform sat with them. As Trudy drew nearer, she was momentarily transfixed by his inky black, pompadour style, Elvis Presley hair with long sideburns that ended along his jawline. She smiled, immediately transported back to the other Elvis look-alike who’d performed their wedding ceremony.

  Rising from his chair, he held out his hand to Levi. “Hey, there, Lucky Levi! I haven’t seen you since Heck was a pup. Is this your new missus?”

  Levi shook his hand and turned toward Trudy. “Good to see you again, Billy. Trudy, this is Sheriff Billy Rocknell. He’s also known around here, especially when he’s got his guitar with him, as Rockabilly. Billy, this is my beautiful bride.”

  “Boy howdy, you did good, Levi. Your luck is still holding out, isn’t it?” He shook Trudy’s hand. “So very pleased to make your acquaintance, ma’am.”

  “Thank you. You’re also a musician?”

  “Yeah, I reckon.” He glanced down at his western-style boots. “I like to strum on a guitar now and again.”

  “Rock or country?”

  “Little of both.” His grin was wide enough that Trudy caught the glint of gold caps. “I kinda mix ‘em up, you know?” He held out a chair. “Y’all sit on down. What you drinking?”

  Levi waited for Trudy to sit before he took the chair beside her. He looked past her to the bartender, raising his voice to say, “I’ll have a High Ball. What do you want, Tru?”

  “Strawberry daiquiri?”

  The barkeep gave a thumb’s up.

  Levi looked across the table at Quintara, who was sipping something cola colored. “What’s that you’re drinking?”

  “A Dr Morgan,” Quintara said with a mischievous smile. “Spiced rum and Diet Dr Pepper.”

  Trudy rolled her eyes. Leave it to Quintara to find a way to drink her beloved Diet Dr Pepper. “Naturally. What else?”

  Quintara glanced at the others. “You’ve all met Trudy, haven’t you?”

  Rhema smiled at her. “I believe so. Although, Sabra might not have. Levi, you remember Alan’s daughter, Sabra, don’t you?”

  Trudy looked from Alan to Sabra, noticing some resemblance now that she’d learned the brunette’s identity.

  “Oh, yes.” Levi extended his hand across the table to the attractive woman. “Good to see you again, Sabra. Are you still teaching?”

  “Yes, I’m still at it.” Sabra said, taking Levi’s hand.

  “I believe your field is something in science?”

  “Biology,” she affirmed. “Biochemistry.”

  Trudy nodded at her. Naturally, Levi already had met her. He seemed to know just about everyone who was psychic or related to one. “Nice to meet you, Sabra. Where do you teach?”

  “At a private girls’ school in St. Louis.”

  Just past Sabra’s shoulder, Trudy could see one of Eureka’s favorite tourist destinations – Christ of the Ozarks. The tall, bone-white sculpture soared above the treetops. Glancing around the bar, she was disappointed that Joshua Longfeather hadn’t arrived. She’d wanted to talk to him about reading bones, a form of divination that she knew little about, but found fascinating.

  She felt the change in the ro
om before she heard Chason’s voice, followed by Sunshine’s giggles and Perchance’s breathy laugh. She noticed the slight smile lifting the corners of Sabra’s lips when her gaze landed on Chason. Hmmm. Maybe a romance might bloom?

  “Here, here, sit between us!” Sunshine said, indicating three of the empty chairs. “We haven’t seen you in ages, Chason, and we have a lot of catching up to do.”

  “Hello again,” Chason said, glancing around at everyone before obeying Sunshine’s request.

  Trudy didn’t envy him being sandwiched between the two effervescent women. It was hard to get a word in with Sunshine’s happy chatter and Perchance’s bombardment of questions.

  “Chason, what movie stars have you met lately? Did you really meet the president? Did you buy a house in California? Are you dating anyone famous? Are you going to write another book? So, you’re not dating anyone in particular?”

  Chason would get a few words in before the next question commenced. “I met with Drew Barrymore right before I – yes, I met him last – I did, in the Hollywood Hills – I’m single and I’m not – I plan to after – I’m not seeing anyone famous, infamous, or otherwise.” Laughing, he placed a hand on Perchance’s arm and gathered in a lungful of air. “Uncle! I cry, uncle! Give me a minute to catch my breath, Percy.”

