"Wraith of Love" graphic novel launches

What started out as a simple blog, then turned into a feature film screenplay, has now become a graphic novel. wraithoflove.com A weekly online graphic novel, I plan to launch a new page every week. So tune in, check it out and follow along. Let me know what you think.

Chapter Six - Revealations - Cont'd

James tasted the blood on her lip and it only made her smile. She didn’t have time to wonder when that twisted part of her personality had emerged but there it was. The taste of blood that belonged to a man who had tasted enough blood on his own tasted sweeter than anything she had ever consumed. She almost didn’t notice that she was close to crossing a line that she had never even recognized. What stopped her was the hollow, echoing sound his breath had become.

James pulled herself off of the bloody pulp that had once been a wife-beater. She had caught him literally in the act of wife-beating. The shape he was in now would prevent him from that particular pastime for a long while. She felt no remorse as she stood back from her work and held her now red-stained hand out to the cowering recipient of the aforementioned wife-beating.

“He won’t hurt you again.”

The woman’s eyes were filled with fear and, for the first time, James realized that the fear was in regards to her. Startled, James immediately felt the adrenaline drain from her body. Physically, she felt herself shrink back to a human size.

“I won’t hurt you either. I want to help you.”

The woman hesitated, taking a tentative step towards the mess James had made. Her tear-filled eyes hovered over the man who had beaten the shit out of her on a regular basis for the past 16 years and James saw the love and the fear combined that had kept this woman prisoner for so long. James saw how hard it was for this woman to walk away from this man, no mater what pain he had inflicted on her. For a moment, Guy flashed through her mind but James pushed that thought away.

“C’mon. I know a place where you get some help.” It took all of James’ strength to pull the woman away and get her moving towards her new life.

***************************

James felt a little like Lady McBeth as she Lava soaped her hands in her bathroom, flooding her sink with red. I bet Superman never had this problem. Of course, Superman rarely beat guys to a pulp. One punch always seemed to do it for Superman, James through bitterly. Fucking man o’ steel.

Drying her hands, James flopped in front of her computer, clicking it to life. Instead of opening the internet browser as she had meant to do, James ended up opening the modern day equivalent of a photo album – a series of digital photos saved on her hard drive. Various folders of events in her life were all lined up – summer party, Gary’s Bar, Christmas, Las Vegas. She clicked through image after image, many of them showing the quartet of friends – Maggie, Serena, James and Guy. But just as many were just of James and Guy, looking like a couple, for all intents and purposes. Her leaning into him, his arm around her, goofy faces, silly moments, smiling and laughing. One after another, they all said one thing to James – not a frame of my life without him in it.

He had somehow sneaked up on her and she had fallen in love with him. But her life wasn’t ready for it. She had known for some time but now it was to the point where she couldn’t deny it. So quickly things had changed. But what could she do?

James heard her phone singing from the kitchen. Grabbing it after its last bleat, James opened it to find a text message from Maggie – The Pantry – 8 AM – got something for u.

James glanced at the clock. 7:30. She’d have to hustle but she’d make it.

****************************
“So give this all to me in English.” James shuffled through the piles of paper that Maggie had heaped upon her.

“Okay, it’s like this. A very archaic fable that was lost centuries ago except for a very few mountain shamans left in the hills of China. Two powerful shamans from the same tribe. Both female. One considered almost a goddess of the lovelorn. You could go to her for a potion to make someone fall in love with you or to help you find out if your lover was cheating or to keep the lover who wanted to stray. That kinda thing. The other was a woman who could help you with dealing with the one who strayed or cheated – and in the most painful way possible. Goddess of vengeance, in a sense. She could help you revenge your pain.”

“Then what happened?”

“Well, some stories say that the love shaman banished the vengeance shaman for crossing a line and changing the tribe from something peaceful to something dark and wicked. Some say they both fell in love with the same man and have fought over him for centuries. Some say that they fell in love with each other but ended up destroying each other with their passion.”

“Wow, forbidden love, shaman-style.”

