Free Vanessa Unveiled by Jodi Redford Page A

didn’t love me at all. They’d heard the rumors of the poltergeist theory and decided it meant I possessed some latent psychic ability. I should have caught on to things sooner, but I wanted them to love me. More than anything. Two months in, they started asking me if I had special numbers for them.”
    Rand frowned. “Numbers?”
    “The lottery. They thought I could help them win one of the jackpots. When it became clear that wasn’t going to happen…” You really are nothing but a useless little freak . She struggled to shove the cruel, phantom voice from her mind. “They sent me back, too, just like all the others did.”
    “Aw, darlin’.”
    The suffocating weight of Braeden and Rand’s sympathetic stares left her uncomfortably exposed. She dragged her fingers through the steaming water to hide her sudden need to fidget. “I stayed in the state-run system until I was sixteen. That’s when the Veil Alliance League tracked me down and recruited me. I figured what the hell, might as well make my curse work for me, right? Pay might not be the greatest, but the techno gadgets make me look cool and badass.”
    Rand and Braeden continued watching her, their sober expressions adding to her overall sense of vulnerability. Desperate to return to the carefree fun of earlier, she scooped up a handful of the water and flicked it at Braeden. He blinked at her through the droplets running down his face, and she bit her lip to keep from giggling at his stunned look. Slowly, a grin crawled in place on his handsome mug and he took a stealthy step forward.
    She slid a pleading glance in Rand’s direction and Braeden gave an evil laugh. “He’s not gonna save you, babe.” He lunged at her and she yelped before leaping out of the way. Unfortunately, attempting to maneuver in the waist-deep water was like trying to square dance in Jell-O. Or so she assumed. Regardless, she lost footing and splashed backwards in an undignified sprawl.
    So much for looking all badass. She came up for air, sputtering.
    “That’s what you get, darlin’.” Hooting in laughter, Braeden reached for her.
    “I’ll have you know, I meant to do that.” She wrung out her hair, watching the water plop and ripple on the surface of the pool. “I keep meaning to ask what the deal is with the water in this joint. Why it always looks like it’s pumped from an underground spring of champagne.”
    “The explanation lies in the fountain. We could tell you, but it’d be easier to show you.” Rand laced his fingers through hers and led her toward the steps.
    She gaped at him. “Um, you mean like right now this minute?”
    “Why not?”
    Because I was hoping for some pool sex . Not about to admit that out loud and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt how much of a shameless hussy she was, she cleared her throat. “I’m not trekking downstairs buck naked.” Her luck, it’d be the one time the damn staff happened to be moseying about.
    Braeden met them at the lounge chair and whipped open one of the waiting towels with a dramatic flourish. “Your wrap, m’ lady.”
    She let Braeden and Rand tuck her into the towel before following them to the elevator. “I still don’t know why you can’t just tell me.”
    Rand’s arm wrapped around her waist. “Because this is better.”
    “Why?”
    “You’ll see.”
    “Are you always this cryptic and mysterious?” she grumbled.
    “Only on Fridays.”
    Grunting, she remained silent for the short trip down to the lobby. The entrance was deserted, not that she supposed Rand and Braeden gave a donkey’s ass if anyone spied them walking around naked. When it came to public nudity, they seemed happiest to let it all hang out. Literally.
    “Come on, darlin’.”
    She started to follow Braeden across the tile, but pulled up short when he jumped into the fountain. The sexy blond pooka shot her and Rand an inviting grin over his shoulder. “What are you two slowpokes waiting for?”
    “Uh, is he