Free Hidden Mortality by Maggie Mundy

the other counter held out the book. His voice was deep, exactly as it was in her dreams. She was caught again in his gaze. The world disappeared and for a moment they were the only two people alive locked in the look they shared. Her hand went to her chest. She could feel her heart racing at the thought of him being near.
    “Thank you, but no I couldn’t. You had the book first.”
    “Please, take it. I have plenty of time to wait for another copy to come in.”
    She found it hard to say no. Perhaps, it was the fact he was about six three and wore grey bike leathers. They added to the effect of making him look powerful. The shaved head and the stubble on his face gave a menacing look, but she wasn’t afraid of him. This wasn’t right. Her life was wild enough without dream lovers becoming real.
    Plus, she wouldn’t want her other dreams to become real as well. She needed to say something, or he would think she was an idiot standing there with her mouth gaping. He held the book out to her. As she took it, her hand touched his. It was such a tiny touch and yet it meant he was real. She felt the heat rising up her neck as she blushed. She also sensed another heat inside her. It was the same way he had made her feel in her dreams.
    “Thanks.” Cara paid for her book and listened as he confirmed his contact details. Seth Scanlon. She had a name. She wasn’t really stalking. Taking another book off a shelf, she flipped through the pages. He glanced her way before he left and caught her gaze once more.
    She couldn’t fool herself. The look he gave her was so intense she felt he was seeing inside her soul. Her breath caught. She shivered although the shop was warm. For a split second, she considered following him and saying he must remember all the times they had made love.
    She could just imagine the expression he would give her. He didn’t know her. She was a stranger. The shop became suffocating as she pulled at the collar of her jumper. She needed to be outside. There was no sign of him on the street. For a moment, she wanted to cry. At this rate, she would give the silly schoolgirls in the shop a run for their money.
    “Take my word on it. He’s dark,” Matcher said, behind her.
    “What?”
    “Look, it’s nothing to me. I just wondered, that’s all.” Matcher shuffled from one foot to the other.
    “Wondered what?”
    “You need to ask. I don’t need to wonder.” He turned away.
    This made no sense at all. “Do you still want that coffee?” She asked.
    “If you’re paying, why not?”
    They made their way down to Sally Lunn’s Coffee Shop, which as always was warm and full of noisy customers. The Sally Lunn buns in the cabinet looked tempting. Her newfound company could do with some fattening up. Their cups of coffee arrived.
    “I thought Matcher was your surname. Jessica’s receptionist called you Mr. Matcher.”
    “Matcher’s fine. I don’t like my first name.”
    “What is it?” Silence, surprise, surprise. Cara watched as he took off his fingerless gloves and put three sugars in his coffee. He cradled the coffee cup in his pale hands.
    “Do you mind if we don’t talk about the stuff with Jessica.”
    That was fair enough. She didn’t want his past medical history anyway and was sure he wouldn’t want hers.
    “Can I have a look at the book you’ve bought?”
    He pushed the bag across the table. Cara offered her purchase for him to look at. His book was entitled, Near Death Experiences , When the Light Calls You. She wondered if there was a section on mutilated bodies. She doubted it. Matcher glanced through her book. Cara had an irresistible urge to push his fringe back so she could see his eyes.
    “You said the man in the bookshop was dark, the one who had bought this book. What did you mean?”
    Matcher stiffened at her question. “He’s different, like you. I thought you could see it, but you can’t.” Matcher put his cup down and stared at her.
    “In what way am I