Starseed (25 page)

Elle stared in the mirror
. She looked like a princess. Could she carry it off? Rose and Sara came into the room carrying flutes of champagne.

“
Ladies, I have a toast for Elle.”  Rose said and handed Elle a drink. Rose held the fluted glass in the air. “You’ve always been like a cherished daughter to me. May you be blessed with joy and laughter throughout your life time together.”  Tears shimmered in her warm brown eyes.

Everyone took a sip and Sara spoke up
. “My turn. I have one, too,” she said. “To Elle, my best friend and the closest thing to a sister I’ll ever have. From my heart to yours I wish you happiness and love, children and laughter from here after.”

They took another sip.

Elle held her glass out. “To the best friends a woman could ever ask for. You’ve both stood beside me through the years as I grew up never doubting me or finding fault with my abilities. I can never express how much that has meant to me in my life. And thank you for making this day so very special.”  She sniffed back a tear.

“
Stop right there,” Sara said and handed her a tissue. “No tears on your wedding day.”  She laughed. “We don’t want it to ruin your make up and Kole and everyone else is patiently waiting out there.”

Elle took a deep breath and blotted her eyes stopping the moisture
. She smiled. “You’re right, today is a time for joy.”

“
Okay, here we go.”  Sara opened the door and Elle and Rose followed her out.

Elle listened to the preacher’s solemn words letting the full impact of their meaning wash over her.

“Kole Stith, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” 

Elle listened with her heart, answering Kole’s soul-searching look.

“I do,” he said and smiled.”  Elle gazed into his eyes with her father, Rose, Sara, Dotty, Bill, Ari and everyone else watching.

Ari cleaned up well
. He stood as Kole’s best man, tall and sexy as hell with his cool blue eyes sparkling. He wore his human essence as Kole called it, well. In his own right the man was really good looking. They sure grew them gorgeous on Mars. Must be that test tube stuff.

It was obvious that Ari couldn’t keep his eyes off Sara
. Was something going on there? She sensed a spark between them as she watched Sara flirt with Ari.

Kole did say Sara’s soul mate was just out on the horizon
. Was it Ari? Or maybe it was just because Sara looked so beautiful today.

It was a small ceremony in the wonderful back yard of Yesterday’s Rose
. The scent of apple cinnamon wafted on the late fall afternoon breeze. This was the way she had wanted it–her family and a few close friends to witness her good fortune.

In her heart of hearts, she and Kole were already married
. This saying of the vows was for the others. They were a couple, as close as any two people could possibly be. Her heart warmed with joy as she was lost in Kole’s magnetic blue gaze.

The High Mountain Array had closed down the gold mine
. Bill and the government had made things right with the town. Benny and Lee were on their way to prison. All was right in her world. With Kole by her side she could handle anything, conquer this world or any other.

“
You may kiss the bride,” the preacher said.

Kole took her in his arms and bent down to kiss her, and she felt as if a golden light burst from their joining, radiating out into the world as if to transform everything into something good
. The past, present and her future came together with that one kiss. Turning, they faced the family. Amid the hugs and hearty congratulations, unknown to those she loved a single tear slipped down her cheek. Elle knew that after the reception this might be the last time she would see them for a long time. The starship waited for them on the outskirts of town. A wonderful future with Kole awaited her. They would find her sister and she would be together with her prince for always. She could feel it to the bottom of her soul. As Kole had told her many times, together there was nothing they couldn’t do. And this time she believed him.

Note to my readers:

Just saying hello to my
Star Traveler Series
readers and fans. I hope you have enjoyed
Starseed,
Book One of the series.

For an update on the next book in this series,
Visitations,
Book Two, and to be the first to hear about all of my Colorado quirky, crazy fun books, sign up for my newsletter at
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Starseed
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Star Traveler Series
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. That’s how other readers find my books! Your reviews make a ton of difference and are so appreciated.

