Free Book of Dreams by Traci Harding Page B

the lotus position.
    Kyle was tickled by the apparent lengths Zoe was forced to go to in order to put him from her mind. He circled the bed, watching over her fondly as she drew in deep, relaxing breaths. ‘You’re really not at all what I expected.’ He stopped still in front of her and reached out to place a hand against her cheek, and although he could make no physical contact, Zoe’s head leant into his palm ever so slightly, and her exhalation sounded suspiciously like a sigh. As Zoe continued to breathe deeply, Kyle became spellbound, for he began to see the recent past through Zoe’s eyes.
    ‘ How could you sell a place of such beauty to Nivok Industries ?’
    Kyle saw himself posing the question in Nivok’s office, and he felt the doubt and guilt his taunting invoked.
    ‘ Your uncle isn’t going to punish you for tonight’s little episode. You don’t know the meaning of the word punishment. ’
    The ignorant assumption made him so angry!
    A sharp slap to the cheek rocked Kyle, with the kind of life-shattering fear that he’d not let himself experience since he was a child. He looked back at his attacker, James Nivok, feeling abandoned and betrayed.
    He withdrew his hand from Zoe’s cheek, heart pounding and tears of remorse filling his eyes. ‘I need to get myself a new role model … I am turning into one of my god-damn foster fathers!’ Seeing himself through another’s eyes made this obvious to Kyle for the first time.
    Zoe opened her eyes, appearing disappointed. ‘This isn’t helping.’ She arose and wandered over to the window that afforded a panoramic view of Sydney. ‘How could I be attracted to an abusive man, who makes me feel this bad about myself? He’s destroyed my trust in the one family member I have left, and forced me to quit my job! Not that I was that excited about the position, but I certainly would have liked to depart on better terms.’
    ‘ Okay ,’ Kyle appealed in desperation, ‘I admit that I have been a total arsehole! But, you’re perceptive.’ Kyle joined her at the window. ‘Maybe you see beyond my bullshit, and recognise the scared, directionless, orphan who’s just like you?’ The money factor had prevented Kyle drawing any parallel between Zoe’s life and his own, and he suddenly realised how similar their situation was. ‘Kindred spirits perhaps?’
    Zoe’s depression suddenly lifted. She smiled as if she’d had a nice thought, although she said nothing to indicate what that thought might have been.
    The morning sunlight played upon her dark hair and fair skin, highlighting the emerald sparkle in her eyes, still glazed by the dreams of sleep. Her freshness and serenity was enchanting. Kyle’s gaze became transfixed on her and he knew this moment would stay etched on his memory forever, for he had never seen such a vision of bemusing loveliness. ‘Could I be falling —’
    A knock on the door prevented Kyle from considering the premise, and Zoe broke from her silent contemplation to get the door. Kyle delayed to close his eyes and hold the moment captive, and when he was sure Zoe’s image was clearly imbedded in his mind, he opened his eyes to view the cityscape. ‘I must have been insane to imagine that such a goddess could ever love a scumbag like me … or that a scumbag like me could love!’
    ‘So,’ Kyron didn’t venture from his corner, ‘you’re a fool.’ He shrugged in conclusion.
    ‘Is that supposed to be encouraging?’ Kyle turned to the beast, considering that perhaps his guide needed a brush-up course on guidance.
    Kyron nodded. ‘Well, yeah … many a fool has found true love despite his delusions.’
    ‘Point taken.’ Kyle smiled and nodded to concede. ‘Thanks buddy.’

 

BROKEN DREAMS
     
    Zoe looked through the peephole of her apartment door. ‘Matt!’ she panicked, opening the door and quickly pulling him inside.
    At the sound of his best friend’s name, Kyle wandered into the lounge room to be sure that he’d