In Her Wildest Dreams

Chapter One Elizabeth watched the half-naked man standing in her bedroom doorway. His white robe was loosely belted, and she could see the outline of his chest, delicious hillocks of muscle with a dusting of silky dark hair. She could not speak, only stare as he stepped into the room, wearing an expression in which she could see his hunger for her. “Hi, Ellie.” His voice was a seductive whisper. He stopped at her bedside, looking down at her. “I’ll give you everything you need.” Ellie’s heart pounded. Her body came alive with desire, falling open, like a flower. He undid the belt of his robe, revealing a god-like body, a carved sculpture, like those Greek athletes she’d lusted after in museums. This couldn’t be possible, this incredible man, wanting her, bending over her, bringing his face close to hers. She could feel his body heat, caressing her, shimmering through her, with the promise of her every fantasy fulfilled. She closed her eyes, waiting for his kiss… Ellie sat bolt upright, awakened by the grinding of gears and roaring motor of the weekly garbage truck on her street. She rubbed her eyes as she realized she’d been dreaming. Her body still pulsed with desire, desire unfulfilled. Disappointment flooded her that Darren wasn’t there. She loved cuddling with him in the morning, but he’d gone home last night, saying he had to be up early for an important meeting. She sighed and pushed the covers back, her sadness coming over her as it did each morning, when she thought of her grandfather's funeral. It had only been two weeks ago, and she just couldn’t find the energy to do her work. The reading of the will was today. If it weren’t for that, she wasn’t sure she’d get up at all. She forced herself to rise from the bed and put on her robe, listening to the loud beeping sound of the garbage truck backing up toward the curb. I’ve got to get a grip. She trudged to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she remembered her dream. The thought sent a frisson of pleasure through her body. The man, whoever he was (probably someone she’d seen in a magazine or billboard somewhere) was gorgeous. He'd had dark hair, chocolate eyes and a really sexy smile. Replaying that scene in her mind seemed to take the edge off her grief, a welcome relief after losing one of the people she’d loved most in her life. Ellie patted her face dry with a hand towel. She tightened the belt on her robe and went to the kitchen to make breakfast for herself and her brother, Paul. As she went down the hallway, she found herself wondering how the dream would have unfolded if the truck outside hadn’t woken her. * * * * The sadness that had gripped Ellie earlier this morning returned in full force as she sat in the lawyer's office. She gripped the plush leather arms of the chair as Jack Burnham’s voice droned in the back of her attention. She kept her gaze fixed on the blue sky and the sun’s reflection on the windows of the nearby John Hancock building. Paul’s hand closed over hers. Ellis Morgan had left Paul the lobster trawler and left Ellie the farmhouse with its thirty-two acres of land, quarter mile of oceanfront, blueberry barrens and tillable field. He wanted both his grandchildren to have a source of income and security. Moreover, he had arranged for all the payments of homeowner’s insurance and property taxes to be paid through the lawyer’s office so that Ellie would not have to worry about it. He left Ellie’s father his retirement account and his stocks and bonds. Before she knew it, the reading had ended, and they were rising from their chairs. Ellie was picking up her purse when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Jack Burnham, the lawyer who had handled the estate, was smiling at her. “Ellie, can I speak with you a moment?” She furrowed her brow. “Of course.” The lawyer guided her to the side as her father and brother filed out of the office, signaling that they’d wait for her outside. The older man cleared his throat. “I just wanted to tell you something, Miss Morgan.” “Yes?” “Your grandfather was definitely of sound mind and body when he formulated this will.” Ellie raised her eyebrows questioningly. “I knew that. I saw him nearly every day until he passed on. He was always lucid.” Burnham nodded. “Yes. I know. I just wanted to make sure you knew.” “Is there something you’re not telling me?” The man sighed. “No. There’s nothing I can tell you.” He patted her shoulder. “You have my condolences. Your grandfather spoke highly of you.” Ellie nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Burnham. Excuse me, though, my family’s waiting for me.” “Of course.” He stepped aside and waved her to the door. Ellie smiled briefly and walked out, trying to shrug off the strange feeling left by her interaction with the lawyer. Oh well, she thought, he was just trying to be nice.