Dark Promise Read Online Free PDF Page A

Thumping the steering wheel, she pulled onto the highway and buried the eerie feeling.
    God, it was beautiful up here. High, snowcapped mountains lined the highway. The snow-frosted pines and aspen trees reminded her of Christmas. She maneuvered her SUV through heavy traffic to the free parking at the Corn Lot and parked her SUV. She quickly buckled her boots, put on her gloves, flung her skis over her shoulders and headed for the ski bus.
    Waiting for the bus, she stood next to a young kissing couple. She and Luke had been ski partners. With his long, blond hair and green eyes, he could be a movie star or an Olympic champion. She had been the envy of all her friends, but when he kissed her, she’d froze. If he tried to initiate anything more intimate than a kiss, she huddled into her shell the way a frightened tortoise retreated from a predator. God, what was wrong with her? No wonder he’d cheated on her. What did she expect?
    Forget it. An image of herself stretched out naked at Walter Byron Park and mystery man sucking on her pussy popped in her head. The same man who had been at breakfast. Desire rushed through her, pooling between her legs.
    “You’re crazy, Lucy.” A boy about twelve stood next to a smaller girl, wearing a pink stocking hat, her blonde braids laying on her shoulder.
    Lucy frowned and her lower lip trembled. Tears welled in the little girl's eyes. “No, I’m not Steven. Don't call me crazy.”
    Cassandra tightened her grip on her skis. That single word used to reduce her to tears. In elementary school, when her classmates found out her secret of seeing ghosts and the Wraith, she became Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The other children would point and chant, “C-c-c-razy C-c-cassie. S-see any ghosts yet?”
    She had to play hopscotch by herself, play tetherball by herself and climb on the jungle gym by herself. Being Rudy sucked.
    That was a long time ago, another lifetime. Inhaling the crisp air, she pushed back the memory and smiled at the curvy wintery slopes. She was beyond being a frightened child and today, she had slopes to conquer.
    The silver bus rolled into the parking lot. Clasping her skis and poles, Cassandra boarded the crowded transport.
    She had met Luke on the ski bus. He had sat next to her and smelled of wet pine. His dazzling smile and witty personality hooked her until she dreamed that night. Why couldn’t she forget her dreams? They weren’t real. The man wasn’t real. But what about the dead ringer guy at breakfast?
    Coincidence.
    Too much coffee. At The Village drop off, Cassandra headed inside to the women’s restroom. When she stepped out of the ladies bathroom and walked through the crowded locker room, a ski locker opened by itself. A trash can lid moved back and forth. Icy goose bumps ran up her arms and she shivered. The same creepy feeling from the inn swept over her. Whatever it was had followed her here, but she didn’t see the willowy Wraith or the shadowy cowboy.
    The spookiness grew more powerful than it had been in the inn parking lot. She wanted to scream, but she’d be Crazy Cassie again.
    Outside, she stopped shivering. Goose bumps marked her arms. “Get a grip, Cassie,” she murmured. “You’re imaging things.”
    She grabbed her skis, plopped them down near the American Eagle chairlift, stepped into the bindings and skied into the singles’ line.
    Crap. Luke.
    Looking like a Greek God out on a ski vacation, his bleach blond hair flared over his shoulder and his dark sun glasses hid his beautiful eyes. He sneered.
    “Well, well, if it isn’t Cassandra, beautiful as ever. Still the frigid snow queen?” Hurt reflected in his green eyes, but in a flash was replaced with stormy anger.
    Her stomach clenched.
    Shit. Shit. Shit.
    Not wanting him to know he hit a nerve, Cassandra put her shoulders back and snowplowed. Was Lilly right? Had she hurt him? “Lu-lu-uke, wh-what, are you do-ing he-he-re?” Damn stupid stuttering. Really fooled him. Next,