LITMIR.BIZ

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he couldn’t possess the passion that she possessed in one fingertip. Her large blue eyes burned with it and, for that, he couldn’t resist taking another step forward.

      “I always keep my promises,” he said, moving toward her.

       She shielded her eyes with her hand, looking up at him. “Will you sit?”

      He did. He’d do anything for her, and not just because he had to. He wanted to, with every fiber of his being. He watched her tilt her head toward the sun, closing her eyes. Her thick eyelashes cast a dark shadow across her face.

      “I love it out here,” she mused.

      Her family traveled to the country every summer to their second home, a sprawling cottage nestled into a copse of trees. The cottage looked as if it had sprung up from the ground, with its rugged stucco exterior.

       He looked at her. “It is beautiful.”

       She smirked and tilted her head toward him. “What is it that you needed to tell me? Not that I need an excuse to come out here.”

      He’d wrestled with the fact of telling her about her sister for months. It would break her heart and possibly the passion he loved about her. Or, in the small chance that it didn’t, she’d be free to express that passion.

      With me, he thought, but quickly shook that thought away. If he did this, he’d do it for her; everything was for her.

       “You’re starting to worry me,” she said, her eyes now fixed on his. “Is something wrong?”

      He looked toward the cottage as Gemma crossed the threshold, holding a basket filled with food. She looked around, then quickly jogged toward the woods.

      Maggie’s gaze moved toward the cottage.

      No, he thought. Not like this.

      He reached over, touching her cheek. “Nothing is wrong,” he said, smiling.

      She leaned into his touch, the heat from her body pulsing through him.

       She moved closer, licking her lips. “Well, then?”

      He stole a glance at the cottage, Gemma no longer in sight. He looked back at Maggie, her hand reaching toward his. The diamond on her finger glinted in the sunlight, breaking his thoughts and his contact with her.

      What was he thinking? This girl was married.

      To a man who didn’t deserve her, he thought.

      But married, nonetheless. Even though he loved her, he had to respect that. For now, he’d have to let it go.

      Just one more year, he thought. Then everything would change.

      I woke with a jolt, sitting up against the half a dozen pillows strewn over the bed. Ally’s heart raced like the flapping wings of a hummingbird.

      Cooper appeared at my side. “Did you have a dream?”

      My eyes snapped to his. Had he seen the dream, sensed Jackson on my mind? “Yeah, it was weird.” That was the understatement of the century.

      Cooper sat on the edge of the bed. “I guess since her body is still technically alive, it would still have dreams.”

      More like visions, I thought. Ally had nothing to do with those images. But Jackson did. Was I somehow mixing Ally’s and my reality, creating strange dreams?

      “Listen,” Cooper said, slicing through my thoughts. “I’m sorry about last night. I’d like to make it up to you.”

      I arched an eyebrow. “How?”

      “It’s the one on the right, don’t be afraid to push—okay, okay, stop pushing!” Cooper yelled. His hands pressed against the dashboard, his head dangerously close to the windshield.

      I slammed my foot on the brake and the car skidded to a stop in the shoulder.

      Cooper’s idea of a surprise was a driving lesson, since Henry had Tuesdays off and Marie was running errands. He wanted to take me somewhere, but also didn’t want to be spotted with Ally in case anyone had seen him. Hence, the lesson showcasing my terrible driving skills. I channeled Ally as much as I could but she was silent, not offering any advice for me.

      Traitor.

      It took me twenty minutes to pull out of the driveway, fearing any car in the distance slamming into Ally’s. He directed me across town. Thankfully the morning traffic had subdued, but I was still on high alert.

      “Was the surprise making a fool of me?” I moaned.

      Cooper chuckled. “Nah, that’s just a perk.”

      I lightly punched him in the arm, moving my other arm too far and the car swerved. I grabbed the wheel with both hands. “Okay, spill. Where are we going?”

      Cooper faced forward, his smile touching the corners of his eyes.

      “Remember where I found you the day Ally disappeared?”

      “Yes,” I said.

      “Felix told me that you spent your off days there and I thought I’d take you there, to regroup.”

      Excitement buzzed through me. I scanned the road, the graveyard not too far ahead of us. I’d no idea I had been this close to it. I looked at Cooper. “Thank you,” I said sincerely and an idea came to mind. “Can we make a stop first?”

      “Sure.”

      I put the car in drive and pressed the gas a little too hard, lurching forward. I hit the brake and started again by putting light pressure on the pedal.

      “There you go,” Cooper coached.

      I pulled out of the shoulder, nearly smashing into another car. I braked again.

      Cooper stiffened. “Let’s try looking around before driving, okay?”

      I clenched my jaw, determined to get us to the cemetery and back in one piece.

      I stepped out of the florist shop across the street, hugging several bouquets against my chest. Cooper appeared at my side, holding his arms out.

      The paper crinkled against me as I kept walking. “You need to stay invisible.”

      He held up a hand, allowing me to continue toward the car.

      I needed a break from that machine. “And I think we should walk,” I said. “It’s not that far.” I passed Ally’s car and stood at the edge of the street, looking both ways several times before crossing. Cars wouldn’t pass through me in this form.

      Cooper followed closely behind.

      Ally’s heart pounded against her chest as I neared the gate to the cemetery.

      “Where do you want to go?” I asked Cooper.

      “Wherever you want; this is your surprise,” he said. “Who are the flowers for?”

      I leaned down and inhaled the scent of the mixed bouquet I’d purchased with Ally’s credit card. I’d find a way to pay her back, somehow.

      If you find her.

      I squashed the thought. “No one in particular,” I said. “I always come here but I never get to put flowers down.” I tightened my grip on the bouquets. “And there are a lot of lonely stones that could use a little brightening up.”

      We walked in silence for a few minutes. A light breeze ruffled Ally’s hair as if invisible fingers raked through it. Her sundress billowed in the wind.

      “Does Felix have any leads?” I asked.

      “A few,” he said. “David is instrumental in acquiring Intelligence on Shadowed locations. They are checking out all the spots to find her.”

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