Also, feel free to email me at
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  I do answer each and every email
. You can connect and hang with me in and on the following places:

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You also may purchase any of my other books listed below at
www.judewillhoff.com or www.amazon.com
 
Thank you!!!

Sweet Home Colorado series, Contemporary Romance

Book One - No Direction Home

Book Two – Fly Away Home

Book Three – Home Sweet Home

Star Traveler Series, Romanctic Suspense with a paranormal twist

Book One – Starseed

Book Two – Visitations

NONFICTION

Writing Secrets of 33 Bestselling Romance Authors

Living Well With Chronic Pain

About The Author

Jude Willhoff is a bestselling, award-winning author in both romance and nonfiction genres.
Starseed
was written while Jude lived in a highrise in downtown Denver, Colorado. Sitting on her 30
th
floor balcony she would watch the airplanes, many miles away, lining up in the sky to land at Denver International Airport.

While sitting there one evening watching the planes coming in, she thought of an incident that had happened to her when she was a child
. And that was the beginning of
Starseed
. The prologue of
Starseed
is based on that event.

Jude is an avid reader and a believer in all things romance
. By day, she works alongside her husband with their real estate business. “Though I could always use more time to write, the hours spent working with real estate are never dull and are a constant source of ideas for plots and characters.”  By night, she writes her contemporary romance and nonfiction books.

To celebrate Jude’s official launch of the
Star Traveler Series
she has happily included the first chapter of Book Two, Visitations,
for your enjoyment.

Visitations

Chapter One

The insistent buzzing of her cell phone vibrating woke Izzie Norris out of a deep sleep. Only after several rings did she realize the irritating sound wasn’t part of some dream. Blindly, she fumbled for the bedside lamp. In the instant brightness, she squinted at her caller ID fearing the worst. It read “Blocked,” same as before.

Damn
. Her friend’s numbers
would’ve
come up. Dread seeped into her bones as she pushed the covers back and sat on the edge of the bed. It had to be Nigel. That’s what she’d nicknamed the oddly clipped robotic voice who kept calling her in the wee hours of the morning. At first it was like a game. Now it made her skin crawl.

With nerves tight as a violin string, she gritted her teeth
. Earlier in the day she’d hiked the land nestled against the Colorado mountainside. This was her home now and she wouldn’t let that strange voice chase her away. No way in hell.

When her last nerve snapped she grabbed the obnoxious phone
. “Hello,” she growled.

“
Be safe.” the familiar voice said. “Go to your front window.”  The message clicked off. She stared at the phone as frustration surged through her. She had the wildest desire to throw it against the wall.

Forcing her hand to stop trembling she balled it into a fist and pressed it against her mouth
. She had to get a grip. This was ridiculous. There was nothing out there.

For months, on and off, the same message had come from that odd voice
,
the answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind.
The same mysterious lyrics from an old Bob Dylan song would play over and over in that robotic tone. She shivered.

Tonight, Nigel had changed his tune and actually spoken to her
. Why? What did it mean? It was a warning.
God, what if there was something out there?

Her heart nearly pounded out of her chest as she pulled her robe close and walked toward the great room
. Her fingers tightened around the cordless phone.

She didn’t think the caller meant her any harm, but what if he did
? Another chill ran across her body. She glanced around looking for a weapon and grabbed the fireplace poker. As she neared the large picture window in the living room the full moon shone brightly through the skylights. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and pushed one of the drapes aside with the poker. Through the narrow crack of the sheer curtain she could see to the yard and beyond.

Allowing her eyes to adjust, she searched past the redwood deck
. There, barely twelve feet away stood a tall naked man. With his back to her, he danced in circles under the glow of her motion-activated security lights. She leaned toward the window. He turned his gaze in her direction. An indrawn breath caught in her throat. Her heart hammered dangerously. Could he see her? What if he tried to break in? She gripped the poker, holding it close, ready to strike and quietly moved away from the picture window.

