Walk with Me Through Time (The Dimension Keepers) Read Online Free

floor.
    “I see you have come back.” He needed to play this with nonchalance and not scare her off. He needed her much more than she needed him.
    Samantha regained her balance, righted herself, and brushed the front of her dress.
    Hadley remembered the dream of them as lovers and wished it was his hands touching her, caressing her. Their eyes locked and her cheeks flushed crimson. That was when he knew.
    Good God —had they shared the same dream?
    He knew travelers dreamed of the portals and the times they were to travel to, but making love with their guides? How could he and the woman share the same dream? If it wasn’t exactly the same, it was something bawdy enough to make her pretty cheeks blush.
    He fought to regain his composure and extended his hand. “Good to see you again… Samantha, am I right?”
    She nodded but avoided eye contact. “Is the other guy here? The older one, who was behind the counter?”
    “He must be in the back resting. Can I help you with anything? Have you come back to buy more Dickens?”
    “Yes… I mean no.” Samantha looked exasperated. “That’s what I need to talk to the shop owner about. The paper of Dickens’s I bought in here the other day? I took it in to have it framed.”
    “Was there a problem?”
    “Yes, there is a problem. It’s not a reproduction, it’s an original.”
    “I see.” Hadley tapped his finger to his chin.
    “No, Hadley, I don’t think you do.” She threw her hands in the air.
    He’d never mentioned his name in their first meeting. Interesting.
    Reaching in her oversized black bag, she took out a heavy folder and placed it on the counter. “I paid five pounds for this. It’s still in the original green wrappers which the framer valued this one Dickens work in the ballpark of eight to ten thousand pounds.”
    “Pounds?” he asked. “You don’t say. So do you wish to purchase another? I’m sure there are more in the back.” He came around the counter.
    “I don’t wish to pick up any more. I am leaving this one. I could never live with myself if I took advantage of someone like that. He seems like such a nice elderly man, he could sell this one paper and retire.”
    Hadley smiled and shook his head. “I don’t think he will be doing that anytime soon.” He grew serious and knew he had to be honest. “I need to talk to you about something which is very important. I know what I am about to say will sound farfetched but…” He reached for her hand.
    Samantha pulled back, her brown eyes wide. “I can’t stay. I have to go… work. I hoped you wouldn’t be here.”
    He tried to reach for her again, but she was at the door.
    “Please,” he called out, “just let me explain. The situation gravely depends on....”
    She cut him off. “No. I can’t help you—so stop asking me!” She threw the door open.
    Then she was gone… again.
    Stop asking her? He’d never said he needed her help. Arthur was right. More than the dream of the two of them making love, Samantha knew she was to help him. He couldn’t force her into something which she did not understand, so all he could do was wait and see if she was drawn back here to the bookstore.
    Hadley retrieved the watch from his pocket, popped open the cover and stared at the frozen hands. The watch hands moved ahead another five minutes.
    When the hands reached twelve-this bookstore would be his home forever.

    Chapter 5
    “No, you saved me,” he said barely above a whisper as the back of his fingers stroked her bare thigh.
    From the first time they met, she could never decide the true color was of Hadley’s eyes. In the bookstore, they looked dark, but now, here in the sunlight, they were bright sapphire blue. Gorgeous, sexy, alluring.
    “You keep saying that, though I wasn’t exactly sure what I did.”
    “Samantha, you listened to your heart.”
    “This is insane. People don’t have life mates. That’s all a bunch, as they would say here in England, cock and bull. What if I