Night Visions (Night Series) (2 page)

Yet, everything about that day, the way he looked at her, promised that so much more existed between them.

T
o lose such a precious memento… it would have broken her heart. Thank God Gin had appeared with it dangling from her mouth. Sam had been about to sob in defeat, but instead she squeezed the breath out of her dog.

Smoothing her fingers over the cool metal pendant
, her heart pinched. It was all she had left of Ian. Her final connection to him.

A loud thump startled her from her thoughts drawing her attention to the door. Ginger sat there with Sam's sneakers at her feet.

“So are you going to put them on for me too?” she chuckled as she picked up her shoes, patting Ginger on the head.

Ginger led the way down the stairs. Sam swiped her iPod off the entry table, sliding the black band over her arm before she draped the
ear buds over her shoulder. She opened the door for Ginger and stepped onto the porch.

Inhaling the crisp morning air cleared the cobwebs in Sam's head. The sun had just begun to peek over the lake. Pinpoints of orange and pink light reflected off the crystal clear water.

The sharp bite of the early spring breeze caused goose bumps to spring up all over her body. Tempted to go back inside and grab a pair of Jason's sweats, she thought better of it. Once the sun peaked, she would be drenched in sweat.

Sitting on the top step, the nylon shoestrings brushed against her fingers as she tied them. She loved the early morning sounds as dawn awakened a new day. The sigh of the trees as the wind blew through the leaves. The hum of a boat's motor off in the distance. Her overtired brain soothed by the chirp of the birds.

Ginger's snort broke the spell, ruining the moment. She paced at the bottom of the steps anxious for their morning run. Hopping down the remaining steps Sam quickly stretched and glared at Ginger.

“Honestly you have no patience!”

Ginger barked and pranced back and forth in excitement.

Popping the
ear buds in her ears, Sam lowered the volume and began a light jog toward the main road into town. Ginger began to whine and backed off.

“C'mon Gin. Can't we change our route for one day?"

Ginger woofed and sped off toward the beach. Sam rolled her eyes as she raced to catch up. Java Jive would have to wait until after her run. What she wouldn't give for a French Vanilla Latte. Preferably in an IV drip.

The steady beat of the music set the rhythm. The drums in sync with her feet. Warmth spread through her muscles. Sam could feel her cheeks flush and her lungs burn from the sting of the wind.

With each mile they put behind them, she began to forget about the nightmares and visions. The restraints that bound her began to dissolve. She focused on her breathing and kept pace with Ginger.

Ginger's growl broke through the sound of music thumping in her ears. Sam stopped dead in her tracks
, a pulse of panic building in her gut. Ginger stood on guard, teeth bared, her intent gaze focused on the woods.

“What is it Gin?” Sam huffed, trying to steady her breathing. She held the
ear buds in her hand, listening.

When nothing but a few birds chirped back, she scanned the
tree line, searching for what had Ginger's hackles up. This wasn't the best place to be running alone—woods surrounding her, casting ominous shadows across their path. Not to mention the next house was a half-mile away.

A twig snapped.

Sam jerked her head to the right as Ginger's growl became deeper. Unease washed over her. She couldn't shake the sense that someone watched them.

“Ginger
, here!” she commanded, taking a step backwards.

When G
inger didn't respond, Sam gave a shrill whistle and snapped “Ginger here, now!”

Ginger gave a final growl before reluctantly walking to her side.

Sam slapped her thigh twice signaling Ginger to follow. As they jogged around the bend, Ginger glanced back and bared her teeth. The hair on Sam's neck stood on end, fear nearly choking her. Something lurked in the woods.

A steady buzzing in her head began to push its way forward. The rustle of leaves to her right caused her blood to run cold. She whipped her head around and for a moment thought she saw two glowing eyes, boring a hole into her soul.

Sam picked up the pace as the whispers in her head returned, then increased their tempo. Her breaths came out in quick gasps, causing her heart to hammer in her ears. Tension radiated off Ginger, her growls heightening Sam's fear.

Another snap of a twig.

The whispers frantic.

Sam's stomach clenched.
She told herself it was just an animal. Just her imagination.

Her
thighs burned as she dug her shoes into the path and pressed forward.

The unknown seemed to be keeping pace with them. Shapes shifting back and forth. Ginger edged toward the
tree line.

“Ginger
, heel,” Sam commanded. She was not about to let Ginger hunt blindly in those woods.

Not much farther to the Drakes'
house. She started sprinting in an attempt to put distance between her and the unseen presence behind them. Hopefully it would be enough.

Her lungs were on fire, her breath coming out in strained gasps. She heard another sound, closer this time.

“What the he —”

Bang!

CHAPTER 2

Sam let out a yelp, her muscles contracted as she staggered back a few steps.

Her neighbor Bryan descended his porch steps in swim trunks and a t-shirt. His blonde hair wet and spiked.

“Whoa, Sam. You okay?”

Okay? Embarrassed was more like it. Sam could feel the flush in her cheeks deepen. The sound of his screen door slamming shut had the same effect as a gunshot to her heart.

“Ginger sensed something in the woods," she panted. "So I'm a little on edge."

Placing her hands on her hips, she tried catching her breath as she stole quick glances over her shoulder. She moved towards Bryan not even realizing what she was doing until the heat of his body radiated to hers. Neither he nor the blazing sun overhead did anything to chase away the sensation that something still watched her. Ears alert, Ginger pressed closer to Sam's leg.

Bryan's brows pinched in a tight knot, his attention focused on the path behind them. “It was probably just a fox. Tom said that he saw one the other night. His pup wouldn't stop yapping until he ran out and chased it off. They've been getting pretty bold, walking through yards during the day."

