Craving (3 page)

In return, she wanted some questions answered.

“How come you didn’t go and stay with Nanette? She
is
your girlfriend, right?”

“Nah, we’re just friends.”
Is she fishing
? The idea of the well-heeled Katherine fancying me was amusing. Unless she just wanted to slum it with a bit of rough. Suddenly it was no longer funny.

“What was the salt circle all about? And those herbs you were burning?”

I debated how much to explain as I mopped the inside of my soup bowl with the last piece of toast. “Like I said, it’s for protection. Not every spirit is kind and friendly. I’m a kind of magnet for the bad ones, and I don’t want to attract their attention, if you know what I mean.”

Her eyes were huge. “No, I don’t know. You mean evil spirits?
Demons
?” She whispered the last word, and I smiled.

“One thing I’ve learned is that the spirit world is not always clear cut. It’s not like demons are evil and angels are good. Like in real life, spirits can be somewhere in the middle, a little bit one way or the other.” A memory flashed through my head as I spoke. I’d dreamed last night about an angel, a black-winged angel watching me from a distance.

Kitten pushed her empty bowl to one side and rested her elbows on the table, her chin propped on linked hands. Her gaze fixed on my face as she waited for me to continue, and I shoved the memory away.

“The sage helps. That’s a technique called smudging. Burning sage helps to cleanse the area of any residual spirit energy. It lets me start with a blank page, so to speak.”

“What would happen if a bad guy found you? Would you become possessed?”

Mischievous now, I leaned forward. She followed suit. With our heads close together, I murmured softly, “How do you know I haven’t been already?” then snapped my teeth with a noisy clack. She reared back and started to shove her chair away from the table before she saw me smiling.

“Oh,
you
… you’re teasing me.”

I shrugged and grinned. “Sorry, couldn’t resist.” Remembering my inner-polite-guy, I picked up the dirty dishes and rinsed them under the tap, before loading them into the dishwasher. Alas, the interrogation didn’t stop there. Kitten fished a couple of beers from the fridge and raised her eyebrows in a silent question. “Thanks.”

Settling herself back at the table, she sprawled in her chair and tucked one leg up onto the seat. She cracked the bottles open while I wiped my hands dry. “How do you do it, Dante? What’s your story?”

If I had a pound for every time I’d been asked this, I’d have a fleet of Harley-Davidsons now. I bought myself a minute while I sank into the seat opposite her and took a welcome swig of beer.
God, I’d love a cigarette right now
. “Do you think it’s some kind of party trick? Like I’ll give you a list of things to do and the spirits just magically appear?”

Her intense gaze caught me by surprise.

This wasn’t just a conversation question.

“I’ve met loads of people who claim they can summon spirits, but you’re the first I’ve seen who’s
actually
done it.”

I shrugged. Took another slurp of beer. “Maybe it was a group hallucination. I hypnotized you all into thinking you saw an airman.”

“Nu-huh. Tristan has proof on his hard drive.”

Are they a couple?
Surely not, otherwise he’d be here. Her amber eyes seemed to glow in the soft reflected light, and something tight inside me relaxed a little. I could get used to civilized behavior if it meant having supper with Kitten again. The silence between us was comfortable, and I felt irrationally annoyed when she tilted her head to one side and resumed her questioning.

“So?”

“You don’t have anything else to eat do you?”

Her brows tugged together. “Would cheesecake help you to talk?”

I laughed. “Okay. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been able to see people, talk to them, when nobody else thought they were there. I don’t know how it happens, or why me instead of the next guy. It just does.”
I’m a freak
. I took a long drink of the beer, relishing the cool buzz on my tongue, while I waited to see the distaste on her face. “It’s rare to encounter a spirit that everyone can see. We struck lucky tonight. And there’s no guarantee that we’ll get a repeat performance tomorrow. Believe me, it’s out of my control.”

