Dreaming Of You (2 page)

* * * *

Strong wind gushed from behind, making Katelyn stumble as she entered the doors of Grandma’s Pancake House. As always, the late autumn weather was unpredictable in San Diego, California, and she quickly pulled the door behind her before anything else flew inside. She brushed off bits of gold and orange leaves from her arms, then down her gray sweats. Just the short trip from the parking lot to here left a lot of debris on her.

She glanced around the small diner, hoping she hadn’t captured everyone’s interest. When the few patrons in the café looked her way, she inwardly groaned. Instead of letting embarrassment control her, she pulled back her shoulders and patted her hair into place.

Grandma’s Pancake House was Katelyn’s favorite restaurant when in the mood for breakfast. These people knew her personally, which made her visits seem like a family reunion. Today they were taking down the Halloween decorations from the walls and adding Christmas bells, garland, mini trees, and mistletoe.

She shook her head. Christmas? Already? Whatever happened to Thanksgiving decorations?

Katelyn took a step toward a booth when a familiar face caught her attention. She took a double take at the patron sitting closest to the aisle. He had his eyes turned toward her, and she came to a stop. When recognition struck, she gasped.

What is
he
doing here?

Of all the days she chose not to apply make-up or style her hair, why did she have to run into Shane Hunter—the man of her dreams?

More specifically, the dreams she’d had seven years ago.

She gawked at him, knowing a dog on a hot day would probably drool less than she was, but she couldn’t bring herself to look away. Shane Hunter—in the flesh—sat in the booth with his gaze directly on her.

He hadn’t changed that much from when she knew him in college. Still gorgeous as ever, his dark brown hair was slightly longer than she remembered and waved gently against his neck. Much broader shoulders filled his blue cotton shirt perfectly, and just as before, his brown eyes made her heart flutter.

The last Katelyn had heard he was out of the state expanding his very successful lumber business. So what was he doing in this small hometown diner when his wealth could have him sitting at home eating breakfast in bed while a servant catered to his every whim?

Did he recognize her? Probably not. She hadn’t been popular on campus, except maybe in the library. Guys back then didn’t notice the girl with thick glasses and freckles, and who always wore their hair wound up in a tight bun that nearly had her eyes popping out of her head.

Moisture coated her palms, and she fisted her hands. He must think her crazy for gawking the way she did, but heaven help her, she couldn’t look away.

Seven years ago, she’d fallen hard for his knee-buckling grin and sparkling charisma. Being shy in college, there wasn’t anything she could do about her secret crush. Before graduation, he left town and within a few years had become successful.

Shane’s eyebrows lifted as his gaze slid over her gray sweats down to her worn athletic white shoes with old grass stains on the toes. When his focus met hers again, a different look accompanied his expression. Did he recognize her?

Holding her breath, she waited for him to say something. She prayed he didn’t know what she’d done. He couldn’t possibly know, could he?

Katelyn swallowed hard, wondering why he still stared at her. From the gossip circles, she’d heard he was now divorced. Her heart hammered quicker.

Finally, he gave her a friendly smile, breaking their staring competition. She wanted to sigh dreamily, but refrained. Her knees threatened to give way and let gravity bring her down.

“Hello,” he said in a deep voice.

Inwardly, she quivered. That reaction hadn’t changed since college, either.

Silently, she scolded herself. Why was she acting like a love-struck teenager? Not only did he have a new life, so did she. After he’d left California to start his family, she had reached her goal of becoming a romance writer. He’d helped her whether he knew it or not.

No, he didn’t know. He could
never
know what she’d done.

Her feet remained rooted to the floor and her voice refused to work. The distant clatter of dishes and the overhead speakers playing the radio station’s newest country song had faded, leaving only violins and harps performing in her ears.
At least it’s not the theme to Indiana Jones
, Katelyn thought.

“Um… Miss, are you okay?” he asked.

Blinking to reality, Katelyn gasped. She had been staring at him like a wide-mouth bass and could probably catch horseflies with her open trap. She snapped her mouth closed, hoping she hadn’t drooled down her chin—too afraid to touch her lips to make sure.