“What does carry from story to story is that they have carried their hatred for one another through their various incarnations and have never been able to make peace. There is always something between them that they both want and that something always ends up destroyed, whether it’s a man, a tribe or a nation. Powerful shamans, powerful anger. Not a good combination.”

James frowned into her coffee. Not the kind of story she liked to hear, because she knew what was in the middle this time. “Bottom line, what ends it?”

Maggie shrugged. “No one knows because it’s never ended. Neither one will step out of the way of the other or give the other the victory. The battle wages on, apparently even today, even with you. We just have to identify who your vengeance girl is.”

James kept her mouth shut, as she already knew the answer to that.

****************************

Guy sat with his arm draped casually across the back of Kelly’s chair at Gary’s Bar, stopping James cold in her tracks. Here it comes, she thought, death, destruction, mayhem. But it was only karaoke night and the most frightening thing was the guy trying to sing Nine Inch Nails.

Guy started to get up as James approached but Kelly chose that moment to lean into him and whisper something in his ear. Being the polite man he was raised to be, Guy sat down and listened to Kelly as James joined them. He smiled up at James but his attention was definitely on the lithe girl seated next to him.

James flopped into the booth alone, as Maggie and Serena had not yet arrived. Kelly flashed a cold smile at her adversary but quickly turned her charms back to her target. James knew without a doubt that this skinny little bitch was something more than just some girl. Their histories were intertwined. Their histories put everything in jeopardy. She had to tread carefully, try to stay one step ahead. Or one of them was not going to survive this.

“Hey, you.” Guy kissed James sweetly on the cheek, provoking the strongest visions James had ever had, a culmination of everything she had ever seen in her visions of him – them curled up together, his hand stroking Maggie’s bare back, blood, violence, comfort, fear, anger, passion. It ended with him walking away from her, leaving her empty and destroyed.

James leapt to her feet, trying to ignore the look of delight on Kelly’s face. She knew in that instance that the visions she had could be fraudulent, manipulated by this creature who looked so innocuous to others. James knew she had to make a choice right then and there. Walk away from Guy to spare him all the pain that could be real, leave him to whatever Kelly was going to do to him, let him suffer the way most men suffer when they fall for a girl like Kelly. Otherwise, he was going to suffer in ways that only the few men who had gotten between these two powerful shamans had suffered.

“I gotta go.” James pulled away from Guy and strode to the door. She made it outside before the tears and Guy caught up with her. He grabbed her arm, stopping her.

“James? What’s going on?”

James turned and looked up into his eyes, the eyes that she loved so much, and she couldn’t help herself.

“I’m in love with you and it’s killing me and I have to go and leave you for a while so I can deal with… all of this.” She kissed him gently on the cheek and managed a step before he caught her again.

“But…”

“Unless you’re going to sweep me up in your arms and kiss me and tell me you’re in love with me like some cheesy romantic comedy, just let me go. Please.”

And he did.

Much to her chagrin.


*******************************

James found herself at the all night coffee shop where it all began. Her notebook and pen sat uselessly in front of her, an excuse to occupy the space. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Guy and how she was going to manage to live without him in her life. She felt like such a Harlequin romance gone wrong but, oh, well, that’s life… life after death, the phrase echoed in her head.

Her chai latte had gone cold a long time ago but she just didn’t have the energy to get a refill.

Just as she had that thought, a new steaming cup of chai appeared in front of her. Startled, James looked up and into the face of her first “save”, the unnamed coffee counterperson. The woman smiled down at James, her face looking radiant and peaceful.

“Just wanted to say thanks.”

James didn’t know what to say.

“I can’t thank you enough… what you did…”

James took the cup and inhaled its spicy steam, gathering her thoughts. “Glad you’re okay.”

“Oh, I’m better than okay. I’ve never been better in my life.”

The girl pulled up a chair and sat next to James. “I didn’t know things could be so different, so… I don’t know… just so much better. And I have you to thank for that.”

“You’re welcome…”

“Sara. My name is Sara. Maggie told me yours… James. Kind of a funny name but it suits you, somehow. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks.”

