Dreaming Of You

Dreaming Of You

By

Marie Higgins

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

Dreaming of You

Copyright © 2012 by Marie Higgins

Cover Design by Sheri McGathy

Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Other stories from Marie Higgins

“Waiting for You” – Paranormal / Time-travel Romance -
http://amzn.com/B00EQQMACU

“Love Lost in Time” – Victorian Time-travel Romance -
http://amzn.com/B00F9F7QKI

“Becoming a Lady” – Regency Romance -
http://amzn.com/B00BPJAGMC

“In the Arms of Danger” – Romantic Suspense  -
http://amzn.com/B0087V3R0Y

“Crazy For You” – Romantic Comedy -
http://amzn.com/B00AZRMPOW

“The Spanish Outlaw” – American Historical Romance –
http://amzn.com/B00B40YQYG

Christian Historical Series

“A Walk in Heaven” – (book 1) -
http://amzn.com/B0067F68FS

“Touching Heaven” – (book 2) -
http://amzn.com/B009DRV0MS

“Reaching Heaven” (book 3 not out yet)

Regency Romance Series

“The Sweetest Kiss” – (book 1) -
http://amzn.com/B0066HBZBE

“The Sweetest Touch” – (book 2) -
http://amzn.com/B007QH286Y

“The Sweetest Love” – (book 3) -
http://amzn.com/B00DSADZEC

“The Sweetest Secret” – (not out yet)

Victorian Romance Series

“Love Me Always” – (book 1) -
http://amzn.com/B007ZJC2DC

“Charmed By Knight” – (book 2) -
http://amzn.com/B007ZV5Y7Q

“True Love’s Deception” – (book 3) -
http://amzn.com/B0082R8OEW

“Belong To Me” – (book 4) -
http://amzn.com/B0084VC37A

“Love Comes Blindly” – (book 5) -
http://amzn.com/B0086K791O

Colonial Romance Series

“Take My Heart” – (book 1) -
http://amzn.com/B005OU7VFS

“Falling in Love Again” – (book 2) -
http://amzn.com/B005YF5PBA

“Wonderland by Night” – (book 3) -
http://amzn.com/B00B9670IE

Katelyn Palmer never believed any harm could come from using her college crush as the hero in her first romance novel—the novel that jumpstarted her writing career. However, when Shane Hunter storms into town, demanding to meet the writer who used his identity Katelyn is confronted with more than her long, silent emotions. If Shane takes her to court for invasion of privacy, her career would be over.
Shane doesn’t know how to act when his ex sister-in-law accuses him of having an affair while he was married—and then shows him the romance book as proof.  Now he wants to know who this author really is and why she used his name, and most of the events in his life for her story.  Desperate to know the truth Shane befriends Katelyn but he does not expect to be attracted to her, even more unexpected is the joy he finds watching his twins fall in love with the woman who is stealing his heart, too...

ACWKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to thank my family for supporting my writing career. And a big thanks to those family members I’ve mentioned I my book…you know who you are, even if I spelled your name wrong. I did it on purpose, you know.

And I want to thank those ladies who helped me tweak this story: Melissa, Maria, Mary M, Veronica, Heather, and VJ Dunraven.

Chapter One

Beastly pirates glared at Katelyn as she stood on the gangplank. Each one clasped a saber, ready for the signal from their domineering captain. She mustn’t give them entertainment, since she knew that’s what they waited for.

She struggled with the ropes binding her hands, yet she didn’t want to unbalance herself for fear she’d fall into the tepid waters below. A peek of the bottomless, bluish-gray sea revealed sharks darting back and forth as if waiting for her to plunge into their den. By the wicked gleam in their beady eyes, she knew they were leering, waiting for their next feast.

She gulped. Even though she thought her knees might give way, she knew she must show no fear.

“Any last words my lovely?” Captain crooked-teeth sneered, glaring at her from his good eye. A black patch covered the other.

“I—I—” She had last words, but just couldn’t think of them at the moment. She must stall for time while waiting for her hero to save her.

A chilly wind blew from the East, passing through the light dress she wore, raising goosebumps on her arms and legs. Her long hair whipped around her face, and at times, blocked her view from the scallywags ready to throw her into the ocean.

“Well, do ye have any last words?” the captain snapped.

Oh, that insufferable man! He needed a dose of patience, to be sure. Nevertheless, she didn’t want to upset him with her silence. “I—I—I would like a Tombstone pizza.” After the words left her mouth, confusion filled her head and she scowled. Why had she said that when she wasn’t hungry?

The pirates looked at each other with confused expressions. They shrugged as if they didn’t know what she was talking about either. Then again, this was the eighteenth century. They wouldn’t know what a pizza was if it slapped them in the face.

“Sorry, Miss, but yer request has been denied.” The captain released an evil laugh. “Time fer ye t’ swim with them fishes.”

