Lover of My Dreams [Mates of Destiny Angel Chosen 1] (Siren Publishing Allure) Read online

  Mates of Destiny, Angel Chosen 1

  Lover of My Dreams

  Childhood friends, Sam, Rachel, and Roy, were inseparable—three lost souls who protected each other. When Sam’s father threatened their futures, Rachel did what she had to do in order to protect them all. She left. Ten years later, Rachel Williams retreats to the quiet of the Colorado mountains. She needs isolation from the outside world to heal from a brutal date attack.

  Sam McCoy has had it with socially elite women—especially his ex-fiancée. He needs to go back to the mountains and create a home, complete with a baby or two. When Rachel is injured, Sam is there to take care of her. He loves the way she defies him, makes him laugh, and makes him need. A future with her would be filled with love and babies.

  Angelic dreams help Sam and Rachel know they’re fated to be together, despite the interference of others. It will be up to Roy and his wife Paulette to help nudge fate along.

  Genre: Contemporary

  Length: 158,932 words

  LOVER OF MY DREAMS

  Mates of Destiny, Angel Chosen 1

  Lynnette Bernard

  EROTIC ROMANCE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a SirenBookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at

  [email protected]

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

  LOVER OF MY DREAMS

  Copyright © 2014 by Lynnette Bernard

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62741-583-5

  First E-book Publication: April 2014

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Lover of My Dreams by Lynnette Bernard from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Lynnette Bernard’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Bernard’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to the wonderful people of Colorado. Your kindness and welcoming friendship made me know that it’s possible to be part of a family who may not be blood, but who are as close as blood.

  I would have never had the opportunity to spend my summer there if it hadn’t been for my cousins Paul and Laurine. They invited me, welcomed me, gave me wonderful memories, and introduced me to the beauty of the mountains and the people who lived there.

  All of you helped a young woman realize that there are good people in this world. Your welcoming love inspired this novel and helped me make my dream a reality.

  A very special thanks to my two childhood friends Joanne and Anne who gave me so much laughter, understanding, kindness, and unconditional love and acceptance. We were definitely quite the trio. You are good people who gave me so many good memories. When we see each other now that we are older, it’s like no time has passed despite how our lives have taken their own paths. I guess that’s the way of true friendship. I love you both.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  About the Author

  LOVER OF MY DREAMS

  Mates of Destiny, Angel Chosen 1

  LYNNETTE BERNARD

  Copyright © 2014

  Prologue

  A View from Heaven

  “The angel Bernadette would like to speak with You,” Peter said quietly, looking into the soft, loving eyes of the heavenly Father.

  “Sweet Bernadette,” He answered, smiling. “She has another baby she wants to watch over. Come to me, my child.” His voice was soft as He spoke to the angel.

  The warm scent of cinnamon and sugar accompanied the petite angel as she gracefully soared toward the welcoming presence of God. Soft white and pink lights radiated from her, creating an aura that was both comforting and beautiful.

  “Dear Father, a child has been born that will suffer great sorrow in the loss of her mother and father,” Bernadette spoke sadly, unshed tears making the soft brown of her gentle eyes glisten brightly. She was drawn to the tenderness emanating from her Father as He sat before her. His radiant, white, voluminous robes stretched out before her, giving her a sense of comfort and peace as she sought Hi
s guidance and gifts. “She will face a man of great evil in her young life, and I would ask to watch over her and give her the gift of dreams to help her through the difficult road that lies ahead of her.”

  “You have a kind and caring heart, Bernadette,” the heavenly Father told her with great love in His voice. “Go and watch over the child. Help ease her sorrows and worries with the gift of her dreams.”

  “Thank you, dear Father,” Bernadette squealed with delight, making God smile broadly at her joy. She climbed up onto His lap and hugged Him tightly.

  She kissed His cheek soundly before leaning back to smile up at His kind face, her adorable dimples and loose, light brown, bouncing curls capturing His heart once again. He valued the beautiful treasure of her kindness and caring. Her soothing scent surrounded Him, allowing Him to breathe in the gentleness of her goodness and love.

  “Have I made you happy, dear one?” He asked her quietly, cradling her head against Him, already knowing the answer.

  “Yes, Father, thank you,” Bernadette whispered against His shoulder, her little arms hugging Him tightly as her soft, pink wings gently surrounded them both.

  “You are very welcome, my child,” He whispered. “Go to her now, she needs your blessings.”

  Bernadette nodded eagerly and scrambled down from her Father’s lap. The warm scent followed her as she soared happily from His presence and made her way to the hospital where the innocent child slept, peacefully unaware of the sorrow that would soon surround her.

  As Bernadette looked down into the clear plastic cradle that held the newborn, the angel’s eyes filled with tears at the fragile beauty of this new life. Very slowly, she floated toward the child, leaning forward to gently place a kiss at the corner of her right eye. Bernadette smiled and her heart filled with love as the child turned her face toward her to lean in to the warmth of her kiss.

  “You are very loved, Rachel,” Bernadette whispered. “My blessing of dreams will help ease your burdens as you grow, sweet child.”

  With that, the little angel withdrew gracefully, gazing down at the beautiful new baby with open love on her face. She needed to return to her place in heaven where she could watch over the many babies God had given her permission to bless and guide.

  The tiny baby turned her head and snuggled against the soft bunting within the cradle. As she slept peacefully, a small sparkle of light appeared where she had been kissed by her guardian angel. A tiny, crescent moon birthmark appeared to mark her as chosen.

  Chapter 1

  Ten Years Ago

  “Don’t let go, Sam!”

