Dreams That Bind Us (Romancing The Keys #3)

Chapter 5

D elray Beach

Anna smiled as she cruised up Highway One, the sun on her face and wind in her hair. The drive from Key West had been therapeutic and soothed her desperately frazzled nerves. She should have made this trip months ago.

For the first time in months, she felt like she could breathe. Her haunting dreams and all of her emotional baggage were in the rearview mirror, and she wasn't glancing over her shoulder wondering if James and his emerald gaze were watching her.

Is he really my tormentor? Or is he my lover, my soulmate?

She made a face, her hands tightening on the steering wheel. It was something she didn’t want to think about. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get it out of her head.

What is there to think about? This is fate. I can’t run from it, and honestly, do I really want to?

Exhaling a sharp growl, she cleared her mind and focused on thoughts of her beloved aunt who she hadn't seen in over a year. It had been Aunt Louise who’d guided her as she explored her talents, and most especially, been there for her when her parents passed away several years ago in that plane crash.

Finally retired, they had been traveling the world, enjoying their freedom, when the unexpected had happened. It still haunted Anna that she hadn't foreseen the event or been able to say goodbye. But neither had Aunt Louise, who was a world-renowned clairvoyant. However, it was a huge comfort knowing that they had died together, doing what they loved.

Another wave of sweet relief poured through her as she drove over the final bridge to the barrier island. She smiled as she turned right onto Highway A1A. It was as if she could already feel her aunt's calming presence.

Within minutes, she pulled into the drive of a yellow, two-story stucco house raised high on stilts. She grinned when she spotted her aunt standing above her on the white picket wrap-around veranda, a drink in her hand. It was barely three o'clock, but Aunt Louise made up her own rules, especially when margaritas were involved.

"Just in time for a cocktail," Aunt Louise called out, raising her glass in a toast. "Come on up, girl. There's one ready for you and I've made a pot of your favorite soup." She swiveled dramatically, her brilliant blue sundress billowing in the air as she disappeared through the open French doors.

Anna giggled, clearing the weighty thoughts from her mind at the prospect of margaritas. She grabbed her overnight bag and climbed the long staircase.

Pausing at the top, she gazed toward the east, admiring the sun-kissed beach and crashing waves. Her aunt had been one of the fortunate few to build a house along this stretch of the island and steadfastly refused every ridiculous offer from developers that had come through.

"Come in, come in," her aunt urged, her voice floating through the open window. "We have a ton of catching up to do. And I want to see a picture of your man."

Anna closed her eyes on a groan. She hadn’t been here for more than a few seconds and the topic had already gone to James.

Maybe that's because he IS my man. It’s time to stop fighting it.

Her eyes popped open as that unexpected thought played through her head. She scowled at her inner voice, which unfortunately had never been wrong. Except now she wanted it to be wrong. Pulling in a deep breath, she walked through the front door.

"There's my girl!" Her aunt enveloped her in a huge, comforting hug, squeezing Anna close and rocking side to side. "You're finally home."

Several hours later, Anna was comfortably sprawled in an Adirondack chair, enjoying the churning energy from the ocean waves. She had a full belly and her mind was contentedly fuzzy from the series of margaritas she'd enjoyed. Sipping at her fourth cocktail in as many hours, she released a loud, obnoxious sigh.

"Well, that was telling." Aunt Louise was perched in her own chair, feet propped up and face tilted to the sky as she watched the clouds.

"Hmmmmm?" Anna asked. Her eyes were trained on a school of dolphins just beyond the surf line, watching their fins zig and zag as they chased their dinner.

"That sigh," her aunt answered. "It was full of release. What has you so worked up?"

Anna snorted, giving her aunt a cynical glance. "Seriously? You have to ask?"

"Pffft. Quit complaining." Her aunt held a dramatic hand to her brow. "Oh, no. You have a gorgeous man who is obsessed with you, who you dream about every night. And, oh yeah—he is also your soulmate, destined to bring you a lifetime of happiness and fulfillment. Boo-fricking-hoo! Nobody feels sorry for you, girl." She took a sip of her drink. "In fact, I'm jealous." Her foot nudged Anna's leg. "You still haven't shown me a picture of him."

"That's because I don't have one," Anna deadpanned. "I'm not the one who's obsessed."

Aunt Louise glared at her with pursed lips. "Fine. Be difficult." She grabbed her phone and tapped the screen with no small amount of violence. "What's his name?"

