Page 1 of The Dark Obsession

Chapter 1

“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

My body is ablaze with romance and lust for the kind of love I’ve just read about. This is at least my fourth time readingRomeo and Juliet, and I still can’t get enough of it. I sigh and remind myself,Rosa, remember they both died. Damn university finishing. At least I wasn’t alone all the time when I was still getting my degree. My fingers massage my temples.

As gracefully as possible, I rise to my feet from the comfy brown leather chair I was snuggled into at the town’s ancient library. I hate to leave, but it’s getting late. I glance at the beautiful, carved wooden beams high on the grey stone ceiling; the two dazzling glass chandeliers always catch my eye.

I place the book onto the shelf and drag my finger along the old wooden shelving, dust collecting on my fingertip. The shelves hold hundreds of classical books, some so old they look as though they’ll fall apart. A gentle cough from across the warmly lit room startles me. Someone else is here. Keeping my head down, I take the book closest to my finger and sit on the still-warm chair. Peeking up, I notice a tall blonde man in a long black jacket eyeing the books opposite me. I glance at my own book.Pride and Prejudice.

“In vain, I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will no longer be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” I can’t help but speak out loud. After all, it is my favourite quote from the book.

“Pride and Prejudice. A classic,” a smooth male voice says behind me.

Shit!My heart jumps out of my chest and into my hands as the book drops to the floor with a thud, sending a spiral of dust into the air off the dingy carpet.

“Sorry I startled you,” the mysterious blonde man says in a gentle voice.

“It’s okay,” I reply coolly, not making eye contact with him, instead spying the mass of books that surround us.

He walks around to face me, picks up the book, and holds it out to me.

My eyes linger on his pale and bony hand. I avert my gaze as fast as I can, staring at my feet.

“I’m Dale. Pleasure to meet you.” This time he speaks with a smooth but more confident voice.

“Rosa, I’m Rosa.” I push the hair draping over my left eye behind my ear. “You like the classics?”

“I do. I’m a bit old-fashioned myself. Love relaxing with a book.” Dale’s tone is calm as he sits on the old leather chair opposite me. “Why are you here this late?”

“I could ask you the same,” I blurt out quietly with a grin as I turn my attention to his face. His dark-brown eyes stand out against his pale skin and short white-blond hair. His lips are a dark shade of red, his jawline chiseled, and a single deep dimple dots his cheek on the side where his lips curve into a smile.He’s gorgeous, I celebrate in my head whilst hiding behind my book.

“My father passed away recently, so I’m in town organising his estate, and the library has always been my happy place. I thought I’d try to escape for a couple of hours,” he says in a low voice.

I watch his face, his eyes expectant, seemingly more self-conscious than ever. “Oh, uh. I’m sorry,” I mutter.

“It’s all right. I didn’t really know him well.”

I shuffle awkwardly. “Well, I recently graduated from university—criminal law. Now I have t-too much free time.” I try to pretend I didn’t stutter. The truth is I’m desperately lonely; right now, books are my only friends. All my real friends have relocated to jobs across seas or live in bigger cities. I’ve never been good at lying, but there’s no need to tell anyone, especially a random stranger, about my life.

“Oh, uni. So, you’re about twenty-three?” he asks, as if talking more to himself than to me.

I grin. “Exactly.”

He smiles his one-sided dimpled smile and winks.

I laugh and fumble with my book, then drop it again with another loud thud.Shit.I know my cheeks must be bright pink by now, so I fake a yawn and lean down to gather my bag. “I’d best be off, important day tomorrow,” I say through another suppressed yawn.I groan internally. It’s unlike me to skip an opportunity to get to know a man.

“Take my number, please, and give me a call. Maybe we can meet up for coffee.” He retrieves a card from his pocket and holds it out to me.

My insides squirm excitedly as I take the card. Our fingers touch for barely a second, sending a lightning bolt up my arm. I try hard to hide the smile that spreads across my lips. The card reads,Dale Cartwright, Director, Author. I shove it into my back pocket.

“Okay. I’ll call you.” I smile and stand, and he rises with me and grasps my hand to shake it. My fingers tingle with his warmth.

“Make sure you do—tomorrow.”

I stare, astonished by his demanding tone. Smiling wearily, I nod, wave, and walk at the same time and catch my heel on the side of a chair, then trip awkwardly over my own feet.I’msuch a klutz!

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