"We're both here. What's going on? Your text to Garrison said you stayed over at the casino. Everything okay?" She paused.
"Shit," he muttered.
"Ahh, got it," she chirped. "More than okay."
"Shut up, Shel. You're not supposed to use your ability."
"Don't hate on the psychic. You're an open book. Takes very little effort to read you." She chuckled. "You really like her, don't you?"
"Come on. That's not why I called."
"Isn't it? You might be older, but I have enough life experience to know when I'm being bullshitted. Try again. Is she right next to you?"
"No. In her house. I'm bringing her by the ranch."
"Awesome! I'll make sure we have lunch ready."
"That's also not why I called." He rubbed his face, like somehow he could scrape away the uncertainty. "My power's doing weird things around her."
"Weird, how?" The teasing tone disappeared.
"Like, changing. Not protecting me anymore. Protecting her."
He started to repeat himself when it took her too long to answer.
"What?" she whispered.
"The ability is shifting. I'm going nuts."
"Oh, wow. It's almost like you got a variation on my power to detect emotion. Now that Eric and I are... together, I'm more keyed in on him than I ever have been with anyone. So it could be the same with you and Mariah."
"What if I'm linked to her forever?"
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Damn it, I don't know." He rested a fist on the steering wheel. "What the hell do I do?"
"For starters, you be good to that woman. She's a nice person, and you will not pull a disappearing douchebag act on her." She cut through his spluttered protest. "Second, you have to tell her about your power. And about your past. All of it."
"I don't know if that's a good idea."
"Dude, are you naturally stupid, or did you audit extra classes to get that dumb? Take it from the human emotion detector: tell her the truth. Let her know what's going on with your power and what makes you tick. She needs to participate in decision-making."
"What, now you're Dr. Phil?"
"No, but Kerr likes the show. And since I'm laid up, I've been watching way more daytime TV. Kerr is right. That Phil guy is good."
"Okay. Crap, here she comes. I'll see you in a while."
"Tell the tru—"
He ended the call as Mariah scooted into the truck. She'd changed into hiking boots, jeans, sweatshirt, and a jacket suitable for the outdoors. Her hair stuck out from under a wool beanie.
Adorable and sexy.
She could wear sackcloth and roll in dirt and he'd think she was the most beautiful woman on Earth.
He was so screwed.
Like an invisible sigh of relief, his power settled down now that she sat in the truck next to him.
"All set?" he asked.
Because Vaughn wasn't certain that he was ready for what awaited them on the ranch.