“I don't know
, Bryan." Sam's ponytail tickled her neck as she shook her head. "Ginger never reacts that way when there's a fox around. This seemed bigger." Much bigger. Sweat forged an icy trail down her back. Whatever lurked in the woods had eyes level with hers.

“Anything in this area is more afraid of you. Especially with Ginger as your running partner."

The whispers churned through Sam's head. Her fingertips drifted to her temples, trying to steady the pulsing waves. She pushed the voices back until they were barely audible.

Bryan's warm hand wrapped around her shoulder giving a gentle squeeze. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she breathed, forcing a smile. "Felt dizzy for a sec. Probably just dehydrated."

He looked in Sam's eyes before turning toward his house. "Let me get you some water," he said as he raced up the steps.

"I'm fine Bryan," Sam yelled after him. "Really…" her words trailed off as he reappeared with two bottles of water and a bowl.

How did he move so… God
, her imagination wouldn't stop.

With the flick of his wrist he twisted the caps off both bottles, handing one to Sam while he poured the other into the bowl he'd placed on the ground.

"Drink up, Gin. You've earned it." Bryan ran his fingers through his damp hair. "You know, just to be safe, you may want to start carrying some pepper spray."

A low rumble escaped Ginger's mouth as she advanced on Bryan.

"Ginger, heel!" Let's add one more to her list of embarrassing things today. She knew Ginger wouldn't hurt Bryan, but having a hundred pound dog advance on you with teeth bared wasn't exactly a good time. What was with her today?

Bryan held up his hands in surrender, eyes wide as Ginger took another step closer.

“Hey Ginger no offense. I didn't mean anything by it. I know you can take care of Sam."

He slowly lowered his hand, holding it out for Ginger to sniff. She hesitated for a second, then bumped his hand with the top of her head.

Bryan chuckled as he scruffed her fur. “Sorry girl. Forgive me?"

Sam watched Bryan crouch down and scratch her dog behind the ears. A sigh of relief blew past her lips when Ginger didn't snap his hand off. Not many people would get close enough to Ginger to pet her, let a
lone get nose to nose with her. She was a one person dog.

As her heart rate slowed to a steady trot, Sam lifted the water bottle to her lips
, letting the cool liquid slip down her throat. But the relief was short lived. She choked on the water, spilling some across the concrete when Ginger and Bryan snapped their attention to the woods behind her.

Before Sam could move, Bryan launched himself behind her, his back pressed to hers
.
As if time slowed, Sam turned, terrified of what stood on the other side of him. Bryan's muscles flexed under her grip, her nails nearly tearing the soft cotton of his t-shirt. She fixed her eyes on the shadowed opening of the trail, waiting for something or someone to lunge out of the darkness.

"Bryan, what is it? What do you see?" In response
the voices in her head stirred again. Their tone agitated.

Ginger's growl vibrated against Sam's leg. This wasn't good.

"Ginger," Sam warned. She reached for her, grasping nothing but air as she watched her dog leap into the woods. "No!" Her stomach twisted with fear as she stepped forward. She couldn't let Ginger go in there alone.

"Sam wait." Bryan pulled Sam back against his chest, his arm anchoring her in place. "Let her go. She can handle herself."

"Are you crazy?" Sam wriggled her hips, trying to loosen Bryan's hold. If he didn't let go he'd get a nice introduction to her foot.

"We don't know what's out there. What if it's a bear? Or worse… a rabid animal?"

Even more of a reason for her to stop Ginger from entering the woods. Fighting against the arms constraining her, Sam jerked her body, causing her head to slam into Bryan's chin. His hold didn't loosen. Her gaze dropped to the bulging muscle preventing her escape, realizing that iron band wasn't going to release her.

Bryan's voice turned low and steady in her ear. "I promise she'll be okay."

Sam hesitated then blew out a breath of air, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "Okay. You can let go Bryan."

When the pressure around her waist didn't decrease she reassured, "I promise I won't run. You're right. Any animal would be stupid to go up against Gin." She forced a laugh that sounded hollow even to her own ears. Silent prayers filled her mind. She couldn't bear to lose anyone else.

Movement in the tree line drew Sam's attention back to the woods. Shading her eyes against the sun, she saw Ginger's figure emerge from the trail.

Thank God!

Bryan let go. Her knees found concrete as she waited for Ginger to run to her. Even though her body quaked with relief, she wasn't about to let Ginger get away with disobeying. She took Ginger's face in her hands, dropping her voice to the scolding tone that made Ginger's ears pin back. "Don't ever do that again!"

Ginger dropped her head at Sam's reprimand. A soft whimper tore at her heart. Ginger only followed her instincts. But what if it had gotten her killed this time?
No more running leash free.

As guilt tightened her chest, Sam released a sigh, slipping her arms around Ginger's neck. That same guilt spread to her heart when Ginger rested her head on Sam's shoulder. "I'm sorry I yelled
, girl. You aged me about ten years." Leaning back she looked into Ginger's eyes. "Don't ever do that again. Okay?"

Ginger's wet tongue darted out, licking Sam's cheek.

"I guess I'll take that as an okay."

Another slobbery kiss followed. With a sincere laugh this time, Sam pushed herself to her feet. She turned in time to see Bryan's lips set in a hard line, his eyes focused on the trail. Sam followed his stare, desperate to know what had him so entranced. Ginger had chased whatever was out there away. Hadn't she? Yet something still didn't feel right.

Looking back to Bryan, he quickly masked his concern and quirked his lips into a smile. A smile that caused her stomach to flip. Eyes as blue as the autumn sky studied her. How had she never noticed how blue his eyes were?

Because they weren't Ian's.

What was wrong with her? Why did she keep fantasizing about a ghost? Especially when she had someone as gorgeous as Bryan living near her. Why couldn't she move forward? Why couldn't she forget…?