Description:
How far would you go to redeem yourself?
As a young girl, Lucinda was able to see spirits, a gift that didn’t come without its problems. Now, a dedicated young veterinarian, she is committed to the idea that every life can be saved.
After a devastating accident, Lucinda tries to escape her past by moving to a small town. There, she meets a newcomer and feels an immediate connection with him. But there is another mysterious stranger to the small town, one that stirs within her a mixture of unease and desire.
As Lucinda is drawn into a bitter tug-a-war from the forces around her, she is likewise pulled into a dangerous twist of past and present events. Forced to make difficult choices, she finds that the two men are locked in not only a battle for her life…but a battle for their salvation.
As a young girl, Lucinda was able to see spirits, a gift that didn’t come without its problems. Now, a dedicated young veterinarian, she is committed to the idea that every life can be saved.
After a devastating accident, Lucinda tries to escape her past by moving to a small town. There, she meets a newcomer and feels an immediate connection with him. But there is another mysterious stranger to the small town, one that stirs within her a mixture of unease and desire.
As Lucinda is drawn into a bitter tug-a-war from the forces around her, she is likewise pulled into a dangerous twist of past and present events. Forced to make difficult choices, she finds that the two men are locked in not only a battle for her life…but a battle for their salvation.
EXCERPT:
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The
soporific sound of drumming rain soon lulled Lucinda to sleep and her book
slipped to the floor. The flames in the fireplace burned down low. Muted light
played across the living room window, mixing with the rivulets of rain from
outside. There was a faint knock at the door. Startled awake, Lucinda checked
the small clock that hung on the wall. One forty-nine in the morning. Who
could be stopping by so late? she wondered. Marny? No, she would have
called first. Maybe an emergency with somebody’s pet.
“Just a
minute.” Re-wrapping the blanket around herself, she went to open the door. As
soon as she twisted the doorknob, the unlocked door flew open, blasting her
with a gust of icy wind and rain. Lucinda let out a cry of surprise as she was
temporarily blinded.
A man stood
on her porch. As he stepped closer, he went from a gray, watery outline to a solid
entity. His black sweater dripped with rain and lay like a second skin on his
powerful-looking torso. Dark black jeans were plastered onto his equally
muscular legs.
“Come in!
It’s freezing out there!” Lucinda moved aside as the man stepped over her
threshold.
“I apologize
for knocking so late.” His voice was even and low. “I saw the light coming from
within.” He bowed his head, running a hand through his short, dark hair. His
eyes flickered up to meet hers.
Lucinda
blinked, startled by their flash of shocking, ice-gray.
Darwin
growled at him, hackles raised.
“Darwin!”
Lucinda scolded. “Did you break down somewhere?”
The stranger
paused before answering. “Yes. I broke down.”
“I’m so
sorry! Do you need to use the phone? The only tow truck company I know of
around here is probably closed for the night.”
He stood
dripping in her front room, the water pooling darkly around his feet onto the
hardwood floor.
“Let me get
you a towel. You must be freezing.” She patted Darwin firmly on the head. “Darwin,
stay put.” The dog sat, eying the stranger fixedly. Lucinda ran into the
bathroom and grabbed the only towel she had, which had been tossed over the
shower door. She hoped he wouldn’t notice it was slightly damp.
“Thank you.”
He took the towel from her.
A shock
leapt through their fingers as they touched. Lucinda pulled her hand back. The
dying fire flickered off the hard planes of his jaw. She watched as he ran the
rough, blue towel through his hair, light eyes never breaking contact with hers.
She felt a chill steal through her. “I’ll add some wood to the fire,” she
murmured, embarrassed for staring. She turned away to hide a blush stealing
over her cheeks. “The phone is in the kitchen if you want to leave the tow
truck a message.” The man walked behind her, and Lucinda turned with a start.
“My
apologies.”
Her initial
alarm dissipated as quickly as it came. She shook her head to clear it. “I’ll
get you the phone. You don’t even know where my kitchen is.” Ducking around
him, she pulled her blanket tighter. Red-faced, Lucinda returned and handed it
to him. He ran a hand through his wet hair again, brushing it away from his
forehead. She found herself staring at him. His face was attractive, but there
was a darkness about it that made her feel slightly uncomfortable. Not a
darkness of color — his skin was quite light — but from within. It made her
heart beat faster. His eyes, however, burned a bright, clear gray.
“Thank you.”
He ran his thumb over the mouthpiece of the receiver.
“Where are
you from, Mister — ?”
“Dead.”
“Excuse me?”
“The phone.”
He handed it to her. “It is dead.”