Sara stood up and put her hand on James’ shoulder and all the thoughts about Guy were pushed out as James saw Sara and the man who had beat the shit out of her in almost the same tableau, only this time without the scantily clad slut beside them. It was definitely not in the present but James couldn’t get a handle on how far in the future it was.

“You went back to him.”

Sara hesitated, the fear and pain creeping back into her eyes for a moment before she was able to push it away.

“Well, he’s in anger management and we’re both in counseling. He’s different now, so much different. He’s kind and gentle and hasn’t even raised his voice to me…”

James fought to keep her own anger in check. “Why would you…” She couldn’t finish the sentence.

Sara struggled for an answer. “Well, you know, we have a history. We’ve been together for so long. And he’s getting help. Besides, the counselor thinks it’s great that we’re trying to work it out. She’s been such a great help. So supportive, so smart.”

In an instant, James knew the answer before she asked the question. “What’s her name?”

“Kelly.”

************************

Chapter Six - Revelations

James woke hard, her breath stopped, pain so fierce in her solar plexus that her hand found its way there instinctively. It was an eternity before she took a breath in. But it did nothing for the pain. She drew her hand away, half-expecting to see it painted in blood. But there was nothing.

This was not like the other visions. There was nothing clear but the sense of something being ripped out of her heart, something intangible yet immensely real. And the name on her breathless lips – Guy.

She reached blindly out in the moonless night and her trembling fingers found her cell phone. She flipped it open, pressing the first speed dial number and Guy’s photo popped up on the ID screen. Her thumb hovered over the send key, uncertain. The rending in her chest involved her good friend, of that she was certain. But certain enough to call him in the dead of night over… what?

She closed the phone and got up, her bare feet leaving warm imprints on the suddenly icy floor. She didn’t notice.

Her hand went back to her heart, this time wrapping around the medallion. This, she noticed, was freezing cold to her touch.

James lit a small fire in the fireplace, curling up in her favorite chair, contemplating the flames while her mind worked on the Rubick’s cube that was her mind.

She felt an overwhelming sense of loss when she thought about Guy, yet she was certain that he was all right. Still, her heart ached to its core, beyond a physical sense of hurt. something deep and powerful had been taken from her and it would be some time before she could name it.

As James stared into the embers, there were two things she did not know.

First, across town, at the exact moment that she woke, Guy shared the identical experience, down to the breaking of his heart. James was the name on his lips nd he, too, failed to complete a call to his dear friend, opting to keep the pain to himself.

Second, Kelly Matheny shared that exact moment, relishing what was being set in motion.

Chapter 5 - Changes - cont'd

Trouble found James in the form of a large man of indeterminate race who disagreed with James' assessment of his treatment of his wife.

His first mistake was laughing at James when she informed him that he should cease and desist beating on his spouse. He stopped laughing when two of his teeth landed on the ground.

His second mistake was underestimating the power of the Wraith. He quickly reassessed this when she broke his arm in two places.

By the time he watched the Wraith walk away from him from his vantage point on the ground, his blood already soaked into the leather of her coat, he understood the meaning of fear -- and pain.

Chapter 5 - Changes - cont'd

Sleep did not come for James that night, despite how hard she beckoned it. Instead, she paced. And she didn’t like pacing because it was just walking in circles.

She couldn’t get the voices in her head to stop. How could she have let herself get reduced to such ridiculous levels as she did tonight? Jealous of Kelly? That little, skinny bimbo who could bat her eyelashes and looked great in that unnaturally short skirt? But it seemed to be so much more than that. If she were a Star Wars geek, she would have had the thought that there was a disturbance in the force. Instead, she tried to chalk it up to just female competition.

And to further get under her skin, she was extremely disturbed to find how jealous she was of Kelly flirting with Guy. Of all things, jealous of Guy. After all, they were just friends. They had had that talk years ago, when she thought that they were more than just friends. But he made it clear that he just thought of her as a friend. James thought she had dealt with that and put those other feelings away. But lately, those feelings kept fighting to get out and tonight just made her want to jump Kelly, drag her to the ground and beat in her face with her cowboy boot. Kind of violent but it would have felt so good.