Anna huffed dramatically, but knew she couldn't dissuade her aunt once the woman was on a roll. "James Armstrong, recently moved to Key West from New York City. He owns The Majestic, a newly renovated historic hotel on the south side of the island. That's all I know." She closed her eyes and listened to the little clicks coming from her aunt's phone, knowing what was coming.

"Oh. My. God."

Anna cringed at the emphasis on each word. She peeked at her aunt who was gawking at her phone, her jaw hanging open.

"Are you freaking kidding me?" her aunt screeched. "You're fighting this?" She shoved the phone toward Anna, a picture of James on the screen. He looking breathtakingly handsome and resplendent in a full suit and tie, leaning against a gray block column, a sexy smirk on his face. "Girl, what is wrong with you?"

"Looks aren't everything." Anna closed her eyes and tilted her face to catch the last few remaining sun rays.

Aunt Louise gazed longingly at the picture. "I wouldn't be so sure of that. Looks are definitely something to talk about, especially his."

"If it makes you feel any better, that photo doesn't do him justice," Anna added.

"Hmmmmm… I can imagine."

Anna heard more clicks from Aunt Louise’s phone. "His birthday is November 5th. Oooh, a Scorpio," her aunt cooed. "And you're a Cancer—those pair perfectly. Damn, girl. Your sex life will be off the fucking charts. Now I'm really jealous."

"What?!?!" Anna sputtered, appalled at the conversation turn.

"Oh, stop being a prude." Her aunt waved her off again. "You know you've thought about it, fantasized about even."

Anna winced. Her aunt knew that she'd had dreams of James, but not what took place in those dreams, and she wasn't about to add that nugget of information. She'd never hear the end of it.

"Now, I really want to read his cards." Aunt Louise tapped her lips thoughtfully with a long, red nail. "Maybe I need to visit Key West soon. It's been a long time since I've been down."

Anna sighed out a long exhale. The thought of her aunt visiting Key West was soothing, even if her motivation was geared toward matchmaking. "It's been at least five years."

"Mmmhmm…" Her aunt was busy tapping away again. "What's the name of that hotel you visited? You know—" She snapped her fingers in the air. "The one with the ghost you connected with?"

"Paradise West," Anna answered, grinning. Her aunt would love that historic inn.

"Ah! There it is. It's gorgeous. They've done a great job."

Anna heard a dial tone and a ring as her aunt activated the speakerphone, then Annette's chipper voice answered. "Paradise West, this is Annette speaking. How may I help you?"

"Hello, Annette. My name is Louise Marlowe and I'm interested in renting a room next month."

"Okay, that’s great. What dates are you looking for?" Annette asked.

"Well, I know this is last minute, so I can be completely flexible. But I need to be in Key West for at least one week, maybe longer."

"All right." Anna could hear Annette typing on her computer keyboard. "I have a suite available from September 15th through the 22nd? Does that work for you?"

"It's perfect," her aunt purred. "Book it for me, please. Oh, you may know my niece—Anna Kingsley. I'm coming down to visit her."

"Oh, yes! I definitely know Anna. She's lovely." Annette's voice brimmed with excitement. "She helped us out a few months ago and I've been meaning to invite her back."

"Coincidentally, my dear, you just did," her aunt commented slyly. "She's sitting with me."

"Hi, Annette," Anna piped in. "I'd love to stop by again. Just let me know when."

"Well, it’s a funny coincidence that you've called." Annette paused for a moment. "The ladies of the Royal Conch Society dropped by to tell me they were starting a book club and asked if they could hold it here. For some reason, it made me think of you, and I wondered if you'd be interested in joining us."

Anna stared at the phone in her aunt's hand and blinked, not sure how to respond. "Ummm…" The thought of being socially active gave her the jitters. Her throat closed up as she considered it.

Aunt Louise nodded, silently encouraging her to accept the invitation. Anna nearly groaned out loud, but knew she needed to get out more. "Yeah, sure. I'd love to join your group. Just let me know when you meet and what book you're reading."

"Oh my god!" Annette squealed on the other end. "Yes! You're going to love this. But I will warn you that the ladies refuse to consider any books that aren't romance novels, and for them the spicier the better."

Anna chuckled. "That doesn't surprise me at all, especially if Hazel is involved."

"You definitely know Hazel. Okay, great, we meet next Sunday at four. I'll add you to the list and send you the novel we'll be discussing." More typing sounded through the phone. "And Louise?"

"Yes?" Aunt Louise responded.

"I just need a few more details to book your reservation."

Anna's head spun as her aunt finalized her stay, incredulous that she'd so easily caved to the book club when she had been successfully stonewalling friendly requests for years. Maybe that visit months ago to Paradise West had opened up more than she realized.

