Proving she was indeed the most resilient of children, Morgan drank one more cup of tea in the morning, ate a bowlful of Cheerios, and pronounced herself cured. By mid-afternoon, she had color in her cheeks, didn’t feel warm in the slightest and started to get antsy.
“You sure you feel okay?” he asked as they pulled up to the market. The last thing he needed was her getting sick in the middle of the store, which had happened once, and he never, ever wanted to repeat that scenario.
“I’m fine. Cooper needs dog food.”
Cole chuckled as he parked his SUV on the side of the street. Morgan unbuckled herself from the booster seat and got out on the sidewalk where he waited, shielding his eyes from the sun. A plump woman in lavender stopped and gave him a wide smile.
“Hi there. You must be Cole.” She ducked down and tried to coax a peek from Morgan, who’d plastered herself against his legs. “And you must be Morgan.”
He returned her smile, reminding himself to be polite. By now, the entire town had to know he was here, and they were the kind that had to stop and say hello. They’d get over it. One day, the novelty would wear off and he’d just be a regular guy again.
He wondered how long that would take.
“I’m Layla,” she said, giving his hand a firm shake. “You just missed my mama. We own Morton Hair and Nails just down the way. I bet Morgan would love to come by sometime and get her nails done. No charge. Newcomer’s special.”
“That’s nice of you.” Cole nudged Morgan. “Can you say thank you?”
He sounded like his mother. But, as she was the closest source to decent parenting he had, he found himself sounding more and more like her every day.
Morgan mumbled something even he couldn’t make out, and he offered the same excuse as always. “She’s shy. We’ll have to check in at your place soon.”
She opened her mouth to say something else, but he waved and walked into the market. The man behind the counter grinned.
“Hey there. You must be Cole.”
He sighed inwardly. The town wasn’t that big. If he met everyone there was to know today, maybe tomorrow he could have some peace.
“I’m Mason.” He shook Cole’s hand but didn’t jabber on like everyone else had. “Let me know if there’s anything I can help you with.”
Mason looked to be about his age. Good. Someone who understood not everything needed to be a conversation.
He thanked the man, grabbed a cart, and shoved his hand in his pocket for his list. Another thing that would have surprised his mother. His mental list used to consist of cereal, beer, milk if he remembered, and sometimes a frozen pizza. Now, he had it all written down. Otherwise he’d forget the toothpaste, which would have thrilled Morgan, but not her dentist. He’d forget toilet paper, which was fine by him but not by Morgan. He didn’t have the capacity to remember it all anymore.
“Pick whatever kind you want,” Cole told Morgan in the cereal aisle while he went for the coffee. “Nothing with too many colors.”
Oh, God, he really was getting old.
When the front door opened again, he grimaced. He didn’t know if he could handle any more polite smiles. But Morgan tugged on his hand.
“Daddy.”
“Cereal,” he said absently.
“Daddy.”
“Yes, Cooper can have Cheerios.”
“It’s Tori,” she whispered.
He glanced up. Sure enough, their neighbor had just walked in. She peered back out to the sidewalk as if searching for something, and then started up a conversation with Mason.
“You want to say hi?” he asked Morgan.
Which was his excuse to be able to say hi to her, too. Hell, those legs just didn’t get any longer. Today she wore a pair of capris snug enough he didn’t have to use his imagination. They were the color of cherries, paired with a blue shirt that made her eyes stand out even from here. She wore those same yellow sneakers, ones that would look ridiculous on anyone else.
Her laughter hit him in the gut. What the hell was wrong with him? Tori, his normal neighbor, was probably the most unsafe of the whole town because she was the one he actually wanted to get to know. That couldn’t be a good thing, could it? Too soon.
But that didn’t stop his eyes from doing a quick drop to her breasts, full and round in her shirt. Damn. It had been too long since he’d been with a woman. Even better—a woman he found completely sexy.
Morgan tugged on his hand. “Let’s say hi.”
Well, he couldn’t argue with that. Morgan never wanted to talk to people. He had his excuse, so he was going to take advantage of it.
