Cross Waves, page 3
She glared at him. “I’m not doing this for you, I’m doing it for Julia. I won’t be responsible if you get hurt.”
Rolf couldn’t stop a laugh that came out sounding harsh. “Look on the bright side. If you kill me, you won’t have to partner with me anymore, will you?”
4
Temptation
Geneva must have dozed off on the small aircraft because the next thing she knew, a hand shook her awake.
Rolf.
His touch lasted only a fleeting moment, but the solid strength in his palm sent an annoying tingle of awareness through her body. If only he didn’t resemble a Greek god. She tried not to look at his six feet four frame and the hard muscles that bulged in his arms, a result of his rigorous daily workout regimen.
“We’re landing.”
She glanced his way, her gaze gliding over his thick, dark hair, impenetrable as the expression in his icy blue eyes and hard jawline. Their gazes caught and held, and an ache formed in her chest. A shiver chased down her spine. The man broadcasted danger whenever she looked at him. She’d be a fool to ignore the message.
The pilot came over the loudspeaker, breaking the connection between them. In minutes, the wheels of the plane touched the runway. She turned on her cell phone to check the time—7:42 p.m. in Phoenix.
Neither spoke as they collected their luggage and rental car. She grabbed the keys before Rolf did, but he held out his hand. “I’ll drive.”
She stiffened. “I’ve got this.”
“You need to track Julia, and you can’t drive a car with your eyes closed.”
Although she hated to admit it, he was right. She was eager to trace Julia, but she’d need to concentrate on the energy in the atmosphere, and that worked better with her eyes closed.
“Fine,” she bit off, handing him the key.
“We’ve got at least a two-hour drive to Sedona. See if you can find her.” He didn’t wait for a response, opening the driver’s side door and climbing behind the wheel.
She might have balked at his authoritative tone, but the green in Rolf’s aura shifted, exposing spots of red. He feared for Julia as much as she did, although he tried to disguise it. She got into the car and squinted, watching the odd combination of colors surrounding him. What else did he hide behind his impassive exterior?
She rested her head against the seat back. Rolf started the car, and the engine surged to life. He navigated out of the airport and onto the main highway with all the finesse of a professional race car driver.
Geneva closed her eyes and focused her mind on the shifting energy in the atmosphere. Colors ebbed and flowed, bombarding her senses. She latched onto a shade of violet that most closely matched Julia’s aura and followed the strand until it disappeared in a sea of color.
The hills surrounding them seemed to laugh at her futile efforts, magnifying the energy and causing a rush of color to speed toward her. She slowed her breathing to defuse the power. To bring order to chaos. When she was finally able to open her eyes to glance at Rolf, they were no longer moving.
He had pulled the car onto the side of the road and shut off the engine, his large hands hugging the wheel. The orange-red sun slipped toward the Arizona skyline. His eyes glinted, glowing coals shining in their depths. The energy she’d manipulated must have stirred his psychic senses.
“Get anything?”
“No, too much interference. How long was I out?”
“Too long.” He started the car, and they moved back onto the highway.
Was he upset with her? If he was, he didn’t show it, but she caught another flash of red, reflecting his worry.
“You’ll get used to the new energy levels. Give it time.”
Geneva sniffed, tilting her head to look out the window. Anything to avoid looking at Rolf and the turquoise color exploding within the red of his aura. Sincerity. Flattering, but she’d never let him know it. “I’ll try again in a bit. Maybe I’ll do better later.”
They spent the next hour in silence until they pulled into the hotel’s crowded parking lot. The moon rose, casting a glimmer of light on his dark features. She opened the car door and headed to the trunk to retrieve her luggage. As quick as she was, somehow he was there before her, setting her bags on the pavement, the muscles in his long arms flexing.
She reached for her suitcase, and their fingers brushed. Heat rippled along her frazzled nerve endings, and she pulled her hands back with a gasp. Did he feel it, too, the warmth?
