night in his home, surrounded by her scent, by the memories they’d made in this house. They haunted him like a malevolent poltergeist, closing in on him until he could not breathe.
His chest tightened, each breath became a struggle. His muscles knotted under his shirt as tension settled in. He knew what he needed to do and could not deceive himself any longer. Happiness with Lyn would not happen. And if they couldn’t be together, he could not allow Lyn to remember him. He would have to erase the memories of him from her mind. His gut twisted at the thought.
This was it, once he erased himself from her mind, there would be no hope for them to ever be together. He would just be another stranger on the street. The pain in his chest grew, his breaths shortened.
Putting it off any longer would only prolong the agony of making the fateful decision. He would go to her tonight, slip into her apartment while she slept. Her mind would be open, easy to manipulate in her sleep. He could make their time together seem like a dream.
It certainly seemed like a dream to him. A beautiful dream that had somehow transformed into a horrible nightmare.
He forced his feet to move forward one slow step at a time. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, he reached for the knob of his front door. With a twist of his hand, he resigned himself to the fact his future had changed forever—for the worse.
Chapter Nine
The wind whipped Lyn’s hair, stinging her face as the boat sped across the river. Each bounce on the turbulent water brought her closer to Ky. Dampness from the gray, overcast sky hung heavy in the air, mixing with the spray from the river to coat her bronze skin. Some would think this a miserable night—rainy, humid. And had she not been headed toward the love of her life, she might agree. But in a few moments she would be in Ky’s arms, telling him she could accept him for who he was. And for that, she would endure any torment. At least it had stopped raining in time for her to make it to the island before sunrise.
“It’s just up ahead,” she yelled over her shoulder to her friend.
Bret Sinclair, her fellow co-worker and demon, turned toward her. “You know, Lyn. We’ve been friends for years. I love ya, and would do anything for you, but I still don’t know why you couldn’t just call.” Bret slowed the boat.
“I planned to.” She watched Ky’s island grow as they approached. “I had the phone in my hand, but I couldn’t say this over the phone. I need to tell him in person.”
“You are the only person I’d be out here in the middle of the night for.” Bret cut the engine, and eased the boat close to the shore. “I sure hope this ‘him’ is worth all this.”
Lyn gave him a large toothy grin. “He is,” she assured her friend, giving him a brief hug. “Thanks so much, Bret.”
“You sure you don’t want me to stick around?”
“No. I’ll be fine. I’m in good hands.”
Her belly flipped in anticipation of being in Ky’s strong arms. Excitement bubbled like champagne in her blood, and she could not wait to see Ky, hear his voice. When Bret handed her out of the boat, Lyn looked in the direction of Ky’s home. It beckoned her, for her future lay within its walls.
“Lyn.” The sound of her friend’s voice made her turn around. “Last chance. Are you sure you want me to go?”
She waved. “Bye, Bret. Be safe going back home. And thanks again.”
Bret started the engine with a tug and shook his head. “Good luck with Mr. Tall-dark-and-handsome, babe.”
****
The sound of a boat engine stilled Ky’s hand on the doorknob. Most people did not venture out on the water this early in the morning. He used his preternatural hearing to listen. The boat headed away from his island. How had he missed its arrival?
The corners of his mouth pulled down in a deep frown. He must have been so distracted by his thoughts of Lyn that he wasn’t paying attention—very dangerous. In his line of work distraction had a way of getting you killed. Yet another reason he should go to Lyn tonight and erase her memories. At least then he might finally be able to move on.
He opened the door, and stepped out into the porch to breath in the crisp air, savoring