Read Online Destiny Calling by Maureen L. Bonatch - Free Book Online
Authors: Maureen L. Bonatch
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to side, I tried to stimulate circulation. The pedestrian sign seemed to take forever to change.
The old-fashioned streetlights placed about every ten feet along the sidewalk flickered through the descending dusk. Snow swirled around their domes resembled angry moths trying to stifle the flame.
A gust of wind tossed my hood back, and my black and red curls unleashed to toss around my head in a riot. I pushed my hair out of my eyes as a light flashed on the right side of my face. I squinted and shielded my eyes, momentarily blinded. Then I turned toward the alley where the light had originated. The alley appeared brighter than the other streets, almost as if lit by its own sun.
“Follow the sun.”
I mulled over the words from the strange woman.
Standing in indecision as I took in the dimly lit stores with multi-colored, tattered flyers advertising tonight’s specials slapping against the glass. The snow continued its onslaught, fluttering in the air but not substantial enough to sustain itself once it hit the sidewalk.
Except for this beckoning light in the alley, I could almost feel my freckles struggling against their self-imposed hibernation, straining for the oasis of warmth.
The traffic light changed, and the pedestrian sign flashed the words, this way, with an arrow pointing toward the alley . The words, Come on. Take a chance, trailed across the sign.
I turned toward the alley, and the light intensified. Well, if I’m crazy, at least it’s a good crazy. Smiling, I closed my eyes, basking in the warmth on my face.
As I stepped off the curb, a strong hand gripped my shoulder. Instinct had me swinging my fist around, but I stopped before impacting Griffith’s stomach. “What are you doing?” I narrowed my eyes. “You scared me to death.”
“Not yet.”
“What?”
“I said,” Griffith said wryly, “I was trying to save your life. You nearly walked into traffic.” He indicated the stream of cars driving through the intersection I’d been about to cross.
I looked at the alley where my warm oasis had awaited. It looked like all the rest of the streets. Dark, dreary, and teaming with snow. “But...”
“You were standing there in a daze.”
Griffith looked perfect. I drew my hood over my head, then took a swipe under my watery eyes and sniffed to still my runny nose. His ears remained their normal color instead of the beet red mine probably were.
“I was thinking of what I needed at the store.”
Turning toward the intersection leading to the corner convenience, I tried not to think about the book I’d kind of borrowed.
“You’re not trying to avoid me?”
“No.” I cringed. That didn’t sound convincing. “Why would I want to avoid you?”
I walked across the street with Griffith slowing his pace to match my stride.
“You were in such a hurry to leave my house. Acting odd when I brought you back to your car.” He studied me. “You want to talk about it?”
“About what?” Unsure if he meant discussing the book, his freak of a brother, or him not being human and claiming I wasn’t, either. Kind of hard to narrow down the topic, and none worthy of discussing in the middle of the street. “Besides, you don’t know me, so how would you know if I’m acting odd?”
He linked his arm through my elbow, drawing me closer to him and slowing my pace. “I’d think you’d be grateful to the man who rescued you.”
I squirmed at his assertiveness in taking my arm the way he did, but liked it nonetheless. “I don’t need rescuing. I can take care of myself.”
Despite wanting to get information out of Griffith, my emotions battled like the push and pull of a tide. My desire to cling to him fought with my usual response of rejecting getting close to anyone. My head told me I should put as much distance between us as possible, but my heart wanted to stay. My head usually won these battles.
“But I’d like to. Get to know you, that is,” Griffith said. “Or rescue you, if you
The old-fashioned streetlights placed about every ten feet along the sidewalk flickered through the descending dusk. Snow swirled around their domes resembled angry moths trying to stifle the flame.
A gust of wind tossed my hood back, and my black and red curls unleashed to toss around my head in a riot. I pushed my hair out of my eyes as a light flashed on the right side of my face. I squinted and shielded my eyes, momentarily blinded. Then I turned toward the alley where the light had originated. The alley appeared brighter than the other streets, almost as if lit by its own sun.
“Follow the sun.”
I mulled over the words from the strange woman.
Standing in indecision as I took in the dimly lit stores with multi-colored, tattered flyers advertising tonight’s specials slapping against the glass. The snow continued its onslaught, fluttering in the air but not substantial enough to sustain itself once it hit the sidewalk.
Except for this beckoning light in the alley, I could almost feel my freckles struggling against their self-imposed hibernation, straining for the oasis of warmth.
The traffic light changed, and the pedestrian sign flashed the words, this way, with an arrow pointing toward the alley . The words, Come on. Take a chance, trailed across the sign.
I turned toward the alley, and the light intensified. Well, if I’m crazy, at least it’s a good crazy. Smiling, I closed my eyes, basking in the warmth on my face.
As I stepped off the curb, a strong hand gripped my shoulder. Instinct had me swinging my fist around, but I stopped before impacting Griffith’s stomach. “What are you doing?” I narrowed my eyes. “You scared me to death.”
“Not yet.”
“What?”
“I said,” Griffith said wryly, “I was trying to save your life. You nearly walked into traffic.” He indicated the stream of cars driving through the intersection I’d been about to cross.
I looked at the alley where my warm oasis had awaited. It looked like all the rest of the streets. Dark, dreary, and teaming with snow. “But...”
“You were standing there in a daze.”
Griffith looked perfect. I drew my hood over my head, then took a swipe under my watery eyes and sniffed to still my runny nose. His ears remained their normal color instead of the beet red mine probably were.
“I was thinking of what I needed at the store.”
Turning toward the intersection leading to the corner convenience, I tried not to think about the book I’d kind of borrowed.
“You’re not trying to avoid me?”
“No.” I cringed. That didn’t sound convincing. “Why would I want to avoid you?”
I walked across the street with Griffith slowing his pace to match my stride.
“You were in such a hurry to leave my house. Acting odd when I brought you back to your car.” He studied me. “You want to talk about it?”
“About what?” Unsure if he meant discussing the book, his freak of a brother, or him not being human and claiming I wasn’t, either. Kind of hard to narrow down the topic, and none worthy of discussing in the middle of the street. “Besides, you don’t know me, so how would you know if I’m acting odd?”
He linked his arm through my elbow, drawing me closer to him and slowing my pace. “I’d think you’d be grateful to the man who rescued you.”
I squirmed at his assertiveness in taking my arm the way he did, but liked it nonetheless. “I don’t need rescuing. I can take care of myself.”
Despite wanting to get information out of Griffith, my emotions battled like the push and pull of a tide. My desire to cling to him fought with my usual response of rejecting getting close to anyone. My head told me I should put as much distance between us as possible, but my heart wanted to stay. My head usually won these battles.
“But I’d like to. Get to know you, that is,” Griffith said. “Or rescue you, if you
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