Chapter Twenty-One
Utah watched the play of emotions on Michelle’s face before she blanked her expression. “Be that as it may, you’re here for the time being, and we need to figure out why.”
“How was it possible for your mother to see me?”
Michelle shook her head. “I don’t know. I had this thought that if she could somehow touch you, maybe she could interact with you.”
“So, you held both of our hands,” Utah pointed out. “I just can’t believe it actually worked.”
He stood completely still as Michelle moved closer to him.
She brought her hands up to his face, stood on tiptoes, and softly kissed his lips.
Utah’s body reacted instantly. “Michelle…”
“Okay. If you don’t want—”
The rest of her words were cut off by his lips slanting over hers. She thought he didn’t want her? She couldn’t be more wrong.
Another knock sounded at the door, and Utah inwardly groaned. He wanted nothing more than to take Michelle to bed and love her through the night.
She pulled back. “Hold that thought.”
Hurrying to the door, Michelle looked through the peephole once more before glancing back at Utah. “It’s Carly and Logan.”
Utah had no idea who Carly and Logan were, but he assumed by Michelle’s reaction they were friends.
She unlocked the door and pulled it open. “Hey, you two. What are you doing here?”
“May we come in?” a masculine voice rumbled from the porch.
Michelle stepped back and threw her arm wide. “Sorry. Yes, of course.”
Utah watched as a pretty brunette holding a black cat stepped inside, followed by a tall, fierce-looking man and an even bigger man bringing up the rear.
The cat immediately hissed, springing from the brunette’s arms to run in Utah’s direction.
Peanut bolted from the room to hide in the spare bedroom, apparently afraid of the cat.
Utah stared in shock at the feline as it slowly circled him, a strange sound coming from its throat.
He looked up in time to see the fierce-looking man and the giant behind him both staring intently at him.
Oblivious to it all, Michelle wrapped the brunette in a hug. “Hi, Carly. Where’s the baby?”
“My mom’s watching him. How have you been?”
“I’m great, thanks. Have a seat.”
Michelle nodded toward the two men. “You too, Logan. Hi, Ben. I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Hi, beautiful Cherokee.” Ben stepped forward and hugged Michelle hard enough her feet came off the ground.
Utah wanted to rip the man’s arms away from her.
Logan moved to sit next to Carly, but his gaze continued to stray in Utah’s direction.
“You can see me,” Utah stated, keeping his gaze on the one known as Logan.
The guy sent him a small, quick nod before turning his attention back to Michelle.
Michelle’s head swiveled in Utah’s direction, a questioning look in her eyes.
“They can see me,” Utah murmured in awe, nodding toward the occupants on the couch.
Michelle appeared nervous as if unsure of what to do or say.
Utah took the decision from her. “She knows I’m here,” he informed Logan. “The question is, how do you?”
Logan slowly rose to his full height, his lips peeled back over his teeth. “Who are you, and what the hell are you doing here?”
“I second that,” the one known as Ben growled.
Carly glanced from Logan to Ben to Michelle, then back to Logan. “What on earth are you doing?”
Michelle’s face turned white. She stumbled forward until she stood next to Logan. “You can see him?”
“I can see him. The question is, how can you?”
Utah rushed over to Michelle’s side, keeping an eye on the hissing cat that seemed to be watching his every move.
Taking hold of Michelle’s hand, Utah gave it a gentle squeeze and met Logan’s gaze. “Are you vampires as well?”
“No, but it was a vampire that sent me here to check on Cherokee.”
Carly stood also, moving forward to loop her arm through Logan’s. Though she spoke to Utah, she kept her gaze trained on Michelle. “I can’t see what they can, but we’re not here out of malice or to judge you. Malik asked us to check on Michelle since you’ve been following her.”
Pinning Michelle with a questioning look, Carly asked, “You can see him?”
Michelle finally found her voice. She held up a hand for silence and asked the room at large, “Is it true that Cassie and Malik are vampires?”
Carly nodded. “It’s true.”
“And you, Carly?” Michelle whispered, moving closer to Utah’s side. “What are you?”
Utah noticed the pretty brunette glance up at Logan before answering. “Maybe you should sit down.”
“Just tell me,” Michelle demanded, taking hold of Utah’s hand.
It warmed his heart that she looked to him for protection.
Carly cleared her throat. “Logan is a shifter.”
Stunned, Utah could only stare as Michelle repeated in a wooden tone. “Shifter?”
“There’s no need to fear us,” Logan explained, reaching out to touch Michelle’s hand.
She backed up a step. “I’m not scared, I’m confused. I’ve known you all my life, Logan Sanders. How is it that I never knew about this? And Cassie? How could she lie to me all these years?”
“In Cassie’s defense,” Ben interjected, “she’s recently turned. So, she didn’t lie to you, hon.”
Michelle returned her attention back to Carly. “Are you like them?”
Carly shook her head. “No. Look, Michelle, please sit down and let us explain everything. It’s really not as bad as it seems right now. I went through the same emotions when I first found out.”
“Okay,” Michelle responded in a quiet tone. “We’ll sit.”
Logan, Carly, and Ben moved to sit on the couch while Michelle pulled Utah toward the chair that faced them. She gestured for him to sit, and then she lowered herself onto his lap.
Utah nearly swallowed his tongue.
“So, you all can see Utah?”
It was Ben who answered. “Everyone but Carly. Though she will live a long life like Logan, she’s just as normal as you.”
“Define normal,” Logan murmured sarcastically, earning an elbow to the ribs from Carly.
Utah asked the next question. “How is it that the cat can see me. Is he a shifter too?”
Logan shook his head. “He’s a familiar. A psychotic one at that.”
The cat bared his teeth at Logan.
“His name is Psycho,” Carly intervened, pulling the cat onto her lap. It quickly became obvious to Utah that Logan didn’t approve of Carly holding the feline.
Carly glanced around the room as if searching for Utah’s presence.
“I’m sitting on his lap,” Michelle informed her, drawing Carly’s attention to the chair.
Utah watched Carly search for the right words to say. “I’ve never met a ghost. I don’t think any of us have. Please pardon our rudeness.”
Michelle abruptly took hold of Utah’s hand and then leaned forward, offering her other to Carly.
At Carly’s questioning look, Michelle elaborated. “I’m not sure if this works for everyone, but it has before. Take hold of my hand.”
Carly slid her palm against Michelle’s, and her eyes immediately widened. “Oh my…”