Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
“Did… Did you need something?” she questions. I’ve been listening as she was talking to other customers, but this is the first time that her voice has been directed straight at me. That alone is so potent that I could get drunk on it.
You. I need you. Now, forever, and always.
Her body jerks, her hand pulls against my hold, her eyes go wide, dilating with surprise and…fear.
Fuck. She is afraid of me.
“I…I’ll send your waitress over,” she says, stumbling over her words and jerking hard on her hand, forcing me to either let her go, or make a scene.
I let her go, but I don’t want to.
“What’s your name?” I wish she had one of those little name plates on her uniform to supply my answer for me. I know I’m freaking her out.
She backs away. I can’t stand the expression of fear on her face. Honestly, terror might be a better word.
“Stay away from me,” she orders, her voice sharp and on the edge of cracking with emotion.
“I don’t mean to scare you,” I try to assure her, not understanding her response. I mean, I know I came on strong, but I didn’t do anything that would spur the panic that’s coming off her in waves.
I only want to take care of you.
“I don’t want you to take care of me! I want nothing to do with you!” she cries out, leaving me in shock.
“What’s going on here?” Clara demands. I didn’t even notice she had come out of the restroom. I’m too busy being in shock. Did the girl hear what I was thinking? That’s the only explanation.
Can you hear me? Please give me your name.
I plead with her in my mind. It feels like I’m on a ledge about to fall, while I wait for her to respond. I don’t have to wait long.
“Stop it!” she cries. “Leave me alone. You don’t need my name. If you come near me, I’m calling the cops!”
She runs out after that, disappearing into the kitchen. I stand, immediately set on going after her. Clara stops me by moving in front of me.
“What’s going on here?”
I fight down the urge to push her away. I’ve got to get to the woman.
She could hear what I was thinking. That can’t be a coincidence.
She’s the one. She’s my mate.
5
GRACE
My boss refused to let me leave. I should have just walked out. Instead, I sweet talked Gretchen into waiting on that table and tried to avoid the guy.
That was clearly a mistake.
I should have held it together, found a way to keep my composure, but when he touched me, I felt this spark of electricity move through my body that scared me.
No, that’s not exactly right.
It terrified me.
I completely lost it and there’s no way to bottle it back up. I’ve made a mess out of all of this. If I wasn’t on that guy’s radar before, I definitely am now.
“What’s going on out there?” my boss growls.
“I’m leaving,” I tell him, my voice still shaking. I keep walking past him to get to where I have my jacket hanging by the back door.
“Our rush hour is starting soon. If you leave now, you’re fired!” he harshly warns.
“I guess I’ll pick up my last check Friday,” I respond, sounding braver than I feel. I slide on my coat, grab my purse from underneath the counter, and then quickly go outside.
I can’t afford to quit, but I don’t have a choice. I should have moved months ago—when the dreams first started. I knew better, but I thought I had time…
I sprint to my beat-up Hyundai Elantra, looking behind me to make sure I’m not followed.
Don’t run away. I can explain. I won’t hurt you. I’m here to take care of you.
I hear his voice as plain as day, but he’s nowhere around. Maybe it’s finally happened, and I have gone completely insane. What if all of this is my final break with reality? Didn’t my mother always say I was insane? Insane and evil…
I close my eyes, as if I can force him out of my head.
No!
I scream the word in my mind, jump into my car, locking the doors. I’m shaking so hard that I can’t get the key into the ignition. Finally, I do, and when I turn it, nothing happens. “Oh God, no,” I whimper, my forehead against the steering wheel. “Please, please, start.” It takes six times before the engine finally turns. My starter is pretty much shot—damn it. I’ve been putting off fixing it, since because there never seems to be enough money to stretch, and I prefer buying food to eat. I’m clearly regretting that choice right now.
Once my car starts, I back out. I’m going way too fast and almost hit the car that is parked behind me. I shift into drive and I’m waiting to pull out into traffic, just as the door to the diner opens. Out of the corner of my eye I see the man rush out. Somehow, even in the state I am in and the protection of being in my car, I feel the exact minute he sees me. It’s like his gaze is fiery and it somehow heats me even at this distance. I crane my neck to see him, and we stare directly at one another.