Page 8 of Training Rain
“It’s not so much blocking. I interrupt the flow of psi energy.”
“So you could affect more than one person at a time?” He sounded intrigued and his accent was all but gone.
“It’s harder, but yes. As long as I’m in close proximity, I can stop the flow all around me.”
“Do you have any offensive talents?”
“No.” Her thoughts immediately went back to the idea that she had no business in this new agency.
He smiled. Even in the shadows it was devastating. “You know, defensive abilities can be turned to offensive purposes in some situations.”
Her heart beat faster. She had her mind closed off. How had he known what she was thinking?
“Don’t freak out. I don’t need to be psychic to know what you’re thinking. You don’t think you belong here. I get that. Maybe you’re right. We won’t know until we test you out.”
“I suppose.”
“First you and I are going to have to come to an understanding.” His accent returned.
Her instincts told her to be cautious. “What kind of understanding?”
“You are going to have to trust me enough to tell me why I make you so damn uncomfortable, because if you’re afraid of me, this will not work. I will have to call Josh and tell him to send a different agent to train you.”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“Then why is your mind still closed down?”
She stood up and crossed her arms over her chest again. “Just because I don’t want anyone poking around in my head doesn’t mean I’m afraid. It means I’m cautious.”
“It means you don’t trust me.”
“I don’t like the idea of anyone being in my mind.”
“Why? Do you have something to hide?”
She laughed, but it was not a pleasant sound. “Everyone has something to hide.”
That smile again. “That’s true. I will not invade your privacy. I can promise you that. I can’t help hearing emotions that you broadcast the way you did from the bedroom, but I will not go searching for information without permission.”
Her palms grew sweaty. Should she trust him? “I have your word on that?”
Jess reached his hand across the space between them. “Trust me.” She took it and let down her mental block.
She could see his body relax. What did he care if she trusted him? Why should it matter to him if she became part of the new Psi Alliance?
“Do you want to tell me what had you so upset before?”
“To do that I have to explain a lot of other things and it will take some time.” She hoped that he would be persuaded to wait for another time.
“Do you think you can go to sleep and not return to your earlier state?”
Damn him. “I don’t really want to talk about this.”
To her surprise, he chuckled then he got up and added logs to the fire. “Yes. I got that.”
Without saying another word, he returned to the couch and lounged while watching her.
Rain didn’t like to be the center of attention even when it was good attention. This was not good. He would be repulsed by what she did. At least she would get her wish and Jess McMean would be out of her life. Why didn’t that make her feel any better?