#
She took her grandmother’s suggestion and planned for a dinner with wine tonight. She already had a bottle at home, but nothing to compliment it besides cheese and crackers.
After making sure the sidewalk was clear—meaning Brooks wasn’t in sight—Tori walked half a block to the market, going through her options. Watch a movie, pick up a pizza from Stonewalls, go out?
Movie. Going out was too much work. Unless Cass called and forced her, which had been known to happen on more than one occasion.
The more in tune Tori got with her gift, the more she realized social situations were often the trigger. Sure, she had dreams. She’d had more of them lately because of Cole and the moving van. But typically, the visions were more frequent. And because of someone. Like Morgan’s sore throat yesterday.
If she stayed at home, she got the peace and quiet a normal person should expect from a normal life. Unfortunately, she wasn’t normal. Her mother hadn’t been, and Grams wasn’t either, though her Sight wasn’t nearly as strong as it used to be. In fact, it was almost gone.
Tori heaved open the door to the market and relished the first whoosh of air conditioning. “Hey, Mason. How’s Jack doing?”
“Got an order for a swing set yesterday. Can you believe that?” Mason said, shaking his head. He looked nothing like his dad, except for the same wide smile. “He’s out there hammering metal all day and they ask for a swing set.”
“He’s good with his hands,” Tori said. “He’s got the vision. I’m sure that’s all it was.”
Mason shrugged. “Not his passion, though. He could probably build you a boat if you asked him, but—”
“I wouldn’t ask him.” Tori grinned. “I know what he enjoys making.”
“Need something else for the zoo?”
“I’m thinking on it. A goat, maybe.”
Mason snorted and started ringing up a customer. “Whatcha need is a rooster.”
“That’s what Layla said.”
She grabbed a cart, already more at ease from when she’d seen Brooks in the shop. Same small town, same conversations. At least Mason hadn’t asked her about Cole. It wasn’t so much that she didn’t want to gossip—just a little—but that talking about Cole made her uneasy. No, thinking about him did. Because she’d had another dream about him last night, and it had nothing to do with a moving van.
She’d thought she was finished with her dreams about him. Instead, he’d shown up again, and this time he’d been shirtless and sweaty while fixing the gate on the side of her house. Grams always said when a woman starts having dreams like that, it means she’s lacking something in her personal life.
Sex.
And yeah, she was. Because, really, what were her choices? Brooks? On the other hand, she didn’t do relationships, so maybe someone like Brooks was her best bet. No strings. Just fun.
But somehow she couldn’t see Brooks and fun going together. Not with his long, calculating looks and irritating persistence. She had to at least like the guy a little before she could get intimate with him, or what was the point?
When she reached the cereal aisle and saw a small blond head peeking out at her from around the corner, Tori laughed.
“I see you,” she said.
Morgan appeared with Cole right behind her. And Tori was tossed into her dream again, those same feelings, that same tug in her belly that told her it was going to be hard to be just friends with her neighbor.
She forced her eyes to stay on his face. “Hey there.” Tori grinned at Morgan. “You out buying dog food for your puppy?”
Morgan nodded. “He likes Cheerios.”
Cole glanced down, surprise flickering in his eyes. Morgan still held onto his leg, but she wasn’t hiding behind him anymore.
“Does he like the honey nut ones? ’Cause those are my favorite.”
“Mine too.”
Cole’s eyes caught hers, forest-green and amused. Her throat dried. No, he wasn’t anything like Brooks at all, and that made him even more dangerous.
“You must be psychic,” Cole said.
Her gaze whipped to his again. “Wh-what?”
“The tea.” He watched Morgan play with a box of cereal for a moment. “She woke up this morning with a sore throat. I gave her the tea, and look at her now.”
Morgan smiled at her, making her heart melt. Tori had always wanted kids, but she had to settle for spending time with others’. It didn’t make sense to pass on a gift she didn’t want herself. And that was how it worked in her family. Sight passed on from generation to generation.