Finally tired of pacing in circles around the living room, James grabbed her long leather coat and hat and headed out into the edges of the night to see what trouble she could get into.

Chapter 5 - Changes

Blackness. Dark. Screaming. Nothing she can do. Sea green eyes. Terror. Blood. She can’t reach. He’s there. He’s gone. She wakes. It’s still there.

*********************

“There she is.”

Guy’s face lit up as James strolled into the bar. He reached out his arm for her and she stepped easily into his embrace, realizing for the first time that she fit perfectly under his arm. That thought helped shake off the visions from the night before. She gazed up into his sea green eyes, delighted to see the joy there at seeing her. Things seemed to be different between them after the other night, even though she knew nothing happened. But maybe – just maybe – things would be different. She’d wait to see.

James slid into the booth as Guy went off to get drinks. Serena and Maggie slid in on one side of her, chattering like magpies about something. James wasn’t really paying attention. She didn’t feel like being entertaining tonight but her friends had insisted that she come, otherwise they had threatened physical removal from her house. Guy brought back a variety of weirdly colored martinis for them and, of course, her usual.

“To James,” Guy said, raising his glass. “For venturing out into the deepest darkest crevices of the world – Gary’s Bar.”

They all laughed and toasted. Then the jukebox began to play some cheesy song from the ‘80s and suddenly the booth turned into jukebox karaoke.

James just sat back, watching her friends sing and laugh. Things had been so complicated for her lately, trying to figure out what the hell was going on with her newly discovered “powers,” for lack of a better word, the weirdness of her Wraithness and the dreams and visions. It was such a pleasure to just be for a moment, enjoying her friends’ laughter and the quiet peace that seemed to hover around the edges. She just sipped her Jamesons for the first time in a long time, savoring the smoky flavor and enjoying the way it burned slightly with the first sip.

Maggie jumped to her feet as her phone rang. She flipped it open and checked the text message contained therein.

“Cool,” was the only thing she said as she scurried out of the bar. The trio left behind exchanged looks then went about their frivolity.

Suddenly, just as quickly as the peace settled in around James, it was shattered. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and gooseflesh crawled up her arms. Something was terribly wrong and it was terribly near.

“Hey, everybody, this is Kelly,” Maggie announced, stepping aside to reveal her charge.

Kelly Matheny seemed harmless enough. Tall, lanky, trendy streaked, rock star cut hair. Just enough flaws to make her face almost perfect. Her just-short-enough skirt revealed athletic legs and very hip ankle boots. She smiled at them all, waving like a little girl would upon meeting her parents’ friends.

James found herself on her feet beside the table, all of her antennae on edge. Kelly reached a perfectly manicured hand out to James, which she took, and, for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. The two women locked eyes and hands, neither one acquiescing to the other. James’ blood ran cold and every nerve in her body hummed. She noticed a small tattoo of an ancient-looking rune on the inside of Kelly’s right wrist.

“Okay,” Maggie interrupted, unaware of the unspoken confrontation taking place in front of her, “you’ve met James. This is Serena.”

Kelly reluctantly released her grip and threw a wave at Serena across the table.

“And this is Guy.”

Kelly’s gaze locked into Guy like radar on a battleship. She leaned across the table, revealing just enough girly goodies to catch his eye, as she extended her hand.

“Pleasure,” Kelly purred.

James had a very brief flash of kicking Kelly’s head in with her red cowboy boots then pushed that aside. Although she wanted it back when she saw the look in Guy’s eyes. He was entranced. James’ heart sank into her boots.

Maggie gestured Kelly into the booth.

“C’mon, sit. Kelly’s new to my office so I thought I’d invite her to join us tonight.”

“Maggie was kind enough to include me so I hope you don’t mind.” Kelly smiled around the table, although for James, that smile never actually reached Kelly’s eyes.

“What’re you drinking?” Guy asked, leaping to his feet and ready to do her bidding. James felt nauseous.

