Eden's Dream Read Online Free Page B

the terrace.
    Eden turned in time to see him hold up Kahlua. His biceps bulged under the tight-fitting T-shirt as he brought Kahlua to her.
    â€œOkay, girl,” he joked, turning the cat over. “Next time it’s my turn to visit.”
    â€œWh-what,” Eden stuttered, knowing there wasn’t a remote possibility of that happening. Not in this lifetime anyway. He would be an unwelcome visitor at best. She couldn’t risk him getting too close.
    Noel pressed the issue. “I take it your mom doesn’t plan on issuing an invitation, Kahlua.” He scratched the cat behind the ears. “See you sometime, old girl.”
    Eden thanked him for his help and ran.

Chapter 3
    E den sat hunched over the kitchen table, scanning a collection of newspaper clippings she’d meticulously arranged. She exhaled a perfect smoke ring and flicked her ash in the vicinity of an overflowing ashtray. Rotating her neck to ease the cramp at her nape, she picked through the pile to find the most recent article.
    Ever since Rod’s death she’d read voraciously, perusing every newspaper that covered the tragedy of Flight 757. What boggled the mind was that the Federal Aviation Authority and the National Transportation Safety Board could not agree on what had caused the crash. Even so, the rag sheets had labeled it pilot error. Their assumption galled her. Rod had been Pelican Air’s best pilot, and though they’d had a falling out, she hated to see his reputation tarnished.
    Eden forced herself to concentrate on the New York Times clipping in front of her. The headline, “Captain’s Competency in Question,” was a rude reminder that the best succumbed to sensationalism. How dare they besmirch Rod’s name, especially when he was no longer around to defend himself? The print blurred as Eden focused on the picture accompanying the caption. Rod stared back unflinchingly, the epitome of cool. His cap sat at a rakish angle, just like the first day she’d laid eyes on him. As the memories surfaced and the floodgates sprang open, Eden stubbed out her cigarette.
    She cried not so much because she missed Rod, but because of guilt. When her tears threatened to ruin the print on the paper, she pushed the articles a safe distance away. Eventually her sniffles turned to full-fledged sobs, and a pounding noise finally filtered through.
    â€œEden?”
    Eden looked up to acknowledge Noel’s presence. He hovered at the open glass door, uncertain of his welcome. It had been at least a week since she’d seen him. “Wh–what do you want?”
    He didn’t answer immediately but crossed the room, Kahlua cradled in his arms. After setting down her cat, he crouched at Eden’s side and pulled her into arms. “Go ahead and cry. Let it all out. I won’t say a word, I promise,” Noel crooned.
    Sniffling, Eden sought the haven of his arms once again. She leaned her head against his chest and let tears soak his freshly laundered T-shirt. When she was finally able to speak, she croaked, “Where did you find Kahlua?”
    â€œAsleep on my terrace. Didn’t you miss her?”
    She’d been so engrossed in her newspaper articles she hadn’t even missed her cat. She wasn’t about to tell him that.
    Noel continued, “I checked on her off and on. When I realized she’d been asleep for more than two hours, I thought that was long enough, so I decided to bring her home.” He stroked Eden’s hair, making soothing noises.
    Rather than her sobs subsiding, his touch provoked a reaction she was determined to ignore. Hiccuping her words, she said, “I—should—be thanking—you, not—sobbing—my brains out.”
    â€œNothing to thank me for. This was the perfect excuse to visit. And a good thing too. I haven’t seen Kahlua’s mother in…what is it?” He paused. “Ten days.”
    So he’d been counting the