Tori shrugged. “After all the stress of moving, kids feel it—usually with a sore throat or a tummy ache. I’m glad she feels better.”
Cole’s eyes held hers for another long beat before he lowered them to Morgan. “Me too.”
“Are you shopping for dinner?” Tori asked Morgan.
She dragged her fingers along the metal of the cart. “I don’t know.”
Cole chuckled. “We’re shopping for everything. We’ve survived on Cheerios and lasagna since yesterday. Not that I couldn’t live off your lasagna, but…”
His words warmed her. She did make a mean lasagna. But it wasn’t as fun only cooking for herself.
“Well, if you’re looking for a quick dinner, Stonewalls does a great veggie pizza. Or the works, if that’s your thing. They’re just around the corner, and if you get there soon, you’ll miss the night crowd and might actually get your pizza in a decent amount of time.”
“Pizza sounds good.” Cole nudged Morgan’s shoulder. “Right?”
“I bet Cooper loves pizza,” Tori said to her.
She smiled, eyes twinkling. “Do you love pizza?”
“Sure. I love pizza. Veggie pizza with tomatoes.”
“Like the ones from your garden?”
“Just like those. Yummy.”
Morgan laughed, and Cole got that amazed look in his eyes again.
“You don’t have—I mean, you have a way with kids.”
“Thanks. And no, I don’t have any of my own,” Tori said with a smirk, knowing exactly what he’d been trying to say.
“Can we eat pizza in your garden?” Morgan asked.
Cole set a hand on her shoulder. “Morgan, we don’t invite ourselves to people’s houses.”
Her lips turned down in a pout. “You said make friends.”
His eyes came up, mouth open. “I’m—I did say that, but we still have to be polite. I’m sorry, she usually doesn’t take to people this fast. We should let you get back to shopping.”
“I’m not in a hurry.” In fact, Tori would rather spend the entire evening getting Morgan to open up to her than risk running into Brooks outside. “I eat out back all the time so I can see the flowers.” She crouched next to Morgan. “Which ones are your favorite?”
“The purple ones,” she said definitely. “With the sides that come out like this.” She demonstrated by curling her arms over. “And comes out in the front like a tongue.” Morgan stuck her tongue out as far as possible, making Tori laugh.
“Irises. Yes, those are my favorites too. ’Cause they’re just a little different, like me.”
Morgan stepped closer. “Like me, too.”
Tori swallowed the lump in her throat, standing again. Maybe she and Morgan had something in common. Maybe the haunted look behind Morgan’s eyes was how Tori used to feel when she was a kid. And that made her like the young girl even more.
“Please, please can we have pizza at Tori’s, Daddy?” She tugged his hand. “We can bring it over there and eat with the irises. Daddy, please, please.”
Tori pressed her lips together to keep from laughing while Cole struggled with an answer. He looked torn between chiding Morgan and giving in, just to make her stop begging.
“I’m happy to have you over,” Tori said, finally. “It’s no imposition.”
“See, Daddy?” Morgan continued. “She said it’s no po-sition. Please.”
Cole’s lips twitched. “I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t be. I enjoy the company.”
Which was actually true—at least this time. Tori was usually a solitary person, but she didn’t mind Morgan and her inquisitive mind. Cole was another matter, but they were a package deal, so she’d figure it out.
“If you’re sure…” Cole started.
Morgan jumped up and down. “Yes. Pizza!” She turned to Tori. “I’ll bring Cooper and his dog bowl because you probably don’t want him to sit at the table. And Daddy and I will bring the veggie pizza with lots of tomatoes, and I’ll take off my tomatoes because they’re squishy, but—”
Cole set his hand on her shoulder again before Morgan could continue. “All right. One thing at a time. We still have to get milk.” His eyes met Tori’s with apology in them. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. You bring the pizza and I’ll make a salad.”
“With stuff from your garden?” Morgan asked. “Can I help?”
Amused, Tori agreed and set out to do the rest of her shopping before she could change her mind.
