Dreams~Shadows of the Night

by Olivia Claire High

  Dreams

  Shadows of the Night

  DREAMS

  Shadows of the Night

  by

  Olivia Claire High

  272

  Dreams

  Shadows of the Night

  Dedication

  To the love of my life, my husband,

  My Joe.

  Prologue

  She watched in helpless terror as the water closed over their heads before they sank down deep where no sunlight could reach.

  “Mommy! Daddy!”

  Would they be cold? Afraid? A sob escaped her. Fear – so much fear for a seven year old child. She called again, but only heard the pounding of her heart. Her eyes squinted trying to see through the murky surroundings of her nightmare.

  “Don’t go. Please don’t leave me,” rugged sobs pierced the silence of the night.

  Why weren’t they listening to her? She knew she was only a child, but she saw things – awful things that terrorized her mind and made her heart pound.

  Long, agonizing seconds passed while she burrowed beneath the sheets, but no matter how hard she tried to fight the nightmare, the frozen images of her parents’ faces flashed before her eyes. They finally appeared – Mommy and Daddy floating toward her. She stared into their lifeless eyes – and screamed.

  >>>>dreams<<<<

  Catherine Ashley bolted upright in bed, awakened by the sound of her own screams. She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them, in an effort to ward off the chill that shuddered through her body. Her throat felt raw. Tears dampened her pale cheeks. It’d been twenty years since she’d first envisioned her parents’ lifeless bodies floating in water. But the dream still managed to slip through her defenses from time to time, stripping away the layers of protection she’d carefully built up to block out the horror.

  Other prophetic dreams still came occasionally, but none as frightening as her parents’ deaths. They hadn’t listened to her warning and two days later they’d drowned in a boating accident – forever fracturing her carefree childhood. She flopped back, fighting to regain control of her emotions until sheer will allowed her to drift into a more pleasant dream – a dream in which a mysterious auburn haired man appeared sporting a smile that lit up the darkness and made her insides quiver in the nicest way. But by the time dawn crept in washing away the darkness, she felt wary.

  The fact that he showed up in a dream so soon after recalling a horrendous nightmare might not be a good thing – for either of them.

  Chapter One

  Josh Dallas surfaced in slow motion struggling through the fog that swirled inside his head, as a sliver of light crept beneath his fluttering eyelids. A woman leaned over him and he worked to bring her into sharper focus. Skin the color of fine porcelain, hair like pale sunlight, and unbelievable sapphire eyes. She had to be an angel. He was pleased to see she wasn’t the alternative with pointy horns poking out of her head.

  “Am I dead?” Despite the words being slurred with grogginess, his deep voice maintained its usual rugged quality that mixed well with his natural aura of raw sexuality.

  “No, you’re not dead. You had an accident, Mr. Dallas. You’re in the hospital.”

  He thought her voice sounded a little shaky, but decided it could have something to do with the throbbing inside his head.

  “Accident?” It took his brain a few seconds to process the information. He winced, remembering. “I rammed my truck into a lamppost.”

  “From what I’m told, you swerved to miss a child who ran into the street.”

  “It all happened pretty fast, but I guess I did. How’s the kid doing?”

  “He’s fine. His parents called. They’d liked to come by and thank you in person.”

  “Tell them I’ll have to take a rain check.” He stared at her, enjoying the lazy pull of attraction that tugged at his stomach muscles and decided to go with impulse. “Have dinner with me Catherine Ashley,” he said reading her nameplate.

  “What did you say?”

  “I want to take you to dinner when I get out of here.”

  “Is that so? Well, I’ll have to give you a rain check on that.”

  Her humor made him grin. “I can be pretty persistent when I want something.”

  “So can I when I’m not sure something is a good idea.”

  “How do you know unless you try? I like to give the lady flowers on our first date. What’s your favorite?” He held up a hand. “Wait, don’t tell me. Roses? Daisies?

  No, I've got it. Violets.” Her expression told him he’d finally hit on the right one.

  “Aren’t you the clever boy?” She walked to the door.

  “Top of my class in school. So how about that date?”

  “Go back to sleep, Mr. Dallas. You’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

  “You have no idea how much excitement I can handle, angel nurse.”

  >>>>dreams<<<<

  Josh scanned the hospital entrance waiting for Catherine to appear. He smiled recalling their lighthearted bantering, but his inner radar told him she possessed a sensuality simmering beneath her playful façade and he had every intention of exploring those intriguing depths. He approached her as soon as she came through the glass doors.

  “I was hoping I’d be in the right place at the right time,” he said sliding easily into the courtship mode ready to take his wooing to the next level. “Looks like I got lucky.”

  Their eyes locked before she took a couple of steps back. “I beg your pardon.”

  He saw her flash of recognition and something else that looked like caution. If she wanted to pretend she didn’t know him he was willing to play along. He treated her to his most winning smile.

  “Don’t tell me you don’t remember me. I was in here a few days ago and you were my nurse. I’m Josh Dallas, the guy who rammed his truck into a lamppost.”

