«She did, huh?» The words were flat, but a sliver of surprise wiggled past her shields. «She doesn’t talk about that much.»
Carmen braced her elbows on her knees and folded her hands together. «I got the feeling she doesn’t know many other empaths.»
«A few, but she’s…» He shrugged. «Have you ever heard of Callum Tyler? The British empath?»
«I have.» The man was highly gifted, highly trained — and very much in demand.
«He owed a friend of ours a favor, so he came here over the winter. Helped get her grounded, shielded, whatever psychics do.» His dry tone made it clear he hadn’t inquired too closely.
Tyler had a reputation for being effective in all but the worst of cases. «So why does she seem to think none of that matters, and more people are going to wind up dead if she steps out of that room?»
Alec looked away, presenting her with his hard profile. «He wasn’t impressed with her level of training, and he was too impressed with how strong she is. Guess that’s a dangerous combination. He’s coming back this summer for another round of lessons.»
So the man had chastised Kat’s friends and family, and Alec resented it. Carmen knew from experience how unhelpful blatant criticism could be, even when it was deserved. «I don’t have any answers. I wish I did.»
«I think she’s got control, but I don’t know how it works. Could a concussion make her lose it?»
«Maybe,» she admitted. «Can you stay with her tonight? Someone should.»
That earned her a snort of laughter. «Already called a friend. I can stick around until she shows up, but Kat’s better off with someone a little more…comforting.»
«Okay.» Carmen stood. «I’m going to go check on things. Miguel might need my help.»
«Can I come? I’ll keep my mouth shut.»
She figured that was as good as it got. «Sure.»
The door was slightly ajar, and Carmen knocked before pushing it open to find Kat and Miguel standing by the exam table. Kat had a pen in hand and was writing on Miguel’s outstretched palm, her lips curved up in a smile. «I’m pretty much done with my grad work for the semester. I took a term off from teaching labs, so I finished all my projects early.»
«Yeah? Great. I’ve got a couple of classes to finish up this spring, and then I’m done.»
Carmen cleared her throat. «How is she?»
«Fine, just fine. Jacobson can relax.» Miguel didn’t look away from Kat as he smiled and took the pen from her. «Give me a call.»
«I will. Or you call me when you’ve got some time. I know finals are coming up.»
«See you around, Kat.» He eased past Carmen and Alec and out the door.
The faintest hint of pink rose in Kat’s cheeks, and she studiously avoided Alec as she fiddled with the strap on her bag. «It’s not a thing. He just…gets it. Not being able to shut the psychic stuff off, I mean.»
Lying was useless, but Carmen managed to keep the censure out of her voice. «I admit I would have preferred he wait to ask you out until we were sure you weren’t suffering from an altered mental state.»
«He didn’t ask me out. I asked him for his number.» She shot Alec a defiant look. «If I wake up tomorrow and decide I’m not interested, I’ll screen my calls. I’m a big girl.»
Alec looked like he wanted to retort, but when he finally spoke, his voice came out mild. «I’m glad you’re feeling steadier, kiddo. I called Jackson and Mac. Mackenzie will be around to pick you up and take you back to their place as soon as the good doctor here’s ready to let you go. Hold off going out on any more dates until you get some sleep, would you?»
She could have sent Kat on right then, but Carmen laid a hand on her shoulder instead. «I’ll get you a cold pack for that eye, and I have a few more questions for you.»
Kat nodded. «You can go, Alec. I’m okay. Just promise me you and Jackson aren’t going to go track down my date and eat him.»
«Not going to track him down.»
«Or eat him.»
The corner of Alec’s mouth twitched. «Or eat him.»
Kat narrowed her eyes. «Fuck if I can tell if you’re telling the truth while I’m in this room. So go before I change my mind.»
«Will do.» Alec looked to Carmen. «You can keep her company until Mackenzie gets here?»
She was past due to leave. The night-shift doctor had probably already arrived and was hiding out in the lounge, drinking coffee. «I’ll stay with her until then.»
«Thanks. And I’ll see you» — he pointed at Kat, adopting a mock scowl — «no earlier than noon tomorrow. Take the morning off.»
Kat gave him a sloppy salute. «Yes, sir. Call me if you forget how to log into your email.»
With another of those odd, short laughs, Alec turned, his eyes catching Carmen’s for one moment. His stare was deep, intense, full of quick flashes of emotion she couldn’t begin to read, especially within the shields of the room. Though it was impossible to tell what prompted the odd darkness, he looked almost frustrated.
Almost.
There was a strange heat lurking in that inscrutable stare, one that left her fighting a hot blush. She opened and closed her mouth, suddenly unsure of what to say. «Good night.»
«Good night, Dr. Mendoza.» Then, with a small, enigmatic smile, he left, pulling the door closed behind him.
«Well,» Kat said without preamble. «He thinks you’re hot.»
The proclamation made Carmen’s stomach twist with nerves and something undeniably like anticipation. She ignored the words as well as the emotions and pulled an instant cold pack from the cabinet, activating it with a snap. «If the swelling in your eye doesn’t go down in a day or so, you’ll need to see an ophthalmologist.»
«An eye doctor, I’m guessing?»
«Right.» Carmen wrapped the pack and handed it to Kat. «You should be feeling more in control by the time that’s an issue. If it’s an issue.»
«Hey.» Kat closed her hand on Carmen’s before she could pull away. «I’m sorry. I’ve blurted out enough dumb crap by now to know when I crossed a line. I just thought… Well, you know. Women seem to think Alec’s hot shit. I didn’t think you’d be upset.»
Carmen couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up. «He is hot shit. And I’m not upset.» Not like Kat thought, not at all, but her past romantic entanglements were hardly an appropriate topic of conversation. «It’s fine.»
«Okay.» She looked a little dubious, but she released Carmen’s hand. «And don’t give your brother a hard time. I really did ask for his number. He was…refreshing. He was in here five whole minutes and didn’t once promise to find the asshole who’d punched me and kill him. Shapeshifter guys can be kinda exhausting.»
«Yeah, tell me about it.» Carmen was attracted to strong, dominant men. Shifters tended to fit the bill, but her relationships with them had a tendency to fail spectacularly, so she’d sworn off them entirely. That way, she didn’t have to spend weeks after every bad breakup cursing her own bad judgment, and she didn’t have to risk the sorts of matches her family might try to force her into.
She glanced at the door. She didn’t have a clue how Uncle Cesar felt about the Jacobson family, but if there was the slightest advantage to be gained, he’d probably jump at the chance to throw her at Alec.
Which only reinforced the fact that she had to stay far, far away from him.
Chapter Three
Alec didn’t bother looking for Jackson as he eased his truck into the small parking lot in front of Kat’s apartment. No doubt his partner had hidden himself behind his favorite spell as soon as his girlfriend had dropped him off, which meant Alec’s best bet was to park his truck and wait for Jackson to make his presence known.