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balloon popped near him, next time the folks at work jumped out to surprise him bearing party hats and cake. It wasn’t her fault. He desperately wanted to absolve her.
    But the other voice, the calm one belonging to what he imagined to be a stone-cold beautiful figment of his imagination, maybe even a figment with auburn waves and dark blue eyes, tempted him. Hmm, roadside tragedy from the perspective of a teenage girl, or warm comfort in the arms of a beautiful woman? No contest. He chose the latter, letting the soft insistence of those stroking hands draw him away from the rainy night.
    * * * *
    “That’s it. Just relax. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Her chest swelled with fulfillment as the man calmed. His head stopped thrashing back and forth on the pillow, and his pleated brow smoothed. She was actually helping him, and it felt wonderful.
    She had a purpose. She didn’t feel lost as long as she had that. She could even bear the fog again if she knew she’d end up back here with this man and have the privilege of easing him through his nightmares. Not that she wished more nightmares on him. But if he was going to have them anyway, she liked being allowed to help.
    She traced his stubbled jaw with her fingers, loving the way his normally hard and serious face became open and vulnerable in sleep. She should stop fondling him. He’d passed through his dream. From watching him for two nights now, she knew he typically went into a period of light sleep after his dreams. If she didn’t back off, she risked waking him.
    Feeling a naughty thrill, she didn’t back off. She kept petting him partly because she drew as much comfort from touching him as she suspected she gave to him, and partly because she wanted to be noticed. Two nights of being invisible was two nights too long. Now that she knew he could feel her on the bed, she longed to make real contact, conscious contact.
    There she went being selfish again. Her conscience reminded her of the little girl in the next room. If she woke the man and scared him, it might upset Haley. Huffing with frustration, she forced herself to stop. To be safe, she scooted back, giving him some space.  
    His eyes popped open. His gaze locked on hers.
    The room was surprisingly well lit with rusty streetlamp light. He could see her, and she couldn’t do a thing about it. Her heart raced and she held her breath as she braced for his reaction.
    His firm lips curled into a contented smile. He clasped his hands behind his head, putting his triceps on display. His eyelids went to half-mast. “Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve had one of these kinds of dreams?”
    Her body had so many different reactions at once, she would have passed out if she’d been alive. Desire unwound in her like a sprung coil at the confident look in his eyes. Relief that she hadn’t scared him kicked her lungs back into action. But he thought he was still dreaming. Her shoulders sagged with disappointment.
    “You’ve got too many clothes on, sweetheart,” he said, jarring her out of her stupor. “And you’re much, much too far away.” He held a hand out to her. “Come here so I can fix both of those travesties.”
    Heat flashed from her neck to her core. This was exactly what she wanted. His attention. His affection.
    But not like this. She hardly knew him, and he was looking at her like that didn’t matter, like he’d made her up and could use her without consequence. His cocky grin irked her and turned her on at the same time.
    She sat back on her heels and shook her head, too conflicted to form words.
    “Pretty please?”
    “I– Uh, um–” Jeez. Who should she blame for that genius utterance, her suddenly pouty lips or her flustered brain? To be safe, she’d have a talk with both of them later. For now, though, she clamped her mouth shut and resorted to shaking her head again.
    He put his hand back behind his head. His grin grew wider. “There’s nothing to be