Taking a deep breath she calmed her frayed nerves, and once more peeked out to make sure her mind wasn’t playing tricks
. He was still there, his back to her and his arms stretched toward the heavens. He seemed agitated and appeared to be chanting something. From this distance she couldn’t distinguish the words, but he was big, much bigger than her.

Damn, this is all I need
. The remote location of the mountain home she’s inherited from her father-in-law had seemed ideal for the solitude of her writing. She swallowed hard. Tonight she wished for neighbors. What should she do? She leaned the poker by her side and punched in the numbers 911.

“
Sheriff’s department.”  A bored male voice answered on the first ring. “How may I help you?”

“
Hi, I’m Izzie Norris. I live out Highway 67 at 716 West Snowshoe Lane. This strange phone call told me to look out my window. I did.”  She struggled to keep her voice from quivering. “There’s a naked guy dancing in my front yard. I need someone to come and get him.”

“
Do you know who he is? Does he appear to be injured?” the dispatcher asked.

She pulled the curtain back and took another glance
. “I’ve never seen him before. He doesn’t look like he’s hurt, but I’m not going out there to find out.”

“
Ma’am, can you give us a description?”

She rolled her eyes in frustration
. “About six foot tall, thin and naked. He’s the only person in my yard.”

“
Is anyone in the house with you?”

“
No.”  A familiar ache shot through her chest. It had been four long years since her husband Steve, had died in an auto accident. It still hurt to say she was alone, so very alone.

“
You made the right decision by calling us.”  The uptight voice sounded a bit more concerned. “Stay inside your home. Make sure the doors and windows are locked.”

“
They are,” she said and continued to watch the man do his moonlit dance. Now, he kept his back to the house. Thank goodness.

“
The chief says there’s an officer in your neighborhood. He’s been dispatched to your residence. Stay on the line until he gets there.”

“
Okay.”  She clutched the phone close to her ear as if it were some sort of a lifeline. Tightening her body into a ball and hunkering on the end of the couch where she could still see outside, she tried to make herself smaller. Somehow it made her feel safer—-less vulnerable.

The silence of the house was deafening
. She glanced around the shadowed room that displayed the Norris antiques listening for any sounds that shouldn’t be there. They had been collected through the generations, indicating money and influence. She’d inherited everything and none of it felt like hers.

At that precise moment, while she was possibly in danger, it dawned on her as she watched the stranger in her yard, she was just the keeper of someone else’s life
. Steve had grown up here, but she’d never experienced those good times. For the past year, she’d been the one to nurse her father-in-law through his illness. Izzie had cried with his housekeeper, Nina, when he’d taken his last breath.

“
What is the man doing now?”  The dispatcher asked with a twinge of interest in his voice pulling her from her dismal thoughts.

“
He has his back to me, but he’s talking to the moon and waving his arms in the air.”  She moved closer to the window and tried to hear what he said. “I think he might be out of his mind.”  She couldn’t help but feel a little bit sorry for the poor fellow.

“
Do you see a car or anyone else around your yard?”

She pressed her face against the cool window pane and looked both ways, across the yard, and out into the trees that ran up the side of the mountain
. “No car. There’s nobody else around. He’s alone.”

The faint wail of a siren sounded in the distance
. She sighed.
That’s all I need. This guy will probably run for the woods soon as he hears the noise.

“
I see a car with a flashing blue light turning up my driveway. Thanks for your help.”  Before the man on the other end could say anything else, she hung up, and went to watch out the side window.

A tall man emerged from the unmarked police car
. The blue strobe light continued to flash from inside his car illuminating his silhouette in its glare. Something about him seemed familiar which made her feel safe. Relieved, she kept watching.

The siren had been silenced
. The naked man stood in place and stared at the moon. It was as if he were in some sort of trance. He wasn’t paying any attention and didn’t appear to see the flashing light or the policeman.

The officer glanced toward the house
. He didn’t turn out to be any of the ordinary boring townsfolk she’d expected. For a moment, she was speechless. Dressed in all black, he looked as if he had stepped off the cover of GQ. They just didn’t make men like that anymore.

