Read Online Touched by Corrine Jackson - Free Book Online

title, not like he was talking about my power.
    And then there was his touch. I remembered his hands on me when he carried me. Even now, I could almost feel the fire dancing under my skin.
    Lucy giggled. “Your eyes went all blurry when you were thinking about him. I’d say it’s a safe bet you like him.”
    I grunted. My eyes went blurry? I decided to test her theory. “What about you? Do you like . . . Tim?”
    The room was silent for a long time as she pondered my question. When her eyes went blurry, I laughed.
    She shoved me. “Shut up, Remy.”
    Later, when the house slept, I slipped out of my bed and closed the door that led to the bathroom between my room and Lucy’s. It was time to get down to business while everyone slept. Asher thought my hand was damaged like his, but it had been dark, and I’d moved out of his line of sight as fast as I’d been able. If I could heal my hand before I saw him again, perhaps I could convince him it had been a trick of the light. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to hide the injury while shopping with Laura and Lucy.
    Seated in the center of my bed, I concentrated until exhaustion made me dizzy. As I had with Asher, I let the current of energy curl through me and spiral down my right arm to my damaged hand. It took a full hour, but soon the blisters smoothed and the angry colors faded. The skin on my palm looked shiny and new.
    Relieved, I collapsed back into my pillows and slept.
    Ben woke me the next morning when he knocked and opened my bedroom door. He entered when he saw I had one eye open and trained on him.
    “Time to get up.”
    With a huge stretch, I sat up. “Is it time to go shopping?”
    He had a mug in one hand and passed it to me. His fingers brushed mine, and I noticed his heart arrhythmia had returned. Absently, I wondered at its cause and continual return even after I’d healed him, but nothing seemed to ail him that I could find.
    “Lucy and Laura are champing at the bit. I don’t think I can hold them back much longer. I saved a cup of coffee to give you strength.”
    Apparently, Ben and I had the same view about shopping. “I’ll be right down.”
    We shared a small smile, and he turned to leave.
    “Ben?”
    He paused and looked back over his shoulder.
    “Thank you for—” For what? Acting like my friend? For my sister who was becoming the best friend I’d ever had? For a safe home? For a kind stepmother who cared about my needs? My verbal dismount was as awkward as my beginning as I gestured to the coffee. “Well, for everything.”
    My father’s voice sounded rough. “You’re welcome, Remy. Anytime.”
     
    Shopping with Laura and Lucy was nothing like the loathsome task I’d expected. I let them go crazy picking out my new clothing, but I drew the line at exchanging my jeans for skirts. I had no objection to skirts, but no way would I wear anything that exposed my bare legs to icy temperatures. Later, Laura surprised me with a haircut and manicure.
    On the way home, I sat in the backseat of Laura’s Lexus SUV listening to her and Lucy talk. As we pulled into the driveway, I noticed a classic black motorcycle parked next to Ben’s car.
    Lucy stirred in the front seat. “Uh, Remy. I think you have a guest.”
    Asher walked to the car to meet us, and it impressed me he’d waited an entire day to come calling for answers.
    To stall for time, I headed to the back of Laura’s SUV to gather shopping bags. A pair of masculine hands startled me by scooping up the bags before I could.
    Asher’s polite voice held an undercurrent of tension. “Allow me. Do you think you should be doing that, considering your hand?”
    Laura came around the back of the car and eyed Asher with suspicion before turning to me. “Remy? Is something wrong with your hand?”
    My easy smile reassured her. “No, Laura. Although, I think I smudged the nail polish already.”
    “No worries. Is your friend staying for dinner?”
    I gave a casual wave. “No. I’ll be