Shadow of My Heart - By Caryn Moya-Block Page 0,24

door yesterday, when Raven accused him of not knowing what it felt like to want a woman. Was Derek Katherine Sloane’s secret admirer? Joe would know. He’d ask him the next time he saw him.

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Cara hurried home from work Friday night. Raven said he would arrive Saturday to spend the weekend. She needed to clean the apartment and decide what to wear. Principal Davidson was still acting strange. Cara had a sneaking suspicion he was looking for a way to fire her. But at this moment, Cara didn’t care. She was off work for three whole months. If Raven actually asked her to marry him, like Ana had suggested he would, she might not want to return to Rancho Vista Elementary.

Still, she probably shouldn’t let Davidson get away with sullying her reputation. But she’d figure that out later. Right now, she wanted to get home to dust and vacuum, as well as change the sheets on the bed. She coughed as she got out of the car and walked to the entrance of her building. There was a tickle in her throat. A cup of tea with lemon and honey ought to fix it. She’d start warming the water as soon as she got in the door.

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Raven put the last of his clothes into a suitcase and pulled out the black-velvet box from his pocket. He opened it to remove the simple one-carat solitaire diamond ring within. Would Cara like it? Would it fit her finger? She was out of school now. So nothing stood in the way of his asking her to marry him and move to New Mexico. They could keep her condo in Redondo Beach and spend vacations there. That way, if she missed the ocean, she could go back and enjoy it.

He had started planning the wedding. He even had a power-point presentation to show Cara what he had in mind. But first he needed to get her to say yes. Not that he was nervous or anything. Putting the ring into his pocket, he patted it. He had everything under control. His clothes would go by plane to California. The limo company would pick up his suitcase and bring it over to Cara’s condo. Raven would Shadow Walk to California. He had picked out a dark-grey silk suit and a red shirt and tie. He would carry the ring on his person, but the box would have to go into the suitcase, so it didn’t disintegrate in Shadow.

Zipping up the suitcase, he put it by the door. Mrs. Sloane had already arranged for a courier to come pick it up. Reservations had been made for dinner at one of the trendy restaurants on the Redondo pier. Raven could see it all clearly. Cara looking lovely in an evening dress. Raven in his suit. The flowers, the dinner, and then popping the question. It would be perfect.

Time passed quickly, and Raven was dressed and ready. Finding a shadow in the corner, he Shadow-walked into the hallway outside Cara’s door. Derek waved at him from down the hall, then gave a thumbs-up sign.

This was it. Raven brushed his hands down his jacket, feeling the ring still in his pocket. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door.

He heard shuffling and a groan coming from inside. Cara opened the door, wearing short pink pajamas and holding a wad of tissues.

“Oh, Raven,” she said and burst into tears.

Taking quick stock of the situation, Raven scooped Cara up in his arms. She was burning with fever. He gave Derek orders telepathically, while holding Cara as she cried. He rubbed her back and murmured to her. Then, he carried her into the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. Derek would be delivering Sudafed, orange juice, Sprite, Tylenol, and egg- drop soup in about an hour.

“Hush, now sweet,” he told her as he wiped her tears. “Here, let me get you tucked in. We’ll talk after I’ve got you settled.”

“Oh, Raven” she sniffled. “I wanted everything to be perfect. But I feel so awful. I’m so glad you’re here. Please don’t hate me,” she said as she started to tear up again.

“Come now, love, you’re being silly,” he said as he fluffed up the pillows. “Now wait right here while I get some hot water going for tea.”

Raven sighed as he went into the kitchen to do just that. Her kitchen wasn’t very big, and it did not take long to find and start the teakettle. He removed his