The Awakening (Entangled Series Book 1) Read Online Free

smiled over at him. “I’m just a bitter daughter who was stripped of her childhood because my parents thought I was evil for seeing things, for feeling things, for… being different.”
    He frowned and leaned towards her. “But, she’s real.” It was more a question than a statement.
    “Yes,” she agreed, “she’s real. So are other things.”
    “Okay, now you’re officially freaking me out.” He stood up and walked over to the fire, hoping that the sudden chill he’d gotten was from his nerves instead of… He quickly glanced around the room.
    “No, the place is clean. I’ve only seen her near your house. As for the rest…” He watched as a shiver racked her body. “It has always come and gone without notice.”
    “Some childhood.”
    “Yes.” Her voice was low and he could tell she had grown tired.
    “Okay, you and I have to finish this some other time.” He walked over and set his mug down next to hers. “I can tell you need rest and I have a few hours before I have to get to work.”
    “Work?” She stood up and followed him towards the door.
    “Well, my work.” He chuckled at the private joke. “If you can call it that. I spend half my days working on the house and the other on the computer.”
    “You work from home?”
    He nodded and smiled. “Another time then? Maybe you can come over tomorrow for dinner.”
    “Can’t.” He watched sadness creep into her green eyes. “The funeral is tomorrow followed by a dinner here.” She looked up at him. “If you feel like it, you’re welcome to stop by. There will be plenty of food.”
    “Of course. I didn’t really know your parents all that much, but your father was nice to me when I saw him. What time and can I bring anything?”
    She smiled. “It starts at six and you could bring a bottle of wine, since I know there isn’t any here and none of my parents’ friends would dare partake. Nor would they condone the drink in my parents’ home.”
    He smiled. “Then I’ll bring a couple bottles and we can have some drinks after everyone leaves.”
    “I think we’re going to get along just great,” she said, leaning on the open door. “Good night, Michael.”
    “Good night, Xtina,” he said, making sure to use the name he guessed made her more comfortable. Then he reached out, not sure why he did, and ran a finger down the side of her cheek. When he headed back across the yard towards his place, he felt her watch him as he crossed the yard. Warmth spread through him knowing she was so focused on him. He couldn’t explain the instant draw he’d had towards her, other than the fact that she was another human being that had witnessed something that no one else could.
    When he stepped into his house, the air seemed warmer, friendlier somehow.
    Walking back to his room, he paused just outside the door and peeked in. The room was empty. Letting out the breath he’d been holding, he decided to start work early and headed into his office. He had a few clients whose files he needed to update after working on them this last week. He loved his new job, something he hadn’t been able to say for a long time.
    Since the accident over a year ago, he’d been debating what to do. He’d received a nice settlement check for his pain and trouble. Big enough to put a chunk down on the house and start the remodeling process. The monthly settlement checks helped keep him eating until he’d started Kincaid Investigations.
    He had quickly gained clients through word of mouth from some of his buddies still on the force. Over the first several months, the number of clients had grown and he was slowly becoming so busy, he was actually thinking of hiring some help, someone who could handle the mundane office chores he so detested. He hoped he’d get big enough to add another investigator in a year or so.
    Digging into people’s backgrounds for a living had turned him cautious. He supposed that’s why he’d been so abrasive with Christina at first.