Page 1 of The Mistletoe Wish

CHAPTER1

Sara had dreamt about him last night, or at least someone who looked eerily similar to the man seated on the opposite side of the room. Surely it couldn’t be him? No, that would be too crazy a coincidence. And besides, that one meeting had been a fleeting, less than one hour, experience. But it was odd how he had occasionally popped up in her thoughts; especially during those dark days when her life had imploded.

She kept her eyes resolutely fastened on the magazine she held in her hands. She was determined not to sneak another peek at the only other occupant in the solicitor’s waiting room. Her back stiff with the odd tension hanging in the air, her vision blurred, so intense was her concentration. Neither she, nor the mystery man, had spoken since they’d been invited to take a seat and the receptionist had disappeared out the door.

The silence remained unbroken, the minutes ticking away on the antique clock which reposed on the mantle above the bricked-up fireplace. She was aware of his steady gaze and the tiny furrow between his brows as if he too harboured a curiosity towards her.

Outside the old building, sunlight broke through the heavy clouds that loomed grey and sullen over the small country town of Bindarra Creek. The thin beams streamed through the narrow, un-curtained window and in the air, golden dust mites swirled like drunken dancers. A faint rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. Despite being the first day of summer, the weather was cool although humid – unusual for this time of year – and the air conditioning was downright frosty.

Dressed in a thin cotton blouse, a navy skirt and wearing the only pair of sandals she possessed, Sara shivered then tossed the magazine onto the chair. It was useless attempting to divert her attention with a celebrity couple’s matrimonial woes. Not when her mind teemed with so many unanswered questions – the forefront of which was – why was she here?

And the second, and the one that loomed larger, – whowasthat man? No name sprang to mind and yet she couldn’t shake the sensation that shehadmet him previously. That he really was the guy who kept recurring in her dreams.

She snuck another glance, and her tummy rolled over as she found his cappuccino-coloured eyes fixed on her. Relaxed in his chair, yet he gave the impression that at any moment he could easily spring into action if needed.

She tore her gaze away and dug her short nails into the palms of her hands. What was it about him that kept drawing her attention? Shoulders wide enough to carry any burden? Or was it the steadiness of his gaze; as if he was someone who would accept people for exactly who they were. As if he was someone who would always stand by your side.

Sara glared at the inoffensive carpet. What rubbish. She had learned the hard way the only person she could truly depend on when the chips were down, was herself.

A movement flickered in the shadows beneath the coffee table.

Something furry skittered across her toes.

Emitting a shriek bound to arouse the dead, Sara leapt to her feet then, an instant later, somehow found herself standing on her chair. Heart in her throat, choking off another scream, she danced about, shaking first one foot in the air and then the other.

If there was one creature in the world that she was mortally terrified of; it was mice. A remnant of her poverty-stricken childhood that she’d never managed to conquer.

“Steady on. It’s okay. Your ferocious dragon is long gone.” The man’s calm tones cut through the frantic pulsing in her ears. His voice rang with an authority that reassured; made her feel as if there was nothing he couldn’t conquer.

Blinking, Sara ruthlessly buried the little whisper inside telling her here was a man she could trust.

There was no such thing.

He stood directly in front of her holding out a hand. No doubt intending to assist her off the chair. The faint lines at the corners of his lushly, lashed eyes deepened and his lips twitched but at least he had the decency not to laugh.

Heat scorched her cheeks. What a silly sight she must present.

Sara lifted her chin. Almost blindly she brushed his hand aside, took a step.

Her sandal slipped over the glossy magazine and … whoosh … she was air borne. Warm arms encircled her, catching her just in the nick of time. She let out a relieved breath only for her lungs to seize as reality dawned.

She lay half-hanging over the top of his head while his face …OMG!his face was buried between her breasts.

Talk about having a bad day!

An unwanted heat licked through her veins as she froze; mortified and confused by the fire igniting her blood into flames. This wasn’t like her. She didn’t do instant attractions. She certainly never waffled over what to do next.

“What is going on in here?” came an artic voice from the direction of the doorway.

Mumbling apologies, Sara wrenched herself free and landed on the thin carpet a good two metres away. She busied herself tugging at her clothes and soothing her tangled hair while the man muttered something about vermin in the building. She woulddefinitelynot think about how good it had felt to be held. By someone. By anyone. And how for one long unfathomable moment she’d wanted to sink into his embrace and shut out the world.

More shaken than she cared to admit, she almost blindly turned aside to pick up her handbag. She performed a quick check to ensure the zipper was secure thereby meaning nothing creepy or furry had scampered inside. Then she hurried after the other two as they trooped down a short hallway and into another room which was equally as dim as the one they had just left.

A man sat behind the huge mahogany desk, with a large window behind him. At first he appeared simply as an outline. By the time Sara had taken one of the two vacant seats, her eyes had adjusted and her equilibrium was restored. Yet a blazing question remained – why was the stranger here? She smiled at the local solicitor, Ty Devereaux.

Ty greeted her then turned to the silent man sitting next to her. “Darim Cooper, I presume?”

“Indeed.” The man, Darim, leaned over and shook the solicitor’s extended hand.

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