Read Darlings of Paranormal Romance (Anthology) for Free Online Page B

said before
closing the door.
    “ You must be Miss Theodora Mellor.”
    She
nodded. “Call me Theda. I never married so you can just imagine the
scandal,” she chuckled. “Dominic’s my grandson though I’m sure you
already know that. Tea?”
    “ Yes, please.” Juliana replied as she removed her gloves and
unbuttoned her coat while Theda made her way to the kitchen. For a
woman who was past ninety, Theodora Mellor hardly looked over the
age of seventy.
    “ Milk and sugar?” Theda enquired as she set the kettle to
boil.
    “ Just milk please.”
    Theda
took out the milk from the fridge and set it on the counter. “Have
a seat, my dear. Let’s talk before Dominic arrives. Most of the
time he hardly talks to me because he is so busy.”
    “ That’s a shame.” Juliana said as she settled into a chair, her
back facing the hallway.
    “ Oh it doesn’t happen often.” Theda waved her hand in the air.
“It’s only during certain times of the year or when he’s preparing
for a conference.”
    Juliana
smiled. A little while later, the kettle whistled and Theda made
Juliana a brew. Juliana thanked her as she held her mug in both
hands, feeling the heat thaw her frozen fingers.
    “ But I think he has a woman.” Theda said out of the
blue.
    “ I’m sure he has.” Juliana’s eyebrows rose in bemusement,
unsure why the old woman was telling her. She took a sip from her
tea.
    “ I’ve not seen her though,” Theda continued thoughtfully. “When
Dominic works in his study, he sometimes takes to sleeping there.
And he mumbles her name in his sleep. So I think when he says he
goes to conferences, I think he meets her.” She finished with a
twinkle in her eye.
    Juliana
grinned. Theda must really miss talking to someone. Poor thing, she
thought. Might as well indulge her. Besides, Professor Mellor was
taking his time arriving. “Well I’m sure you will meet her
soon.”
    “ Oh I hope so.” Theda said after taking a sip from her cup.
“I’m about to enter the door we all open only once and I’d like to
know that my grandson will not be alone in this world.”
    “ Oh don’t say that.” Juliana gently admonished her,
automatically reaching out for her gnarled hand.
    Theda
gave her a smile filled with wisdom. “I can say it because I know
my time is almost over. I’ve had a wonderful journey and soon I
will embark on another one.”
    Wanting
to move away from the morose subject, Juliana asked, “What’s the
name of the woman your grandson dreams about?”
    “ Juliana.” Theda said before taking another sip from her
mug.
    Juliana’s heart somersaulted. She blinked several
times.
    “ My name’s Juliana too.”
    “ What a coincidence!” Theda’s face lit up. Before she could say
more, they both heard steps coming down the stairs.
    “ Dominic,” the old lady greeted the person behind Juliana. “We
have been waiting for you.”
    “ I’m sorry, Miss Stevens. I’m not usually this late. Gran,
please.”
    Oh my
God! Juliana felt the blood drain from her face. An electric shock
coursed through her body. It was Simon’s voice!
    Theda
spoke. “Dominic doesn’t want me to call him by that name. He
prefers his other name,” she sighed. “Very well. Simon, her name’s
Juliana too! Isn’t that a coincidence?”
    Juliana
heard Dominic suck in his breath before his grandmother spoke
again. “Juliana, my grandson, Dominic Simon Mellor.”
    Juliana
tried to swallow as she stood. When she turned, her knees nearly
buckled underneath her had she not gripped the edge of the table.
She saw Dominic’s eyes widen in stunned amazement when he saw her.
Despite the buzzing in her ears, and her sight nearly swimming, she
saw the recognition on his face.
    “ Good heavens, Juliana. Are you all right?” Theda’s concerned
voice sounded as though it came from far away.
    With one
swift move, Simon reached her side, holding her around the waist.
At that moment, Juliana knew. It was the familiarity of his touch,
how it