Penetrating blue eyes caught and trapped hers in their icy depths. Despite everything between them and the distance in his gaze, she still found him attractive. She hated that—hated the knowledge he could invoke such powerful feelings in her with an accidental touch and a single glance. Hated the way he made her feel, all feminine, fragile, and fearful.
A rainbow of color flickered along his broad form and disappeared in a rush of energy, which seemed to take forever to dissipate. She should do something, say something to break the silence between them. But she couldn’t think of a single word. All she could do was stand there, breathing in the fresh, woodsy scent of his cologne, imagining the taste of his lips on hers and remembering the first and only time they’d ever kissed.
Geneva gripped the suitcase so she wouldn’t do something stupid—so she wouldn’t stomp her feet and howl and then fling herself against his hard chest and ravage those firm lips. Hadn’t he made it clear more times than she could count that he disliked her? She blinked, breaking the spell he cast, and tugged on her suitcase, practically jogging across the pavement in her haste to get away from him.
Despite her strong lead, by the time she entered the lobby doors, Rolf was only a few paces behind her. She dragged her luggage to the front desk. The hotel clerk greeted them with a generous smile that soon turned into a frown and then an apology.
“I’m sorry. Our computers have been down all day, and I’m only finding a reservation for one room in our system. I have a single room reserved with two double beds.”
“There must be some mistake. We have a reservation for two rooms,” Rolf said.
“I’m sorry, sir.” The clerk shook her head. A sincere turquoise color oozed from her chest. “The national gem convention’s in Phoenix, and we’re booked solid. There’s only the one room available. Do you want it?”
“No.” He tightened his lips. “We’ll find somewhere else.”
“I’m afraid you won’t find anything.” The turquoise color morphed into a dull red, indicating the woman’s increasing anxiety. “This is the largest gem convention in the nation. Thousands of collectors flood Phoenix. Every hotel in Sedona and other nearby cities is booked. You two are lucky to have the room you do. Are you sure you want to give it up?”
Rolf passed a hand through his hair. “Yes.”
“No.” Geneva bit the words out between clenched teeth. Something about Rolf’s willingness to give up the room so he wouldn’t have to be near her ate at her self-control. Did he have to be so repulsed by her? Besides, he could speak for himself—she needed sleep.
She flashed the clerk her brightest smile. “I’ll take it.”
“Excellent.”
The clerk held out a packet with two key cards for room 304. Geneva grabbed the cards and headed toward the elevator.
Rolf caught up to her. “What the hell are you doing?”
“We need to find Julia. I’m not spending the evening searching for a hotel room.”
“We can’t share a room.”
“Why not? There are two beds. You’ll be safe.”
“It’s not my safety I’m worried about.”
“We have no choice unless you want to sleep in the car. I don’t. Tracking burns energy. I need to be well-rested for any hope of success.”
She jabbed the up arrow and waited for the doors to open.
“Fine. I’ll sleep in the car.” He turned to go.
She rolled her eyes. “Suit yourself, hotshot. But you’re not going to get a good night’s sleep in that small car.” Why did she goad him? He was right—they shouldn’t share a room. At the rate they were going, she might murder the stubborn jackass while he slept.
The elevator dinged, the doors opened, and she stepped inside.
“You make a good point.” Rolf followed her, tripping her heartbeat into fast mode.
They faced the doors, watching them close. Neither spoke. Colors bounced off the confined space as their energies merged and multiplied. She tightened her hand around her suitcase and slowed her breathing.
They stopped on the second floor. The doors opened and a young woman entered, ogling Rolf and ignoring Geneva. He nodded and his lips tilted up in a come-play-with-me smile. Anger burned in her veins.
“Smile any wider, Romeo, and it’ll reach your ears.”
Rolf’s attention shifted toward Geneva, and he raised an eyebrow. “She was dumped by her boyfriend last week.”