Lucinda took
the phone from him and listened to its silence. “The storm must have knocked
out the lines. Damn it. I left my cell phone at work. I don’t have a car, or I
would offer to drive you to wherever you’re staying. Are you just passing
through?”
He raised a
dark, arched eyebrow. “Now that is something you do not hear of these days,” he
said in his low, even tone.
“What’s
that?”
“Not having
a car.”
“I know. I
used to have a car, but the town is so small, I, um, decided to sell it when I
moved here. My bicycle works fine.” His sudden smile was wide and slightly
disarming. It left her feeling jumpy. Lucinda cleared her throat, gathering her
thoughts and holding her hand out formally. “I’m Lucinda Bell. I’m the town
veterinarian.”
“Cronan.” He
slid her hand into hers.
The name
stirred something within her. Something between fear and a feeling she couldn’t
place. His icy grip was overly firm, and she fought the sudden urge to run. She
drew her hand back and pulled the blanket around her again. “You’re freezing.
Do you want a cup of tea?”
“I do not
require anything to drink.”
“Okay.”
Lucinda shifted her weight nervously. “Well, that’s three new people I’ve met
recently. That never happens in this town.” Something indecipherable flickered
across Cronan’s face. “Where are you staying?” Lucinda asked.
“I have yet
to take up residence.” Eyes still appraising her, he ran the towel down his
neck, catching water droplets in its thirsty folds. Lucinda’s gaze followed the
towel. “Oh. Well, the closest place to stay is at the motel down the main
highway.”
Cronan
cocked his head slightly. A shudder of wind and torrential rain slammed against
the windows.
“But, of
course,” Lucinda continued, “you can’t possibly walk there in this weather.
It’s about ten miles away, and it’s kind of late.”
“It is
late.” His gray eyes studied her thoughtfully. “And I would not want to get
into an accident.”
Her heart
skipped a beat. “No, of course not. You can stay here tonight, Mr. Cronan. I
don’t have anything for you to change into. I have a clothes dryer but…well,
um, you can borrow a blanket while your clothes are in the dryer, if you want.”
Lucinda felt herself blush and mentally kicked herself for it. Shut up! Shut
up!
“I have not
the need to change into anything presently.” He caught Darwin’s fierce glare
and chuckled. “And please, call me Cronan.” His light eyes locked with hers
again.
“Cronan,”
she repeated. “That’s an unusual name.”
“It is a
family name.”
“Oh.” Her
heart hammered in her chest. Maybe this is a bad idea. The thought was
pulled away like the tide, and her panic subsided as quickly as it came. The
clock ticked loudly, marking their silence. “Well, you can sleep in here. The
fire should keep this room warm. I would offer one of the other bedrooms but
there’s no furniture in them.”
“Thank you,
this will be quite comfortable, Lucinda.” Her name rolled off his tongue in an
intimate way that made her face grow warm.
“You’re
welcome.” Studying his face, she felt like she had missed something. “Let me
get you a blanket.” Dashing into her bedroom, she realized too late that she
was wrapped up in her only blanket. She fingered its worn saffron threads. His
clothes are wet. And he’s probably colder than he’s letting on. Grabbing
the sheet from her bed, she neatly folded the tartan blanket and wrapped
herself in the sheet.
“Here.” She
came back out and set the blanket down in the chair. Cronan glanced at it, his
expression unreadable. “I have others,” she lied, “but this is my warmest one.
Come on, Darwin.” She turned and walked toward her bedroom door, aware of his
eyes boring into her back. She shut the door, and for the first time since
moving in, she locked it.
Cronan stood
alone in the middle of the room and gazed into the fire. Walking over to it, he
pressed the damp towel against his face, inhaling deeply. A smile spread across
his lips. He turned and his gaze fell upon the tartan blanket. Just as quickly,
his smile faded like a memory.
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Clarissa Johal has worked as a veterinary assistant, zoo-keeper aide and vegetarian chef. Writing has always been her passion. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing or taking photographs of gargoyles. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters and every stray animal that darkens the doorstep. One day, she expects that a wayward troll will wander into her yard, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Author's Giveaway
About the author:
Clarissa Johal has worked as a veterinary assistant, zoo-keeper aide and vegetarian chef. Writing has always been her passion. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing or taking photographs of gargoyles. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters and every stray animal that darkens the doorstep. One day, she expects that a wayward troll will wander into her yard, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Author's Giveaway
3 comments:
Cred că îmi aminteşte niţel de Finding Alice când vine vorba de schimbat oraşe şi întâlniri cu străinii :P
I really want to read this book! Thank you, Mrs Clarissa Johal!
I can't imagine how it would feel to see spirit. #eire
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