A Paranormal Romance

Plot

When Natalie Watkins meets Trace Daniels, a sexy, brooding vampire with a grudge, it’s love at first sight for Natalie.  But when Trace’s past comes to light, Natalie feels betrayed.  Seeking comfort from an old friend, it’s Trace to the rescue when he figures out the „old friend“ isn’t who he claims he is, will Natalie believe him?

Chapter 1

Natalie Watkins agrees to go out with a few friends to a bar for a ladies‘ night out.  A much needed night out as Natalie had been working non-stop at the travel agency while her boss was away on vacation for the past week.

After getting all gussied up to meet her friends after she closed the travel agency, Natalie met her girlfriend, Christy Cannon, as she was getting out of her car.  Jessie Karr was already inside waiting for them.

Jessie waved to Natalie and Chrissy as soon as she saw them walk in and waved them over to her table.  Heading on over to Jessie’s table, Natalie and Chrissy sat down as a server took their drink order.  Natalie ordered her favorite, a margarita, and Chrissy order what Jessie was having, a cinnamon shnapps. 

Jessie, the biggest flirt of the three, was already giving Natalie and Chrissy the run-down on who was who.  As Jessie talked, Natale noticed a mysterious guy sitting alone in a corner booth with just a Budweiser.  The guy was sexy, yet mysterious.  Natalie couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Jessie noticed Natalie’s eyes glued to the mysterious guy in the corner booth. 

„Who’s the guy that’s caught your eye?“ Jessie asked Natalie.

„Just some lonely soul in that corner booth.“ Natalie said, wondering if she should go up and introduce herself.  But Jessie beat her to it as she got up and quickly headed over to Mr. Sexy Mysterious’s booth.

„Well, haven’t we met somewhere before?“ Jessie threw out a lame excuse just to break the ice.

„I don’t think so.“ Mr. Mysterious told her.  „I’m new to these parts.“

„Well, I could help you get to know the city better.  Care to take a tour of this grand city?“ Jessie extended an invitation to the sexy stranger.

„Thank you, miss, but I have somewhere to be.“ The mysterious stranger politely declined Jessie’s invitation.

„Okay, but if you change your mind...“ Jessie told the stranger as she conveniently dropped her napkin with her cell number into his lap.

Natalie watched Jessie as she subtly came on to the sexy guy in the corner booth.  It was just like Jessie to beat her to the good-looking guys.  All through school, it was what Jessie did.  Any guy Natalie liked and Jessie pounced on him before Natalie could even introduce herself.

Natalie composed herself when she saw Jessie come back after the the sexy stranger shot down Jessie’s obvious come-on.  She didn’t want her friend to see her gloat at her friend being shot down.  Jessie Karr never got shot down by a guy.  At least not that Natalie could ever think of.

„Well, the guy wasn’t that hot!“ Jessie said, not wanting to admit she was just rejected by a man for like the first time in her life. 

„What about that guy?“ Natalie pointed to the guy in the center of a group of guys.

„Ewww!  Not him!“ Jessie said, as she turned up her nose.  She didn’t want to admit she had dated the red-haired creep just last week and he turned out to be a complete jerkwad.

As Jessie and Chrissy were scoping out the guys in the bar, the mysterious stranger caught Natalie’s attention with a note that said, „Meet me by the lake—NOW!!“  Natalie gave the stranger a thumbs up to let him know she got his message and would meet him.

Natalie made her excuses to Jessie and Chrissy and made her way to the lake to meet the sexy stranger.  She hoped she wasn’t going to regret meeting him.  It was totally out of her character to meet a stranger she barely knew.

Chapter 2

Natalie found herself at the lake where the sexy stranger said to meet, but he wasn’t around.  Then she heard a whisper and pulled her behind a tree.

„Well, hi!“ Natalie said to the guy she agreed to meet.

„I think we should introduce ourselves.“ The stranger said.  „The name’s Trace.“

„Gawd...his name was even hot!“ Natalie thought, forgetting her own name in the process of introducing herself.

„Well...aren’t you going to introduce yourself?“ Trace asked.

„Oh, right.  Natalie.“ Said after a brief pause.  Trace was just so...h-h-hot, Natalie couldn’t take her eyes off him.

„What a lovely name.“ Trace told her.

„And yours too.“ Natalie said, not knowing what to say.

„Shall we take a walk?“ Trace asked as he extended his hand out to her, which Natalie accepted.

There was no talking as Trace and Natalie walked along the lake.  It felt nice being with Trace.  She felt like she could trust him with her life.  But as they were walking, Trace saw a group of his kind go after two girls. 

Not wanting to reveal who he was to Natalie and expose who he was on their first meeting, Trace excused himself and went to take down the people who were going after the young girls. But after saving the girls, Trace went back to where he left Natalie and found she was nowhere to be found.

In Natalie’s place, was a note that read, „“If you want her back—You know where to find me!“

The only thing Trace could think was, „It’s happening all over again.“