Spirit Bound - Christine Feehan [45]
She knew she looked reserved and cool, but her needs had nothing to do with reservation or cool. Deep inside was a well of passion—of fire—and somehow, Thomas Vincent had managed to find it. She wanted to weep with joy—with fear. She destroyed people, those closest to her, her family, people she loved. And when she loved, she loved with every fiber of her being.
“You did what?” Blythe asked, shock showing on her face. “Invited him here?”
Judith took a deep breath, pressing a hand to her churning stomach. Blythe wasn’t any more stunned at her behavior than she was. The farm was sacred—their sanctuary. All of them had secrets, and now, more than ever, they had to be careful.
“What about Levi?” Blythe asked, her voice more gentle than accusing. “Have you considered that we need to protect him from outsiders? And Lexi? She’s very uncomfortable with strangers around.”
“I don’t plan on taking him anywhere near their homes,” Judith defended. Where was the remorse and guilt she should be feeling? She hugged herself as she crossed to the window and looked down at the carpet of small white star flowers swaying gently in the breeze. Above her, the stars scattered across the sky, the two pinpoints of white creating the effect of being in the middle of a beautiful galaxy.
“Have you thought this through? Is spending time with him outside of the gallery a good idea?”
“No, of course not. I don’t care though, Blythe.” She turned back to look at her chosen sister, willing her to understand. “I want to feel this. I want to be swept off my feet. I want to ache for him and cry for him and feel all twisted up inside. I need this.”
Blythe studied her for a long time, and then slowly nodded. “I think you’re right, Judith. It’s been a long time coming and you deserve to be genuinely happy. I just want you to be careful with your heart. Don’t just give it away without thought. You’re an all-or-nothing person. Let’s at least do a little investigation.”
“I did. As soon as Inez gave me his name, I looked him up on the Internet and he truly seems to be a decent guy. He’s got a good reputation in the business world. A few charity events had his picture. There were a couple of articles written about him. No hidden wife. No criminal history, no ugly divorces. He’s just a nice man who works far too much.”
“And wants to come to Sea Haven and buy a failing art gallery.”
Judith shrugged. “We came here to start a different way of life.”
“We have pasts, Judith,” Blythe pointed out. “We aren’t the best examples. I’m just playing the devil’s advocate because you’re really jumping off the cliff and you aren’t even looking for a safety net.”
“Maybe I don’t want one. Just this once I want to let myself feel something.”
“You know you’re a spirit element, Judith. Nothing can change that,” Blythe stated the problem. “Is he reacting to you? Or you to him? Is what you’re feeling genuine?”
“I’m away from him and I’m still feeling it,” Judith said with a small shrug. “It feels genuine. I’m so happy and I actually feel beautiful and so alive.”
“And you don’t mind if I call Jonas and ask him to do a little checking up on Thomas Vincent?” Blythe asked.
Judith’s gaze jumped to hers. “You’re testing me, to see if I’m certain of him. I am, Blythe. I’ve steered clear of the bad-boy gene pool and I’m absolutely certain he’s the genuine deal. His aura is difficult for me to read, but that isn’t entirely unusual. Gifted people often have mixed auras.”
“Gifted?” Blythe prompted, one eyebrow shooting up.
Judith found herself blushing for no reason. She’d felt his spirit rising to meet hers. To be physically and intellectually attracted to someone was difficult enough, but to have her spirit reaching to embrace his, rushing to absorb and be absorbed—frankly it had never happened to her before, and she felt like a giddy teen with a crush on a rock star.
She nodded. “He’s definitely gifted in some way.”
Blythe shook her head. “That doesn’t worry you even a little bit?