A Deep and Dark December by Beth Yarnall Read Free Book Online Page A

looking for Erin—”
    The bathroom door opened and Erin walked out, towel drying her hair. “Keith.” She stumbled to a stop. “What are you doing here?”
    Cerie repositioned her chair to take in the scene. “This ought to be good.”
    Graham stood up and came around his desk. He had an overwhelming urge to drag Erin out of the room and ask her what the hell her aunt had been talking about. Erin had the ability to see the past and future? How?
    “So it’s true,” Keith said, crumpling a little in his starched white shirt.
    “What’s true?” Erin asked.
    “You’ve been arrested,” Keith answered.
    Graham folded his arms. This whole business was getting ridiculous. “Who says she’s been arrested?”
    “It’s all over town,” Keith said. “Carol in produce told me that Janet from the pharmacy’s son told her that he saw you being taken to jail in the back of the sheriff’s car. So I came right down to bail you out.” He fidgeted a little in his Lucky’s Bag N Save apron, his employee of the month pins winking under the florescent lighting.
    This was why he couldn’t wait to get out of San Ray. He studied Erin. And wondered why if she had this supposed ability, she’d kept it a secret all these years. “Goddamned small town.” And then he realized he’d answered his own question right there.
    ~*~
    Erin inwardly sighed. Keith really was a nice guy. She wished all over again that she could like him more. Guys who would overlook her aunt’s quirkiness and offer to bail her out of jail weren’t thick on the ground.
    “Humph. I knew it!” Aunt Cerie said, glancing between Keith and Erin.
    Damn it. She’d lowered her defenses and her aunt had read her thoughts about Keith. She shored them back up and turned to Keith. “I’m not under arrest. I’m a witness.”
    Cerie drew up in her chair and folded her arms, glaring at Erin. “I hate that you can block me out.”
    “A witness?” Keith crossed the room in two long-legged strides. He put his hands on either side of her face. The gesture was meant to be endearing, but was ruined by the coldness of his hands and how they always smelled like the bottom of a freezer. “My poor angel face.”
    Behind Keith, Aunt Cerie put her hands to her throat and stuck her tongue out like she was choking.
    Keith’s brows drew together and his lips pressed flat. He was worried about her. In his eyes Erin saw how much he cared and she wished all over again that she could return his feelings. There was absolutely nothing wrong with him. He was a handsome hometown boy, clean and well dressed, his hair always combed. He had fresh breath and a good job with benefits. To top it off, last year he’d bought a house that he was fixing up, perfect for a family. Keith belonged to the community in a way Erin never had. On paper he was everything she should have wanted.
    But with Keith, she always felt one step behind with no hope of ever catching up. She should’ve broken things off long before now. Whenever she summoned the courage to try, he’d say or do something sweet and she’d think that maybe if she gave it more time, she’d develop feelings for him. He was nearly perfect in every way. She was beginning to think there must be something wrong with her .
    “I’m all right,” she told Keith, accepting his kiss.
    Aunt Cerie jumped up, putting her hands to her head. “Ouch! Rats and skeletons, it’s happening again.”
    Keith broke away from Erin to stare at her aunt like he thought she could actually produce rats and skeletons.
    “What’s happening?” Graham asked.
    “Blink, blank, bloop.”
    “Is she… well?” Keith whispered in Erin’s ear.
    Erin pretended she didn’t hear him. She’d gotten good at pretending with Keith. “What’s wrong, Auntie?”
    “Something else is going on here,” Aunt Cerie said to Graham. “It’s not the storm.” She rubbed her temples.
    Erin didn’t like how pale her aunt was or how shaky her hands were. Cerie never