Escape To Sunset - Sharon Hamilton Page 0,26

noticed Andy frowning, probably thinking the same thing.

“How long are you out here?” Damon asked Jason.

“Originally five or six days. But, if I asked for it, I could stay longer.”

“Shoot. Rumor has it we might have to go back before the weekend. But Martel’s staying, of course. If your friend doesn’t work out, I’m sure she can set you up with someone from her school.”

It wasn’t on Jason’s radar. He was distracted by thinking about how Damon knew the trip was going to be cut short.

The rhythm of their banter cascaded all over Jason and it wasn’t long before his edginess about being around Cory deflated. He was working on trying to extract Damon’s good intel when the ping on his cell phone diverted his attention.

He held his cell up and addressed the crowd. “Looks like she’s on her way. You’ll get to meet her shortly. I’m going to head down the beach to make sure she doesn’t get lost.”

Jason jogged barefoot on the warm sand until he saw her small frame coming towards him. When she spotted him, she ran straight into his arms. She hugged him, coming up on tiptoes. Her joyful smile made him happy too.

“You did it, right?” he asked her.

“I did. Waited just long enough to see that my editor got it. Friday, it goes out in the paper and the whole world will know.”

“Did you talk to him?”

“No. I’ll get the scoop when I call Carmen in a couple of days.”

“Good deal.”

She turned, pointing. “Look at that sky. You know, I never tire seeing it. I used to miss these colors.” Facing him, she continued. “Portland has all those big clouds, the sweeping vistas from the hills surrounding the river, but it rarely has something so absolutely thrilling as that sky.”

He wrapped his arms around her, spooning behind. He considered everything Kyle said to him on the phone and brushed it aside.

He decided they’d had enough drama today. It was time for him to show her off to his friends, and then he had plans to create magic all night long. He knew just what he needed to do to chase those fears away.

He heard the chanting again, and that rumble in his belly that told him something spectacular was about to happen.

Chapter 8

Kiley woke up in a panic. She’d been in a dream—caught in a box-like container at the bottom of the ocean, the force of the water pressing on her chest. She began beating against the walls of her confinement and tried to scream, but no air was coming out. She felt caught, bound by invisible ties that kept her from breaking free of the confined space.

She awoke, gasping for air. She was still fighting until she heard the soft, reassuring voice of Jason beside her, kissing her, speaking to her in hushed tones. She still felt like she had to get away. Her heart felt that he was trying to help her, but her brain would not loosen the grip of panic. Back and forth she went, torn between two powerful scenarios, until her fear took dominance.

She struggled but managed to scramble to her feet, where she looked down on his shocked expression. Her arms wrapped around her upper torso as if to protect her from the man she was sharing a bed with.

He was making his way quickly in her direction, untangling his legs from their sheets, but she warned him.

“Don’t! Please, just let me get my bearings.” The words didn’t even sound like her own. He crouched in front of her. Even that motion made her feel like he was a giant panther, ready to strike without warning.

“Kiley, it was a dream. You’re safe.”

She couldn’t speak.

“It’s a panic attack. Brought on by stress, all the things you worry about when you shut down. Happens to all of us in some circumstances. There is no danger here, Kiley.”

But she still didn’t want him to touch her, to come anywhere near her. She remembered to breathe. He was asking her to breathe, and then she saw him taking in slow, deep breaths and blowing them out, in tandem with her.

As the air refreshed her lungs, new oxygen cleared her brain. Her heartbeat slowed. Looking down on him, she was filled with regret, and began to cry.

His arms were wide. He urged her, “Come to me, Kiley. Let me hold you.”

She closed her eyes as black spots began to form in her eyes.

“No!” she shouted at the sickening feeling she was out