"I heard them whispering that two more will be coming. The team needs that for balance. Daniel, I know you're lonely, and I know what that feels like. Just trust and know you've been heard. Yours will be exactly the right fit for you. I overheard that she's really sweet and really pretty.... You'll know hereby her eyes... gray, I think?"
"Is that what you came to tell me?" he asked quietly, still gazing into the depths of Christine's limitless eyes. "It's hard to believe that they'd send a special envoy just to tell me, a new senior Guardian, anything so personal."
"They don't even know I'm here," she whispered. "I came, like I said, because I owe you, and I caught the prayer first. I've heard murmurs,
plans, but I don't know the details. But if it's coming from above, it's all good. I sorta slipped out while there was a bit of chaos, but have to go back soon. Everybody was all up in arms about something, and I figured now was as good a time as any to let you know I'm available."
He paused and didn't immediately respond. It was the emphasis that she'd placed on the word available.
"You have to stay out of Gabrielle's establishments, though. There's dark energy passing through her houses, not that it's my business. Just a warning."
Total embarrassment made him look away with a scowl. "So, are you now like my Guardian angel? I thought you didn't spy on the living."
She smiled shyly and glanced away. "I just saw you go in, that's all. What happened inside, I can only imagine, but I didn't peek. But common sense is common sense, Dan.... If you need a friend until they send you a soul mate, then ..." He let out a sigh of frustration. "I can't have an angel for a friend, Christine. Not that type of friend, anyway. That much is common sense, too."
"I told you, I'm not an angel," she argued in an upbeat tone. "But I do care... and you're sorta cute." Christine's smiled widened. "No, let me be honest. Actually, you're really cute. Handsome. That's why I chased you into the garage before."
"You were gonna bite me, then." His smile widened to match hers. It all seemed like so long ago, and strangely the memory didn't dredge up fear like it once did.
"I know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was gonna bite you--so sue me. But that wasn't all. Some of it you might have enjoyed." She blushed and glanced away again, glimpsing him from the corner of her eye with a sly smile. "I said I was sorry."
He chuckled, very flattered, and that made her giggle, sending the bell sensation through his limbs again.
"You're blushing," she whispered.
"Yeah, well, so are you."
"Oh." She tucked away her grin, but it kept escaping. "Are you flirting with me?"
She giggled again. He loved the sound of her voice and how it sent tingles through him.
"I can visit in dreams if you call me by name," she said, avoiding his
question and glancing over her shoulder nervously. "I knew how to do that really well from... before. But you have to say it like a prayer now is the only real difference--really want me with all your heart to visit."
He just stared at her. The proposition was outrageous. "I don't think a heavenly entity is supposed to trip over the edge of my dreams," he said, feeling his face get warm as he laughed. "Especially not the ones I've had lately."
She shrugged, but still couldn't seem to contain her smile. "Can I tell you a secret?" "Yeah."
"Promise not to tell?"
"Like anyone would believe me. If I told my brothers, they'd say I was hallucinating. Maybe I am. But, yeah."
She leaned in close to whisper in his ear, sending a warm, sensual breath into it. "It's soooo boring. I'm not complaining. Believe me, I'm glad that the pain and horror are gone, but I liked being alive, when I could feel things."
"Whoa," he whispered. "You shouldn't even think that, let alone whisper it. Words have power," he added, glancing around. "You could get in trouble, couldn't you?"
She nodded quickly. "I think so," she whispered, "but I don't know. I'm not sure what all the rules are yet, and I don't wanna get put out."
"Well, then, you definitely don't wanna step into my dreams," he whispered, leaning into her and making her giggle again. A light rose scent filled his nose, and he had to pull back to remember that he was talking to a ghost. "You're really pretty, and anything could happen in my mind. Not to be disrespectful. But it's been a very long time since, you know."
"If you think about me instead of Krissy, it might make it easier to be around her and easier to not be so mad at J.L., that's all I'm suggesting. I'd be bringing, uhmmnm team harmony. That's good, right? We could just talk, if you feel uncomfortable about... thinking beyond that. It could really, really cheer you up."
They stared at each other for a moment. "How about if I call you when I need somebody to talk to? I really like talking to you, Christine. You make me laugh and are already beginning to make me feel like I've got somebody of my own to hang out with."
"You do. I'll be your spirit friend. Besides, anything important that I hear from the other side, I'll bring it to you--and you can tell the others, if you need to," she whispered, cupping his cheek. "If something bad is about to happen, Dan, I promise, I'll come to you first, like I did now, if I can. Okay?"
Impulse drove him, and he quickly kissed her cheek. "Okay."