Lights and Shadows (Oregon In Love) by Bonnie Blythe Read Free Book Online

family from?”
    “ San Diego. That’s where we begin and end. Beyond
that, I don’t know.”
    He studied her face. Julia began to feel a heat suffuse
her body that had nothing to do with the blanket around her
shoulders. She turned back to the book. “Tell me about this
technique,” she said, pointing to a photo of a ghostly image of a
tree in the sunlight.
    “ That’s called infrared photography. I use a special
kind of film and filter. Anything containing chlorophyll shows up as
white. It’s great for nature shots and shows how a photographer can
manipulate light to change the appearance of something.”
    “ It’s so ethereal.” She took a deep breath,
starting to feel dizzy. Julia turned another page, hoping to get her
mind back on the book. “What kind of stone is this?”
    “ That’s obsidian.”
    Julia looked up at him. “It’s the color of your
eyes.”
    Something flickered in his gaze, making her realize
she’d spoken the thought out loud. She felt her cheeks flame.
    Slowly, Marc turned several pages in the book and said,
“This green tourmaline...is the color of yours.”
    For several long seconds she was unable to tear her gaze
from his. Oh, dear . What’s happening to me? Her heart
pounded like a bird trapped in a cage. The sensations coursing
through her were disconcerting. It took her a moment to rouse herself
and pull her hand from his grasp. When she finally spoke, her voice
sounded far away. “I think it’s stopped raining.”
    “ Yes,” Marc replied, standing. His expression became
guarded. “Let me get you a coat.”
    Julia rose on unsteady legs as he returned with a
corduroy jacket. He helped her into it. She murmured her thanks,
noticing the faint smell of his cologne on the fabric.
    “ It’s getting dark. I’ll walk you to your car.”
    Julia picked up her purse and followed him out the door.
Outside, magenta hued ribbons stretched along the darkening horizon.
She had no idea so much time had passed. The streets glistened with
lights reflecting in the puddles as they walked to the parking garage
situated only a block away from his apartment.
    The air was brisk, making Julia thankful for the warmth
of the coat. She pulled it more tightly about her. When they arrived
at the Mustang, she opened the door and turned to Marc. “Thanks for
the tour, the hot chocolate...everything.”
    He smiled in a vague way and waited until she was locked
inside the car with the engine running. He returned her wave as she
drove away.
    When Julia arrived back at the B & B, she went
straight to the cottage without stopping in at the house. In her
bedroom, she picked up Sara’s copy of Marc’s book. Sitting on the
edge of the bed, she turned the book over and studied the photograph
on the back. Coherent thoughts refused to form in her head, so she
scooted onto the bed. Leaning against the headboard, she was
determined to read the book from cover to cover.

Chapter Five

    Julia awoke the next morning, and groggily realized she’d fallen
asleep in Marc’s coat. The book lay open on the floor. A glance at
the clock told her it was nine in the morning. Late for her, and yet
she felt more fatigued than usual.
    She closed her eyes and tried to will away an impending headache.
Reaching up to the area above her hairline over her right temple, she
felt the scars and tried to rub away some of the pain. Perhaps she’d
caught a chill from being out in the rain. That might explain why
she’d fallen asleep in her clothes.
    Forcing herself off the bed, she remembered what occurred the night
before with Marc Dorin. Something had happened. She just
didn’t know what. Julia had no desire to obsess. Maybe for once,
having a headache could serve a purpose. She’d be unable to make
sense of anything in the state she was in.
    Julia decided against doing her usual exercises, hoping if she took
it easy, she’d feel better sooner than later. After dressing in a
dusty blue cashmere tee and matching cardigan along with