The Immaculate Deception Read Online Free PDF Page A

him over. He eyed me up and down, his gaze lingering in all the usual spots. It had been so long since anyone had leered at me. And his grin just grew larger. He seemed to genuinely like what he saw. And so did I.
    Finally the stranger spoke, in a low gentle voice, with a hint of an English accent.
    “ Hello, Cinderella. Do you know me?”
    “ Should I? I mean…I feel like I’ve dreamed you into life.” I sighed.
    “ Something like that.”
    “ Do you know me?” I asked, searching his face, not knowing whether to hope he did or hope he didn’t.
    “ Of course.”
    I stuttered, “Who are you?”
    In the sweetest, knowingest voice I’d ever heard, he said, “I’m an angel. Your mate. Your soul mate across history.”
    He took my hand into his and kissed it. I thought I was going to swoon. I felt like I’d yearned for this moment all my life. I didn’t know what to expect but he was so much more than I expected. I was overwhelmed. Wait . This guy must be a nut. What exactly did he mean he was my soul mate across history? That was the most preposterous come-on line I’d ever heard. My mate? Did he mean in a sexual way? Well, not that I minded. He was very hot. For some reason I couldn’t explain, I wanted to believe him. An angel. My mate…across history. Did that mean I was born into the wrong generation? Was that why I was so different from the rest of my family? I felt a very strong connection coming from him. A warm and fuzzy feeling that rubbed me in just the right places.
    He stuck his hand inside of the paper bag and pulled out a hamburger. “Hungry, Donna?”
    “ Yes.” I grabbed the burger, removed the patty from the bun and gobbled just the meat.
    “ Here, have another.” He handed me a second small hot burger and snatched the empty buns from me. Tearing them into tiny pieces, he lined the bread on the bridge railing. He plucked a third burger from the bag and joined me in snacking.
    “ What are you doing out on such a treacherous night, Cinderella?”
    I thought about it for a while. I remembered trying on Momma’s fur coat and looking at her pictures. I wondered where she was. I had been waiting for her at her house. Perry had said that he had locked her up in a mental hospital and that she had escaped and killed Daddy. Damn him. Poor Momma. I had to find her. “I’m looking for my mother, Mrs. Payne.” Wait, silly. I’m dreaming in 1945. “Um, maybe you know her by Chloe Lambert?”
    “ Right. Girl Secret Service agent. Works over at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.”
    This was getting really weird. Maybe I’d lost my mind, maybe I’d fractured my skull during the accident. I had to be dreaming. But in my dream, I could actually taste the ketchup. Grease was dripping down the side of my face. What a burger! This guy was still staring at me. He was so cute. My stomach started fluttering. What color hair would he have under that hat?
    He interrupted my thoughts. “So would you like me to accompany you?”
    “ Sure, why not. Where’re we off to?”
    “ I thought you’re looking for your mum?”
    A pair of fat ravens landed on the railing and pecked at the bread. I began shivering. Snowflakes dropped down in big swirls. They spun around in the glow of the gas lamps.
    “ Button up your frock, love. You shouldn’t be gadding about…um, nude…in this kind of weather.”
    “ Nude?” I felt the snow melting on my tummy. Oh my gosh, I’m not wearing anything under this fur coat! My numb fingers fought to shove the silk buttons through the loops. Great, just great. Now he’s seen the finer parts of my anatomy, all bandaged and bruised. Wait a minute, where is the new dressing I taped on the wound? I began rubbing my shoulder and chest.
    He said, “Need any help?”
    I looked at him. “What?” I had smooth, completely healed skin. No scar. I buttoned the top button.
    He winked and threw the hamburger wrappers and sack in a wire trash bin. He playfully tipped the brim of his