Chapter 2
Bran parked and made his way inside. He hurried to his room, stripping on the way. After a shower, he planned to sleep, hoping she’d join him in his dream the way he suggested.
He thought about calling Nate again, ask him what it was like to have another in his dreams. Maybe his sister, since Nate had chased Savon in her dreams for twelve long years.
Only, he had a feeling he didn’t want to know what they got up to in the dream realm now that they were together, finally.
Lying down, he closed his eyes and drifted off to dream.
His stomach fell out as he fell, jolting his eyes open. Blue sky, clouds, then spray. He looked down in time to see the ocean quickly approaching. He splashed and sank before kicking his way to the surface of choppy water.
A lighthouse towered before him, perched on an island barely big enough to contain the structure. He swam to the dock, passing a tethered raft, and pulled himself from the cold, salty water.
A cobbled path led to the door, and he rushed inside, thankful the door was unlocked. The room was spacious, with a small kitchen that appeared to be medieval. An artisan must have crafted the wooden furniture, needlepoint cushions and pillows. Stairs wrapped around the outer wall, up to a trapdoor.
Bran took the stairs two at a time and entered a bedroom. A bed sat on one side, a dresser and armoire on the other. Two cushioned chairs sat in front of a fireplace. More stairs went up to another trap door.
He pushed it open and hopped up. Evangeline stood at the rail beyond the glass enclosure. She stared across the sea as the sun lowered over the horizon, leaving them in the twilight. Her dress whipped around her in the wind.
“There you are, Evangeline.”
She turned, a smile on her lips. “You came.”
“Hmm?” Bran asked. “This isn’t my dream?”
“No, but I would have felt the call to your dream soon, and come for you there.”
“Couldn’t resist. I wound up here without even thinking about where I’d find you.”
“I’m glad. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t. You left for family, right? I would do the same.”
“I should have called.”
He lifted a shoulder. “You’re forgiven.”
She took his hands. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.” He looked back at the light, which wasn’t on, though stars twinkled in the dark sky. “Why here?”
A soft sigh escaped. “Not sure. I’ve never been here in person. For some reason, this lighthouse has always fascinated me.”
“And you’ve never been here before?”
She shook her head. “Not that I recall. I was very young when I left France to go to New York with my family.” She let out a breath and looked away. “Never mind that, though.”
Bran gently turned her face back and captured her gaze. “Why do you close yourself off?”
Sighing, she turned to lean against the railing. “I don’t do it on purpose. It’s habit now. I’ve been trying to ignore this feeling for so long I forget I don’t have to now.”
He moved closer as a shiver traveled through him. The wind didn’t help the chill. Neither did the spray every time a wave came in. “I want to be near you.”
She turned back, moving closer. “You’re soaking wet.”
Chuckling, he pulled her through the door and closed it. “Shouldn’t that be my line?”
A pretty pink shade colored her cheeks. “If only I were there with you,” she whispered.
Changing the subject, he offered, “I fell into the ocean. Remember, this is your dream.”
“Don’t like swimming?”
He shrugged. “With the right person, in warm water, sure. In the middle of God knows where, in the freezing cold ocean, not so much.”
Laughing, she pressed against him. “Even in my dream, you feel good.”
“Could feel better,” he offered.
“Not like this. Let me find out what my father needs, and I’ll be back in Silvertail Ridge before you know it.”
“Why not in a dream?” he whispered. Not that he would argue either way, but he had to know why she would hold him back.
“Want the real thing first. And soon. I want this desperately, but it’s not the same here.”
When she put it like that, he had to agree. He wanted their bond more than he wanted to breathe, but that couldn’t happen in a dream. “All right. I can be patient enough to have you in the flesh.”
Smiling, she pulled him toward the bed. “Sit with me. Talk to me. Tell me where you were going to take me.”
“I’ll sit with you, and I’ll talk, but there’s not a chance in hell I’m spilling about my plans. I have every intention of wooing you so hard you’ll fall in love.”
A laugh echoed. “Already falling hard.”
“Still, I’ll keep my surprise until you’re back.”
“Then tell me about your day, please.” She leaned against his side.
“I’ll stay with you until you have to go,” he promised.