Only Fools Walk Free - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,28
to leave this man’s presence, Claire felt like she was intruding on this private moment, so she turned and headed out of the cemetery. She decided that he’d have to leave through the front gate, so she’d just wait for him there. She had no choice. She had to wait for him — everything in her told her to wait for him.
No sooner had her foot hit the sidewalk outside the main entrance than she heard someone calling out. “Hey! Hey, hold up!”
Claire turned and was thrilled to see the man running after her. She paused to give him a chance to catch up.
“Hey, where’d you go?”
“I didn’t want to intrude.”
“You weren’t. I was just saying a quick thank you.”
He looked around at the cars parked along the street. “You meeting someone? You have a ride?”
Claire shook her head. “Nope. Just me. Was going to get some lunch somewhere and figure out my next move.”
“How about lunch with me? Share a burger with me?”
Claire looked at the man closely, staring right into his eyes, and she had no doubt who he was. She’d looked into those eyes every time it was misty out since she was a child, and she’d stared into them not even a week ago after he’d protected her in her own apartment. “Can I ask what you were thanking Maman for?”
He canted his head to the side. “You first.”
Claire smiled. “I was asking her to watch over someone, protect the soul of someone I loved very much.”
The man smiled at her. “I was thanking her for helping me find mine.”
Claire nodded, her eyes filling with unshed tears.
He reached out, touching her shoulder gently. “It’s alright. Don’t cry. I’m sure she’ll watch over your loved one, make sure he gets where he’s supposed to.”
Claire smiled as she tried to stop her tears. “I’m sure she already has.”
“No more tears then, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he said.
Claire shook her head. “You didn’t. I just wasn’t sure if I was headed in the right direction, but it seems I am.” She raised her hand and laid it on top of his where it rested on her shoulder.
The cameo on her finger caught his attention. His brow wrinkled, his eyes focusing on it while flashes of partial memories bombarded him.
“Are you alright?” Claire asked him.
With effort he dragged his eyes from the ring on her finger to her face. The same eyes he’d seen in those memories were staring back at him. “Yeah. Just kind of got a feeling of deja vu.” He shook his head. “That ever happen to you?”
“Lately — yes!” she answered smiling.
He grinned. “You just seem so familiar.”
“So do you,” she said.
He seemed to shake it off, and smiled again. “So, how about lunch?”
“I’d like that.”
“Yeah?” he asked, smiling.
“Yeah,” she answered.
Gently he turned her toward the direction of his favorite burger spot, Bud’s Broiler. “So, what’s your name?”
“I’m Claire,” she answered.
He smiled down at her where she walked beside him. “That’s always been my favorite name.”
He took her hand — the one wearing the cameo ring — in his and was pleased that she held his hand as snugly as he held hers.
When she smiled up at him, he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt, he’d found exactly what he’d been searching for all his life. His soul was finally at peace. His heart was full, and he was standing next to the person who made everything feel just right. He smiled at her again. “I’m happy to meet you, Claire. I’m Sam.”
From The Author
Thank you for purchasing this book. I hope that my stories make you smile and give you a small escape from the daily same ole/same ole. I write for me, simply for the joy of it, but if someone else also smiles as a result, even better. Your support is greatly appreciated. If you liked this story, please remember to leave a review wherever you bought it, so that more people can find my books. Each review is important, no matter how short or long it may be.
See you in the pages of the next one!
Sandra R Neeley
Other books by this author:
Avaleigh’s Boys series
I’m Not A Dragon’s Mate!, Book 1
Bane’s Heart, Book 2
Kaid’s Queen, Book 3
Maverik’s Ashes, Book 4
Bam’s Ever, Book 5
Vince’s Place, Book 6
Whispers From the Bayou series
Carnage, Book 1
Destroy, Book 2
Enthrall, Book 3
Lore, Book 4
Murder, Book 5
Haven series
Haven 1: Ascend
Haven 2: Redemption
Riley’s Pride series
Riley’s Pride, Book 1
Richie’s Promise, Book 2
Short Stories
CAT, A Science Fiction Romance Short
Stand Alone Novels
WINGS
Safe On Base, a Howls romance, coming in August 2020
About the Author
My name is Sandra R Neeley. I write Paranormal, SciFi and Fantasy Romances. Why, you may ask? Romance, because who doesn’t love a good romance, and the lack of reality in the story lines — because, well, normal is highly overrated, so Paranormal it is. I’m 56, I have two kids, one 34 and one 14 (yes, God does have a sense of humor), one grandchild, one husband, and a menagerie of animals. I love to cook, and I am a voracious reader, though since I started writing, I don’t get as much time to read as I once did. I am a homebody and prefer my writing/reading time to a crowd. I have had stories and fictional characters wandering around in my head for as long as I can remember. I’m a Self-Published Author, and I like it that way because I can decide what and when to write. I am by no means a formal, polished, properly structured individual and neither are my stories. But people seem to love the easy emotion and passion that naturally flow from them. A bit of a warning though, there are some “triggers” in them that certain people should avoid. I’m a firm believer that you cannot have light without the dark. You cannot fully embrace the joy and elation that my people eventually find if you do not bear witness to their darkest hours as well. So please read the warnings supplied with each of the synopses about my books before you buy them. I’ve got four series published at this time, Avaleigh’s Boys — PNR, Whispers From the Bayou — Fantasy PNR, Haven — SciFi Romance, and this one, Riley’s Pride — PNR, with several more series in process. I’m always glad to hear from my readers, so feel free to look me up and say hello.
You can find me at any of these places:
https://www.sneeleywrites.com/contact
https://www.sneeleywrites.com/blog
https://www.facebook.com/authorsandrarneeley/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/755782837922866/
https://www.amazon.com/Sandra-R-Neeley/e/B01M65OZ1J/
https://twitter.com/sneeleywrites
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15986167.Sandra_R_Neeley
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