Suddenly, a loud rip of canvas rented the air. All eyes turned toward the tallest mast. A man wearing a billowy white, ruffled shirt—open at the neck—slid down the canvas, his knife cutting the path for him. Muscles bulged from his arms, emphasizing his incredible strength. Katelyn’s heart soared and relief flowed through her.

He landed in front of her, and in one whoosh of his arm, captured her in his embrace. “Not to worry, fair maiden, I will save you.”

The deep timbre of his voice made her sigh. She could get lost in his intense green eyes. His long black hair was swept away from his face, tied at his nape with a strip of leather.

“My hero,” she murmured reverently.

“Katie, I know you’re there. Will you answer already?”

Perplexed, she pulled back and looked at him. Why had his voice suddenly changed from the deep timbre she loved to her friend’s higher pitched voice? And how did he know her name?

Tall, dark, and handsome took her by the shoulders and pulled her closer for a kiss. She relaxed in the strength of his arms, tilted her head, and puckered…

Instead, a loud buzz rang through her ears and she jumped away.

Katelyn Palmer blinked, focusing on her surroundings… Her
real
surroundings. She sat in front of her computer the screen glowing in the slightly darkened room. Beside her, the answering machine’s blinking red light captured her attention. Now she knew where the startling buzzing noise came from.

With one touch of a button, she played backed the message on the answering machine. “Katie, I know you’re there. Will you answer, already?”

Chuckling, she picked up the phone to call her friend, Melissa Bloom. The older woman was probably old enough to be her mother, but they had been good friends for so long it was hard to think of her as a mother. Melissa answered on the second ring.

“I knew you were there,” Melissa said with a laugh.

“Yes, I’m here.”

“Have you finished your story yet?”

“Thanks for asking. I’m almost done. Then I’ll send it to my agent and they run with it from there.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to read it.” Melissa released a wistful sigh.

“Well, I’m sure I’ll have another one in a couple months. Just a few minutes ago, I had another daydream that might really work for a historical.”

“And another idea. Already? What’s this one going to be about?”

“A pirate.”

“That sounds very interesting.”

“I think it will be,” Katelyn said. “But the strange thing about my daydream a few moments ago was even though I walked the plank on a pirate ship, when my hero arrived, the Indiana Jones theme was playing in my head.”

Melissa laughed. “Tell me the story is going to be that funny.”

“That’s my plan.” Katelyn chuckled, drumming her fingers on the desk. “So, what’s the reason you called?”

“I’m having a party tonight and I wanted to know if you’ll come. It’s kind of an impromptu party because I don’t have a date, and spending the evening alone is not something I want to do.”

Smiling, Katelyn rolled her eyes. Leave it to her friend to think life was nothing but a weekend party. “Thanks for the invitation, but if I come I won’t be able to finish my manuscript and since I promised my agent I would have it on her desk tomorrow, I’d better stay home and write.”

The older woman chuckled. “Well, all right. I’ll let you off the hook this time, but only because I’m anxious to read your next adventure.”

“I hope you have a good time tonight.”

“You too, sweetie.” Melissa’s voice floated in a singsong tone. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, but not too early. Okay?”

“Sure thing. Bye.” Katelyn hung up the phone then pushed away from her desk.

She’d been sitting for three hours straight, and the ending of the story was within reach. She just needed to stretch her legs and munch on something before continuing.

Empty cupboards greeted her in the kitchen. She frowned. Even Mother Hubbard would have pitied Katelyn. Shopping was definitely on her to-do list. One lonely candy bar captured her eyes and she grabbed that. Dinner could wait at least another couple of hours. Chocolate and caramel-coated nuts couldn’t.

Upon returning to her bedroom, Fluffy, her Persian cat, jumped down from the top of Katelyn’s bookcase and rubbed her face across Katelyn’s legs. She picked up the animal and proceeded into the office. She settled herself in the chair, un-wrapped the candy bar, and bit off a piece as she thought back to her pirate story. If only real men were like her heroes, she wouldn’t be living in her daydreams. But after years of searching for Mr. Dream-come-true, Katelyn realized that such a man didn’t exist. Her twenty-sixth birthday crept closer, and once again, she’d celebrate without a boyfriend.

Shaking her head, she switched her focus to her book and smiled. Her heroes were the best; so loving, kind and truthful, so true to their faith and to God, and willing to make the heroine happy that they’d do
anything
it took to win the lady’s heart.

Katelyn frowned. Was it any wonder she couldn’t find a real man? They couldn’t compete with her imaginary heroes.

So be it! At least she wouldn’t get her heart trampled. Perhaps she wasn’t meant to find a man, marry, and have a family. If that’s what God had planned for her, she’d happily tread the way—as long as she never had to give up her writing, she’d make it.