Concern laced his wide, big brown eyes as he nodded. “Do you need something, lady?”

He doesn’t remember me!

Disappointment set in her chest, crushing her ego. Then again, why would he remember her at all? They were part of two different crowds in college.

She managed to mumble a few disjointed syllables and forced her legs to move. Two booths away, she plopped into the seat and buried her overly-heated face in her hands.

After a few awkward seconds, she cautiously lifted her head and peeked above the seat. His confused gaze—one eyebrow raised higher than the other—zeroed in on her. Mortification washed clean through to her soul. With a degrading moan, she slid lower until Shane disappeared from view.

“Hey, Katie,” Sally said.

Katelyn lifted weary eyes to the waitress. “Hi, Sal.”

Her friend scrunched her forehead and frowned. “When I saw you come in, I figured you were celebrating another release, but now you look like you’re ready to cry.”

Brushing a dismissal wave through the air, Katelyn shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I just had a moment of uncertainty, but I’m fine now.” To prove it, she presented her friend a happy grin.

Sally chuckled. “If you say so.” She held up her order pad. “So what can I get you for breakfast today?”

“The usual. A Western omelet, multi-grain toast, and orange juice.”

Sally winked then left up the aisle.

Katelyn covered her face again, her fingers gently massaging her temple. She seriously hoped seeing Shane Hunter was not a bad omen and that her best-sellers would suddenly fall from the charts. Her life was in her books. Writing was her very soul. Doubtful she would function in the real world if she couldn’t write.

If Shane discovered
he
was the very reason her books were at the top of the charts, he would certainly despise her. He’d never understand! She hadn’t meant to use his name and identity in her first published novel. It just happened that way. The crush she’d had on him in college had been fresh in her heart, and when she wrote, she poured out her feelings on the computer keyboard and produced a great romance. The first of many. Then the awards started pouring in, and her readers gushed over Katelyn’s heroes. Her fans loved how Katelyn could create such wonderful men.

The diner’s front door opened and she peeked around the seat to watch as another person hurried through, fighting the wind on his way. After shaking the leaves from his suit jacket, he walked to Shane’s table and scooted in the booth across from Shane, and set his briefcase on the table.

“Hey, Hunter, welcome home. Didn’t think I’d see your face around these parts again.”

Shane chuckled. “Me either.”

Thankfully the semi-empty diner and the low radio let Katelyn hear their conversation.

“I’m surprised you picked this place. Do you remember in college when we came here to flirt with the waitresses?”

Laughter came from Shane. “Sure do, Justin.” Shane turned his head toward the long counter and the women working behind it. “Unfortunately, the waitresses are a lot older now.”

Katelyn bit back a laugh, but Shane’s friend didn’t. His chuckles echoed through the nearly empty diner.

“True. Time has changed a lot of things. So, what’s the urgency?” Justin asked.

“Thanks for coming on such short notice,” Shane said. “I really appreciate your help.”

Justin linked his fingers together and placed them in front of him. “I don’t usually wake up this early on Saturdays, so consider yourself lucky I’m even here.”

Shane motioned to the waitress and ordered his friend a large orange juice. After she left, Shane flattened his palms on the table. “I know you’ll always be a good friend, but now I need your professional help.”

“Sure. I can be an off-duty lawyer this morning. What’s up?”

“You heard my ex-wife died, right?”

“Yeah, man. Sorry about that.”

Katelyn sucked in a quick breath. She hadn’t heard that.

“Well, her sister, Tori, is trying to cause problems again.”

Justin groaned. “You’re kidding?”

“I’m completely serious.”

“What is she whining about this time?”

“Apparently, she thinks I had an affair on her sister while we were married.”

“Are you serious? You would have never cheated on Amber.”

“Oh, and Tori says she has the proof. If you can believe this—”

The doors to the diner opened as more people rushed in. Katelyn scowled because she couldn’t hear what Shane and his friend were saying. The new patrons stomped their feet and chatted nosily as they debated on where to sit. Finally, they headed back to the corner of the diner.

Katelyn focused her attention to Shane, listening closely until she could hear his voice again.