Her lips twitched. She leaned forward and delicately chinked her bottle against mine. “Judging by how tired you looked earlier, you’ve earned your cheesecake.”

Confused, I ran a hand through my hair, pushing it back from my face. “Yeah, it was kinda intense tonight.” As I spoke, I automatically fingered my Talisman, secure around my wrist.

“That’s an unusual bracelet.” She stared at the faded lettering along the edge. “Is that Arabic writing? It looks old. Where did you get it?”

“Years, I’ve had it years. Can’t remember where it came from,” I lied easily. “You mentioned some cheesecake?”

T
here was no sign of Dante when I crawled out of bed in the morning, and I didn’t know whether to feel disappointed or relieved. Either way, I needed to get my head together before the other students descended for our debriefing and planning session. As I stood under the shower, barely awake, I sifted through my feelings. I’d gone back to the tower out of curiosity, wondering if he would still be there, and hoping to talk to him alone. Inviting him to stay with me hadn’t been part of my agenda, but my gut instinct had been right. He wasn’t as fierce as he looked. I ticked off his good points in my head. Polite—
check
. Good table manners—
check
. Intelligent—
check
. I refused to go any further.

Was it possible Dante’s outward appearance was just a cleverly constructed front? Like me, perhaps he wanted to keep outsiders at a safe distance.

I stepped outside in search of Ellie and Sam, tugging my fleece jacket on and yawning as I went. The sun was bright and already high in the sky. Sam would be working in the fields, but Ellie might be in the house. Dante’s motorcycle was still parked next to my car. I stopped, attempted to banish the sudden excitement flashing through me, and glanced around in a casual way, as though I were admiring the view.

That part of Cornwall was a gentle landscape, all rolling hills and meadows. The farmhouse nestled in a natural hollow flanked by ancient elm trees. The soft sandstone, cool in summer and warm in winter. The fields and woods deserved admiration, but I’d seen it all many times before. I didn’t fool Ellie, who watched me with an amused grin from the kitchen doorway.

“New boyfriend, Katherine? What
will
your father say?” Her tone teased, but I sensed an undercurrent of concern from my godmother as her eyes flashed over the motorcycle.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and squared my shoulders. “Don’t be silly. He’s my tame psychic, and before you ask, he left too late to book anywhere. That’s the only reason I invited him back.”

“Hey.” She held up her hands in mock surrender. “You’re not a child any more. And besides, he
is
rather cute.”

“I hadn’t noticed.”

Ellie broke into a peal of laughter. “You’ve never been able to lie to me.” She turned back into the kitchen and then called over her shoulder. “I’ve kept some breakfast back for you. And if you’re looking for him, he’s helping Sam. In the barn, I think.”

Looking for him? God, no. But I did want to say hello to Sam. He’d been at an agricultural show when I arrived yesterday.

I walked across the yard and into the giant hay barn. Always warm inside, it smelled achingly familiar and instantly reminded me of summer holidays long past. I inhaled deeply and reached down to stroke the cat strolling beside me. She flicked her ears at my intrusion, and then stalked away to sit in a broad shaft of sunlight and wash herself. I hoped Sam would be more pleased to see me.

There was no sign of them in the barn, but I heard a
chinking
sound from the machinery shed next door and followed the noise. There they were, dissecting some piece of farm equipment. It looked vicious—multi-pronged and bladed. Sam bent over the guts of it, poking at it with a long tool. The pair of skinny black jeans sticking out underneath belonged to Dante—I recognized the buckles on the boots. Intrigued, I joined them. Sam heard me, looked round, and beamed a huge smile.

“Katherine. Come here, Petal.” He abandoned the tool with a clatter and swept me into a bear hug, lifting me right off the ground.

I laughed and hugged him back.

“How long is it since you’ve been to visit?” He let me slither to the ground again and ruffled my still-damp hair in an affectionate gesture.

“I’m not sure. Easter break, maybe?”

