Page 95 of Storm Warning
“It’s real, Kate.” His thumb brushed her cheek, his touch achingly gentle, grounding her in the impossibility of the moment. “I would never lie to you about this.”
She swallowed hard, her throat dry despite the water she’d drunk. “How long? Since when?”
“The day after Zach, David, and I met. It… I started hearing thoughts from others at school. Teachers, mostly. We spent weeks trying to figure it out. It’s been part of my life ever since.”
A tremor rippled through her, starting deep in her core and spreading outward. The implications were staggering. “Have you… have you been listening to me? This whole time?” The violation of that possibility made her stomach turn.
“No!” The word was fierce, immediate, burning with sincerity. “Never. Until today, I never heard a single thought from you. I think you have a natural shield—many do. I can’t just read minds: I only hear loud thoughts, or those deliberately sent to me, and even then only within a relatively short distance. Normally, that’s about a half mile tops, but you were further away.” Nick frowned as he thought that over. “Maybe because you screamed?”
She searched his face, looking for any flicker of deceit, any sign that he was manipulating her, but only steady, unguarded truth shone in those emerald eyes.
Kate pressed her hand over her eyes, her breath shudderingout. The world tilted on its axis. “God, Nick. This is… a lot. I don’t know what to do with it. Who knows?”
“You don’t have to do anything.” His voice was rough with emotion. “I just needed you to know who I am. All of it. You deserve that. As for who, just David and Zach.”
“Not Marguerite?”
“No. We’ve never told anyone what we can do.”
For a long moment, she remained silent, letting it sink in—the sheer magnitude of trusting someone with a secret like this. A part of her, still afraid, whispered it was too much, too strange, too impossible. Deeper down, something steadier reminded her he could have hidden it forever—and hadn’t. He’d trusted her with something that could destroy him.
He’d only known she was missing because he heard her scream. What if he hadn’t?
“We. The others can do it too?”
“No, the telepathy is mine. They do have their own talents, but that’s for them to tell.”
She lowered her hand and met his uneasy gaze, seeing the vulnerability there, the fear of rejection. “I don’t understand it, and honestly, it scares me a little. But… thank you for trusting me enough to tell me.”
Relief flickered across his features like sunrise breaking through clouds. Some of the tension drained from his shoulders, and he let out a long breath.
“Most people would run screaming,” he admitted, a sheepish smile tugging at his mouth.
Kate huffed out a disbelieving laugh, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep. “Nick, I write paranormal romance for a living. Telepathic billionaires are basically my brand. Now I’m wondering if I should relabel my books as non-fiction.”
A startled chuckle escaped him, rich and warm, vibrating through his chest into hers. “That’s… weirdly reassuring.”
She nudged his shoulder playfully. “Although next time you guys negotiate a contract with some unsuspecting CEO, you’d better warn them you’re cheating.”
He grinned, a glint of boyish mischief dancing in his eyes. “It’s not cheating. It’s… a strategic advantage.”
“Oh, so that’s what we’re calling it?” She shook her head, but her heart lightened, the weight lifting. “You realize I’m going to write this into a book one day, right? A mind-reading control freak who thinks he’s smooth.”
His brows shot up, mock-affronted. “Control freak? Really?”
She just laughed and leaned into him, her cheek resting against the solid warmth of his chest. “I’m serious. It’s too good not to use.”
He pressed a kiss on the top of her head, his lips warm. “Fine. As long as I get an autographed copy.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, the breeze from the gulf ruffling her hair and carrying the scent of salt and jasmine. His heart beat steadily under her palm, a constant rhythm that seemed to sync with her own. She’d never imagined finding someone who could turn her world upside down in all the best ways—and still make her laugh about it.
She picked up the rescue story again. “So, you heard me, and that started you guys looking for me. What else did Zach skip that I should know?”
“Not much. I touch-read the mind of the maintenance guy that messed with you at the spa, and got flashes, images of the guy who hired him, his jeep, and a comment from the conversation. From that, David hacked a satellite and located the jeep. When we went to rescue you, I held the mind link open so we could communicate silently as we approached to get you. It’s handy that way.”
Nick turned a boyish grin her way. “And yes, it has beenveryhandy in negotiations when we three can talk to each other as much as we want without anyone knowing!”
Kate laughed, the sound light and genuine. “I think I’m jealous. What a cool ability to have!”