dizzy, but she couldn’t see so she let Zach lead her.
He left her to her undressing which she did quickly, leaving on her underwear. Sliding into the sheets, her body sighed as if this were her own bed returned to after a long absence.
Something wasn’t right. She tossed and turned. She couldn’t get comfortable.
“Grace?”
Zach stood in the doorway. His shape was silhouetted by the beam cast by the hall light.
“What?”
“Are you okay?”
He came into the room and settled on the edge of the bed.
“I guess I can’t sleep. My birthday is today. I was born in the afternoon so I’m not officially thirty until it’s seven in the evening.”
“And why is that significant?”
“I’ll lose my powers when I’m thirty. Not just the day, but the exact time I was born. I have to solve this murder.”
“You have the weight of the world, on you.”
He ran a finger down her jaw line. She turned into his hand.
“It feels that way some days.”
“Will you be sorry you don’t have the power anymore?”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “If I save Dolores, I’ll be glad to be rid of it. But if she dies and I can’t help her then I’ll regret the loss of it.”
“Mm.”
His hand went through her hair. The colors appeared on the fringes of her vision. They didn’t obscure her view of Zach in his pajama bottom and no top.
She reached out and touched the muscles on his chest. He didn’t flinch. The colors didn’t deepen.
“Hold me.”
“I’m not sure I can just hold you, Grace.”
“Then don’t just hold me. Make me forget about all this.”
“You won’t be sorry in the morning?”
“No.” Because I’m falling in love with you. She couldn’t utter those words. She couldn’t reveal that much of herself.
“If you say to stop, I will,” he said as he took her into his arms.
“Go.”
It was better than her dreams.
Grace snuggled closer to Zach. His breathing steadied and she knew he was asleep.
What seemed like a minute later, she entered the dream world. Someone was chasing her. She knew the person, but couldn’t see him. Her dream self wanted to stop and look, but couldn’t risk being caught.
Her breath, ragged now, caught in her throat. She ran, stumbling in the darkness. She couldn’t figure out where she was.
Then someone called her name, shaking her, but she couldn’t see anyone.
“Grace.”
Zach’s voice invaded her unconscious brain, waking her up.
She buried her head into his chest as his arms enveloped her. They became a haven from her dream. Maybe even a haven from her world. No one could hurt her as long as Zach stayed close. She’d felt this before, but it hadn’t worked. Why would it work this time? Some part of her wanted to stay here warm and secure.
“You screamed.”
“Someone was chasing me. Someone I knew.”
“Who?”
“I couldn’t see them,” she said.
Her heart went back to a normal beat, but sped up as she realized that the colors weren’t dancing in front of her eyes. Dizziness didn’t threaten her. Instead his warmth covered her and she felt safe.
“It’s over now.”
He didn’t let go and her heart leapt at the idea. But she ended up pushing him away. She couldn’t risk getting involved. Not after last time. No good could come of it.
She had a job to do. Her last soul to save before her birthday.
“What?”
His eyes searched her.
“I’m okay. Thanks.”
The covers had slipped down and she pulled them over her. He was freshly showered and fully-dressed.
“Grace, let me help.”
“You are helping.”
“I mean, let me be here for you.”
His eyes pleaded with. It wouldn’t take much to just lean on him. Let him deal with the weight on her shoulders. But part of her couldn’t.
“No.” She spat out the word too fast. He flinched. She didn’t mean to reject him, but she couldn’t get close. She’d just lose him and that would hurt more then keeping him at arm’s length. “Sorry,” she said in a softer tone.
He stood, his gaze now wary, but intent. He was trying to reach into her soul. “They haven’t found Mark.”
“Oh?”
Where would he be? And why had he bailed on her?
“No. Think, Grace. Where would he be?”
“I truly don’t know.”
“He’s supposed to be your best friend.”
He certainly wasn’t acting like one. “I know. He’s been through a tough time.”
“And getting shot at is easy?” He sat back down as if his legs couldn’t hold him anymore. “Grace, let him go. Let this whole thing go.”
“No, I have to save Dolores.”
“She’s going to her mother’s house tonight. They live in a gated community. She’ll be fine.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Go on with your life. Dolores isn’t going to die.”
“I can’t be so sure. The killer could wait until we least expect him.”
And after tomorrow, If Dolores died again, she’d stay dead. A clock ticked in Grace’s mind. Less than twenty four hours. Barely even eight and she’d never go back in time again.
“Maybe, but Dolores isn’t your problem.”
“You don’t understand. She asked me to save her.”
He ran a hand over his face then put it on hers. The colors came back and her heart beat double time. The vision didn’t obscure him this time and she saw his face come closer to hers. “Give it up, Grace.”
His scent filled her nostrils, soap and aftershave. Her mouth went dry. What would she see if he kissed her?
His lips brushed her forehead. The colors exploded into a cacophony of blues and greens. Her pulse thrummed through her and she knew if he did put his lips on hers, she wouldn’t be able to resist. She might even go up in flames.
She’d had lovers before this, but none had touched her this way. No one caused her vision to blur or her heart to race.
“Grace,” he said, his voice a butterfly in her ear. “I need to go.”
She pulled him to her. “Just a few more minutes.” She’d draw from his strength and warmth. She’d get through this day.