“Don’t leave it so long next time. Ellie missed you something rotten.”

I could
feel
Dante’s penetrating stare. Distracted, I hastened to listen to Sam talking about some new organic crops he was trying this year.

“And your boy has been very helpful this morning. He’s a genius with engines.”

I glanced at Dante. He sat on the dusty floor, grinning up at us, a smear of oil decorating his cheekbone. His tats were clearly visible under the short sleeves of his T-shirt. Mesmerized, I stared again at the dragon. The eyes seemed to flash in the sunlight.

“It’s a quick fix, Mr. Corbett. A couple of new gaskets and I can have this up and running in a few hours.”

“Where did
you
learn to fix farm machinery?” I smiled to soften my words.

“It’s an engine. I restored my Bonneville myself. I’ve got a good understanding about how things work.”

“Bonneville?”

“Triumph Bonneville—my bike. It’s a classic.” He shook his head in mock disbelief. “I’m sorry, I forgot. Your usual boyfriends probably drive Porsches.”

His cheek—the inference that
he
was my boyfriend—astounded me. For a moment, I was speechless. Beside me, Sam chuckled. “You’re right there, lad.”

“
Sam
!”

He gave me another quick hug. “We were just about to break for coffee. You coming in?”

I happily linked arms with Sam to chat as we walked across the yard. Dante drifted close behind us, his boots crunching on the gravel. Back at the kitchen, he accepted a mug of coffee, but sat outside with it, smoking a cigarette while I caught up with Ellie and picked at some breakfast.

“Your boy might be hungry. Here, take him some food.” Ellie handed me a giant bacon sandwich and shooed me outside, her smile innocent.

From his position, sprawled on the stone doorstep, Dante smiled up at me, his silver eyes squinting in the sunlight. “You have a halo behind you.” He accepted the food eagerly. “Yep, definitely an angel. Thanks, Kitten.”

I leaned against the wall, watching the speed with which he devoured the sandwich. “Did you tell Sam you were my boyfriend?” It came out sharper than I intended.

He raised his eyebrows, chewing and swallowing before he replied. “No, he just assumed.”

“Didn’t you explain?” I took a quick breath and calmed my voice. “Why did you let him think that?”

“I wasn’t sure what you’d told him.” He made it sound reasonable. “So I just played along.” He ran one finger through the crumbs on the plate, scooping them into his mouth. “He, uh, asked if I’d met your father, and I said ‘No, not yet.’”

God
. I sank to a crouch beside him. I’d never brought a guy here before. I could see why Sam thought he might be special, but if Dad thought I was seeing someone… I shuddered at the thought. “I’ll make sure Sam and Ellie understand.”

“Okay, boss.” His face shuttered, the eyes now flinty as they glared at me. I’d hit a nerve somewhere. Realizing I’d offended him, I tried to make amends.

“The others are coming over to talk about last night. I was hoping you’d join us.”

He stood up and stretched, the tats rippling. “As I recall, you’re only paying me for the séances. And I’m covering my bed and board by helping with the thresher.” The look he gave me was cold. “Same time back at the tower tonight?”

I could only watch helplessly as he sauntered back to the machine shed.

2.2 Dante

Sam and I worked all afternoon on his thresher, finally getting it running again just as Ellie shouted us in for dinner. He’d been surprisingly good company, although he’d pointedly avoided any talk about Katherine. I left their farm with a full belly and a standing invitation to come and help with casual labor whenever I was in the area. I didn’t have anywhere else to stay tonight, so I’d crash in a corner of the barn and then head out tomorrow after breakfast.

I hadn’t seen Katherine since this morning, when, to her horror, I teased about being her boyfriend. Her revulsion had been clear enough, and it continued to gnaw at me. Why was I getting so bothered? She was just a posh chick that needed a psychic. True, she was a hard-assed babe with curves screaming to be touched, and a feisty attitude that turned me on, but nothing else.

