The Light of Asteria Read Online Free Page A

you.”
    They both ogled at the attractive creature
waiting beside me.
    “Kate, Hol, this is Gavin Frey. I practically
ran him over yesterday trying to get to the Jeep,” I said
awkwardly.
    Gavin bowed. “Ladies.”
    Holly lit up. I knew that look. Men couldn’t
resist it … my heart lurched. She was stunning, rich, and only a
few inches shorter than he was; they looked great together. A tinge
of anger speared the pit of my stomach.
    “Nora.” Gavin practically growled … or maybe
he cleared his throat, I couldn’t be sure.
    “Yes,” my insides churned with conflict. He
sighed; a smile resignedly curved on his full lips.
    “I look forward to running into you again.
Ladies, it was a pleasure.”
    “If you’re ever near Lake Junaluska, I’m sure
I’ll see you then,” I said, wishing it were true. Really, what was
I thinking?
    Gavin walked across the street. The man with
the black hair joined him, and they slipped out of sight behind the
warehouse on the corner.
    “I wonder if he’s related to Brian.” Holly’s
voice rang with real curiosity as she tried to network. Kate rolled
her eyes.
    “That’s Brian Gray, not Brian Frey.”
    “Gray, Frey … what’s the difference, they’re
both gorgeous.” Holly laughed.
    As we walked away, my pulse finally slowed. I
realized it had been racing this whole time.
    I didn’t start for home until after three.
The traffic thinned, and I headed out of town. My thoughts were
obsessed. I’d never known a Gavin; his perfect face played in my
memory. Holly obviously seemed interested. She couldn’t take her
eyes off of him. If they started dating, I’d just have to get over
it.
    I made my way onto the parkway and up the
steep grade, pulling past the visitor’s center. Trees surrounded
the divided highway like a lush, living tunnel. A gray streak
flashed across the road. Automatically jerking the wheel to the
left, the Jeep jolted and I lost control for a moment. Tire’s
screeched as I whipped the wheel back to the right, preventing the
Jeep from flipping. I pulled to the side.
    When my heart finally stopped trying to fight
its way out of my chest, I jumped out to make sure I hadn’t hit
anything. My senses heightened; a plume of black feathers shook
several yards away, just behind a clump of bushes. Painted buntings
swooped from the canopy, deer charged across the road, and the
underbrush stirred as the strange creature darted into the forest.
A small spike of fear stabbed the pit of my stomach. A black SUV
slowly passed by, but dark tinted windows made it impossible to see
who was inside. I smiled and waved at the Good Samaritan that I was
all right. Jumping back in the Jeep, I headed home.
    “Ed, I’m back.” I called, running up the
stairs to put my backpack away.
    “Ed?” Her door was open, and she lay across
her bed with her great-grandmother’s quilt wrapped around her.
    Sneaking back downstairs, I started on
dinner. Eggplant Parmesan seemed in order. I flipped on the old
radio that stood at the counter’s edge. Edna’s favorite country
music blared. Normally the sounds of steel guitars and fiddles
didn’t bother me, but today I couldn’t stand it. Flipping through
several stations, the dial finally found a renaissance marathon.
The aroma of oregano filled the house.
    “Evenin’, sleepy head,” I smiled as Edna
shuffled to the kitchen. Harp and psaltery music played in the
background.
    “What in the name of Sam Hill are you
listening to?”
    “I’m trying to expand my mind,” I grinned.
She shook her head and set the table. I told her about almost
flipping the Jeep.
    “It was probably one of those cranes from the
coast.”
    That did make sense; although the creature
seemed taller, and I didn’t notice wings.
    Edna finally brought up the upcoming fall
festival. I nodded at the right times, not really paying attention.
My mind’s eye still fixed on emeralds and blinding white
lights.
    “Nora … are you in there?” She waved her hand
in