Chosen at Nightfall (Shadow Falls #5)(35)

"He wants me to come work for his company," her mom said. "He's willing to pay me almost double what I'm making now."

Okay, so her mom working for the man wasn't as bad as her marrying him, but Kylie didn't like that, either.

"I thought you liked your job?" Kylie said.

"I do, but ... twice as much money and free travel. I mean, that's hard to turn down."

"But ... but you're"-banging him-"you're dating him. Isn't that like sexual harassment? I mean there's laws against that, aren't there?"

"Not if the relationship is consensual," her mom said. "John and I talked about how my working for him could be difficult. But he pointed out that I wouldn't be working directly under him. So, it wouldn't really be like we were working together."

Kylie could hear it in her mom's voice. Her mind was made up. She was going to take the job. "Yeah, but I just don't know if it's wise to work for someone you are ... dating."

"I think John and I are mature enough to deal with this."

Yeah, like he behaved so mature the last time you brought him here when he socked Dad and started a whole free-for-all fight in the lunch room. Kylie bit her lip to keep from saying anything hurtful.

"I guess I just don't know him that well," Kylie said.

"Which I plan to remedy the next time you're home," her mom said. "I thought maybe we could all go somewhere for a weekend."

Please no! "I ... don't think we need to do that. I ... to be honest, I kind of like knowing those weekends are for just me and you."

"But you need to get to know him, Kylie. He's a great guy. I just know you'd love him if you really got to know him."

"Yeah, and that's fine. But let's not ... not rush it, okay? All in good time."

Her mom got quiet again. "You okay, baby? I just realized what time it is there. What are you doing up at five thirty?"

"I had some homework I had to catch up on," Kylie lied again. "And I'd best get going and start working on it, too."

"Do you have boy problems again?" her mom asked.

Along with a ghost-carrying-a-severed-head problem. "Nothing I can't handle."

"What happened, sweetie?" her mom asked.

"I'm fine. Actually, I prefer not to talk about it. Maybe later."

Her mom's long sigh came through the phone. "I'm here when you're ready..."

"I know, and I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too, baby."It was by replaying her mom's words over and over in her head that Kylie finally fell asleep.

* * *

"Where are we going?" Kylie asked Derek as she felt that haziness of being in a peaceful dream state.

Correction, being in a dreamscape. And right then, the peacefulness of it floated off. It had been a while since she'd done this, but she instantly realized this wasn't her dream. She hadn't gone to Derek. He had come to her. And now he was leading her somewhere-walking ahead of her but with his hand held behind his back holding hers, and leading her down a path. A wooded path.

She tried to get her mind to work on a more alert level. What time was it? How long had she been asleep? She had to stop this.

But then Derek looked back over his shoulder and smiled at her. She lost her train of thought and got caught up in the world she was in. A safe world, her mind said. She looked up. The sun sent soft morning rays of light dancing through the trees.

"We're going to our rock. You like it there, don't you?" His hand gave hers a slight squeeze. His palm felt warm in hers. Comforting. Odd how just holding someone's hand could feel like a hug-like a warm embrace. Then again, she was talking about Derek. He had all those fae powers that made his touch ...

more.

Meaningful.

She vaguely remembered him trying to kiss her earlier on the escape from her grandfather's place and thinking he wasn't going to be as easy to keep at bay. Did she really want to keep him at bay?

The answer seemed to be somewhere between her heart and mind and she couldn't draw the conclusion. But this was just a dream, a part of her offered up as an excuse. Later she'd figure it out. She would, she promised herself.

"You always liked going to the rock before," Derek said.

"Yes, but..." She stopped and glanced down at herself. She was dressed in a pair of cut-offs and a Tshirt. But she was barefoot. It felt good. A soft bed of moist grass and earth beneath her feet. Definitely a dream. If real, she would be feeling the pebbles and thorns. This wasn't real. Not really. But she needed to be careful. She wiggled her toes and tried again to wake up enough to figure out what was right and what was wrong.

Derek turned, still holding her hand, and faced her again. "Just come with me, Kylie. Give me this, please." She could already hear the trickle of the stream flowing through the earth, splashing over stones that had been smoothed by time. The smell of the grass, the woods, and the tall trees scented the air she breathed.

A breeze stirred Derek's hair. "Give me some time to be with you."

She stared at him through her own hair dancing in front of her eyes. Saw the pleading in his gaze.

The word no rested on the tip of her tongue, but then she saw the bruises on his neck. Bruises that looked just as bad as those on Lucas. Not that she'd given those bruises to Derek. Mario had. But it had been because of her. He'd thrown himself at Mario to protect her.