Nicolas was obviously reading her thoughts. Gator is anything but easygoing in a fight, Dahlia. He’s one of the best we have. All of them are. Never underestimate him.
I wasn’t worried. I just think he’s… she hesitated, substituted, cute.
Cute? You think he’s cute? What’s cute about him?
She loved the teasing note in his voice. Nicolas was so much more relaxed around her now. They were actually reaching a point where they seemed to fit with one another. He could tease her about another man and the earlier jealousy didn’t flare up. Well, yes. He’s got that smile, that really bad boy smile, and a great backside.
On page eighty of the relationship manual, it clearly states you cannot look at another man’s backside, especially if you think it’s great.
Her laughter floated out over the bayou. Great tall herons flapped their wings and continued walking on their stilt-like legs through the reeds. Several frogs croaked, and both Kaden and Ian stuck their heads around the corner.
Kaden gave her a little salute. “I’m glad to see you’re feeling much better.”
“Much, thank you, although I’m a bit embarrassed that I set Gator’s house on fire,”
“I told you there was no need to be upset, ma cher,” Gator said. “We wouldn’t want the men to be getting bored. I put them to work.”
“Still, I hate the loss of control,” Dahlia said, determined to try to fit in with the GhostWalkers. If she was the same as they were, and they could understand the complications facing her and maybe find a way to make her life better, she was going to give it her all. “I’ve worked very hard for as long as I can remember and yet I’m still making childish mistakes. Part of it is my own temper.”
Nicolas ruffled her hair, wishing he could find the right words to say to comfort her. “You’re too hard on yourself. We’re all learning about this. Did you ever think one of the other missing girls might be out there somewhere alone, not knowing what happened to her? Maybe thinking she’s insane? The more we find out what you can and can’t do, the better it is for all of us. Experiments are risky and there are mistakes made, but they’re necessary. You have to think of being around the GhostWalkers as an experiment. None of us would ever condemn a mistake.”
The men gaped at Nicolas. “That’s the most I’ve heard him say in three years,” Sam said. He turned to the others. “You ever hear him talk that much?”
“I wasn’t sure he could talk,” Tucker Addison replied straight-faced.
“He talks,” Dahlia said defensively.
“Beggin your pardon, ma’am, but he’s just plain antisocial,” Sam pointed out. “Always has been, always will be.”
Dahlia lifted her face to the breeze, inhaling deeply. “Why is it so much easier? Is it because I’m outdoors? What are you all doing differently?”
“We’re capable of keeping our own emotions in check, Dahlia,” Kaden said. “We talked it over and decided that was the best course of action for your comfort when you’re around us.”
Unexpectedly she felt tears burn behind her eyes and she slipped her hand into her pocket to feel the familiar comfort of the amethyst spheres. “Thank you. It’s amazing that all of you can keep a barrier up around your emotions. None of you are going to suffer any ill effects are you? I’m well aware the use of talent can sometimes be painful.”
“No, it just requires a little discipline,” Gator said. “Some of us have it naturally, but Tucker there, he’s working on it.”
The men grinned at Tucker. Tucker’s one of the most patient and calm on the GhostWalker team. Nothing riles him. He used to work on the antiterrorist team before he came to us and he’s as steady as a rock, Nicolas supplied via their mental connection.
“Can you teach me the same thing?”
“Sure.” Kaden spoke again. “Lily has us all do mental exercises every day, just like weight lifters. It’s stopped most of the side effects, although the first few weeks were difficult. Now we just do them automatically. It keeps us sharp for the work we do.”