Reclaimed Read Free Page B

movement.
    “No, he left a few hours ago. You’re safe with old Zeke here.”
    She fought down the apprehension creeping up her spine and smiled at Zeke. “Well, I’m going home. Keep an eye out for troublemakers, okay?”
    “Yes, ma’am. That’s my job. Thanks for the money.” He tipped his battered hat at her. His hair stuck out in several threadbare spots where the fabric had worn away. “You are the perfect woman. Looks and a warm heart.”
    She blushed, embarrassed by the praise. “Don’t mention it, Zeke.” She waved and got into the car to drive home, feeling curiously empty despite the full meal she’d ingested. She’d obviously gone insane. Why did this man haunt her so? Sure, he was ungodly hot—but did he have to consume her both night and day? Ugh, time for some good TV.
    An hour later, she sat absorbed in the gripping drama of a team of police searching for a killer before they lost one of their own. A thud outside her door caused her to lurch to her feet and gasp.
    Holding a shaky hand to her pounding heart, she tiptoed toward the door, without consciously having made the decision to go there. She peered through the tiny peephole, and her breath caught in her throat when she saw a shadow in the trees. The shadow, eerily enough, seemed to creep toward her.
    Anything that moved in the night like that couldn’t be a good thing. It crept far too stealthy, as if it were used to hunting things in the dark night. She watched the threat as it snuck closer to her house, afraid to make as much as a breath of a sound.
    The shadow flew through the air and out of sight. It travelled so fast she questioned the validity of it. Nothing, human or animal, could move so majestically.
    Except…no, it couldn’t be possible. In the dream the man might have done it, but in real life he was simply a man. He didn’t leap over buildings in real life. Unless...she’d fallen asleep. She pinched her bicep as hard as she could and winced as pain shot up her arm.
    Nope, definitely not a dream.
    She rubbed her aching arm as a sound came from above her. Frozen in fear, she glanced at the ceiling. The shuffling noises pulled her from her panic, and she scrambled for the phone on the coffee table.
    A soft, menacing chuckle met her ears, and the phone crashed to the floor loudly, followed by an unmistakable rolling sound. She dropped to her knees to search frantically for the missing batteries.
    “Shit, shit, shit!” she exclaimed.
    Oddly enough, the feeling of terror that had come upon Sabrina left. Somehow, she knew whoever, or whatever , had caused her fear had left. This made no sense at all.
    But hell, what had made sense lately?
    Nothing, absolutely nothing.
     
    ***
     
    Sabrina sat by the stream in the purple moonlight once again. It seemed like she’d been watching the water move over the rocks for hours before she sensed him behind her. He walked to her side and held out his hand. She took it and rose slowly to her feet. His cool palm caused her to tremble, partly because his hand felt so cold against hers, and partly because of the sensations that shot up her arm at his touch.
    “Hello, Sabrina. Did you miss me?”
    “Why am I even dreaming of you? This makes no sense. I only saw you once, and yet I can’t get you out of my mind.” She met his intense blue gaze. “This is crazy. I’m asking questions of a person in my dream. And to top it off, I’m now imagining things jumping on my roof while awake. I have gone insane,” she muttered under her breath.
    “Something came to your house?” he asked. His grip tightened on her arms, and his eyes flashed possessively. “What was it?”
    “I have no idea! But it jumped on the roof. It reminded me of you, except for one minor detail: you’re not real . You’re a figment of my imagination.”
    “Don’t doubt me, Sabrina. I’m real. I’m here. I’m always here for you.” He captured her hand and kissed it. “Go to McGuiness’s Tavern tomorrow morning.