Ghostwalker 02 - Mind Game

.”

    Dahlia smirked. “I didn’t break your heart, Gator, and if I did, I’m certain you’ll recover from the blow.”

    He grinned. “But French has a music all it’s own. D’accord ?”

    Gator could definitely melt hearts with that grin. “ D’accord ,” she conceded.

    “Quit flirting, Gator,” Tucker said. “You’re riling up Nico. You mess with the wrong end of the crocodile and you’re going to get teeth.”

    “He doesn’t look too riled to me,” Gator answered. “He looks like he’s fallen into a deep dark well and there’s no bottom in sight.”

    Another roar of laughter went up. Dahlia found she was actually enjoying herself. It was a momentous moment, one she’d always remember. She was in the midst of several people for the first time in her life, laughing and conversing, and the energy hadn’t swamped her. If it never happened again, she would always be grateful to the GhostWalkers for giving her this time. “It’s such an amazing gift you’ve all given me,”

    she said. “I’ve never done this before. Just had a conversation with a group of people.”

    “Better you picked us than anyone else,” Gator teased. “We’re all good-looking, ‘cept old stone-faced Nico there. Why trouble yourself with anybody else?”

    “I don’t suppose you cook?” Tucker inquired hopefully.

    “Did you think because she can start fires she’d be great with a grill?” Gator asked.

    Dahlia tried not to let the color sweep up into her face, wanting to enjoy the camaraderie they were offering her. They teased and razzed one another and now extended it to her.
    She couldn’t object over the subject matter, as sensitive as she felt over it. She’d have to get over it around them.

    “The thought occurred to me,” Tucker admitted. “I’m starving. Gator, didn’t you stash us some genuine food?”

    “That wasn’t my job. I’m not the supply person,” Gator denied. ”I found shelter for us, isn’t that enough?“

    Dahlia glanced up at Nicolas. He reached out and took her hand. “Don’t mind them, they’ll find something to eat. Besides, Gator never goes anywhere without food.”

    “If he didn’t this time, Gator’s going to be alligator hunting,” Sam said. “I’ve heard they’re good to eat.”

    Dahlia shook her head. “I’m not eating an alligator. I was raised with them. It would be like eating the family dog.”

    “They are the family dogs,” Gator said, glaring at Sam. “You keep your hands off my gators. They’ve been in the family for years. If you’re all that hungry, go pick a few shrubs. There’s edible weeds on this island, you’re just too lazy to find them.”

    “Can you talk to the alligators?” Dahlia asked. It suddenly occurred to her how astonishing that would be.

    “I don’t exactly talk to them,” Gator explained. “It’s more like directing them. It’s easier with dogs or cats, but I’ve tried it with reptiles. Alligators are fairly difficult, but I’ve gotten them to move away from an area they wanted to stay in. I don’t think it’s useful because it would take me too long to get them to obey me. If we were in a firefight, we’d be moving too fast.”

    “A lot of what we can do is easier and faster if we’re all together,” Kaden explained.
    “We all have talents, but we seem to become stronger when we’re together, which is why, when we go on a mission, we generally go in small units.”

    “I’ve always worked alone. If I had a partner and he or she became frightened, or excited or was injured, I wouldn’t be able to function properly,” Dahlia said and looked up at Nicolas to make certain he understood what she was saying.

    He frowned at her. “You’re functioning with no problems right now,” he pointed out.

    “True, I am,” Dahlia said, “but some of you are having trouble keeping emotions and thoughts in check. It isn’t natural to do it for long periods of time.”

    “We do just fine together,” Nicolas said.

    Dahlia rolled her eyes. This is exactly why I don’t have a partner. I’m the one who has to guard my emotions when people act idiotic. I can’t take it, Nicolas. It’s just plain silly to get all chest pounding on me .

    I was stating a fact.

    No, you weren’t, you were giving me one of your mini lectures.

    “I don’t give lectures,” Nicolas said aloud.

    “What about Jesse Calhoun,” Kaden interrupted quietly. “Did you do much work with him? Did he ever go out