Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Cara’s eyes flew open to the feel of a heavy arm draped over her stomach.
The pillows that had separated them the night before were at the bottom of the bed.
Her heart thumped wildly in her chest as she waited for the visions to hit, preparing herself for the flashes from Coop’s life and the physical effects of having them.
She clenched her eyes closed and braced herself.
Nothing. She blinked her eyes several times and turned her head.
Coop was sound asleep. Had that been why she didn’t see anything?
The ladylike thing to do would have been to slip out of the bed and hope not to wake him, yet she couldn’t move.
The warmth of his arm pinned her in place, and she relished the feel, even savored it like a starved, deprived woman.
“Coop.” Her voice came out in a whisper. Coop didn’t budge.
She cleared her throat and spoke louder. “Coop.”
Still nothing.
“Cruz,” she said even louder. His sleepy gaze met hers.
“It’s too early, Cara. Go back to sleep.”
Nothing. He was awake, and there was no onslaught of visions, nothing from his life. “Cooper, you’re touching me.”
Coop’s eyes shot open, and his body tensed before he yanked his arm away. “I’m so sorry, Cara. What did you see?”
“Nothing. I saw nothing.” She stared at him in disbelief. No other human being had ever had the same effect.
Why had she not seen a thing? She couldn’t fathom an answer in the uncharted territory. It left her both baffled and intrigued, fighting the urge to run her hands over every inch of his body. She’d never encountered a person who didn’t trigger a vision.
“How is that possible? I thought you saw everyone.”
“I do.” Her voice squeaked.
She gestured to his chest. Her fingers itched to explore the hard planes, and for something other than a vision quest. Remain focused. He doesn’t need my fingers dipping below the waistband. “May I?”
“I’ve worked a lot of bad cases and seen some gruesome things in my life. Are you sure you want to try again?”
She nodded. She had to know.
He took her hand and placed it firmly over his heart. His chest rose and fell beneath her palm. Nada. Zilch. She shook her head. What the hell had happened?
“Maybe you aren’t doing it right.” He rolled her until she was on top of his hard body.
Any other woman would have giggled at the action, but not her.
Even though she was perplexed by the absence of her visions, her body was very aware of his.
The tingles were back, but she pushed them aside until she could figure out the mystery.
“Nothing.”
He slipped his fingers into her hair with one hand and touched her cheek with the other as her body melded with his. She leaned into his touch as if searching for more contact. She’d never realized how much she missed the simple pleasure. “Now?”
“I don’t understand. This doesn’t make sense.”
“Cara.” The lines around his eyes softened. “Why are you immune to me?”
She shook her head as the tingles of desire melted away.
Panic took hold and shook her like a Magic 8 Ball.
Had the ability that she’d hated all her life just vanished overnight?
Did that mean she was broken? It had been a part of her for so long, she wasn’t sure she could survive without it. “I don’t know.”
Tears pooled in her eyes as she held his gaze. Fear seized her body, squeezing her heart. Without her ability, who was she?
“It’s okay, Cara. Don’t cry. Maybe it’s just a fluke. Maybe the visions came when you and I were both asleep.”
Adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she rolled off of him and jumped from the bed.
Determination steeled her nerves as she grabbed a sundress from the bag and started to change, not bothering to even go into the bathroom.
The need to find out what was going on won over her modesty. “You’re right.”
“Cara, where are you going?” Coop got out of the bed and pulled on shorts. He swiped a hand over his face. He’d thought she was crazy before, he was about to witness a full-out panic attack.
“I’m going to find someone else to touch,” Cara said as she slipped on shoes and hurried to the door.
Coop laid his palm on her arm. Another sensation she hadn’t felt in a long time.
She glanced at his hand and was greeted with nothing but warmth.
The sensation wrapped around her, and she caught herself leaning toward him, wanting more.
She could kiss him. She shouldn’t kiss him.
Hell, even her mind was out of whack. “I don’t want you going alone. Wait for me to put my shoes on.”
She nodded, and within minutes, they were out the door.
They didn’t have to go far to find someone to touch.
An old couple stepped out of the cabana closest to theirs and was headed toward the resort.
She’d never been so happy they walked so slowly.
Cara hurried up behind them and lightly touched the woman’s arm.
Fear and uncertainty plagued Cara as she prepared for a void where her visions once lay.
“Excuse me? Can you point out the way to the restaurant?”
Cara had to concentrate on the sentence when her chest started to heave, and visions of the woman’s life flashed before her eyes.
The couple was so much younger. The husband was on one knee as he held out a small diamond ring and asked her to marry him.
It switched instantly to her wedding day, standing in front of a full-length mirror in a lace wedding dress with the veil covering her face.
Coop rested his hand on Cara’s arm, and the visions she’d just started to experience instantly began to fade.
Cara glanced at his hand and met his gaze.
She was sure it showed in her eyes. He lifted his hand, and the visions started to return.
Cara yanked her hand away as Coop pulled Cara back to his side.
The warmth of his arm cocooned her. She’d never experienced anything like Coop’s touch before.
It made her feel…safe, protected and even somewhat vulnerable. Why him? Why now?
“The restaurant is just past the pool,” the old woman announced. “You’re welcome to follow us. That’s where we’re headed.”
“Thanks, but I just realized I forgot my purse. We’re just going to go get it.”
“We’ll save you a place at our table. I’m John, and this is my wife, Martha.” The old guy smiled as he steered his wife away.
Coop waited until they were back inside the cabana before he asked. “Well? Anything?”
