Part 17 (2/2)

Suddenly, she felt a pair of arms circle her neck from behind, and a cheek press up against her own. ”Are you all right?” Nikki asked tenderly.

Rox reached up and patted the arms around her neck. Leaning into Nikki's cheek, she quickly nodded. ”I'm okay, love. Thanks,” she said. ”Nikki, he wrote back. Look,” she offered, scrolling to the top of Ca.s.s' note.

Nikki read the note over Rox's shoulder, sighing deeply as she read the last line.

”G.o.d Rox, this guy is a real romantic, isn't he? How do you feel about this? Do you think you can trust him?” she asked.

Furrowing her brow, she thought for a moment before answering. ”I don't know, Nik. It feels right ... from this distance anyway,” she said.

Nikki nodded, her cheek still pressed up against Rox's. ”Are you going to send a reply?” she asked.

Rox nodded.

”Need some help?” came the next question.

”Yeah, I think so.” Rox answered.

”Okay,” Nikki said, releasing her friend. She pulled the coffee table up to the edge of the couch so that it was directly next to Rox, then, taking the computer out of her friend's hands, she placed it on the table within comfortable reach of her own hands, but still within viewing range for Rox. ”All right, what would you like to say?” she asked.

Rox began to dictate, while Nikki diligently typed word for word.

”Dear Ca.s.s,

It amazes me that we are so far apart, yet I feel so close to you. What is it about you, Ca.s.s Conway? Why does this feel so familiar? Why does this feel so safe?

Do I believe in fate? I believe in destiny. Kismet, if you will. What I feel for you is too familiar to be anything but fate. My friend Nikki, asked how I felt about you. I told her that this feels right. I too, feel like I have known you before ... that we share a connection of sorts.

Do I believe that we have known each other in past lives? I don't know. It would seem to be the only explanation for the sense of familiarity that I feel when I read your notes. I do believe our souls are bonded in some way ... across distance ... across time.

As I have told you previously, I am currently involved in a very dark relations.h.i.+p. I am bound to this person at the present time only to bring peace to my father, who is dying. He so badly wants to see me happy, and he believes that I am. I will continue to allow that belief until he is gone. Until then, I will endure the darkness, and wait for the light. I ask myself if you are that light, Ca.s.s. I feel in my heart that you are. I long to reach into the light, to embrace it, to let it guide me, and protect me.

You have asked me to trust in you, Ca.s.s. That is oh, so hard to do. But I find my inner voice telling me to do just that. I will listen to this voice ... I will take the risk and I will learn you heart ... I will offer you a piece of mine ... a piece that I have never given another living soul. I ask that you protect it carefully, my Warrior, for it bruises easily. I do trust that you will not hurt me.

I am looking forward to hearing from you again, Warrior.

Your Bard,

Rox”

”Now this is exactly why you're the bard and I'm not,” Nikki said, reading the note over again. ”G.o.d, Rox. This is so eloquent, so intimate. d.a.m.n, Girl! You are good!”

”That's good enough for me,” Rox said. ”Send it.”

CHAPTER XVIII.

MOMENTS AFTER SHE hit the 'send' b.u.t.ton, the doorbell rang.

”Who can that be?” Ca.s.s said out loud.

You ordered pizza, you dumb s.h.i.+t! Enforcer reminded her, spurring her into action. Grabbing her purse, she went to the door and looked through the peephole. Sure enough, the pizza delivery boy was standing there, looking around impatiently while waiting for the door to open. Ca.s.s swung the door open, and Pizza Boy's chin immediately dropped to the floor.

”Hi!” she said, flas.h.i.+ng him a nervous smile. ”What do I owe you?”

”Ah ... ah .... ” Pizza Boy said, looking wide eyed at the beauty before him.

”h.e.l.lo!!” Ca.s.s said, waving her hand in front of his face.

Pizza Boy turned fifteen shades of red before regaining his senses. ”Ah ... Ah ... $7.95,” he said.

”Here's ten dollars, thanks,” Ca.s.s said, shoving the money in his hand and grabbing the pizza. He was still standing there staring when she closed the door and carried the pizza into the office to eat in front of the computer.

Ca.s.s didn't dare venture too far away from the computer. She even left herself logged on, glancing at the screen periodically to see if Rox would reply immediately.

After about a half hour, Ca.s.s had finished her lunch and made a quick trip to the kitchen to discard the pizza box, returning immediately to her e-mail vigil.

After about another half hour of pacing in front of the screen, Enforcer had enough.

You are pathetic, Ca.s.s, the alter ego said.

What do you mean? Ca.s.s asked.

Look at you! You're acting like a p.u.b.escent teen, waiting for the phone to ring. Have you no pride woman? her protector asked.

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