Hide My Memories: A Romantic Suspense Thriller Series (Hide Me Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

from her before, they settled back in place like they deserved to be there. The images! That was why she’d felt so good earlier! Her mind had belonged to her again. She tried to think back to when they’d first disappeared, but she couldn’t quite do it. She was being distracted.
    Liquid brown eyes. Blonde ponytail. Red lipstick.
    Katerina groaned in the stall, heedless of who might hear her. She'd felt so good just a few short moments before. Why wouldn't these horrible pictures in her mind go away? Why were they haunting her? Who were these women? What happened to them? Why was she seeing it? She raked her fingernails down her cheeks, feeling her sanity slipping. Her mind seemed slightly fuzzy, indicating that she still had a bit of a buzz from the beers she had drank, so it hadn’t been the beer that had held the freak show at bay for a few blessed moments.
    She pushed out of the stall and splashed water on her face, noting the dark bags under her eyes. She couldn't live like this. It had only been a day, but she couldn't take this for even one more hour. A black cloud of dread settled over her head. She could almost see it. These pictures would kill her if they didn't go away. And she was supposed to start a new job tomorrow. One in which concentration and a clear head were paramount. But she had neither. Was this how people went crazy?
    A woman jostled her at the mirror and she stepped back. Jordan. She had to go find Jordan and ask for a ride home.
    She pushed out of the bathroom and walked purposefully back to her table. West was there still. She felt bad that she was going to abandon him, right as they were getting to know each other, but what could she do? Maybe a good night’s sleep would make all this go away.
    He looked up and waved at her, smiling. As their eyes locked, calm settled back on Katerina. She felt better. Like she could finally take a deep breath again. She did, sucking in smoky air. She didn't care. She wanted oxygen. It was making her feel better. She managed to smile back at West weakly.
    When she got to the table, West looked at her with concern. "Are you okay?"
    She sank into her chair and considered. She felt decent now. Thank goodness. "Yeah, I think I am. We should dance." Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to be pressed up against him again.
    West smiled, surprise in his eyes, but led her back onto the dance floor where the jukebox spouted John Legend singing All of Me. She swayed to the music before he even pulled her into his arms. But then he did, and she sank into them more willingly than the first time. She laid her head on his chest, hoping he didn't think she was too forward. Suddenly she just wanted to be close to him, this big, strong man she’d just met who made her feel so good. They moved around the dance floor and the next time Katerina opened her eyes she saw Jordan, dancing a short way away. Jordan flashed her a huge smile and a thumbs up. Katerina smiled back, knowing she wasn't doing this to make Jordan happy. She was making herself happy.
    "Are you sure you're okay?" West murmured into her hair. "You seem, I don't know, sad or uncomfortable."
    Katerina looked up into his face, surprised. "You can tell that about me already?"
    He smiled. "I can see it in your eyes."
    Katerina's guard dropped away completely as she contemplated what this man she had just met said. She felt hugely connected with him, like she had known him forever, like he was her best friend and protector. He smiled down at her and his perfectly-carved lips drew her to him like a magnet. Reveling in her clear mind, she refused to think about what she was about to do. She refused to contemplate if it was a good idea or not. Instead, she acted.
    She stood on her tip toes and curled a hand around the back of his neck, urging his head towards hers. She saw surprise in his eyes for only a fleeting moment, and then a vast rightness and acute longing replaced it. He inclined his head and slowly maneuvered