#
After she brought the drinks inside from her car, Tori called Cass, part of her hoping her friend wouldn’t answer. Part of her hoping she was just overreacting. She could be calm and collected around Cole. She could act normal. But inside, her stomach was a mass of nerves.
“Speak to me,” Cass said.
“He said I was psychic.”
“Hello to you, too.” Tori heard shuffling on the other end of the phone. “I’m sneaking into the broom closet because Bree is following me around with those damn files. I swear, she doesn’t even know the alphabet. Who the hell thinks W goes before V? Please rescue me.”
Tori chuckled. “Rescue you from the broom closet. Can’t. I have company coming over.”
Cass was silent a long time. “Okay. My mind won’t focus. Start with the psychic thing.”
“I brought my neighbor—”
“The super-hot stud with the nice ass?”
“No, Mrs. Chutney.”
Cass snorted. “Don’t make fun. Mrs. Chutney can hold her own. Mason called me down to the market today because she thought she saw a rat and chucked a can of cat food at it. Chutney’s got skills.”
“Mason didn’t say anything to me.”
“What were you doing at the market today?”
Tori walked to the bathroom and automatically pulled out her makeup bag. She looked a little pale. Just a dab of color for her cheeks and…
“Tori?”
She squeezed the brush in her fist. What was she thinking? She was having a little girl over for pizza by the garden. She didn’t need blush.
“The psychic thing,” Cass prompted, “before they find me in here and wonder what I’m doing with the brooms.”
“What are you doing with the brooms?”
“Tori.”
“Yeah, so I brought Cole lasagna and had to warn him about the cat food casserole, and his little one—”
“Morgan. She’s a cutie. Shy as they come, though.”
“Right. She had to rescue her ball from my backyard, and I got a sore throat—well, her sore throat—and I gave him tea.”
“Nope,” Cass said. “That doesn’t clear it up. You got her sore throat? Oh, you mean…” She lowered her voice. “You could tell she was getting sick.”
“Right. I gave Cole tea to help because I’m sure that’s the last thing he needs right now is a sick kid, and then I saw him in the market today and he said, ‘You must be psychic.’”
“Was it an accusation? Was he, like, threatening to tar and feather the witch or—”
Tori choked on a laugh. “No, he was joking, I guess.”
“You guess. Of course he was joking. He doesn’t even know you.”
“Unless he’s heard something around town.”
Cass sighed. “I think Bree found me. Listen, he’s going to hear stuff. People gossip. He can decide what he wants to believe.”
That’s what worried her. There were people in town who were fine with her history, who were fine with her mom and her Grams. Who still went into Reverie and asked for the “special” tea. But then, there were those who wouldn’t step foot into Reverie. Those people went to Grounds, and they usually had something to say about her mom.
“You’re right.” Tori sighed, searching for her blush again. It didn’t hurt to make a good impression, at least.
“You never cared what anyone else thought,” Cass said quietly.
Not true. She just never showed it. It was a Cass move. Not showing anything got to her. She was used to it now, but there were times when it still hurt. To know she wasn’t quite normal. She’d never have a normal family.
“You’re right,” Tori said again, then grinned and added, “Good thing it doesn’t matter to me because he’s coming for dinner.”
“What? Wait—” A muffled voice sounded on her end, and then Cass’s grumbling answer. “Shit, I have to go. Why didn’t you say that in the beginning? Damn it, Bree—”
Tori chuckled. “See you later.”
“Tori! You call me later and give me all the details.”
“Sure, sure.”
“And touch him a lot if you can. You know, a light one on the shoulder. Maybe a little brush against his ass—”
“Uh huh.”
“I mean it!”
Tori hung up, her mood boosted. Cass was right, it shouldn’t matter what anyone else thought. Cole was going to make his own judgements. And normally it wouldn’t matter. Normally, she’d say screw it and keep living her life.
But this time was different. Because, if she listened to her dreams, Cole was part of her life now.
And Tori always listened to her dreams because her dreams were never wrong.