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arms.
    His blue-eyed gaze narrowed as he looked around her living room. “What happened?” His voice dropped to a gentle soothing pitch. “Are you all right?”
    “I’m not sure,” Amber, replied, her voice suddenly shaky. She met his eyes and tried a wavering smile. “About either question.”
    He kicked the door closed and led her to the sofa. “Sit down, honey.” He sat next to her and pulled her to him in a protective hug. She settled softly against him. “Tell me what happened.”
    “I walked in on someone going through my things.” She didn’t dare tell David that she wasn’t sure the thing she’d glimpsed was a person at all.
    He smoothed a lock of auburn-gold hair behind her ear and away from her face. “A robbery? We’d better call the police.”
    Amber upright. “No. I’m a little short on details, and besides I’m not sure he was trying to rob me exactly.” She pulled back from his arms and angled to face him. “He said I had something he’d been looking for” She slid her forefinger under the gold chain around her neck and lifted the pendant from inside her blouse. “I can’t be sure but I think this is what he wanted.”
    David slipped his hand under the tri-colored disk. “Are you sure? Anyone can get something like this from a street vendor on Canal Street.”
    “No. Look. It’s glowing.” She looked from the pendant to David and, for a split second, thought she saw an uneasiness in his eyes that alarmed her.
    “It’s just a reflection,” he said quickly bringing the discomfort on his face under control.
    “No, it’s not. I don’t know how exactly but I think it helped me see him in the dark.” She let the chain fall back onto her chest.
    “Amber, you’re upset.” He took her hand in his. “When you called me, you said that you had another episode. Are you sure he wasn’t just a street punk and the rest is just your imagination?”
    She pulled away. “I didn’t imagine anything.” Suddenly drained and tired of the effort to be strong, she rested her head on the back of the sofa. “He said he’d been searching for twenty-five years and I’ll be twenty-five in a few weeks. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.” David rose and began to pace. She could see both warmth and concern on his face. Despite her best intentions, the sparkle of building tears lay bare in her eyes. “I’m not like everyone else and I think he knows why.”
    He was back at her side in an instant, pulling her up from the sofa and back into his arms. “Honey, you’re in shock, that’s all.”
    She pulled free. “No! Something’s happening. I can feel it.”
    His arms went tight around her again and he murmured soothing little sounds. He scooped her up into his arms. She rested her head on his chest as he sat on the sofa and settled her on his lap.
    “It’s okay,” he said softly, kissing her hair and then her cheek, “just try to tell me what happened.”
    She glanced at the curve of his lips and then back into his eyes. While she waited for the words to come, her fingers cupped his cheeks cradling his face, a new growth of dark beard scraping against her skin. She ran her thumb over his lips, comparing their softness to the rough feel of his cheek.
    “I have to kiss you first,” she whispered as she moved her mouth closer to his. “So I can feel safe,” she said against his lips.
    Kisses that first caressed soon began to burn with building passion. The arousal was swift, urgent and undeniable. With each kiss it grew until their breaths came in quick, shallow gasps. She began to unbutton his shirt when he gently lightened his kisses and slid her from his lap. They stood, foreheads touching until their breathing slowed.
    His fingertip gently traced her kiss-swollen mouth. “What are we doing, Amber?” he whispered hoarsely.
    Amber drew back, her gaze lingering on his lips. “Isn’t it about time?” Her heart seemed to stop when a sad smile passed over his features.
    “Not