  “Oh yes. You’re the man who saves little boys. How’s the head, Mr. Dallas?”

  “It’s feeling better by the second, especially now that I’m here seeing you again.”

  A brow lifted.

  “Don’t tell me you actually get results with such a line, Casanova?”

  He winced.

  “A pretty woman like you shouldn’t be so sarcastic. I like Josh if it’s all the same to you, and I’m here to remind you we're going out to dinner.”

  “Strange, I don’t remember agreeing to that and FYI: I don’t date patients.”

  “Technically, I’m no longer a patient.” He brought out the nosegay of violets he’d hidden behind his back. “I promised you flowers. Don’t I deserve some kind of reward?”

  A smile tugged at her mouth, as she took the flowers.

  “You are outrageous.”

  “But loveable.” His eyes took in her petite shape clad in pants and a cotton smock dotted with tiny red hearts. “You’ll want to change. I’ll pick you up at seven. All I need is your address.” He waited while she gnawed her lip seeming to wage a battle with herself.

  “Make it seven-thirty and all I need is to have my head examined,” she muttered.

  “Hey, I could be the man of your dreams.”

  She rewarded him with a shivery laugh. “Funny you should say that.”

  “Yeah, how so?”

  “Let’s just say there’s a possibility we could both end up regretting this.”

  >>>>dreams<<<<

  A cotton-candy pink dawn streamed in through the bare windows tinting the bedroom with its rosy illumination. Josh lay in his bed propped on one elbow watching Catherine’s sleeping form. They’d been together four months now and just as he’d suspected there was a lot of fire hidden beneath her cool, creamy skin. She was so hot
when they made love it was a wonder they didn’t scorch the sheets. Not that he was complaining. He liked fiery women and was quite happy to let her ignite his pilot light.

  But their lovemaking would have to be put on hold for a while. He’d signed on for a three month project in the Amazon and was leaving later today. He started to lie back when Catherine's arms and legs thrashed about and she began to cry out, her voice choking, her words incomprehensible. She began to flail about, clearly agitated by whatever she was dreaming.

  He shook her gently.

  “Hey, wake up, honey. You must be having a nightmare.”

  Her eyes flew open, glazed with fear before focusing on his face.

  “Don’t go,” she begged, the piercing whine of her voice mounting as she grabbed for his arms.

  “What? Don’t go where?” he asked concerned by her desperate sounding plea.

  “The Amazon. You mustn’t go there,”

  “Catherine, what are you talking about? I’ve already signed the contract.”

  “I saw you in my dream. You were lying unconscious surrounded by dense foliage. It was raining. You were covered in mud. This is a warning sign. I feel it.”

  He gathered her in his arms.

  “It was just a crazy dream. I’m going to be fine.”

  “You don’t understand. I never told you, but I sometimes see things in my dreams – things that come true. I saw you in a dream the night before you came to the hospital.”

  “No kidding?” he said, more intrigued than shocked by her confession. “This talent could be kind of handy. Can you predict whether or not I’ll win the lottery?”

  She tried to pull away from him, but he held on.

  “I’m serious, Josh.”

  “So am I.” He started to laugh, but stopped when her eyes filled with tears. “Hey, I’ve been all over the globe and the worst that’s happened to me is getting blisters.”

  “You have to listen to me. The night before I met you, I had a repeat of an old nightmare and that was just before I saw you in my dream. It concerned people I loved very much. That dream ended badly for them and I believe I had it again because something terrible is going to happen to you, too.”

  “You had a bad dream because you’re going to miss me,” he teased.

  “It’s more than that.” She hesitated. “I’ve seen death in my dreams before.”

  He jerked back.

  “What the hell! Are you saying I’m going to die on the job?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m not willing to tempt fate. Please, please, don’t go.”

  >>>>dreams<<<<

  They sat in one of the airport bars. Josh hunched his long, lean body over a beer while Catherine sat in rigid silence next to him, ignoring the glass of wine he had ordered for her. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, wishing he could think of something to say that would ease the tension between them. He began to consider apologizing when he inadvertently caught a whiff of exotic perfume nearby.

  “Do you mind if I join you?”

  They both turned at the sound of the sultry voice. Josh recognized the red haired woman standing there smiling – she’d been introduced at a recent meeting as the botanist going with the team on the Amazon trip. After dealing with Catherine’s sullen mood, Josh was eager for any kind of diversion. He quickly rose to his feet and flashed a welcoming smile.

  “Not at all. This is Catherine Ashley, Dr. Rabb,” he said making the introductions.

  “Marie,” she amended and nodded toward Catherine before easing her supple body onto a bar stool. “Vodka, rocks,” she told the hovering bartender before plucking a pretzel out of a nearby bowl. She waited until the bartender brought her drink and melted back into the shadows at the other end of the bar before she spoke again. “I don’t mean to pry, but you seemed a bit tense at our last meeting. Anything you’d like to talk about?”

  “I wasn’t aware that I gave that impression. I’m fine, really.”

