“I’m sorry, Caitlin,” Alex said. He hesitated, wondering how much he should press her. Still, at least she’d had a vision. That meant her own particular talent was attempting to assert itself. “Did you see anything else?”
She shot him a black look. “What, you don’t think that was enough?”
“No,” he said calmly. “What I meant was, did you see anything else of their surroundings, anything that might help us track down where they are?”
“Oh.” She seemed to deflate then, and shook her head. “I’m pretty sure it was the same apartment, but it was mostly dark. There was…some kind of candlelight.” A frown as she appeared to rack her patchy memory of the scene. “I think there were some of those saints’ candles on a dresser across the room. A queen-size bed, and a nightstand. Curtains at the window, I think, not blinds. The room wasn’t very big.”
“Well, that’s something,” he said. “Did it feel more like an apartment or house, or a motel room or something?”
Her eyes shut, lashes dark russet against her pale cheeks. “I don’t think it was a motel. It felt more like an apartment, although I can’t say why.” Then she blinked. “The door was open. There was light coming down the hallway, so unless it was a suite somewhere, it must’ve been an apartment or a house. And you’d think a hotel suite would have better furniture.”
Alex fought back a smile at that comment. It was delivered in a wry tone that made him think she was beginning to recover from the nightmarish vision she’d just seen. “You’re probably right. That narrows it down a bit.”
“A bit,” she repeated. “So how many rundown apartments and houses are there in Tucson?”
“A good number.” A lot, he thought. More than we could search in the time Danica and Roslyn probably have left. But he didn’t bother to say that out loud. He had a good idea Caitlin knew exactly how hopeless the situation was.
She didn’t respond, only toyed with the sheet covering her lap. Then she seemed to focus on him — really focus on him. Her eyes widened, and she said, “Um…did you forget your pajamas or something?”
Thank God he didn’t have the kind of skin that flushed easily. Holding her gaze…mostly so she couldn’t look down…he replied, “I don’t even own pajamas. You were screaming bloody murder, so I ran to help you.”
“Oh.” Her voice sounded very small. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. That’s why you’re here — so I can help keep you safe.”
“I’m still sorry I woke you up.”
“It’s all right.” She did seem calmer now, so he pushed himself away from her and off the bed, glad that his body had decided to behave itself once their conversation got started. That would have been even more awkward than standing in front of her wearing only his underwear. “But if you’re okay now, I’ll go back to bed.”
“Don’t!” she exclaimed, then looked away from him, as if she’d surprised herself with that outburst. “I mean…I’m not sure I want to be by myself.”
He couldn’t really blame her for that. That vision had sounded pretty awful. And the worst part was that she didn’t have much control over when those images invaded her mind. He wouldn’t want to be alone, either, if their situations had been reversed.
“Then come stay in my room,” he offered, and her eyes widened again.
“Sleep with you?”
“Yes,” he said patiently, then added, “The operative word being ‘sleep.’ I have a king-size bed. You’ll hardly notice I’m there. But at least you won’t be by yourself if you have another one of those visions.”
A long, long pause. She stared up at him, clearly conflicted. He supposed he should be glad that she was looking at his face, though, and not the rest of him. Or at least he didn’t think she was.
Then, finally, “Okay.” She pushed aside the covers and got up, giving him a better look at the way the tank top she wore clung to her breasts, the yoga pants that showed off the lines of her long legs and rounded ass.
Damn. He could feel himself start to stir again, and turned away from her, praying she hadn’t noticed. “This way.”
She followed him without comment back to his room. Since it was clear enough from the way the bedclothes were rumpled which side he slept on, she climbed under the covers on the right side of the bed, while he went to his usual spot and got in.
It did feel strange to have her there. He’d bought this house after he broke up with his last girlfriend, and so he hadn’t had anyone in bed with him here. True, Caitlin was staying way, way over to the one side, leaving quite a space between them. Even so….