Endless (17 page)

Cathryn shot me a reproving glance. “We did
what we were paid to do, Tas. A good day of work. The next job will
be easier for you, now that you’ve gotten past the first one.”

I looked out into the growing shadows and
didn’t reply.

The assignments did get easier, I found.
After that first one, I began receiving the encrypted emails about
twice a week, always giving me a location and the part I was to
play. Cathryn went along with me for several weeks, but once it
became clear that I could handle myself, I tackled a few easy
missions without her. Fiona or Emma were usually along with me, and
I liked having them there.

“It’s kind of cool,” I admitted to Aline at
our regular Friday session. “I mean, it’s pretty mundane. It’s not
all the cloak and dagger stuff I imagined. I’m usually in a
lawyer’s office or something like that. But at the same time, I’m
always playing a part, and I feel like I’m helping people. Well. .
.most of the time.”

Aline raised her eyebrows. “Most of the
time?”

I smothered a sigh. “Yeah. Sometimes I’m not
sure what happens with the information I hear. I hope it helps, but
Carruthers won’t tell me, and they don’t like me to ask.”

“Like the farmer?”

I nodded. “Exactly. I wanted to know what
happened. Did he get mad at his nephew? What’s he going to do with
the farm now? I don’t expect a reward or anything for helping. I
just want to know.”

Aline looked thoughtful. “You could probably
find that yourself. There are records of sales.”

“I know. But I don’t think Carruthers wants
me to dig, and I don’t want to rock the boat. So far, so good.
They’ve done what they promised up to this point, with Zoe helping
me control my powers and now letting me use my gifts to help
others. So maybe I just need to trust them.”

“Trust doesn’t come easily to you, Tasmyn,
and for good reason. If you’re sensing anything off, you should pay
heed to your intuition.”

I didn’t answer, and Aline, never one to
push, tactfully changed the subject. “How are you and Michael doing
with all these changes? Are you still sensing some worry from him,
the insecurity about Rafe?”

I smiled, something I couldn’t help doing
when I thought of Michael. “Everything is pretty wonderful with us.
Michael still worries a little about Carruthers, I think, but he
trusts me to make the right decision. I check in with him whenever
I have an assignment, and I tell what I can. They’re big on
secrecy, you know. Or discretion, as Cathryn says.”

“And Cathryn isn’t bothering you so much
anymore?”

Laughing, I shook my head. “No, not so much.
Now that I can talk to her without bringing down the walls, I don’t
think it’s as much fun for her to torment me. And if nothing else,
Cathryn is always professional. She’s not Marica, and she’s not
Nell.”

Aline nodded. “Speaking of which. . .you’ve
been visiting Nell. How’s that going?”

“Always the same. She looks just as she did
the first time I went up there. No change at all. I talk to her, I
tell her what I’m doing. Michael went with me one time. I thought
maybe all three of us together again. . .but nothing.”

“Does that disappoint you?”

“Maybe a little. Michael teased me once that
I have a superhero complex, that I want to save everyone. He might
be onto something.”

Laughing, Aline leaned back in her chair. “I
don’t think you have a complex, Tasmyn. I think you’re just a
decent person, and you want to do the right thing for everyone.
Nothing wrong with that, as long as you don’t let it consume you.
Remember, you’re not responsible for the happiness of the world at
large.”

I thought about that as I made my way back to
campus to meet Michael. I still had quite a bit of regret about
Nell and her current state, and I had more than a little guilt and
shame over Rafe. Being able to visit Nell helped me feel a little
better; at least I knew I was doing everything I could for her. But
seeing Rafe was not an option. I wondered, as I did from time to
time, where he was and if he had moved on. I hoped so.

“Penny for your thoughts, pretty lady?”
Michael slid his arms around me from behind me as soon as I stepped
out of the Mustang.

“Where did you come from?” I asked, slamming
the door and turning in his embrace.

“I got out early and decided to wait for you
here so we could walk to dinner together.” He dropped a light kiss
on my lips. “How did it go with Aline?”

“Good. Nothing deep today, just a check-in.”
I wove my fingers between Michael’s as we headed to the dining
hall. “Do you think that means I’m getting better? Almost normal,
maybe?”

Michael laughed and squeezed my hand. “Honey,
you don’t need to get any better. And normal is way overrated.” I
leaned into him, nuzzling his shoulder in both gratitude and
affection.

“But it probably means you’re healing,” he
went on. “And that is a wonderful thing.”

We went through the food line separately
since Michael hit just about every station while I grabbed a salad
and a slice of pizza. I was already settled at our table by the
time he made it there carrying two trays.

“Chocolate cake for dessert. I got you a
slice, too.”

“Yum.” We ate in silence for a few minutes
before I spoke again.

“Remember the first assignment I had with
Carruthers? With the farmer?” I spoke low and leaned into Michael,
which was really ridiculous; if Cathryn were monitoring us tonight,
she’d be able to hear Michael’s thoughts no matter how quiet we
were.

“Sure,” Michael nodded. “What about it?”

“I want to know what happened. I know it’s
not a big deal, and it’s none of my business, but I just wondered.
If he sold the farm anyway, I mean. I want to make sure he got the
information.”

Michael shrugged. “Okay. And Cathryn won’t
tell you, right? Did you ask Fiona?”

“They all tell me to let it go. Fee says it
nicer, but basically the same thing. And I’m afraid if I dig into
it, they’ll be mad. But you could find out for me.”

