The Man In The Mirror Read Online Free PDF Page A

trying to figure out what she was mouthing, but the general idea came through as Lynne rolled her eyes.
    “I’ll call you tomorrow, Tori. See you later, Connor,” she called.
    “Goodbye, and thank you for our talk this morning,” he said, coming around the partition wall. He took Lynne’s hand and kissed the back.
    “It was an absolute pleasure.”
    Lynne nearly fell over, while Tori felt like growling. Geez, aren’t we possessive this morning. What next? Are you going to fall at his feet?
    Oh, wait. I already did that.
    “Oh, the pleasure was mine,” Lynne said on a sigh.
    Connor helped her out the door, then came back to the kitchen. “She’s a good friend, you’re lucky to have her.”
    “Yeah. Lucky.” She tried to cool her heated cheeks, but knew she wasted her time and energy.
    He poured another cup of coffee then moved to the table. Her breath locked in her throat when he set the cup down and knelt before her.
    “Tori,” he said, taking her hands in his. “I 25

    Jo Barrett

    know this is difficult, it is for me as well, but I am real and I am here.”
    She shook her head. “How? How did it happen?”
    He closed his eyes and brought her hands to his lips. “You happened, my love,” he murmured against her skin.
    “This is crazy.” She jumped from her chair and marched into the living room.
    He followed. “You freed me, Tori. It’s thanks to you that I am here. You wished me from the mirror.”
    Shaking her head, she sank to the couch. “I don’t know if I can handle this.”
    He sat down beside her with a sigh. “It will take some adjustment. And in time—” He stopped abruptly, dropping his chin to his chest, his gaze focused on her bare feet as she curled them beneath her.
    She narrowed her eyes. “You’re not telling me something.”
    His large tan hands pulled her feet into his lap. She tried to ignore how good it felt, the warmth of his body against her skin, and his subtle caresses.
    “Tell me, Connor. Now.” Before she got too distracted and jumped him.
    “You must know that I want you,” he said, his voice husky.
    Oh gulp. That isn’t helping. “Well, um, I guess that’s to be expected what with you being alone for two hundred years.”
    He leaned close and held her chin, looking deep into her eyes. “You are a ten to me, Tori Fraser, never forget that.”
    She groaned and pressed her heated cheek to the back of the couch. “You watched me primp every day, didn’t you?”

26
The Man In The Mirror

    He chuckled. “That I did.”
    She braved a look at him. “Any other humiliating things?”
    “No. Nothing worth mentioning.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers in a sweet caress. A breathy sigh slipped from her mouth.
    As he slowly pulled away, she couldn’t contain her growl of disapproval.
    He chuckled. “As much as I would like to continue this, I cannot. Not yet. We have much to discuss.”
    With a huff, she sat back. “Explain.”
    He ran his hand over the bottom of her foot, not meeting her gaze. “I may be forced to return to the mirror on the new moon.”
    She pulled her foot from his touch and clutched a pillow to her breast.
    “No,” she said, her voice tight. It wasn’t fair.
    Why show her the man of her dreams in living breathing flesh only to take him away? Why were all the men in her life, the ones she cared about, always leaving? A tear spilled over the edge of her lashes.
    “No, love. Don’t cry.” He pulled her into his lap. “It’s not for certain that I’ll leave.”
    She blinked away her tears. “New rules?”
    “Of a sort.” He kissed the tip of her nose then tucked her head beneath his chin. One of his large hands held her close, while the other rubbed her thigh.
    “Go on,” she said, relishing his touch.
    “There is something I must do, a task I must accomplish. If I succeed, I can stay and live out my life here. If not, I will return to the glass for eternity.”
    She lifted her head from his shoulder.
    “Okay,