Page 91 of Chasing Dreams
“In that case, you’re welcome.”
His mild gaze studied her face and the hair she hadn’t taken time to dry into place, moved calmly along the length of her bare legs, which were close enough for him to reach over and stroke. Her skin tingled as though he’d touched her in all those places.
“It would be okay,” she said softly.
Her voice brought Austin’s attention back to her lips. Up to her tawny eyes. “What would?”
“If you touched me. If you kissed me.”
He wanted to. He’d learned something important while he’d been here the last two nights: There were a lot of people in this world he could do without. But he didn’t think Shaine Richards was one of them.
What kind of relationship could they have with him living the way he did? Would she come to visit?
“I’ve missed you.” She sat up and scooted to lean against the headboard with him.
No man could have resisted her. This one didn’t want to. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she snuggled against him.
She threaded her fingers through his hair. Her nearness, her touch made him keenly aware of how much he didn’t want to lose her. She kissed him so sweetly it eased his concern.
Exhaustion crept across his body and mind. He dismissed the slender thread of fear that tried to weave itself into his consciousness. He’d held his guard in place, even in his sleep—though not as strongly—for years. Staying on the fringes of deep sleep prevented him from seeing anything he didn’t want to see.
He didn’t want to see their future.
Sleep crept in around the edges of his mind, and as it did, his inner man gave him counsel. You can’t love her. You don’t want to love someone and then know things about them that you’re helpless to prevent.
He feared they didn’t have a future. That’s what he really didn’t want to see.
Chapter 19
“Weather report said there were snow flurries in the Rockies,” Austin said to her the next morning. They sat in a booth eating an early breakfast at a pancake restaurant near the motel.
Shaine sipped her coffee. “Have you called to check on Daisy?”
“Yeah, she’s fine.”
She leaned her chin on her palm and studied him, thinking how handsome he was. Their future together was still a mystery, and not knowing left her uneasy.
“Can I get you anything else?” the waitress drawled from beside Austin.
Drawn from her ruminations, Shaine reached for the thermal coffee pitcher.
“We’re fine, thanks,” Austin replied.
“Alrighty. Holler if I can get you anything else.”
Shaine set the pot down with a start. The girl’s voice rang in her head.
Austin laid his fork down. “What’s wrong?”
“Her accent. Her accent!”
“What about it?”
She straightened in her chair. “The woman in my dream had an accent like that. Not exactly, but close.”
“The dream about Jack and the woman?”
“Yes!”