  Perchance laughed with him and looked across at Levi. “Well, now that Levi is off the market, what’s a girl to do but change directions?”

  “Hey, now, don’t forget about me,” Sheriff Rocknell said, giving Perchance a wink. “I’m still in the hunt.”

  “Oh, I haven’t forgotten,” Perchance said with a sultry smile.

  “Me, either.” Sunshine winked back at him. “You owe me a movie, remember? I went to see that awful transformer film with you and you promised you’d go see a girly movie with me.”

  “I sure did,” he agreed. “And I am a man of my word, Sunny.”

  Trudy settled back and listened and watched. She liked Sunshine and Perchance because they were completely authentic. She wondered if they were truly talented in the ESP arts and made a note to ask Levi about them later. She got a kick out of the sheriff. Everyone called him Billy and his lazy drawl was sort of sexy. Trudy had no doubt that he never pined for female companionship. Same for Chason, although he wasn’t an overt flirt like the sheriff. His half-lidded gaze slid over her several times and he’d always smile like he had a little secret. He also seemed to be interested in getting and keeping Sabra Martin’s attention. Sabra played it cool, smiling back at him every so often, but talking mostly with Rhema, her father, Quintara, and Billy.

  “Hey, Billy,” Levi said, leaning closer to the man. “How did you list Glenn’s death? As a one-car accident or a hit-and-run?”

  Trudy tuned out the other conversations, anxious to hear the sheriff’s reply. Surprise flashed across Billy’s face before he delivered a sage smile.

  “It wasn’t a one-car accident. I listed it as inconclusive, but I’m leaning toward a hit-and-run. Some stupid teenager or drunk could have been playing chicken. Glenn braked hard before he went over the side of the mountain. The back bumper of his car had fresh dents on it.” He squinted one eye. “Did he say something to you from the grave?”

  “No.” Levi sat back in his chair and swirled the liquor and ice cubes in his whiskey glass. “Nothing like that.” He glanced at Trudy, then away. “Just a hunch.”

  “A hunch?” Rhema broke into the conversation. “Your hunches are dead-on, usually. So, someone deliberately ran Glenn off the road?” Her question halted the other conversations and grabbed everyone’s attention.

  “I’m not . . . that is, we’re not sure,” Levi said, his hand covering Trudy’s on the table. “And it’s hard for me to even think in here.” He glanced around. “Doesn’t this place bother any of you?”

  “And how!” Sunshine ran her hands up and down her arms. “The Crescent always gives me chills.”

  “Not me.” Perchance fashioned a heedless shrug. “I don’t feel a thing. Now, put me in the New Orleans or the Basin Street Hotel and I’m a jumble of nerves.” Her blue eyes widened and she shivered. “The Basin Street Hotel has a poltergeist that drives me bananas every time I’m there.”

  Chason lifted his fingers to his temples and massaged them as he closed his eyes. “You know what . . . now that you mention it . . . there are spirits here. I was hearing far-off voices and thinking it was people talking outside in the hall. But, no. They’re spirit voices.”

  Levi cleared his throat. He stared across the table at Chason for several, tense seconds before shifting his attention back to the sheriff. “Anyway, sorry for the diversion. No witnesses have come forward?”

  “No. It was late at night, so I doubt that anyone saw what happened. I’m not saying it couldn’t have been that Glenn fell asleep, woke up suddenly, slammed on his brakes, and the car behind him rammed into him by accident, sending him over the rail. If that were the case, the other motorist kept going.” He shrugged and drank some of the coffee he’d ordered. He was still on duty. “We might never know what happened and that’s a damn shame.”

  “How could anyone live with themselves if they caused such an accident and didn’t even stop or call the police?” Sabra asked, shaking her head, her dark eyes shadowed with confusion. “I can’t imagine shouldering that kind of guilt.”

  “That’s because you’re a kind and compassionate person, Sabra,” Chason said, extending her a warm smile, which she returned.

  “Unfortunately, there are people out there who just don’t give a gosh darn,” Billy said. “All they think about is themselves.”

