B005EMAYWS EBOK Read Free

face. “I can’t leave right now. I have finals coming up in a couple of weeks.”
    “You received your degree several months ago.”
    “Yes, but I decided to take more classes. You know … expand my education,” Summer told him defensively.
    “But you gave your father your word that you would be back this summer,” he reminded her, as if reprimanding a child.
    “And I will, but Anton … my dad is being totally medieval about this,’ she cried.
    She felt his body shake with laughter, and his amusement raked on her nerves.
    “I am really having second thoughts about this marriage deal he’s made on my behalf. I should be able to decide for myself who I mate with and marry.”
    “Oh come now Summer. You’ve been aware of this for most of your life. And you never know … you might actually like your husband to be.”
    “What if he has smelly feet and can’t dance?” Summer pouted.
    Again she heard his deep laughter. Summer was ready to spout another slander against her future husband when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned to see who was trying to get her attention, and froze.
    Summer backed up sharply - running into Anton.
    Only a few inches away, a girl peered at her with dead eyes. When she tried to speak, blood gurgled out of a deep gash in her throat. Her long, stringy blond hair was matted with dirt, and she was so pale. Scarlet stains covered the front of the girl’s delicate, white nightgown.
    The phantom held out her hands. Summer could see that her fingernails were torn and bleeding, as if she’d been digging and scratching at a hard surface. Summer’s hand went to her mouth to stifle a scream. She again stepped back abruptly, this time right into Anton’s arms.
    “What’s wrong?” Anton asked.
    Shaking her head, she told him, “I have to go. I’m sorry.”
    Summer stepped around the apparition and headed for the bar where her purse sat next to Penny. Trembling, she reached for her bag, but Anton’s large hand was on hers - stopping her.
    “Summer … what is wrong?” he asked again.
    Penny looked up. She must have noticed the troubled expression on Summer’s face because she turned to Anton and narrowed her eyes.
    “What are you up to?” Penny asked him.
    “He hasn’t done anything.” Summer tried to reassure them with a smile. “I just have to go. I don’t feel so good.”
    Smiling weakly, she looked at Anton. “It was good to see you again.”
    Walking away, she turned to speak over her shoulder. “Penny … I’ll see you at home later.”
    Penny waved, but she was obviously disturbed by Summer’s unexpected departure.
    * * *
    Anton watched Summer as she threaded her way through the flashing lights of the machines and toward the casino’s exit.
    Exotic. It was the only word that came to mind as his eyes followed her every movement. She was as graceful as a cat. The silky white cocktail dress she was wearing complimented her smooth - sun kissed skin perfectly. Her golden-brown hair hung like a silk curtain around her shoulders, swaying as she walked.
    Yes she was exotic, but she was also headstrong and stubborn.
    Anton had to keep reminding himself of this, along with the fact that he was here to escort her to her family and fiancé. If he thought about her too long, he would remember how it felt to dance with her - how it felt to have his hand on her hip and her arms around his neck.
    He banished the memory from his thoughts. Anton couldn’t recall the last time he’d actually felt shaken by the nearness of a woman. He reasoned it was probably just shock at seeing little Summer as a grown woman. After all, the last time he’d seen her she’d been a teenager, though she’d tried hard to convince him that she was a woman.
    When he could no longer see her, Anton felt his common sense return. Something was wrong. He sensed that strongly. It could possibly be her reluctance to marry, but he didn’t think that was all there was to it.
    “So how long have you