The Guardian Mist by Susan Stoker Read Free Book Online Page A

time.
    She went through the maze of hallways to get back to the lobby and stood in line behind a man who was obviously checking in at the front counter.
    Not paying much attention at first, thinking about something she needed to do at work the next week, Rin was startled when she realized the scent in the air was very familiar.
    She tilted her head and breathed in again, deeper this time.
    The man in front of her finished checking in and moved slightly to the side, throwing a leather bag over his shoulder. “Evening,” he said in a polite tone, nodding and smiling at her as he turned in profile.
    His movements wafted his delicious scent toward Rin once more, engulfing her senses, and shockingly, all she could think about was burying her face in the stranger’s neck and breathing him in.
    Smoke.
    Cold air.
    Leaves.
    And when he’d said hello, she’d gotten a whiff of peppermint.
    Freaking peppermint .
    Rin’s mind whirled. What in the world was going on? Who was this man and how could he smell exactly like the calming scent she’d dreamed about her entire life? She had the firm thought that if he put his arms around her, she could burrow in and he’d keep her safe from anything that might want to hurt her. It was insane, but she suddenly longed to feel that safety, just once before she died.
    He was taller than her five-six by at least a couple of inches. He had dark, curly hair, a five-o’clock shadow on his square jaw, and beautiful hazel eyes. He was wearing a pair of jeans that had seen better days. Somehow Rin knew he hadn’t bought the jeans with the holes strategically placed on his thigh and knee, as many people did these days. He looked too…masculine to care much about fashion. His shirt was a long-sleeve plaid Henley, which strained over the muscles in his arms.
    She continued to openly study the man and tried to place him. He seemed familiar to her, but she couldn’t remember Tina or her mom ever talking about a man who looked like him, so he probably wasn’t there for the party. He looked as though he was in his mid-thirties, definitely too old to have gone to school with Tina. Paired with his relaxed clothes was a set of work boots, probably steel-toed. His fingers were long and one hand was still clutching the leather bag over his shoulder. The other was resting at his hip, his fingers tucked into the front pocket of his jeans…
    And he was grinning at her, obviously amused rather than offended by her long stare.
    “Hello?”
    His single word made her snap back to herself. Jesus, he must think she was an idiot, standing there drinking him in as if she’d been stranded on a desert island. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to stare at you.”
    He kept smiling, but moved all the way aside so she could step up to the front desk. Aware that he wasn’t walking away and was, in fact, standing close enough for Rin to get the occasional whiff of his delicious scent, but not close enough for him to be blatantly eavesdropping, she forced herself to meet the eyes of the bored-looking receptionist.
    Focusing back on the task at hand, she relayed her mom’s wishes regarding the party. The woman nodded and said she’d contact the night manager, who would get with the catering manager and take care of it.
    Rin nodded and thanked the woman and turned—to see the man still standing nearby.
    “Do we know each other?” the man asked when she faced him again.
    “I don’t think so. Do you know Tina Velt? Are you here for her party? We’re twins, so maybe that’s how you recognize me. Although we’re pretty different.”
    “A party?” he asked.
    “Yeah. It’s a birthday thing.”
    “So, it’s Tina’s and your birthday party then,” he said with a grin. The man held out his hand. “Neat. I’m Roman.”
    She looked at his hand for a long moment, somehow knowing without a doubt that her life would change if she took it. Finally, she stretched out her own, and as he took hold, said,