  “Yes, I’ve known people like that,” Sabra murmured, then seemed to shove aside the distressing thought. “Anyway.” She held up her wine glass. “To Glenn. May he rest in peace and be remembered fondly.”

  “To Glenn,” they all chimed in, glasses clinking.

  Chapter 4

  Dappled sunlight played across Trudy’s breasts, belly, and thighs. Levi traced the shifting patterns with his fingers, sensing her occasional smile as he circled her bright pink nipples to make the buds tighten even more. Her breathing was a bit ragged after the shattering orgasm she’d just experienced.

  He liked being up in the tree house. It was freeing, somehow. Relaxed to a degree that still surprised him, having spent life before Trudy in a state of unrelenting forward motion and laser-focused ambition, times like this when he’d fucked to glorious oblivion, when his bones were liquid and his thoughts drifted lazily from the shape of shadow leaves to the collection of freckles above Trudy’s navel were pure bliss. A mind and body at rest with no sense of urgency or danger ahead were gifts Trudy had given him.

  Unable to resist, he took her nipple into his mouth and sucked. His tongue curled around the silky bead and massaged until she moaned. He let it slip from his lips, pleased to see that it was rosy red and glistening with his saliva.

  “You are the most beautiful thing,” he whispered, kissing the pulse flexing the skin below her ear.

  “And I’m grateful you think so,” she murmured, flinging one arm up to rest on the pillow beside her head. She wiggled her butt, getting more comfy. “It’s lovely here, isn’t it? Hear the cardinal? Oh, and there’s a dove. They sound so sad.”

  “Hence the name, mourning dove.”

  She’d been running her fingers through his hair and she gave a clump of it a hard tweak. “Smart-ass.”

  “Hey, I’m just stating a fact, ma’am.” The lure of the curve of her neck was too much for him and he pressed his face there, breathing in the unique aroma of her. His Trudy. His treasure.

  “What shall we do about Glenn?”

  Some of the bliss bled out of him. “Nothing we can do. He’s gone.”

  She yanked his hair again. “There are still questions lingering about his death. Was it an accident or not?”

  “Mmm,” he said against her skin.

  “He was a dear, sweet man. Remember how he told you, in his roundabout way
, to trust me? He was right, wasn’t he? You began to trust me and that’s when our relationship deepened and we fell in love with each other.”

  “Mmm.”

  “Am I boring you? Are you sleeping?”

  He breathed in one more sweet Trudy bouquet before falling onto his back and staring at the ceiling fan’s lazy movement. “You are never boring. As for sleeping, I could be, given a few minutes of silence. If you must know, I’m experiencing – or trying to experience – post-coitus euphoria. I’m momentarily sated and would like to revel in it.”

  She draped a long leg over his thighs and flung an arm across his chest. “Sorry. I didn’t know I was trampling on your little slice of Eden.”

  She kissed his nipple, sending a sizzle of arousal zapping through him. So much for being sated.

  “I’ll be quiet and allow you to wallow in your blissed-outness.”

  He stroked a hand up her spine, marveling at the softness of her skin, and closed his eyes. His cellphone vibrated on the bedside table. “Fuck.”

  “You don’t have to answer it.”

  He reached for it, glaring at the screen. “It’s Quintara.” He answered it. “Hey, there. What’s up?”

  “I’m inviting you and Trudy to a séance tonight at Sunshine Marmalade’s house. You know where it is?”

  “It’s on East Mountain, right? Has a white picket fence out front?”

  “Yes. The séance begins at ten, but come by Rhema’s place first for a buffet dinner at eight.”

  “And what’s the point?”

  “You must eat, first of all, so dine with us. As for the séance, we’re going to try to talk to Glenn and see if he can tell us exactly what happened to him.”

  “Can’t help you there, my love. Psychic spirits won’t come out and play with me.”

  “That is a common affliction among us, but we can try, can’t we?” The sound of beads clinking against each other gave him a mental image of Quintara fingering one of the ever-present beaded necklaces she wore. “Perhaps it will be different with Glenn. Anyway, you and Trudy need to get off of each other and out of bed. It’s time to mingle.”