Geneva looked from Rolf to the woman. Sure enough, the woman’s aura was tinged with mauve, the color of sorrow. How embarrassing to miss the sign—Rolf must think her jealous. She wasn’t, of course.
The elevator stopped on the third floor. They stepped off, dragging their suitcases behind them. The woman stayed on the elevator but gave Rolf another sweet smile. The door shut behind them, and they followed the signs to room 304.
Their room wasn’t big, but it did contain the promised beds, a large window overlooking the parking lot, a desk, and a small couch. Rolf checked his cell phone. “We have some time to kill. I’m going to grab a drink in the bar.”
He turned to leave as if he couldn’t get away fast enough. Geneva glared at his backside. “Don’t you think you ought to avoid liquor if we’re going to a vortex tonight?”
God, she sounded like a nagging wife. Rolf had his hand on the doorknob, and Geneva expected he’d leave without answering. But he didn’t. He turned to look at her. His chiseled features glowed in the lamplight, giving him a maniacal look.
She couldn’t catch her breath as silence stretched between them, broken only by the sound of her beating heart. What was he thinking? Was he amused by her comment? Or had she angered him? She couldn’t help but feel a sharp ache in her chest at the thought of adding fuel to his already bad opinion of her. Outside, an ambulance blared its noisy siren, startling her and forcing her to take a step toward him.
“Join me.”
She narrowed her gaze. Was this some kind of game? “I need to freshen up. I’ll meet you in the lobby in a bit.”
He scanned her body. “You look fine to me.”
Had Rolf given her a compliment? Did he actually want to grab a drink with her? She opened her mouth to respond, but he had already stepped into the hall.
“Meet me in the lobby at eleven. Don’t be late.”
The door banged shut. Geneva stared unmoving for a few minutes after he left, studying the trace of purple color that followed his retreating form. The color of lust. Her imagination. Had to be.
She took a breath and forced her limbs to move toward her suitcase. She’d not be placed off-balance by Rolf pretending to want her company. He didn’t like her, had not wanted to share a hotel room. Used every chance he could to remind her how much she repelled him.
So, what did the purple color mean?
5
Bell Rock
Midnight
* * *
“After you.” Rolf gestured to the open door of their rented Toyota and tried not to look at Geneva. Earlier tonight, he’d invited her to have a drink with him in the hotel bar. What the hell had he been thinking? Thank God she’d had the good sense to refuse his invitation.
He shoved his hands into his pockets, which seemed to be the safest place for them. She’d pulled her golden hair into a knot on the back of her head, and little wisps hung on either side of her face. He supposed she thought the bun would keep her hair out of the way, but instead, it made her look angelic. He shifted his feet. “Hurry.”
“Maybe I should try tracking Julia from here first.”
He hardened his voice. They didn’t have time to waste deliberating. “It’s a twenty minute drive. You can track her along the way. C’mon.” They should arrive at the vortex well before midnight and start the trace as soon as possible.
Geneva flashed him a worried look.
He ground his teeth. “Get—in—the—car.”
“Okay, okay, I’m trying to think this through. I’m anxious to find Julia, too.” She did as he asked, thank God.
Power heaved inside him, her anxiety over visiting the vortex intensifying the toxic energy. “Buckle up.” He swallowed hard and hurried to the driver’s side, where he got behind the wheel and revved the engine. He waited until her seatbelt clicked and then stepped on the gas, the vehicle roaring into motion.
Her hands flew to the sides of her seat. “Slow down. We can’t help Julia if we’re dead.”
“What are you picking up?”
“Your anxiety. It’s overpowering. Can you dial it back a little?”
He let off the gas and drew in a breath, releasing it slowly through his nose until his heartbeat settled.
“That’s better.” She sniffed, resting her head against the seat and closing her eyes. “I’m tracing Julia now. If I don’t open my eyes in ten minutes, wake me up.”
He narrowed his eyes and frowned, but she’d already closed her own, so his look was wasted. What the hell did she mean, wake her up? Didn’t she wake up on her own? His heartbeat jig-jogged around in a mad beat. He glanced at the clock on the radio and began counting.