“Surprise me.”

Guy smiled like he’d just been given permission to unlock Pandora’s box and scampered off to the bar. That’s just not attractive on him, James thought. He’s better than that.

But James could see that Kelly had that kind of impact. Most of the men in the area were straining to get a glimpse of her at the table, trying to see if they were worthy of her. Kelly drank in the attention, managing to catch each man’s eye without making the one she left feel like he was rejected.

James watched in sick fascination as this transpired in front of her. For a moment, she thought, I would give anything to have that impact on a man. Then that thought was quickly chased out by the fact that James knew that kind of impact was fleeting and when one is not 25 anymore, it’s a bit pathetic. But Kelly was right on the edge of 25 and could still pull it off, as was proven when Guy hurried back, a red concoction in his hand.

“Gary’s specialty.” He presented it to her like a precious artifact as he slid into the booth, which was miraculously empty right next to Kelly.

“What’s in it?”

“House secret. I’d tell you but then I’d have to kill you.”

Kelly laughed like he was Robin Williams on crack. James finished her Jamesons in one gulp.

What had started out as a pleasant evening of escape for James slowly turned into an evening of unbearable torture. Guy only had eyes for Kelly, pretty much ignoring everyone else. The other girls didn’t seem to notice, seeming to be as taken with Kelly as Guy was. That left James to brood – which was not ever a good idea. She added two Jamesons to the first one – drinks she had to procure herself, which was unusual – and that only made her mood darker.

Finally, Kelly skittered off to powder something, leaving the table suddenly quiet. The trio of her companions seemed to be waiting breathlessly for Kelly’s return. Disgusted, James finally stood up and grabbed her purse. This seemed to break the spell for Guy, at least.

“Where’re you going?”

“Home.”

“But it’s early yet.”

“Yes, but…”

“But what?”

James looked down into his expressive eyes, which were finally back to normal and not dilated with the wonder that is Kelly. She could fall into those eyes if she wasn’t careful. How could she tell him why she was leaving? It wasn’t his fault that he was drawn into the careful woven spell of this woman. If she left now, who knew what would transpire in her absence?

Convincing herself that she was staying to save Guy from some late night humiliation and not because she was viciously jealous, James managed a facsimile of a smile.

“But nothing. Guess I could stay a while longer.” She slid back in where Kelly had been, not entirely unintentionally.

Kelly returned to the booth and stopped when she saw James’ seat. James ignored her, instead focusing on Guy entirely.

“So, how’s the renovation going on your kitchen?”

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully as Kelly was held at bay by Maggie and Serena, who questioned her thoroughly about her life before she arrived in town – came from a small town, poor parents, wanted to make something better for herself. To James, her answers sounded pat and rehearsed but the others didn’t seem to notice.

Finally, Guy yawned and stretched, catching sight of his watch.

“Way past my bedtime,” he said. The others nodded and there was a flurry of purse finding and seat shuffling as they all moved out of the booth. Guy held out his hand to help James out of the booth and as his hand touched hers, James felt the electricity that had been there at the beginning of the evening. He casually dropped his arm around her shoulders as they all headed to the door.

“I’m glad you came out with us tonight,” he whispered to her.

“Me, too,” James snuggled an inch closer, enjoying the contact.

Suddenly, his arm was no longer around her shoulders and Kelly was standing on tiptoe, leaning into Guy, whispering something in his ear, one hand placed lightly on the arm that had been around James. She ran her other hand down his chest as she settled back on her heels, smiling a thin, self-congratulatory smile to herself – or so it seemed to James. Guy watched Kelly as she joined Maggie and Serena to say good night.

“What’d she say?” James asked Guy. Her voice brought him out of his trance slightly.

“What?”

“What did she say to you?”

Guy’s eyes lingered a moment longer on Kelly then he slowly dragged them over to James.

“Um, just… um, nothing really, just…” He avoided his friend’s gaze as he dug in his pocket for his keys. He raised his eyes just in time to catch Kelly walking out the door. She turned at the last minute and blew him a kiss. He smiled sheepishly but accepted it.