“Take a look at this.” He reached on the seat next to him and picked up a paperback, and then tossed it to his friend.

Katelyn held her breath and lowered her shaky hands to her lap as she clutched her fingers. That was her first book—the book in which she used Shane’s real name and identity.

The other man laughed and reached for the book. “When did you start reading sappy girlie books like this?”

Katelyn scowled. Men read romances. Not only was this story very complex, but it had mystery and intrigue—what most guys liked. She’d received many awards for that book. The urge to march to their table and set those men straight overwhelmed her. Instead of going with her first impulse, she held back and listened closer, wondering why they weren’t talking about his kids or his sister-in-law now.

Shane tilted his head. “I started reading this when I noticed the man’s likeness to me was gracing the cover, along with the exact same name as mine inside.” He pointed to the picture of the man holding hands with a woman as they strolled along the beach. The sunset was the perfect romantic backdrop.

Justin narrowed his gaze, his mouth pinched together. “What?” He took the book and examined it closer. “He does resemble you quite a bit, doesn’t he?”

Katelyn’s heart sank.
Oh, no!

Shane sighed. “That’s what I thought, too. What I’d like to do is find the woman who used my identity without my permission. Some of these scenes came from my life…like she was a fly on my wall. What I’d like to do is—”

“Here is your orange juice, toast, and omelet.” Sally’s voice jerked Katelyn away from the conversation at Shane’s table.

Katelyn gave her friend a nod, but kept her focus over her shoulder on the two men discussing her book. She hoped Sally left soon so Katelyn would be able to hear what they were saying.

“Is there anything else you need?” Sally asked.

“No, I’m fine.” Katelyn lifted the drink to her mouth and sipped.

“All right. Have a good breakfast, and I’ll see you later.” She smiled and walked away.

Quickly, Katelyn zoned back to the conversation again as she took another drink.

“This is amazing,” the man beside Shane said as he scratched his head. “I’ve been a lawyer for eight years and never had a case like this one.”

Shane turned over the book and pointed to Katelyn’s professional picture. “Deep down in my gut, I know this Chelsea Mitchell violated some privacy issues. She could have been stalking me for all I know.” He leaned forward on the table, meeting Justin’s eyes again. “But what I need to know is if you think I can sue the pants off her and win.”

Sucking in a quick breath, the drink caught in Katelyn’s throat. She gasped, choked, and pounded on her chest for air. At Shane’s booth, he turned and looked at her with concern in his eyes. When she kept choking, he flew out of his seat and ran to her side, taking hold of her arm.

“Let me help you.”

She shook her head and pushed him away. Breathing slower, her choking subsided.

“Are you okay now?” he asked.

“Yes.” Her voice squeaked.

He stared at her for a few moments with a creased forehead, then turned and walked back to his table. She sighed and sank to where she couldn’t see him.
I’m an idiot…one that’s going to be sued. Oh why was I so naïve in not thinking this would eventually blow up in my face?

Muffled voices came from the other table now, and she grumbled to herself. She really needed to hear the rest of their conversation! It was useless now.

If Shane ever found out that she’d dreamed about him in college—that she’d secretly watched him with his friends, and on rare occasions dared to follow him around town—he would certainly hate her, or at the very least, be worried she’d pick up the same patterns she had from all those years ago.

Remembering those days was not good for her now. So she’d had a little crush on him almost to the point of stalking him just to see what he did all day. The fact was, her feelings for him had ended once he moved away. They were two completely different people now from what they had been. At least she was. And she didn’t even want to think of her behavior back then. Too embarrassing.

If the truth behind her first romance book came out, the media would definitely ruin her reputation. Not only that, the stress of it all would certainly affect her writing. She couldn’t allow that to happen!

Katelyn groaned and rubbed her eyes. What had she gotten herself into? And more importantly, could she dig herself out before it became worse?

Chapter Two

Shane Hunter slid back into his booth after trying to help the choking woman, even as her terrified expression remained in his mind. When she’d first walked in the diner, she’d looked at him as if she knew him. Now, he was positive he recognized her from somewhere.