Only in Her Dreams Read Online Free Page A

flipped the lock. Greg’s baseball bat clutched firmly in her hands, she listened. Over the pounding in her chest, a thumping echoed through the house. Either the man fled down the stairs, or she’d knocked him senseless, and he’d tumbled back down the way he’d come. The thought of him falling down the stairs brought a smile to her face. The man deserved what he got; he’d put her through so many sleepless nights. For years she doubted herself--her memories. Had she seen the man somewhere? Should she know him? Why had he broken into her house?
    Lucessa’s heart slowed, along with her breathing.
    A moist warmth touched her leg and she turned, ready to swing the bat at another unknown enemy. Only Goosey stood there. Lucessa leaned the bat against the wall and patted the dog’s head. A new confidence filled her. “Where’ve you been, girl?”
    With the dog at her side, she cautiously unlocked and opened her bedroom door ready to slam it again. She reached out and flicked the hall light on. The man had fallen down the stairs, taking every picture off the wall with him.
    She advanced down the stairs, Goosey at her side, wishing she’d grabbed the bat on the way out of her room. The man lay at the bottom, his arm and neck bent at awkward angles. This was the last thing she needed right now, him lying dead in her house. She had to be to work in four hours. There’s no way I can handle this in four hours!
    She wanted to flee back to her room, barricade the door, and hide under her bed. But that wouldn’t solve her problem. Goosey sat next to her in the hallway, her tongue hung out of her mouth. The boxer didn’t seem to recognize the trouble they were in. “Our home’s about to become a crime scene, Goosey.”
    Lucessa pressed her back against the wall as she slipped past the man, her bare feet stepped over broken glass. With a push off the last step, she rounded the corner into the kitchen and grabbed for her cell phone.
    The phone was heavy in her hand. Her fingers fumbled as they dial 9-1-1.
    “I would advise you not to make that call.” A voice whispered in her ear as if it floated on a breeze. A chill crept up Lucessa’s spine.
    It wasn’t possible. He’d lain at such an odd angle. Is someone else in my house?
    She spun around and stared into the eyes of the man who’d walked her dreams for years. The only thing she could think to do was hit him again. Unfortunately, she remembered too late that she’d left the bat upstairs. Shit ! Her knees were weak beneath her, threatening to give out.
    Goosey hadn’t made a sound as he’d crept up behind her. Double damn that dog!
    She clenched her fists, ready to protect her home and her dog.
    “I would not hit me again if I were you.”
    The tone in his voice was just short of menacing and a shiver ran the length of her body as if his hands caressed her.
    Again, Lucessa found herself speechless as she thought about running or escaping. Anything but stand there staring at him with a dumb expression on her face. She should be scared shitless, but she wasn't. She'd seen him so many times Lucessa felt deep down she knew him. Do I know you? She wanted to ask.
    “Then what should I do?” She must’ve lost her mind proposing such a stupid question after he’d just broken into her house. To be fair, he hadn’t broken in, per se. He’d used the kitchen door she always forgot to lock. Also, to be fair, he wasn’t the first to enter her home without permission. Thinking of another question, she asked, “Why’ve you been stalking me? Who are you?” Smooth, Lucessa!
    “Who I am is not important. But your safety is.” He pushed past her and navigated up the stairs around the pictures strewn on the floor.
    Safety? Lucessa decided to play along and followed him, keeping her distance. The only one jeopardizing her safety was him . She pushed down the feeling of unease as Goosey paced at her side. What was the dog’s problem?
    “What’re you doing?” She