Caterpillar, a Paranormal Romance With a Touch of Horror Read Online Free PDF

the scented bubbles.  I scrubbed and shaved everything from the neck down, emerging from the water smooth and rosy.
I rolled my hair in big hot rollers and put my makeup on, taking extra care to cover my scar as best I could.  I massaged shimmering scented lotion into every inch of my skin then sprayed a quick burst of perfume at my throat, nape and behind my knees.  I put on lacy red panties and a matching strapless bra. 
As I stood in front of the mirror, getting ready to step into my dress, I wondered what Detective Tegan would think of my reflection. 
“Where did that come from?”  I asked the thin air.  I was equal parts surprised and aggravated that he’d popped into my head, to say nothing for the disturbing clarity with which I could remember his clear blue eyes.  Shaking my head, I pushed aside thoughts of him and focused on completing the task at hand.
I was sliding into my sexy, strappy shoes when the doorbell rang. I scurried to open the door, nearly falling face down on the hardwoods when I stepped on the short train of my dress.  Luckily, I caught myself and managed not to rip the material. 
I flung the door open.  I must’ve surprised Scott.  “Wow!  Look at you,” he said, his mouth slightly agape. 
“That’s the second time I’ve heard that today,” I teased.
“You look…luminous,” he said, his soft bronzy-brown eyes glowing in appreciation.
“It’s my lotion.  It—“
“No.  It’s just…you.  You just… glow .”
“Thank you,” I said simply, wondering at his odd behavior.  If it wasn’t so ridiculous, I’d have said he was enthralled, but that didn’t make any sense.  I shook my head, passing it off as another weird thing I’d have to think about later.
Twenty minutes later, I was taking a deep breath and securing my public “mask” as we entered the pre-function area of the Grand Ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta.  
Local politicians as well as minor celebrities decked out in their finest stood beneath the crystal chandeliers and tray ceilings.  I jacked my chin up a notch, put on my most confident smile and glided beside my dashing companion across the room to where Scott’s boss, District Attorney David Arnes, stood.
David was attractive, with perfectly coiffed salt-and-pepper hair and perfectly straight too-white teeth.  He’d taken suave a little too far, though, which had landed him somewhere between lounge singer and cheesy game-show host.  My skin crawled in his presence, but I guess people did what they had to do to keep their head above water in the shark tank of Atlanta politics.
He looked similar to a famous sports announcer, like, at any minute, he might take a microphone dangling from the ceiling and announce, “Let’s get ready to rumble!” 
Penelope Rider, David’s paralegal, appeared at his side.  Penelope was nice enough and cute in a pixie-like way. Her close-cropped hair was bleached the whitest white, but it suited her petite frame.  Evidently she was David’s companion for the night.  By the multitude of stars that shone in her eyes when she looked at him, I guessed she’d like to make that the case on a more permanent basis.  And she made no efforts to conceal her fascination.
Ick! I thought, but who was I to judge?
I was looking casually around the room, trying not to stare at Penelope’s glow-in-the-dark hair, when my gaze collided with the blue eyes I’d had no trouble picturing earlier.  Detective Tegan.  He was staring at me like I’d begun levitating or breathing fire or something, like he wasn’t quite sure what to make of me.  My stomach did an involuntary little flip. 
In his formal attire, he was breathtaking.  The dark material of his tuxedo hugged his thick, wide shoulders then cut in sharply to accentuate his flat stomach and trim waist.  The perfectly tailored pants couldn’t hide the shift of muscle in his thighs as he walked. 
He moved with the grace of a large cat.  He was cutting a path