Poppy was nervous, she’d never been nervous about an appointment before. She had worked with so many people over the years, and Zane Rakoff shouldn’t be any different. He was in need and she could help him. That was her calling. She had always felt that what she did was a calling. It was her way to give back to a world that had treated her well.

Not long after Zane had left, she had looked over his information and had felt an overwhelming sense that she was being watched. She looked out the windows but saw nothing other than the normal neighborhood. Her mother was out with her girlfriends for the day so there would be no reason for her to think anyone else would be there.

But that tingling sensation kept building at the back of her neck. Her eyes kept catching something flashing by and she’d jump and look behind her. There would be nothing there, but the feeling wouldn’t leave. Her dreams had been tormenting the night before. She was running, out of breath with something chasing her. She had tried to scream, but the sounds coming out were no more than a breathy squeak. The shadow man was behind her. She didn’t doubt who it was or how much he wanted her. If he ever got close enough to touch her, she knew that she wouldn’t survive.

The mysterious figure was always there, it was part of her life and she had just chalked it up to childhood fancy. Maybe it wasn’t uncommon for people to have reoccurring dreams like hers. She wouldn’t know because there was no way she was going to let people know the extent of her worry about the figments of her imagination.

Now the feeling from her dream wouldn’t leave. It was following her around, just like in the dream, but her eyes were wide open.

Zane was coming, that knowledge gave her a little solace. If she was honest with herself it gave her more than that. She had missed him when he left. There was a void in the kitchen that the big man had filled. His presence was calming, and she found herself wishing that she had a man like that. Someone big and strong to curl into when she was feeling unsure or scared. When the dreams came and wouldn’t leave, she needed a partner like that to scare away the demons.

It wouldn’t be ethical for her to date him, if he was interested that was. She almost wished that they had met at the grocery store, or even a chance meeting at the fire station. She would be free to pursue him.

“Pursue him,” she snorted at her own thoughts. “What makes you think he wants you, Poppy?” she asked herself.

Zane was brave. Not just because he was a firefighter, but she thought the biggest mark of his bravery was that he had sought her out. She didn’t like men who thought they were too tough to take care of their emotional needs. Big guys needed love too.

Poppy had already prepped the shed, the room would feel extra small with his large frame inside it. Before her nightmare, she’d been having the most exquisite dream. She was holding Zane, trying to wrap her body around him, offering him as much contact as she could.

It was a nice dream that quickly morphed into her touching him in a not so therapeutic way. That was a different kind of massage altogether. She’d never thought about a client that way. It was a mental block she had easily created years ago. Her job was to be removed from the sexual side of bodywork and focus on the healing aspects of what she did.

But Zane was making her have thoughts she hadn’t entertained in a long time. Thoughts that made her think of big cozy beds with both of them naked.

She shook off the thought because she didn’t need those ideas in her head when he arrived. Poppy couldn’t help but pace back and forth in front of the door, occasionally peeking through the windows.

When his car finally pulled up she almost felt giddy. She had the door opened and was standing on the porch to welcome him, possibly a little too enthusiastically.

She greeted him with a big smile. “Zane!” Good lord, she sounded like an eager beaver.

Zane, who had been frowning when he got out of the car, broke into a shy smile, a slight blush stealing over his cheeks.

“Ms. Woodall,” he answered making his way toward her.

“You did not just call me that!” she said with a laugh.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to, but I panicked,” he admitted.

“Fine, I’ll forgive you. I’m Poppy and you’re Zane. It will make this much more comfortable. You ready?”

He put his foot on the first step but came no further. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”

Poppy stepped down so that she was just a few steps up from him bringing her eye to eye with him.

“Me too,” she said, staring into bright blue eyes.

His eyebrow rose, “You were?”

Realizing she was about to admit something personal, she stepped past him and looked over his shoulder. “I had bad dreams last night. I think I might need this as much as you do.”

She felt him following behind her as she walked to the back of the house towards her little bliss hut.

“What kind of bad dreams?”

“Sadly, the reoccurring kind. I’ve been having the same one ever since I was little. Not exactly the same dream, but the same man.”

“Man?” he said roughly causing her to pause and look over her shoulder at him.

“Well, not that I can really see him. I call him the shadow man. He’s been haunting my dreams all my life. Sometimes I swear I can feel him during the day even when I’m awake.”

He didn’t say anything so she hurried to explain. “I’ve never told anyone that. Please don’t share it. I mean, I’m not crazy. I just have a scary imaginary friend.”

“I don’t think you’re crazy, Poppy.”

She liked hearing that from him. It made her want to hug him, but that was coming.

“Thank you, I always worry about sharing things with people, but I don’t mind sharing with you.”

“I want you to. You can trust me, Poppy. Really, you can.”

Poppy didn’t think she had that many secrets. She never needed to explain her gifts to people. They just thought she was good at her job and she was happy with that.

“You’re different, Zane.”

“Am I?”

“I can tell. Your spirit is… expansive.”

“Is it cause I’m so big?”

“Partly, but you have room inside you for so much more. I can tell you’ve held back. I hope I can help you with that.”

She reached the door and pushed it open. Zane hesitated and then walked past her. She followed him in and was quiet as he made a full turn inside her tiny hideaway.

“This is where you do your sessions?” he asked sounding confused.

“Not like your other therapist?”

“She had an office in a big building. She just had a large flat couch that she used. She also gave me peppermints after,” he said giving her a smile.

“Oh wow, she was really good. I never thought of giving out candy. I will totally have to think about that.”

He was still taking in the little shed, his eyes stopping at the flowers, the lacy curtains and soft colored swags over the windows.

“Normally I get myself comfortable and you can join me when you’re ready. Is that okay?”

Zane’s eyes came back to hers. She could tell he was nervous. Clients like this always were the first few times. He nodded and she took a seat on the futon mattress. “Blankets?” she asked.

He shook his head and then reached for his belt and removed it. She didn’t stare but could hear the belt hit the floor. Then she heard his boots thump. There was a pause then she heard something metallic tink on the tiny table in the corner. She heard more additions to the table and looked over to see his wallet and cell phone lying next to his keys and pocket change.

He looked back at her and the look of nervousness was replaced with something else. It was a look of excitement.

That was a change.

Poppy opened her arms and waited.