Just Enough Light by AJ Quinn Read Free Book Online Page A

wrong move. I need to find where I fit first, get my feet planted firmly under me, and that doesn’t leave much time for anything else. Like finding out who might fit with me.”
    “Can I share a bit of personal history?”
    “Of course.”
    “My mother once told me she knew my father was the one for her within an hour of meeting him. They were living together a month after they met. I laughed it off at the time. And then I met Lesley. I felt it instantly, but I wasted ten years we might have enjoyed together fighting who I was and what I thought was expected. Believing my choices would hurt the people I loved only to discover my parents just wanted me to be happy.” Annie reached over and squeezed Dana’s hand. “It was your instincts that brought you here to Haven, Dana. Keep trusting them.”

Chapter Four

    Kellen awoke with a start. There was a scream trapped in her throat, her heart was pounding, her skin was damp with sweat, and Bogart’s cold nose was pressed against her hand. Bringing her back. Reassuring her. Grounding her.
    Bogart nuzzled closer. Without saying a word, she scratched his head and let him know she was all right, although the taste of fear lingered. She’d wondered once how he knew, but decided gifts weren’t necessarily meant to be understood, only accepted.
    Eyes gritty from too little sleep, she blinked several times and waited until her vision adjusted to the relative darkness that enveloped her. The cabin was filled with shadows blurring the details, the only source of illumination provided by the glowing embers of the fire she’d built a couple of hours ago.
    She didn’t need more light than that to know only ghosts stirred in the stillness. But she stared at her hands nonetheless, reassuring herself the blood she’d seen moments before had only been there in her dream.
    She’d known from past experience it was likely going to be a rough night. Ever since Cody had mentioned the cop that had come by asking for her, there’d been too much adrenaline and energy crashing around inside her. Too much fear. Too many memories. Too many consequences.
    There was also more than a bit of annoyance, because she’d yet to deal with the issue head-on. Yet to ask Annie what she might know. And it wasn’t as if she hadn’t had a chance. But after coming back from dinner with the team the previous evening, she’d pleaded tiredness and called it a day.
    She’d walked with the girls as far as their cabin, then tried all the usual tools at her disposal, much as she did when things got rough. She headed to the recreation center. The gym was a source of personal pride and boasted state-of-the-art equipment and a challenging climbing wall, while the newest section included a selection of auto belayers, which meant she could work alone.
    She spent time on the climbing wall. Swam laps in the pool. Did everything she could to wear herself out so the nightmares would be kept at bay. But nothing had helped. Not even warm thoughts of the new doctor. Dana Kingston, of the fair hair, incredibly deep brown eyes, endless legs, and gentle humor.
    In the end, Kellen headed back to her cabin with Bogart. Hoping for the best. But when she finally managed to fall asleep, her demons crept out of the shadows where they’d been waiting for her.
    That was the problem with memories. They lived in her mind and there was no outrunning them.
    Her saving grace was Bogart. He’d pulled her out of the nightmare that held her in its grasp. Stayed beside her while the beat of his heart drove the remaining images away. Just like he always did.
    Kellen knew most people would find it strange, at best, if they knew the truth. But for some inexplicable reason, she had a connection with Bogart. She’d sensed it from the moment she spotted him on the interstate. He had just escaped the rear wheels of a southbound semi and stood shaking on the side of the road. Young, emaciated, half-frozen.
    Not that different from the girls, the