"Well, that should do it," Annette quipped. "I'll send your confirmation to your email address and I look forward to meeting you!"

"That sounds lovely, Annette. I'll bring my tarot cards and provide readings for anyone who's interested."

"Oh, there will be plenty of people interested." Annette snickered. "In fact, there might be a line around the corner if I made that public."

"Should be a fun time, then," her aunt answered. "I'll see you soon." She ended the call with a tap of her finger. "I really like her." She threw an evil grin at Anna. "Looks like I'll be meeting your man, sooner rather than later."

Anna groaned and rolled her head along the back of the chair, closing her eyes. This had disaster written all over it.

Key West

Anna huffed out a cleansing sigh as she released her final twist, smiling as the blood flowed to her spine and hips, loosening the tension that had been there for days. Years ago, she'd learned the benefits of therapeutic yoga, especially for battling anxiety and other internal demons. The bonus of her daily routine was the strong, toned physique the practice gave her, which was important when you worked with wood.

The visit with her aunt had been restorative in many ways. Anna hadn't felt so centered and balanced in years. It was a breath of fresh air. There had been many other visits before this one, so she wasn't quite sure why it seemed so different this time.

Maybe Aunt Louise was right. Anna was finally putting the heartache and grief behind her and moving forward. The idea of focusing solely on the future was like a drug to her system, and she wanted to chase that feeling.

Her mood turned as she glanced at the clock over the doorway. She had another thirty minutes before the gallery manager arrived with the new client, which gave her plenty of time to shower and fill up on coffee. She dreaded the thought of meeting clients and this was even worse because they were invading her personal oasis. She sorely regretted agreeing to this visit.

Half an hour later, Anna was working in her office when she heard the outer door of her warehouse open along with voices booming across the space. She snarled at the invasion, but quickly schooled her features. This was Becky’s wealthy client, and additional sales could only be good.

It's only thirty minutes. Picture all the zeros adding to the savings account.

She pulled in a deep breath, searching for her center. Exhaling, she grabbed her coffee mug, forcing a smile on her face, and strode through her office doorway.

Anna came to an abrupt stop, her smile dropping when she spotted the familiar tall, broad-shouldered figure standing just twenty feet away, his fingers lightly trailing over an elaborate oak desk. She'd finished it over a year ago but had been unwilling to part with it. Her mind tried to wrap around how he was even here.

And like a feather in the wind, the serenity she'd found earlier was dashed away. It was quickly replaced with anger.

"You!" Her voice zinged with outrage as it echoed off the metal walls. Not only had this man discovered her location, but he had invaded her sanctuary, which was worse in her opinion. Very few people were granted access, and he was most certainly not on that list.

His gaze shot to her, his lips stretching in a guilty grin. There was no remorse in his posture.

He had known who I was all along. The jerk!

She ground her teeth as she thought back to the moment when she'd reluctantly handed over her business card. He must think she was an idiot. The twinkle she'd seen in his eyes now made sense.

With a huff, Anna swiveled to Becky who stood off to the side, the gallery manager’s eyes ping-ponging between them. Becky’s frown made it clear she had no idea who she'd escorted into the warehouse, so Anna wasn't about to unleash her wrath on the poor woman. But there was no way the gallery would be earning a commission with this visit.

"Nothing is for sale." She threw a glare at James, who had the decency to look uneasy. "And I certainly won't sell anything to him. I need you both to leave right now."

"Anna—" James shifted toward her, all humor gone from his eyes.

She held a hand up, anger steeling her spine. "Don't. You knew this was my furniture and you didn't say a word. You tricked me."

He said nothing. His gaze, although contrite, held hers as the accusation hung in the air.

"Anna, I don't understand,” Becky interjected. “What's going on?"

Anna's chest puffed out as she opened her mouth, but James's words cut her off, his eyes still on hers.

"You're right." He nodded slowly. "I figured out it was you when I saw the logo on your business card. But I swear I didn't know before that moment. I fell in love with your furniture before I ran into you, or even knew you existed."

Anna flinched at the oblique reference to her dreams. There was absolutely no way this man could know about that, or the way he had invaded her mind every single night for the past six months. The only person she'd told was her aunt, who had known before Anna had even said a word.

"I'm sorry, Anna." His eyes were sincere as he held his hands up. "You're right. I should have said something the moment I recognized your logo. Please forgive me."

