Guarding Grayson Read Online Free PDF Page A

discovered on the bottom of his shoe?
    And what had he just said to her? Something unkind. "I—I can't stay here?" she repeated, his words echoing in her head. "But why, Gray?"
    Couldn't he see that she was back—from where, she wasn't certain, just that it had been dark and cold and she'd been alone, more alone than at any time in her life.
    Then the warm, golden glow had appeared, and she wasn't alone anymore. Instead, she was carried up, up and away through the warm summer night, through starlight and moonglow and dry, fragrant desert air ... to this place. And now Gray was here— her Gray.
    "Why can't I stay?" she repeated, her voice shaking now, as were her legs. She felt awful, weak and chilled. Had she been ill, was that why she smelled so bad?
    "Because you stink," her lover said, his lip curling as he gave her a look that was filled with distaste. "Brynne, you're obviously not well. Listen, why don't you go have a nice, uh, warm shower—make it a long one. I'll wait here."
    He was stepping back, and the look on his face, the stiff stance of his strong, lean body, the harsh set of his mouth said he wanted her gone now.
    With a moan, Brynne shook her head. No, no, this was all wrong. This couldn't be right—what was happening to her?
    " Oh, no ," said her secret voice, the glow brightening until Brynne was warm again. " This is not going according to plan. Brynne, go back to sleep. All will be well. Sleep now."
    Brynne let go, and let her secret voice take over.
     
    * * *
    Gray watched Brynne warily. For a moment there, she'd looked so lost and hurt, he'd nearly opened his big mouth and told her not to fret, that he was here and everything would be okay. But now she was back to giving him the strange look that raised the hairs on the back of his neck. He needed to get to the neighbors and use their phone to call 911 the minute the shower went on.
    Brynne cocked her head again, retreating a step.
    "I perceive that this odor and appearance may be offensive," she said, the raspy, flat voice back. "I will utilize your shower."
    "Great. Towels are clean, just changed them out today. Just toss your clothes in the hall—no, make that the garbage. I'll ... find you something to wear."
    Without another word, she turned and walked away along the short hallway, paused to peer into the dark bathroom, then walked in. The door shut behind her, the light went on.
    Gray listened, not moving or breathing. The moment he heard the shower hissing quietly behind the closed door, he picked up his phone and shoved it into his pocket, then headed for the back door.
    He was outside, across the narrow strip of back lawn, and vaulting over the fence to Topper's back yard in a moment.
    Strangely, his Gran's neighbor was waiting for him on her back porch. He was up her steps and lifting a hand to knock on her door when Topper appeared from the deep shadows, the light from his porch glinting on her hair. "Hello, Grayson."
    "Christ!" He skidded to a stop, his hands up before him, then blew out a hard breath. "Whoa, sorry, you startled me.” He blinked and looked again. Was her hair purple? Yes, it was. It had been a sort of pale tangerine yesterday.
    “Listen, I need your help."
    She gave him a bland look. "Tell me."
    "Hard to know where to begin," Gray said, shoving a hand through his hair. "Ah, my old girlfriend just showed up. She's been ... gone, for months. We all thought she was dead. Now she looks like a—a ghost, she's filthy and she's talking nonsense. I need to use your phone to call the sheriff and the EMTs. She needs to be somewhere ... safe."
    Somewhere they'd look after her, treat her like gold and somehow find the old Brynne and bring her back. She may have been annoying as hell, but she didn't deserve her present state.
    Topper came closer. She put a hand on each of his arms, giving him a look of sympathy. "Grayson," she said. "I'm afraid I can't do that."
    "What?" he jerked away from her. "Why not? You won't help an