As the door were almost closed behind her, Kelly turned at the last second, shooting a focused, challenging look at James, as if to say, he’s mine. The doors closed before James could respond.

Maggie came up to James’ side.

“She’s pretty cool, huh?”

James found she couldn’t speak. If she opened her mouth, she was afraid of what was going to come out.

“See you guys later,” was all James could manage before striding through the doors herself.

In the parking lot, she looked around, almost hoping to catch Kelly getting into her car. But all she saw was a pair of taillights disappearing around a corner.

“James?” Guy came out behind her. “You want me to walk you to your car?”

James looked up at him, wanting to say so many things to him all of a sudden, as if it was her last chance to say them. She reached out and put her hand on his arm, triggering him to step closer to her. They stood for a moment, pretending to be just friends, when all the time in the world could not pry them apart. Then James just shook her head, kissed him gently on the cheek and walked to her car. She didn’t turn back to see him watching her go, didn’t see the confusion and the thought that died on his lips as she shut her door and drove away. She didn’t see him stand there a moment longer, lost in indecision.

Chapter Four - Dealings - cont'd

Does Superman ever get horny?

Stupid thought, James chided herself. Of course he does. He has Lois Lane hanging all over him all the time but she won’t put out so that’s why he can burn things with lasers in his eyes. All that hormonal energy has to go somewhere.

This is not good, she thought as she tried to pick something to wear for a late dinner with Guy. She had started to slowly rebuild her emaciated wardrobe but hadn’t gotten past the jeans and shirts stage. And with all the hot blood pumping through her body, she suddenly missed her girly closet.

She ended up with a black stretchy cami under a white man’s shirt and vintage light blue jeans. Boots, of course. She carefully did her make-up, taking more time than she usually did, aiming for sultry and just about making it.

This is stupid, she thought. He’s your friend. He’s not your lover. He’s not your husband.

Yes, the evil little voice in her head popped in, but that doesn’t mean…

“Go away!” she yelled to the air.

That doesn’t mean you can’t fuck him, the rest of the voices in her head finished the thought.

James strode the living room, feeling like a trapped animal. She still had some time to kill until she was going to meet Guy. She looked at the clock on the mantel, which seemed to be standing still. Frustrated, she opened the front door, meaning to get some air.

Cool air wafted in, causing James to shiver. Instinctively, she reached out and her hands found Guy’s jacket. The leather felt so soft, so warm. She saw no harm in it so she shrugged the jacket on and went outside.

The long walk down the winding drive seemed to help her dispense with some of the demons in her head but not so much with the thrumming of her loins. God, I finally understand the phrase “burning loins” from those stupid romance novels, she thought as she pulled the leather tighter around her. For some reason, having Guy’s jacket wrapped around her shoulders gave her comfort. He wasn’t one to wear cologne or aftershave, yet the leather seemed to retain his scent.

She wrenched open the gate, stepping out on to the street.

Guy was there. She turned, expecting to see him standing right behind her. No one was there. Confused, James searched up and down the street. No sign of her friend but she knew – she knew without a doubt – that he was there. She looked for his car, thinking maybe he had stopped by early to pick her up for dinner instead of meeting her. No car, no Guy.

She wandered a few steps up the street, almost ready to call out to Guy but unsure whether or not she should. After all, if he were there, wouldn’t he say something? Wouldn’t he come up to her?

A bit unnerved, James headed back through the gate. As she eased the wrought iron closed, she checked the street again. The cul de sac was quiet and nothing seemed out of place. James faded into the darkness, making her way back up the drive.

Moments passed before one of the shadows shifted slightly. Green eyes watched her figure wend its way up the hill before turning away and blending into the night.

*******************

He’s late, James thought. Guy’s jacket hung on the back of the seat across from her, the faint scent of him mixing with her perfume.

Just then, Guy strolled in, smiling at her, his green eyes flashing with delight. She stood and was welcomed into his open arms.

“Brought your jacket,” James said as she sat down. Something slight shifted in his eyes and he locked with hers.

