Dream Keeper Read Online Free

favorite now.”
    “I know, I know,” Dench crowed. “But I also know you’re at the office, so I’m going to go now. I just couldn’t wait to tell you.” His voice slowed, longing evident. “Maybe you’re rubbing off on me.”
    “I’ll have to check on that when you get home.” Rissa heard her own longing surface. “And just so you know, I’m planning a very close inspection.”
    “I’m looking forward to it. Love you, babe.”
    “Love you more,” she whispered as the call disconnected. She sat for a long moment with her hand resting on the phone.
    “He’s going to call back tonight.” He always did when he was away, and those late night calls were always interesting. Nobody told me about those calls when I got married. She smiled. Nobody told me how interesting phone sex with my husband could be. Imagining made her blush with anticipation. Then she sat up in her chair, remembering. “I just have to figure out a way to keep my mouth shut until he gets here.”

Chapter 2
    “James?” Stepping off the elevator, Rissa almost tripped over her own feet when the boxer grinned up at her from the floor. “What the hell are you doing down there?”
    He gathered his compact body and got to his feet. “I don’t like being late, so I left home early and then traffic was pretty light, so I got here even earlier than I planned. Nobody was in when I got here, so I waited.” His grin slipped a little bit and he held a small Starbucks bag and two large cups of coffee forward. “I brought coffee, not too light and one sugar. Will it help?”
    “Couldn’t hurt.” Rissa shrugged and reached for one of the cups. A quick glance at the container showed steam, and the smell was inviting, not that she needed the caffeine jolt to wake her up. Not after last night—after Dench’s call and all the crazy things he promised, she couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, didn’t dare call anyone, and after hours of tossing and turning in the empty bed, she was afraid of oversleeping. She knew from the clock at her bedside that she had gotten exactly three hours of sleep the night before.
    And then there was the test. I swear, I haven’t been this nervous since I took the LSAT, she’d told the doctor. Now, waiting for the results and facing a client who looked as antsy as she felt, Rissa was so wide awake that her nerves shimmered and jangled. “A woman working on three hours of sleep deserves coffee,” she muttered, bringing the cup to her lips. It was perfect. “Where’s Karee?”
    James’s shoulders rose and fell. “Not here yet.”
    Behind them, the elevator chimed and Karee rushed off, keys and knit hat in hand. “I took the train this morning, and you know how it can be some days, but I’m here now.” Breathless, she eyed the cups Rissa and James held. “Smells good. Only two cups, huh?”
    Rissa raised an eyebrow and sipped deliberately. “That we’ll probably finish before you get some made.”
    “I’m on it, boss.” Karee pressed her full lips into a thin line and unlocked the door. She waited for Rissa and James to enter, then followed. “Should I order up a box of pastries?”
    James lifted his small bag. “I brought muffins: cranberry and blueberry.”
    Karee stopped, gave Rissa a quick glance, then peered into the bag. “I love cranberry,” she said, taking a muffin and hurrying to her desk. “Thanks.”
    “Welcome,” James mumbled, following Rissa back to her office. Crossing the threshold, he headed for the bright red chair he’d sat in on his last visit. He put the bag of muffins in the center of the small table and set his cup down beside it. Unzipping his jacket, he pulled it off and laid it across the back of the chair. Then he sat in silence, expectantly watching Rissa remove her coat and hang it up. When she brought her cup to the table and sat across from him, he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and waited.
    “James?” His eyes found hers and their brightness softened.