His entreaty was genuine, Anna could sense it. Her shoulders sagged as the anger drained away, leaving her slightly lightheaded. Breathing out slowly through pursed lips, she counted to five, feeling the weight of both pairs of eyes on her.

She was certain she looked insane, but she needed the calm that the breathing exercise afforded her—especially with the man who haunted her relentlessly standing so close, and looking so utterly masculine and delicious.

"Okay," she said finally, staring at the floor as she flapped a hand toward her furniture. "Choose anything you'd like."

Silence was her answer and after several awkward moments, she glanced up and flinched when she found his laser gaze pinned on her. A sweet smile stretched his face and there was a definite triumphant twinkle in his eyes— his gorgeous emerald eyes. "I'll take all of them."

Anna gaped at him. She'd known that Becky's gallery client would most likely buy several pieces. But everything she had in here? There had to be at least thirty different items scattered throughout the warehouse, all unique and eclectic in their own way, and all very expensive.

Becky stepped forward, a calm expression on her face. "Just to clarify, James, you want everything that Anna has available in this warehouse?"

He nodded slowly, his eyes still holding hers. "Yes, and I want to place an order for the remainder of furniture needed for The Majestic. The fourth floor is only half-full. Plus, there are other, more distinct one-off pieces, that I want for the lobby."

Becky turned to Anna, her expression hopeful.

This order would be in the hundreds of thousands and Becky's commission would be substantial. "Is this acceptable to you?"

Anna's mouth flattened. Another large furniture order would have her working nonstop again. But the payday would be worth it.

"Yes," she answered after a pause. "But I'll need more time to complete the order, and you'll need to outline exactly what you want, and?—"

"I'll agree to whatever you want," James cut in, ambling close enough that she could detect his unique, spicy scent. "Have dinner with me and we'll work out the details."

The breath whooshed out of her chest. Time alone with this man was such a bad idea, especially with him looking so sexually potent and gorgeous.

Her eyes followed the way his white button-down shirt parted at his chest, revealing a smattering of dark hair. She bit her lip, shocked by the sudden urge to drag the flat of her tongue across that spot. His magnetic pull was difficult to resist. If she took two steps forward, she could press into him just a little and set her mouth on his, see if he tasted as good as he did in her dreams.

It's time to live a little and stop running. Say yes.

Anna dropped her gaze, wondering if it could be that easy—to let go and enjoy herself for a change. She'd never done it before and didn't even know where to begin. Control had always been a necessity for her mental survival.

She lifted her eyes and found him a few steps closer, leaning toward her, a fierce look of lust on his face. He arched an arrogant brow, as if daring her to say yes.

Drawing in a slow breath through her nose, she finally nodded. "Sure. Let me know when and I'll put it on my calendar."

Satisfaction flashed over his face as he straightened, a corner of his mouth twisting up. "Tonight, 7PM."

Anna gulped. She hadn't planned on him moving so fast, but it was probably better to get this over with so she could move on. "Okay. Where?"

"Osteria Francesca. I'll pick you up."

"No." Anna’s voice was firm. "I'll meet you there." There was no way she would give him that much control. She needed to retain the ability to leave whenever she chose.

His mouth tightened, but he gave her an imperceptible nod. A small thrill ran through her to have denied him in some minor way, because at this point, she was completely overwhelmed by him. He lifted his phone and tapped out a message with his thumbs. Anna jumped when her pocket buzzed.

"That's my number," he said. The sexy smirk on his lips emphasized his chiseled jaw. "In case you need to call me before."

"Well, if that takes care of everything…" Becky glanced at James, who dipped his chin, "then we'll get out of your hair. Thank you, Anna. I know this wasn’t easy for you."

There was a sincere apology in Becky's tone. But Anna didn't blame her for any of this. How could she have known?

"It's all right." She gave Becky a pointed look. "But I do need you to understand that with him buying out my complete stock and placing another order, it will be a while before I can provide anything for the gallery."

Becky grinned. "Actually that might be a good thing. Making your pieces a little more elusive and difficult to acquire will only increase their value."

Becky turned to James, whose eyes were still drilling holes into Anna. "I'll handle the delivery to your home. Is there anything else you need?"

James pursed his lips as his gaze traveled down Anna's frame for what felt like the hundredth time in a matter of minutes. "I'm sure I'll think of something else, but I don’t want to push my luck any further today.”

Anna's gut twisted at his words, but she gave Becky a hesitant smile as they left. A whimper escaped her lips as she sagged against the wall, slightly weak as the ramifications of her capitulation dawned on her.

How in the world would she survive a dinner alone with him?