He finished his taco and took a swig of sweet
tea. “Sure. Remind me of the name, and I’ll check it out.”

“I’ll give it to you when we’re alone. And
remember not to think about it around Cathryn.”

Michael rolled his eyes. “Oh, great. Now
that’s all I’ll be able to think about. Lucky thing I don’t see her
very often.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Lucky thing for more
than one reason, buddy! Cathryn might be backing off a little, but
she’d still jump at the chance to get her manicured hands on
you.”

Michael grabbed my fingers and kissed them.
“Only one set of hands I want on me, and you know that.” When I
blushed and shook my head, he just laughed.

“Speaking of hands on me, I have the suite to
myself again tonight. Want to chance another overnight visit?”

I slid over the plate with my pizza crust so
that Michael could finish it. “By ‘chance’, do you mean the risk of
you having another bad dream or of me self-combusting?” Zoe had
been trying to help me learn how to re-direct my energy so that I
didn’t start a fire or burn up myself, but it wasn’t easy. When I
was with Michael, it was nearly impossible for me to focus on
anything but him. Even thinking about it. . .

“You’re getting all red.” Michael stared at
me as I pushed back from the table and fanned myself with a napkin.
“What were you thinking about?”

I shot him what I hoped was a smoldering
look. Since I was almost literally doing just that, it should’ve
been easy. “Your fault. I need some air. Are you just about
done?”

He stacked the trays with trash. “We didn’t
eat our cake, though.”

“Get a box for it. I’ll meet you outside. I
think we need to work on some of Zoe’s anti-combustion ideas.”

“Let’s check on that farm sale while you’re
here and we’re alone,” Michael suggested as we climbed the stairs
to his dorm. “You’ll feel better once you know.”

“Probably,” I agreed. Michael unlocked the
door and pulled his laptop out of its bag while I headed for his
room. I’d begun leaving a few things in his room , and I was glad
to change into sweats and a t-shirt.

“What’s the name?” Michael called from the
living room. I padded into him, pulling on socks as I went.

“Cummings. Matthew Cummings. And the farm was
in Westboro Township.” I watched over his shoulder as he navigated
through a few different searches.

“Ah. Hmm. There it is.” Michael tilted the
screen so that I had better view. “Sale went through last week.
Matthew Cummings to Patrick Holmes and Brice Donavan.”

I dropped heavily onto the sofa next to him.
“I was afraid of that. I can’t believe that he went through with
the sale even after we told him--” My voice trailed off.

“But you said Cathryn was going to give a
report to the attorney, not to the farmer. Is it possible the
attorney didn’t tell his client what you found out?”

“Not only possible. I think it’s also
probable.” I rubbed my hand across my forehead, suddenly weary. “I
hate this. Here I’m trying to do something good and it doesn’t make
any difference at all in the long run.”

“Could it be that he decided to sell anyway?
Even with the information you gave him?”

I shook my head. “I doubt it. He seemed
pretty set on keeping it a farm.”

Michael wrapped me in his arms. “I know this
bothers you. But I don’t think there’s anything you can do about
it. Try not to let it get under your skin. You can leave Carruthers
any time you want, if they’re not who you hoped they were.”

I laid my head on his shoulder. “It’s not
that simple. I don’t think I’m ready to just give up so easily.
Maybe there’s an explanation.”

Michael trailed fingers across my cheek.
“Whatever you do, I’m behind you. Always.”

“Thanks.” I snuggled down and let the worry
and niggling annoyance over Matthew Cummings and everyone at
Carruthers slide off me.

Michael tilted my chin up and kissed me
softly. I felt him straining to keep everything in check, holding
back, and despite the heat that was building deep within me, I
upped the ante, straining to get closer to him, and opening my
mouth beneath his. I slid my hands up under his shirt, catching my
breath at the feel of his muscles tightening at my touch.

Without breaking the kiss, he eased his hands
beneath my legs and lifted me closer so that I lay across his lap,
trapped between his body and the arm of the sofa. His hands moved
back up my body, and even with the fever rising, goose bumps rose
in his wake. I tightened my grip around his neck, intent on pulling
him as close to me as possible.

Michael plunged his hands under my t-shirt,
rubbing my back. He groaned and pulled his mouth from mine. “Tas,
you’re burning up again. We need to. . .ahhh.” I pulled him flush
against me and took his mouth again. The heat was there, but
nothing existed for me in that moment but Michael and me. Some
small part of my mind tried to remember Zoe’s suggestions for
re-channeling energy, but nothing made sense.

Michael broke away from kissing me again, but
this time it was only to run his lips down my neck to my
collarbone. His fingers teased around my waist and skimmed my
stomach so that I sucked in a sharp breath.

And then abruptly he sat up, dropping me
unceremoniously onto the sofa. I started up in alarm, not sure what
had made him stop, but he pushed me gently back and lifted my
t-shirt up away from stomach. I heard his thoughts at the same time
that he drew in a hissing breath.

Blisters. All over you.

“Blisters? Are you sure?” I peered around his
hands, but he carefully laid the shirt back on me and ran his hands
over my neck.

“And here, too. Tas.” Dropping back on the
sofa—this time a safe distance away from me—Michael groaned.
“You’re on fire from the inside. I can still feel the heat from you
all the way over here. Go get a cold shower. You’ve got to bring
your temp down.” He ventured close enough to touch my forehead and
swore under his breath. “Or I’m going to have to take you to the
emergency room.
That
would be interesting.”