The Seduction of Evelyn Hyde Read online

  “That’s exactly what you are.”

  This time, his smile held no hint of humor. Intensity flowed off him in sheets. “In that case, tell me, why is your heart beating so fast I can hear it pounding in my head?”

  She pocketed her flashlight and briskly secured a safe distance between them. “That’s impossible. You can’t hear my heart without a stethoscope.”

  “You should know. You’re the doctor.” A silent challenge underscored his words, as if he was daring her to come clean, if not with him, then with herself.

  “I’ll go schedule that MRI for you.” She retreated toward the door. “Try to get some rest.”

  The staff lounge was quiet, empty save for Lia, who was busy pouring herself a cup of coffee, and that served Diane’s purposes just fine. She had a job to do. One that would require a great deal of concentration and privacy.

  Silent as the wind, she breezed in and bolted the door with the power of her mind. Thankfully, Lia didn’t hear the lock click in place or the sound of Diane’s soft-soled shoes whispering over the carpet as she approached. She was too lost in thought.

  That was the cross humans bore. A soul could be a cumbersome thing. Emotion clouded the mind and the senses, made a person weak and blind to the energy surrounding them.

  Lia brought the coffee to her mouth, let the paper cup linger against her bottom lip for a few seconds. Shoulders hunched, she secured one arm around her middle, as if struggling to hold herself together.

  Human beings were such weak, pathetic creatures—defenseless little lambs living in the constant presence of an invisible wolf. They thought they were safe, that their actions were their own, that their souls were immortal. But they were fooling themselves. If they knew what lurked in the dark—or in bright daylight—they’d never sleep soundly again.

  This one had good instincts. She spun around before Diane could reach her, and that was saying a lot, because Diane was as fast as she was silent.

  Coffee spilled to soak the front of Lia’s white lab coat. “Good God, are you trying to kill me?”

  About The Author

  Anne Hope is the author of emotionally intense romances with a twist—a twist of humor, a twist of suspense, a twist of magic. All her stories, however, have a common thread. Whether they make you laugh or cry or push you to the edge of your seat, they all feature the redeeming power of love and the heart’s incredible ability to heal.

  Anne’s passion for writing began at the age of eight. After penning countless stories about enchanted houses, alien girls with supernatural powers, and children constantly getting lost in the woods, she decided to try her hand at romance.

  She lives in Montreal, Canada, with her husband, her two kids, a well-fed cat and a rambunctious Australian Kelpie.

  To learn more about Anne Hope, please visit www.annehope.com, or send an email to [email protected].

  Also By Author

  Where Dreams Are Made, Samhain Publishing

  Broken Angels, Samhain Publishing

  Soul Bound, Dark Souls 1, Samhain Publishing

  Soul Deep, Dark Souls 2, Samhain Publishing