Cara nodded as she plopped down on the bed. “I saw up until her wedding, and then you touched me and they faded away. When you lifted your hand, they started back up. You somehow have the ability to make the visions stop.”
“How about we finish getting ready and we go meet the old people and get some breakfast? We’ll think more clearly with food in our systems. It will give you a chance to try out your ability on some other people.”
She nodded, afraid to speak. What did it mean that Coop could dampen her psychic ability? Was it a good thing, or should she be running in the other direction?
John and Martha waved Coop and Cara over the moment they stepped in the door.
Coop pulled out Cara’s chair at the breakfast table and grabbed them both a menu as a waiter appeared to fill their water glasses.
Cara and he were the youngest people in the restaurant.
John wore a hearing aid in one of his ears.
His white hair was the color of the beach sand, and Martha was a petite woman with hair curled so tight it looked like it hurt.
“We’re so glad you made it.” Martha smiled at Cara. “John didn’t think you two would want to hang out with us geezers since you’re on your honeymoon.”
“Oh no…” Cara’s cheeks blushed.
“She’s still not used to being married. I had to practically carry her down the aisle, isn’t that right, dear?” Coop scooted his chair closer and held her gaze. “Of course, we’re married. Why else would we be on this beautiful island and staying in the honeymoon suite?”
Cara smiled and turned back to Martha. “Of course. Newlyweds. I’m still not used to being married.” She lifted her bare hand. “I told him I wouldn’t wear the three-karat ring he bought me, but you know men… They just won’t listen.”
Coop took Cara’s hand and lowered it to the table. “Nothing but the best for you, baby.”
Martha playfully smacked her husband’s arm. “Did you hear that, John? He bought her a three-karat diamond wedding ring. You cheap bastard.” Martha’s sweet grin held a tinge of something he couldn’t identify as she turned back to them. “The one he gave me was fake.”
“Be lucky you got one at all, you old hag,” John grumbled and sipped his coffee.
“Oh, he’s just saying that,” Martha said as she shoved her spoon into her grapefruit, stabbing it with zest, as though it was her husband’s heart.
The waiter returned with his pad, took their order and brought them both some coffee cups.
“So…are you two just on vacation?” Cara asked, placing her palm on the woman’s arm.
Her breathing became rapid. Coop slipped his hand onto Cara’s shoulder, and her rapid breath slowed.
She glanced up at him. He could read the confusion on her face.
It had happened again from a single touch.
He sat up a little straighter and puffed out his chest. He could do something no other man could do.
His cock hardened in response as he thought of the possibilities.
If his touch didn’t trigger visions, then it meant he could touch her everywhere.
Maybe it wasn’t as bad as he thought. He could give her that one-night stand she’d never experienced and still keep his secrets.
A few nights of having Cara beneath him might make this week of waiting more interesting.
“We’re here for the conference,” Martha answered.
“Oh? What conference is that?” Cara asked and leaned back to make room for the server bringing their order of pancakes.
Coop took a sip of his coffee, enjoying the warmth sliding down his throat as Cara poured syrup over her stack of cakes. She drenched them until a pool settled at the bottom of the plate.
“The swingers conference of course.”
Coop sputtered the coffee.
“Who do you guys build swings for, children?”
Martha chuckled, and her cheeks blushed. “No, dear. The swinging we do is much different.”
Cara’s brows dipped as she glanced at Coop. He couldn’t hide the smile on his face. He leaned to whisper in her ear. Her hair smelled of sweet strawberries, momentarily making him forget what he’d been about to say. “She’s talking about sex partners.”
Cara’s mouth parted, and her eyes grew wide before she quickly snapped her mouth shut. “Oh. Well. Of course. Those swingers.”
Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink as she concentrated on her pancakes, occasionally glancing up and across the room to an old man eating alone.
“Uh…” She wiped her mouth with her napkin and grabbed her phone already pressing a button to record. “Will you excuse me for a minute?”
Coop grabbed her hand. “Cara, where are you going?”
She leaned down to whisper in his ear, acting as though she was going to kiss him. “I need to give a reading. That man’s wife is with us in spirit, and he needs to hear a message from her. It’s urgent. I’ll only be a few minutes.”
A few minutes turned into over an hour, and Martha and John had left in search of God knows what.
Coop paid the bill and walked over to where Cara was deep in conversation. The man she was speaking with was wiping tears from his eyes.
“She wants you to be happy,” Cara whispered to the man and clicked the recorder off. “I’ll send this to you as we discussed. You can replay her messages whenever you’re feeling down.”
“Cara, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I’m just going to head back to the room.”
The old man grabbed Coop’s hand and squeezed. “You’re a very lucky man. Cara has a beautiful gift. The validations she gave me about my wife, no one would have known. The messages she gave were needed. I’m truly blessed to have met her.”
Cara’s eyes were misty as she rose. “Don’t give up, Harry. Promise?”
He nodded and dropped Coop’s hand. “I promise.”
Coop led Cara out of the restaurant and waited until they were back at the cabana before he spoke. “What was that about?”
“Harry’s wife died three weeks ago, and he just found out he has cancer. She doesn’t want him to give up, and I needed to tell him.”
“You did your medium thing?” Coop asked as he shut the door.
“Yeah. He needed the message to help him heal. What was up with the newlywed cover?”
Coop shrugged as he moved to the windows looking out to the pool. “It’s easier for people to believe that’s why we’re here than having to answer a million questions. So when you touched people, did you get images?”
“Every time you weren’t touching me, I did.”