* * * *

Nanette waited for me outside the control tower, smoking furiously. With quick, nervy movements, she stubbed out her cigarette and ground it underfoot. I greeted her with a hug. She clung to me and pressed her face into my neck.

“Hey, Nan. What’s the matter, hun?”

“Bloody Ash.” She stayed a moment longer, drew a deep, shuddering breath and pushed back from me, wiping her eyes. In the twilight gloom, I could see they were puffy and swollen.

“Ash?”

“He’s being a prick! And…” Her chest heaved. I held her hand while she dragged herself back under control. “And he’s messing me around. I never know where I am with him.”

I gave her a sympathetic smile. “You’re both my friends, Nan. I won’t take sides.”

I held her a moment longer, and watched over her shoulder as Katherine approached. She gave me a half-smile and tapped her watch before turning and heading into the tower. I felt an irrational desire to stick my tongue out at her back. I was good enough to contact her spirits, and help her godfather. But even the
thought
of anything more disgusted her.
She thinks I’m a freak.

Nan helped me with the setup while the students took their seats. She used her Zippo to light the candles and set the sage leaves smoldering while I traced a wide circle of salt around the perimeter of the table and chairs. Last night had been an effort, leaving me exhausted and wide open to danger. I’d make use of every protection available tonight.

Ingrid and Simeon still refused to make contact, even though Melissa had stayed away. With a sense of resignation, I closed my eyes and hummed my way through my focus rituals while grounding myself. As yesterday, Nan held one hand, Katherine the other. I knew they all had high expectations for tonight’s session.
No pressure at all
.

I called specifically for Sergeant Jackson. Nothing. I called for the spirits… Nothing at first, then when I called again, I smelled a strange odor. I sniffed cautiously, eyes still held shut. An animal smell.
Horses
? I kept my voice low, my body relaxed, my mind searching on a higher plane, tendrils of consciousness drifting outwards. And there it was. I felt the moment my mind brushed up against it and my neck tingled at the same time.

Katherine’s shocked gasp and the way she squeezed my hand, anchored me. I opened my eyes, expecting to see another airman, and blinked in surprise. There in front of us, stood a cowboy. Tall, wearing a leather duster, his head covered with a brown, broad brimmed hat. He swaggered toward us, the duster falling open to reveal chaps and boots with spurs. They jingled with each step. The horse smell became more pungent as he approached.

I glanced left and right. All eyes were fixed on the stranger before us. A cowboy? In a 1940’s aerodrome? As I opened my mouth to greet him, he stopped abruptly and swept off his hat, slapping it against his thigh. A cloud of dust blossomed.

“Well, howdy. Y’all look mighty surprised to see me.” His accent came straight out of a classic western movie, the voice gravelly. “The name’s Chase Ambrose. And who might you be?”

O-kay. I decided to roll with it. “I am Dante, and I thank you for joining us. Where do you come from, Chase?”

As I spoke, I assessed how clear this spirit appeared. He could have been flesh and blood—a trickle of perspiration across his brow, dirt under his fingernails… I’d never summoned this precisely before. Little pinpricks of pain in my temples confirmed something was very wrong with this.

“I hail from San Francisco.”

“Do you wish to speak to us? Have you a message?”

His mouth opened. One hand stretched out toward me, his lips moving, skin paling, his body rippling as though in a strong wind. I took a deep breath. The physical effort of holding the connection was akin to lifting up my Bonneville and holding it off the ground. My shoulders trembled under the strain. I broke out in a sweat, and still this cowboy shivered in the middle of the room, trying to speak. Any moment and I’d lose him.

“Help me.” It came out as a strangled gasp before he vanished.

It felt as though I’d been socked in the back with a piece of steel. Every atom of air in my lungs whooshed out, and I face-planted on the table, breaking the hand connection in the process. I heard Katherine cry out, and Nan gasped my name as blackness came up to meet me.