“You’ve been wearing it, haven’t you?” He smiled an enigmatic smile. James wasn’t sure what to make of this look.

“No, why would I wear it?” She didn’t like lying to him but the sense of his presence and this unprovoked question made her nervous. Was he really there earlier? Why wouldn’t he say something? She forced a smile to her lips. “But I do have a thing for leather, ya know.” She picked up her whiskey and took a big slug of it.

But Guy didn’t sit across from her. He pulled out the chair beside her and sat, reaching over her for a menu. She held her breath, afraid she was going to drag him under the table and have her way with him.

“You okay?”

James just nodded, not trusting her voice.

“I was thinking something different tonight. The oysters here are supposed to be fantastic.” She was suddenly aware of her thigh leaning against his and the warmth created there. She took another slug of her whiskey, making her eyes water.

Just then, the waiter finally made an appearance and took their order. No oysters, thankfully. James didn’t think she could handle that. Guy ordered a martini and signaled for another shot for James before she could say no.

When the waiter strode off to place their order, Guy placed his arm around the back of James’ chair and leaned in and smiled.

“You look great tonight.”

“Thank you.” Wow, I got two whole words out… in a row, James thought. Maybe I will get through tonight without ravaging him.

Then he touched the amulet with his index fingers, sending shivers down her spine. Let the ravaging begin, the evil voices in her head demanded. Shut up, she chastised, hoping he couldn’t read her thoughts.

“This is a really beautiful piece. Did you ever figure out why that old guy gave it to you?”

James shook her head, grabbing the tumbler of amber liquid off the waiter’s tray before he could even get his hand on it. The waiter, without missing a beat, placed Guy’s martini in front of him and left them alone.

“So, how are you? We haven’t had much time to talk alone lately.”

“Fine, good, fine. Things are fine.” She was talking much too fast and her mouth was much too dry. Stop it, he’s your best friend, she chided herself. She took a deep breath, and tried to get ahold of herself.

“It’s good. I love the house. I really needed to start over.”

“It seems to agree with you.”

Hey, did he just check out my breasts? James thought. No, it’s just my imagination.

Guy raised his martini glass in a salute.

“To new beginnings.”

James raised her tumbler, feeling the heat from his thigh against hers rise.

“New beginnings.”

********************************

The vision had blood and that’s all she saw before she crashed through the surface of the dream.

Then the pain of too much whiskey replaced the panic of the vision.

“Oh, shit.”

Both hands covered her face, trying to hold her scalp on her head. Wow, she had had a lot to drink the night before.

Blearily, she finally focused on the clock. 6:15 AM. When did she get home? She didn’t remember much after the second toast – to old friends, she thought it was. She remembered thinking Guy had never looked so handsome as he had last night. His hair needed a trim and kept falling into his eyes. He also needed a shave but that only added to how attractive she suddenly had found him.

She peeked down at herself. Still in the black cami but only her sexy black Calvin Klein thong covered her bottom. Or didn’t cover her bottom.

Cautiously, she peered around the room. Her boots were neatly placed near the door, her white shirt hung carefully over a chair. She couldn’t have done that in the shape that she was in.

Gently, she put one foot on the floor. Her head did not explode, so she tried the other one. That one held, too. She eased herself out of bed, grabbed the shirt and wrapped it around her. She noticed a full glass of water and a bottle of aspirin on the table next to the bed.

She knew what she would find before she even opened the door and shuffled into the living room.

Her best friend, still in the clothes from the night before, his husky frame struggling to stay on the very narrow antique couch, his leather coat over him as a blanket. His shaggy brown hair was tousled like a little boy’s and James couldn’t think of a time when he looked sexier. She grabbed a blanket from the closet, gently replaced the coat with it, then stood over him, just watching him for a moment.

You have my heart, she thought, and you don’t even know it.

She leaned over and kissed him sweetly on the forehead. He smiled slightly in his sleep.

“I love you, “ she whispered.

He mumbled something back. She thought it was “I know” but she couldn’t be sure. She closed the door, feeling better than she had in a long time.