Sixty seconds. What did she see? His talent lurched forward inside him, and he gritted his teeth. He focused on the road ahead to keep his power contained.
Eight miles later, he stopped at a red light, eyeing the clock again. She’d been under seven minutes now. He tapped his fingers on the wheel, glancing at her still form while he waited for the light to change. Eight minutes. Shouldn’t she be waking up? Did she even breathe? The light changed, and he moved forward. Nine minutes.
“Enough.” He poked her side. “Geneva, wake up.”
Her body lay still as a corpse. Adrenaline drove a spike through his heart. He stomped on the brakes and veered off the road, then jammed the vehicle in park. He leaned across the seats and shook her shoulder, hard.
She didn’t stir.
“Geneva, wake up. Now.” No reaction. His heart did a wild dance, and power broke loose from its chain, rising toward the surface of his mind.
He unsnapped his seatbelt, gripped her shoulders, and focused on her mind, searching for a hole in her defenses. He found one and blasted through it.
A thousand twinkling lights sparkled and stunned his senses. They rotated through her mind in quick succession: deep oranges, vibrant reds, soft yellows. Her heartbeat drummed in time with the steady glow of the lights. She gasped for oxygen.
“Let go.” He took control of her mind, forcing air into her starved lungs.
She gasped, the sound scraping his insides raw. A sharp ache pounded his temple. Inside her mind, the lights dimmed. Her power shifted, some part of her brain recognizing the intrusion as she came to consciousness. The dark colors took on shades of gray.
“Rolf?”
His heart leaped in his chest. “It’s about time. What the hell happened to you?” He clutched her shoulders and pulled her toward him. “My God.”
Geneva jerked in his arms, probably stunned he held her. But he couldn’t let go. Not yet. Not until he knew she was safe.
She cleared her throat. “There were so many colors.” Her voice sounded weak…shell-shocked. “I couldn’t make them stop. They kept coming at me, over and over. I tried to dilute them, but…I got lost. I couldn’t figure out how to resurface.”
Fear thickened his throat. He pulled her closer. He clenched his jaw and tried to keep his worry and anger inside, but they wouldn’t be contained. “Don’t you ever do that to me again.”
“Mmmfh.” Geneva twisted in his arms. “Let me go.” She managed to lift her head from where he’d smashed it into his shoulder. “What’s the matter with you? Why are you shouting?”
Rolf loosened his grip but did not let go. Energy surged and writhed toward her light, a mad bid for freedom. Heat exploded through his body, and he tilted her chin until their eyes met. “You could have died.”
Geneva blinked at him, her haunted eyes twisting his stomach inside out. Her voice, when it came, sounded like she’d run a hundred miles. “I’m not dead. Why are you so upset?”
A hard rap sounded on the window next to him, breaking their connection. He hid his irritation and turned toward the noise to catch the gaze of a young policeman, who stared through the window, wielding a narrow flashlight. The beam swept their faces and the interior of the car.
Rolf rolled down the window.
Hands all over her.
He squinted at the officer. He believed he’d interrupted a lover’s spat or a make-out session.
Geneva sat straighter in her seat and smoothed her hair. She must have caught the essence of the officer’s thoughts from his aura.
“Everything okay in there, ma’am?”
“Yes.” Geneva nodded, her voice calm. “I felt a little faint. I’m fine now.”
“Good.” The officer jerked his head toward Rolf. “Sir, I’ll need to see your driver’s license.”
Rolf dug in his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed the officer his license.
The officer studied it for a second before returning it to him. “Where’re you headed?”
“My girlfriend and I were on our way to see Bell Rock at midnight. She’s always wanted to see it when the moon’s full.” He gestured at the sky.
“Well, you should all be careful here at night. Sedona is a pretty safe town, but it’s wise to keep a close lookout after dark. We’ve had a rash of recent robberies in the area.”
