Haunted Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

crisp, white dress shirt, and a dark, amber-colored silk tie, with no coat or jacket, and with brown loafers.
    Showcasing pearly white teeth, Duncan smiled happily. “Ruben? Can’t tell you how nice it is to meet you.” He extended his hand.
    Swallowing down his anxiety, Ruben matched his guest’s smile, though he felt his own was lacking. “H-hello, Mr. K-Kerr. Likewise.” He tried to raise his hand to return the greeting, but it just trembled, fighting the order his brain sent.
    Duncan glanced down briefly, but then he pulled his arm back and smiled. “Shaking hands is a bit formal and old-fashioned, it’s true. Not needed among friends, right?”
    Ruben blushed. Duncan’s charm and ease of adjustment only endeared him to Ruben more, causing his crush to deepen. “N-no, I guess not. Um, w-would you like to come in?” Taking a step to the side, he opened the door wider.
    “Thank you.” Duncan walked in, a confident stride that exuded alpha masculinity and consequently made Ruben’s groin tingle hotly. Duncan’s gaze swept over the foyer and deeper into the house. “You have a beautiful place here.”
    “Oh, yes. Thank you.” Ruben closed the door, staring at the floor mostly to prevent himself from tripping on his own feet, and then dashed toward the sitting room where he was planning on serving coffee. The sitting room was on the opposite side of the house from the sunroom where he drew and painted. “Please, this way.” With a shaky wave, he indicated where his guest should take a seat on the couch.
    Duncan nodded in acknowledgement and sat opposite Ruben. “The place is so filled with light. Airy. Spacious. Fit for an artist.”
    Ruben bowed his head a bit, not daring even a glance at Duncan. “It does have a kind of beach house feel to it, I know. Architecture one might expect in California or Florida, not this far up north.” To stop the idle chitchat that made it hard for Ruben to focus, he poured fresh ground coffee into Duncan’s cup and asked, “Do you want cream or sugar with your coffee?”
    “Sugar. Four spoons. I have a bit of a sweet tooth.” Duncan chuckled as he said that, and that made Ruben look at him, seeing the man give a self-deprecating grin and a wink.
    Unable to help himself, Ruben chuckled back. “Me too.” Then he felt awkward at the confession but didn’t know how to take it back, or pretend it didn’t happen, or segue to another topic smoothly.
    “I may be out of line asking this….” Duncan cut into Ruben’s thoughts, his tone polite and somehow pleading. “But I would love to see a portfolio of some of your work. The submission call didn’t specify that since it was just for one book cover. Since then you’ve shown your skills with every new picture. I’d love to see more, if that’s not intrusive.”
    Ruben shook with uncertainty. “Um, now…?” He had no idea what he wanted to show Duncan: All or nothing. Probably the latter. He had wanted to impress Duncan, for more than one reason, but could he go through with it and allow this virtual stranger into his sanctuary from the harsh realities?
    “No. After coffee, maybe?” Duncan sounded hopeful, and his smile was kind, warm, and welcoming. Ruben wanted to trust that. His good impression of the man had grown with the e-mails, but how could he be sure that was Duncan’s true self? “No pressure, Ruben. If you don’t wish to show me anything, that’s fine too. I just wanted to meet you in person. To see the young man behind all this amazing imagination and talent.”
    Pleased beyond belief at the unexpected compliment, Ruben blushed fire red and ducked his head. “T-thanks….” He quickly added several spoonfuls of sugar to both their coffees to give his hands something to do.
    “Perhaps we could start this the other way around.”
    Baffled, Ruben had no clue as to what Duncan meant.
    After he took a sip of his coffee, Duncan grinned. “Do you have any questions for me? About the publishing