  Her soft brown eyes were wide with fear and pain. A single tear escaped her right eye, glistening past the tiny, crescent moon birthmark to fall unheeded down her pale cheek that was muddied with streaks of dirt. She hung precariously from the edge of the high cliff that she had moments before been hiking with her cousin Roy and their friend Sam McCoy. She knew that her left leg was broken. The pain radiated from the tips of her toes to the joint of her hip. Sam’s tanned hand was all that was keeping her from cascading down the remainder of the one-hundred-foot drop to the green canopy of trees below.

  “Rachel, don’t you dare look down,” Sam’s voice called to her with obvious effort as he strained to pull her up toward him with his right hand.

  Every muscle in his body convulsed with the fear that had wrapped itself around him. He had to concentrate to make the panic subside so he could pull Rachel up to safety. He looked down at her and focused on her eyes—pleading eyes that were staring up at him with fear.

  “Roy, pull harder!” Sam yelled to his friend who held his legs.

  “I’ve got you, Sam,” Roy said with effort, grunting as he dug into the rich earth with his sneaker-clad feet. He was afraid to talk and lose any degree of strength for fear of losing his grip on Sam’s legs. He pulled with all his might, straining all the muscles in his shoulders but not feeling any of the pain as adrenaline rushed through his body. The open gash above his forehead that was just inside his hairline dripped blood down his face, and he whipped his head to the side to clear his eyes of the annoying liquid.

  Sam strained with every ounce of strength he had to pull his best friend’s cousin up to the safety of the ledge and out of danger. His left arm was useless at this point, his shoulder separated in the tumble down the steep slope that he and Rachel had taken when the soft earth had given way under their feet as they had rounded the difficult corner of the mountain path.

  “Rachel, I will not let you fall,” he promised calmly, trying to reassure them both as he strained to pull her up with his right arm.

  Rachel held on to his wrist and forearm with both of her hands, knowing that their combined strength would determine her fate on this day. She could feel Sam’s muscles straining under her hands, his own grip on her wrist strong and unfailing. She looked up and saw the ice blue of his eyes that normally shone with mischief and humor now betraying the fear he was feeling even as he tried to conceal it.

  “I trust you, Sam,” Rachel whispered so that only he heard. “I know you can pull me up.”

  She nodded up at him in affirmation, and saw the flash of caring that transformed his face for just a split second. The moment of softness was quickly replaced with cold determination, and she found herself being lifted upward slowly but continuously. She helped as much as she could with her good leg once she was able to obtain footing on the unstable ruts of earth and grass that protruded from the side of the mountain.

  She couldn’t help but scream out in pain as her left leg was dragged the remaining distance across the ledge as Sam and Roy pulled her to safety. She found herself crying at the relief of her deliverance from sure death. Her chest was heaving with the effort to catch her breath as she lay on her back and stared up at the beautiful Colorado sky. The calmness and beauty of the blue sky and cottony white clouds betrayed the truth of the situation. They had just cheated death.

  As she lay on her back, looking up at the serenity of her surroundings, she breathed heavily, trying to control her emotions. Sam’s right hand still held her wrist and her shoulders rested against his face. She could feel his warm breath as he breathed raggedly against her neck, and she couldn’t help but revel in the feel of his closeness. Despite the pain she was in and the fear that nearly consumed her, she truly felt that his touch and nearness to her was the most beautiful thing she had ever experienced. There was a constriction in her chest at his closeness, and she wanted to lie against his broad, muscular chest forever.

  Being this close to him and touching him made it difficult for her to breathe. She actually felt pain in her chest at the raw need she felt. Sam McCoy was the one man that she had loved forever. She wished that he felt the same way, but she knew it would never happen. He didn’t see her as anything but Roy’s cousin. She wasn’t even a blip on his radar in the grand scheme of things.

  Date her? Want her? Yeah right. Never gonna happen.

  She wiped at her eyes with her left hand and saw that it was shaking slightly. She knew it was because of her brush with death, but she also knew it was because of the man who held her so fiercely against his body. She wanted to rip his clothes off and make love to him. She wanted him to want her as much as she wanted him. She just plain wanted Sam McCoy to be hers.

  Sam turned his face to look at her. Even upside down, he could see the relief and gratitude that was evident on her face. For a brief moment, he recognized something else, too, and he couldn’t help but smile at the obvious caring that he saw displayed there. He had to admit that it was pretty nice to feel warmth and happiness at the way Rachel looked at him with something very close to adoration. It was flattering and nice to have someone feel that sincere emotion about him. It would only be a matter of time before she would mature and grow out of her infatuation, but it was nice to be the recipient of it for now.

  He pushed his thoughts aside and concentrated on righting them both and seeing to their safety. He had to get all three of them down
the mountain to medical care.

  Roy reached down and pulled Rachel up even higher to the safety of the rich earth that had served to anchor him. His strength would have surprised anyone but Rachel. She knew that his tall, lanky body hid the strength he was capable of. She knew that the daily routine of the many hours both he and Sam worked every day after school at her aunt’s ranch had made both of them muscled, strong, and disciplined. She would bet her life on Sam and her cousin. She just had.

  “Roy, you’re bleeding,” she told him weakly, reaching up to touch his forehead gently.

  “That’s the least of our worries, Rache,” he told her, setting her back gently and releasing her to rest against the cool dirt before crawling forward to check on his friend.

  “Don’t touch my shoulder,” Sam told him sternly as Roy reached forward to pull him up.

  “Broken?” Roy asked him, his hands freezing in place at Sam’s command.

  “Don’t think so. Probably just separated.”

  Sam’s voice was tight and clipped. His face was covered in dirt and sweat. It was obvious that he was in pain.

  As carefully as he could, Roy wrapped his arms around Sam’s waist and hoisted him back toward the safety of the mountain. He was able to settle Sam beside Rachel without causing his friend too much additional pain.

  “We’re a mess,” Roy stated matter-of-factly.