Roxie glanced over her shoulder at the salesgirl who’d returned to stocking shelves.She’d almost prefer to have gone with the pretend gypsy, knowing everything was just for fun.Shadows and mirrors.Distraction and deception.
The blonde Viking was making her nervous.
On guard, she entered the back room.She became even more confused when it turned out to be more comfortable than her own living room.The furniture was plush, again in those soothing neutral tones.The lighting was dimmed, but the air was warm.She flinched, though, when she saw movement.Something flashed along the wall before disappearing behind a loveseat.
A cat, she realized as she recognized a tail.Roxie’s lip curled reflexively.She preferred dogs.
“My name is Ingrid,” the woman said as she lit incense in the corner of the room.She frowned when she spotted the furry feline in the shadows.“I’m sorry, she usually prefers to sit in the front windows in the sunshine.”
That sounded like a good place to be.
“Would you like me to take her into the other room?”
Roxie’s gaze locked with a steady blue one.The cat had her in its sights.She drummed her fingers against her thigh.Experts seemed to have bred the predator out of most dogs, but cats still had those hunter instincts about them.“It’s fine,” she lied.
She wasn’t about to admit she was uneasy over a pussycat.
“Let’s sit over here.”
Following the woman’s direction, Roxie took a seat at a small circular table.It was covered with a dainty table runner, but no crystal ball was in sight.Blue cushions eased the harshness of the wooden chair.If the scent of the incense wasn’t so noticeable now, she would have sworn she’d wandered into a tearoom.
“Ingrid?”she said skeptically.
“I know, it’s exotic, but in the wrong way.”The blonde sighed, but nothing seemed to offend her.She took the seat on the opposite side of the table and began rubbing her hands together.“Let’s begin.”
She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes.
“Sage,” she said, explaining the scent that was filling the air.“It cleans out negative energy.”
Negative energy like nerves, doubt, and resistance?Roxie crossed her legs, and her foot bounced.She watched the psychic closely, aware of the little show she was putting on.It just seemed odd, with the blonde hair and the politician’s wife clothing.The whole scene bordered on the bizarre.This woman belonged in the PTA or, at the furthest, a ski chalet.
“You’re unsettled,” Ingrid noted when she opened her eyes.They were bluer than they’d been before.
Or maybe that was in Roxie’s head.
“I’ve never done this before,” she admitted.She’d been tempted, but she’d never followed through on the urge.
Damn her impulse control these days.
Damn Billy.
“That’s not what I meant,” Ingrid said.“Although that’s true, too.I’m just sensing a lot of upheaval in your life.”
Roxie drummed her fingers.As far as intuition went, it wasn’t that impressive.She knew what energy she was putting out.She was confused and jittery.Hell, even the cat knew that.She threw a glare in its direction when its tail swished.It was lying flat to the ground with its rump lifted.
She settled her hands in her lap.It was time to get serious, and she refused to help out this so-called mind reader any more than she already had.“There’s been a lot going on,” she said simply.
They were going to do this?Bring it.
A patient look settled on Ingrid’s face, and she turned her hands palms upward on the table.“For this to work best, why don’t you let me tell you what I see and feel?You don’t have to guide me.I just need to feel your energy.”
Roxie nodded.She was all for that.It would certainly be more convincing.
Not that she believed this woman could see her future.
Or her past.She had to remind herself that was why she was here.
“Okay, that’s fine with—Ah!” Roxie yelped.She nearly jumped out of her chair when a soft weight landed in her lap.