  “That’s good. I thought you may be worried about the hired guns. My mistake.”

  Josh winced at Catherine’s sharp intake of breath. He wanted to stuff more pretzels in Marie’s mouth to shut her up.

  “Why do you have to have hired guns?”

  “It’s only a precaution in case the locals get testy, but they never have before.”

  “How many times have you done this?” Josh asked, hoping to get off the subject of guns and ease Catherine’s anxious expression.

  “The Amazon? A few.” She sipped her drink giving her lips an inviting sheen.

  “A trip like this can’t be comfortable for a woman. Why do you keep doing it?”

  Josh didn’t miss the quick gleam of excitement that leaped into her eyes.

  “There’s plant life in the Amazon still waiting to be discovered. I’m willing to put up with living in a tent for a few months each year because I want to see as much new vegetation as I can.”

  “There’s certainly nothing uncivilized about the pay.”

  She rejected his comment with a quick wave of her hand. “Money doesn’t last. I like the idea that I have the opportunity to contribute something valuable to mankind – something that will endure long after the pay envelope is empty.”

  “That’s commendable of you,” Catherine said.

  “I guess I must sound pretty mercenary in comparison,” Josh mumbled.

  Marie smiled. “You’re just being honest and this is your first trip. Wait ‘till you get there. There’s a certain mystique about the place that might appeal to you.”

  “I’ll have to get back to you on that, but I’ll do my job no matter what.”

  “I’m sure you will. You have a reputation for being a first-rate geologist and from what I’ve read you’ve been around.” She drained her glass. “Thanks for the drink.”

  He didn’t miss her innuendo about his travels, and the look on Catherine’s face told him he wasn’t the only one. “Would you like another?” he offered trying to be polite.

  “Thanks, but I’d better not. I have some notes to go over and I need a clear head.” She swiveled her body off the stool in one graceful motion and looked at Catherine. “Don’t worry about Josh. I’ll be happy to keep an eye on him.”

  “Oh, I’ve little doubt of that, but I’m putting my money on the hired guns.”

  Marie raised her brows and shrugged before turning to Josh.

  “I’m looking forward to working with you, Josh. I have a feeling we’re going to make a very good team.”

  “Wouldn’t that depend on the game?”

  “Oh yes.” Her velvety laugh drifted over her shoulder, as she strolled away.

  Josh knew being around an attractive female like Marie would be a test for any man’s willpower. She literally sizzled with sensual energy and a guy would have to be dead below the waist not to admit to being tempted to dip into all that heat.

  He allowed himself a brief image of them rolling around naked and sweaty before turning back to Catherine. But there certainly wasn’t any heat coming from his little fireball now. She glared at him with enough ice to send chills prickling along his spine.

  “I can see why you didn’t want to cancel the trip now that I’ve met your teammate, or should I say playmate? I’m sure she’s quite good at mixing work and play.”

  “Well, it’s not going to be with me. I have no intention of messing around with her. She’s just a big flirt. I’m going on this trip because I want the field work and it pays a lot better than my desk job.” He hadn’t told her, but he also planned to put his generous salary toward building a nest egg if marriage ended up being in their future.

  She grabbed her purse off the bar. “I hope the money will be worth it. Take care of yourself, Josh. I’ve tried to warn you by telling you about my dream, but the irony here is I can’t protect you from yourself. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

  He couldn’t let her leave with this coldness hovering between them. He grabbed her before she could walk away and took her
mouth in a deep kiss.

  “You can count on it.”

  She looked as though she wanted to say something else, but shook her head and walked away. He watched until she was out of sight. It bugged him that she was so hung up on her dream. Having her talk about death was creepy, and he didn’t like the way she’d made jagged nerves saw at his gut. Just because he’d be leaving civilization behind and entering the unknown didn’t mean something bad was going to happen to him.

  Chapter Two

  Marie’s breasts brushed against Josh’s arm leaving searing points of hot pressure against his bare skin, as she reached in front of him for a notebook. His quick shot of adrenaline came from anger, rather than lust. He knew she enjoyed this little game of flirting and it usually amused him, but he wasn’t in a mood for her playfulness today.

  He snatched up the journal and shoved it at her. “Here, take the damn thing.”

  “Oh! Oh! Somebody got up on the wrong side of his tent this morning.”

  “That somebody is ready to get started working.” Exasperation nipped at him like tiny pinches. “Do you have a problem with that?”

  “Well, excuse me!” She turned her back and jammed the book in her backpack.

  “Wait, hold on a minute.” He touched her arm. “I’m sorry for snapping at you, Marie. I guess I’m feeling a little out of sorts today.”

  “That’s okay. I think I know what’s bothering you.” Her angry expression melted.

  He lifted a brow at her. “And that would be?”

  “You miss your lady friend, Catherine.”

  “I miss a lot of things, including a comfortable bed.”

  “Don’t we all? But seriously Josh, I really do think it’s nice for anyone to know that he or she has a special person to go home to when we’re finished here.”