She picked up the citrine pendant.Normally she also wore her crystal bracelet, and she often stuck crystals in her bra when she needed to stay centered.But she hadn’t worn anything more than the necklace for her run.Which was too bad because her amethyst might have protected her from this morning’s incident.
“Yes.”
“Pretty.Citrine?”
Her lips tugged up into a small smile.Oh, gosh.Why was it so hot when a guy was interested in rocks and hippie stuff?“I’m impressed.”
“Don’t be.Citrine and amethyst are about the only crystal names I remember, so it was a fifty-fifty shot.”
A laugh rolled off her tongue.“You played your hand well.”
His teeth flashed at her in a full grin.And dang it if she didn’t like him even more for not mentioning the kiss.“My hand?That reminds me.I haven’t had a reading from you in a couple of years.”
She scrunched her face.“Now you’re messing with me.”
“Heck, no.If ever I needed guidance, it’s sure as shit right now.”
She clamped her bottom lip between her teeth.It was tempting.Not only would doing a card reading take her mind off the current situation, it’d also give her a glimpse into Quin’s path.
Not that she needed to know anything about what he needed in his life.
Interest got the best of her.“All right.Come.”She pushed herself out of the kitchen chair.The blood rushed to her ankle as she stood, but it didn’t throb as badly as it had earlier.She moved into the living room.Grabbing her meditation pillow, which was a kaleidoscope of blues and greens, she tossed it to the floor near the couch and then retrieved her wooden box from the altar pressed against the far wall in the living room.
She cracked it open, pulled out an incense stick, and lit the end with a lighter.The scent of white sage filled her nostrils, almost instantly calming her heart rate.Readings made up only a small part of her business—she did maybe three a week—but they were one of her favorite things to do.
She let the incense burn then picked up the box full of crystals and her favorite deck of oracle cards.
Quin sat on a matching cushion seated directly across from hers.She lowered herself and laid the box of crystals between them.He watched quietly as she pulled out three.
“I’ve never seen one like that before,” he said, nodding at the peachy-pink morganite.
She smoothed her fingers over the raw-edged stone.“This was a gift from Dez.Morganite helps with emotional healing.”Her throat constricted on the words.
She laid out her spherical white quartz and tower amethyst as well then picked up her oracle deck.“Is there a specific question you’d like to focus on?”
He pressed his lips together in thought.“You know I’m not good at this.”
She smiled.“For a quick reading I usually ask ‘What do I need to know now?’”
“Perfect.”
She traced her fingers over the edges of the cards in her palm then slowly started to shuffle them.Closing her eyes, she brought her attention to Quin’s energy field.The strong masculinity he exuded.The tension of his body.The scrutinizing gaze she’d meet if she opened her eyes.She continued to slide the cards through her fingers, waiting for her hands to warm—a sign from her intuition to stop.
Her fingers heated.She stopped shuffling and slowly spread the cards out in front of the stones.Once she had them fanned out, she held her hand six inches above the middle of the spread, feeling the deck’s energy.Slowly, she moved her hand from left to right.
When her palm tingled, she brought her fingers down to touch the cards then pulled the one she landed on first.
Flipping it over, she stared at the vibrant image of water meeting clouds.She studied it, listening to what the card was saying.One word was written at the bottom.
Release
“What’s it mean?”
She reached for the book tucked into the card box.While she knew the card meanings by heart, it was always important to read the passage verbatim to the recipient.She cleared her throat and clasped the card between her fingers.
“You’ve heard the words in your heart, telling you to let go.Life continues to move forward and choosing to stay behind will not ease your suffering.You can take a step, a different turn, and open the door to your future without burying your past.Rise above and take what’s yours, what life has to offer you.Because the same offerings may not be there tomorrow.Release your chains, your longing, and your hate and welcome what’s waiting for you with open arms.”
She lowered the card and met his gaze.A warm glow coated his skin, and his lips were parted in awe.He blinked.“That’s pretty intense.”
