Page 9 of Joshua's Mistake
The house was cozy. A large kitchen dominated the front and windows looked out toward the barn. Clean and functional, the kitchen hadn’t been redecorated since the seventies. A small cottage sat off to the right of the house. Horses grazed in large, fenced fields, and woods surrounded the property. It was an idyllic setting.
Tessa sipped the strong, delicious coffee and listened in surprise as Joshua told these two the entire story. He didn’t lie or hold any information back.
When Joshua had finished his tale, Bill stood up and buried his heavily veined hands in his jeans pockets. “How can we help, Joshua? We’re just two old people living out our life on a farm we should have sold years ago. I want to help you, but what can we do?”
Joshua remained seated. “Bill, I hate to ask this of you. I’m hoping the people chasing us will overlook this place. The people who knew about my connection with you are either dead or in prison. I think it’s safe. We need to figure out our next move and Tessa needs to rest. I didn’t want to go to Kane and Lena. With the baby and one on the way…”
“Of course, you’ll rest here, Joshua. You’re family to us. We’d do anything for you. You know that. It’s only we wish we could do more,” Peggy said. She went to the coffeepot and started refilling mugs as if the dark liquid would fix the problems of the day.
Tessa felt the effect her words had on Joshua. His body stiffened and then relaxed. Something about him frightened and intrigued her. They had only been linked in the probe for a few minutes, but she still felt somehow connected to this powerful man. She wasn’t trying to sense him but she did. She knew he cared for these people and yet he was uncomfortable with their obvious love for him.
His mind had been filled with terrors she wouldn’t soon forget and yet he had been so tender when it came to her. He had protected her and saved her at great risk to himself. Why? Who was Joshua Lakeland and what did it have to do with her?
Joshua got up from the farm table. “I’ll be back in a little while. Peggy, can you show Tessa where she can rest?”
Peggy smiled warmly. “Of course. You’ll be wanting a shower too. If you give me those clothes I’ll get them in the washing machine and have them clean when you wake up.”
“You’re very kind, Mrs. Flack.”
She waved a bony hand in dismissal. “You just call me Peggy. Everyone does.”
Tessa had said all the right things to Peggy. She had been polite and controlled her emotions. Inside she was just short of full-on panic. He was leaving her. Who could blame him? Tessa didn’t want to alarm the Flacks so she remained silent yet practically screamed in her mind,“Where the hell are you going? Are you leaving me here?”
Part of her wanted him to hear and another part of her understood why he would want to get as far away from her as possible. Just because she could feel his emotions didn’t mean he would sense hers. He was undoubtedly very practiced at closing off his mind. If he was really a level ten psychic, he would have to just to stay sane.
He’d likely get killed if he stayed with her. At least he’d gotten her to a place where she could try to catch a few hours of sleep and then she’d be on the run. Probably for the rest of her life, however long that might be.
From the way his head spun around, she might as well have spoken out loud. His eyes widened and then he stalked toward her. He was visceral and terrifying. His body language said he wanted her and he might take her right there in the kitchen.
Tessa held her ground in the center of the old linoleum floor. She didn’t know if she wanted to move closer or run away. Everything about Joshua made her at once curious, aroused and afraid.
Bill cleared his throat and walked out the door with his shotgun in his hand.
Peggy said, “Well, um…I’ll just wait for you in the next room, Tessa dear.”
Joshua didn’t stop until he was standing with only a sliver of light between them. She had to crane her neck to look up at him. His mouth came within a centimeter of hers, but he never touched her.
“I’m not leaving you.”
Her heart pounded in her chest and her stomach clenched painfully. “I can take care of myself.”
One side of his mouth lifted. His right hand came up and calloused fingers slid across her cheekbone. He was powerful. He could kill her. If his psi rating was true he could likely kill her without touching her, but he could just as easily snap her neck. She could defend herself, but what would be the point? This was Joshua Lakeland. Eventually he would win.
Those same fingers continued until they were threaded through her hair and he forced her to look him in the eye. “I know you can, Tessa. I’m not leaving because I don’t want to leave you. I can’t explain why, but we’re in this together. You’re going to have to learn to trust me.”
She had to force air into her lungs. “I’ve already taken several leaps of faith. You just said you were leaving. If you want to go, then go.”
He shook his head but didn’t release her. “I’m going to get rid of the car. I don’t want to get picked up by the local police because we made a rookie mistake and kept a stolen car too long.”
“Oh.” She could feel her cheeks flushing.
His left hand came up and cupped her other cheek. He ran a thumb along her bottom lip. She wanted to be impervious to his attention, but her body trembled at his touch.
His mouth drew closer. His breath mingled with hers as her lips separated partially in shock at what was about to happen and partially in need of his kiss. Those deep-blue eyes locked with hers and she couldn’t blink or look away. He scanned her face to her lips, closed his eyes and stepped away.
Tessa’s instincts told her she should throw her arms around his neck and take the kiss he’d nearly given. Her cautious nature kept her feet planted in the spot on the linoleum.
Only the sound of heavy breathing filled the kitchen for several ticks of the clock.
