Free Road Rage by Jessi Gage Page A

aluminum.
    Panting and wild-eyed, he looked back at her. A flush crept up his cheeks. He abandoned his defensive posture, letting the bat slide in his grip until he held it relaxed by his side. “Probably overkill with the bat?”
    She held back her laughter. “I’m betting you could take me without it. But I don’t think it’ll come to that. I’m not interested in hurting you, only doing nice things to you.”
    He gulped, a large, muscle-bound man staring at her like a horny teenager unable to believe his luck. “I’m still dreaming.”
    “Nope.”
    “Shit.” He wiped a hand down his face, shut his eyes for a beat and reopened them as though expecting her to be gone. Of course she didn’t go anywhere, and she wouldn’t, not for another few minutes if the pattern of the last two mornings held. The alarm had gone off at 4:50, and she’d been yanked away the last two mornings in the minute or two before 5:00. She’d never caught even the barest hint of dawn. Would this morning be the same?
    Please let me stay to see sunrise this morning, she pleaded to whatever power was responsible for this weirdness.
    Derek wiped a hand down his face again. “Shit.”
    She grimaced. “Not quite the reaction I was hoping for.”
    “Sorry. It’s all I got.” His face grew paler. Fear replaced the sleepiness in his eyes.
    Okay, the guy was freaked. Not what she’d intended, but she could deal. She just needed to explain.
    She folded her legs under her so she knelt in the middle of the bed, facing him. “Look, sorry if I scared you, but I’m no threat. Honest. I’ll even disappear if you want me to. All I have to do is get out of bed and poof , you won’t see me anymore. But this is the first time I’ve gotten to really talk to you in three days, and, I don’t have long, only a few more minutes, and, well, maybe I’m a little lonely. I was kind of hoping we could talk–I mean I know you probably have to get ready for work and all–I’m guessing it’s Monday. I don’t want to impose or anything. I just–”
    Just what? Wanted to have breakfast with him? She couldn’t go sit at the kitchen table and sip coffee. With a sinking feeling, she realized she didn’t know what exactly she wanted from him. She had no right to expect anything of him. She was completely interrupting his life. Not to mention, she was a supernatural phenomenon he probably had one heck of a time trying to wrap his brain around.
    When he continued staring at her, she blew out a breath and tried not to let the disappointment crush her. “Never mind. You’ve got to get to work.” Why else would he be getting up so early after less than four hours of sleep? “Look, I don’t know why, but I always show up here in your room after dark. And I always stay until five or so. And you can only see or hear me when I’m on the bed. I can’t even open doors or move things or pick up a stupid sock. Crazy, I know. But there it is. So, I’ll go now–” She couldn’t make an exit until the fog claimed her, but she could climb out of his bed and at least become invisible to him, give the guy a chance to reboot. “I’ll be back tonight, though. Probably.” She hoped. “Maybe we can talk then?”
    Good grief, she sounded desperate. She was desperate–for company, for Derek’s affection, to understand what was happening to them and why–but she didn’t want to come across as burdensome.
    “Only if you want,” she added.
    His expression never changed. His eyes were still wide, his eyebrows still drawn together. The firm lips she’d nibbled and kissed earlier made a stony line.
    She’d messed up big time. She was supposed to be his comfort, and here she’d upset him.
    “I’m sorry.” Her shoulders slumped. She felt like a complete failure. She’d let her own agenda override good sense. Before she could make things any worse, she slipped off the opposite side of the bed.
    With her heart shrinking into an embarrassed prune, she watched his