What she saw in the light was a tall, handsome man with a full head of thick dark hair that was conservatively cut, but not buzzed to the scalp
. He oozed strength and courage. One look at his face and her stomach clenched. She gasped. Her heart skipped a beat and her toes tingled. She should’ve been better prepared. She’d known she’d see him sooner or later.

Sergeant Johnny Rafferty stepped toward the intruder and gently took his arm
. They talked quietly. The man’s manner seemed to change as Johnny spoke to him.

Johnny Rafferty, her heart’s desire of a long ago summer romance, that she’d never forgotten, moved his sport coat aside to reveal the badge attached to his belt
. The confused man appeared to listen.

Johnny led him toward his unmarked police car in the shadowed driveway
. More sirens and flashing lights pierced the darkened countryside coming up her driveway.

Johnny conversed with the EMT’s who wrapped a blanket around the man and helped him into the back of the ambulance
. They talked with Johnny briefly as Izzie watched through the window and tried desperately to read their lips and actions.

A short time later, the ambulance drove off with her front yard attraction
. Izzie pushed away from the side window as she saw Johnny turn the flashing blue light off and head toward her front door. Her heart pounded frantically trying to jump out of her chest. She had to get control of herself and think. After all these years, what was she going to say to the man who had broken her heart?

Gathering her inner courage, she opened the door
. He stood on the other side with his hand raised and ready to knock.

“
Mrs. Norris, I’m Sergeant Rafferty. We’ve taken your prowler into custody. I have a few questions to ask you.”

She opened the door wide
. “Of course, won’t you come in?”  He obviously hadn’t recognized her. With a combination of sadness and relief, she wondered if he had ever thought about her over the years. To think she had been so worried about running into him—-and he didn’t even remember her.
Figures.

She shouldn’t be surprised
. After all, they had been seventeen when they had last seen each other, a very long ten years ago. Even though she had lost her heart to him-her first love-never for a moment had she thought Johnny felt anything for her other than raging teenage hormones.

He had been the small town bad boy, and on one hot summer night, she had fallen head over heels for him
. Izzie had been at her best friend’s birthday party when she had caught her boyfriend kissing another girl. She’d run out back to cry her eyes out. Johnny appeared on his Harley. He let her dry her eyes on his shirt and offered to give her a ride home. From that night on, she was completely under his spell. Just like then, he was taking care of her now.

“
Is anyone else in the house?”  He glanced toward the stairs.

“
No. Would you like a cup of coffee?”  She started toward the kitchen. “I’ll never get back to sleep, so I might as well put some on and get some work done.”

“
Sure. It’s been a long night.”  He sat at her kitchen table and pulled a small ragged notebook from his jacket pocket.

He’d changed, just as she had
. He was older and, if possible, more handsome, but in a mature way. And he’d cut all that long gorgeous hair. Since he didn’t show any sign of recognizing her, she’d play it that way.

“
So, you’re Sergeant Rafferty. I heard you’d come back to town to help your uncle out. There was an article about the shortage of manpower in the
Woodview Gazette.
We’re lucky to have you.” 

She paused to catch her breath and he still didn’t say anything
. He continued to stare at her. “I . . . heard since Eddie moved to Denver to take care of his mom the chief has had a hard time finding his replacement,” she babbled on. Why didn’t he say something?

Johnny had been in town for over a month and she had done a great job of avoiding him so far
. Yet, of all the ways she had imagined their first meeting, it was nothing like this. She still felt like a teenager where he was concerned. It was probably just as well that they get this meeting over, once and for all, so she could get the man off of her mind.

“
Yes, I heard about that article,” he finally said. “It’s hard to find people qualified that want to live in a town this size.”  He grinned. “I owed my Uncle Louie a favor. Fortunately, I was able to take a leave of absence from my other job.”  He continued to stare at her, but didn’t elaborate any further. His eyes narrowed slightly and a look of puzzlement crossed his face. “You’re . . . .”