In Dreams. Patricia Rosemoor

sleep.

      It was she who listened to the small noises Justin made as he moved around the other room. And her imagination became engaged.

      Closing her eyes, she could see him undressing, could imagine the long lean muscle of him as he removed garments one at a time. Though she’d never seen him naked in person, she’d seen all of him in dreams, and through them, she knew every inch of his too tempting flesh.

      Sucking in a deep breath, she opened her eyes, but the images stayed with her, teasing her, keeping her from concentrating on the magazine in her lap, no matter how hard she tried.

      The sound of the bed protesting as he climbed into it left her wanting what she experienced in her mind. The bed creaked with each toss and turn—and there were many of them—and she had to keep adjusting herself on the couch because she couldn’t get comfortable, either.

      Was he thinking of her just as she was of him?

      Did he want her with the same intensity?

      Did he want her at all?

      He’d kissed her, yes, but that had been due to circumstance. Almost an accident.

      He’d flirted with her all day, but flirtation seemed to be part of his natural charm, like he would do so with any woman on his radar.

      Most likely he’d been working on automatic, not because he’d been turned on by her.

      But he was certainly having a hard time settling down, she thought, hearing springs bounce yet again. At this rate, he was never going to sleep, never going to give her the chance to escape.

      Rain had started up again and was drumming against the roof. Great, another obstacle to getting home. Dana was probably going nuts worrying about why Lucy hadn’t returned. Maybe she’d even alerted the police. All right, maybe not.

      Lucy hadn’t told her why she was in bayou country when she’d called from the Guidry place. Dana had jumped to the conclusion that she was there because of a man, and Lucy had let her roomie think what she would. She’d also assured her that she was okay and would be home before dark, but of course that hadn’t happened.

      And in her aggravation with Justin, she’d forgotten to call Dana with an update before heading back for the houseboat. When she got her car on the road, she would call from her cell phone, assuming her shoulder bag hadn’t been stolen.

      It was raining harder now.

      As she listened, her heart seemed to beat in sync. She felt herself start to drift.

      “Damn!” she whispered, forcing her eyes wide open.

      She wasn’t the one who was supposed to fall asleep….

      Suddenly she realized the noises from the other room had stopped. No tossing, no turning, no creaking. She sat up straighter and listened harder, kept her ears tuned for the slightest sound beyond the rain. It was barely drizzling now.