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“Maybe you were too distracted by your dishy date.”Her snippy thought came through, loud and clear.

Did he tell her?

Yep. It was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“You do realize we can now read each other’s minds, right?”he told her telepathically.

Horror filled her wide milk-chocolate-colored eyes, and Trevor smiled his satisfaction. Needling her was simply too much fun.

CHAPTER5

Trevor had read her mind! And right when Soleil was feeling especially catty.

Trying to act nonchalant, as if she wasn’t freaked the fuck out that he had access to her innermost thoughts, Soleil shrugged and turned her back to him.

How the hell was she supposed to block him? Wasn’t it bad enough that her face was already an open book? She wanted to scream at the unfairness of it all.

“I can teach you,” he said, surprising her with his serious tone.

“I have to go. The procurer?—”

“Of rare plants. Yes, I know.” Trevor placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. “Can’t you reschedule, Soleil? That near miss must’ve shaken you up.”

“I…”

How did she tell him she’d already forgotten about the SUV? The second his arm encircled her waist and he hugged her to him, reason fled, and all that remained was sensation. His steely forearm across her abdomen had created a fluttery feeling, and it was still going strong. That was to say nothing of the chaos caused by the spicy but citrusy scent of his skin enveloping her.

Bergamot, if she wasn’t mistaken.

Currently, his massaging hands were causing a riot of emotions. Want. Confusion. Nervousness. Hope? The last one prodded her into action, and she stepped away from his intoxicating touch. Goddess, her body was overly warm, and it felt like she was walking through the desert with the noonday sun high overhead. Not a single oasis in sight. Sweat trickled between her breasts, and she fanned her scalding-hot face as she hurried toward the street.

“Soleil!”

He reached her right when she would have stepped into oncoming traffic.

Her distraction was great.

“Please, Mr. Blane?—”

“Trevor.”

“Trevor. Please, leave me alone.”

“I can’t,” he said in a gruff voice.

Helplessly, she stared at him. Whether Trevor’s confession was because of his appointment to watch over her or something deeper, Soleil didn’t know. Clearly, he had an easier time keeping his thoughts to himself than she did.

“The man I’m supposed to meet is a stickler about time,” she said. “It’s obvious I’m not going to shake you, so let’s go.” Proud of herself for taking charge, she briskly walked toward the alley, praying there were no cameras to catch her teleport. She had two minutes to get to Gene Stockton, or she’d never hear from the man again.

“What’s so important that you need to get to this guy within two minutes?”

“Stay out of my damned head,” she snapped. “And it’s the Wood’s Cycad.”

“The what?”

“Wood’s Cycad. It’s extinct in the wild, and no one knows exactly how many are grown privately. My hope is, with Spring’s help, to create adult plants and replant them in their natural habitat.”

“Who cares if this particular one dies?—”