It’s 3am and my bedroom is dark and still. I stand as my heart beats heavy in my chest and walk to the


    window to pull the sheer curtains back and stare down at the street below.


    Was that gunshot outside… or was it all another dream?


    I feel like I’m going crazy, between these dreams and the shing lights in my eyes.


    I get a ss of water and return to my window seat to watch the city lights below. I haven’t been


    sleeping well, what with the constant, nagging thoughts of my characters, Henry and Elizabeth every night.


    I take out my notepad and let my imagination run wild.


    It’s so life like that I would swear their story is real. This is going to be a great book.


    “Would you like to go for a walk in the woods this afternoon,” Elizabeth asks hopefully.


    Henry’s eyes hold hers and then he looks around the stable to make sure nobody can hear their


    conversation.  “Elizabeth,  I  cannot  meet  you.  Why  would  you  want  to  walk  with  me?”  he  whispers.


    Even though she has been visiting him for weeks in the stables, he still cannot make sense of it.


    Elizabeth’s face falls. “I just want to spend time with you, I want to get to know you.”


    “Why?” He frowns.


    She hesitates. “Because I like you.”


    “You like me?” He smirks as if not believing her.


    She smiles and nods quickly. “Very much. Please tell me that you like me, too.”


    “Elizabeth,” he whispers. “We could never be like that. I am below your station. You are to marry a


    duke. Your father would never allow it.”


    Elizabeth steps back from him and her back straightens in annoyance.” I don’t want to marry a


    duke.  A  title  means  nothing  in  my  eyes.  I  shall  run  away  as  soon  as  I  get  the  chance.”  She  steps


    forward, grabbing his hand in hers.


    His eyes hold hers.


    “Please.” She smiles hopefully.


    “Elizabeth, you know I like you but you need to stop this. I am not allowed to have you.” The truth


    is… he has thought of nothing else but hertely.


    “But do you want me?” She dares herself to ask as she holds his hand in hers.


    Henry’s eyes drop to her lips and his palm rises to rest against her cheek. “More than anything, I


    want you,” he whispers.


    “Kiss me,” she breathes as she looks up at him.


    Henry’s eyes fly around the stable and back to hers.


    “I need you to kiss me.” She smiles lovingly up at him.


    This crazy girl with her romantic notions will be the death of him, literally. Henry leans in and


    kisses her, his gentle hands cupping her face.


    Elizabeth pulls back and her eyes dance with delight. “Meet me this afternoon at the stream by the


    bottom paddock.”


    Henry frowns. “It’s too dangerous. I will be strung up if I am caught with you alone.”


    She leans in and kisses him again “Say you will. Rules are meant to be broken.”


    He swallows the lump in his throat as he contemtes his decision, knowing this is risky.


    “I will meet you at three?” she whispers hopefully.


    Henry smiles at the ground, kicking the dirt with his shoe as he nods.


    Elizabeth smiles broadly. “I shall dream of you all day, Henry.”


    Henry smiles bashfully. “Goodbye, Elizabeth. Now go inside before you get me into trouble.”


    Emerson


    “Can I see you tonight?” Mark asks hopefully.


    Please give up. I’m not interested.


    We are in the kitchen at work and I am making a coffee. He is standing behind me, pretending to wait


    for the kettle. Every time Mark sees me go somewhere in the office, he’s right behind me in five seconds


    t. Not even the lunchroom or photocopier are safe zones. “Mark…” How do I put this? “I want to be


    friends and get to know each other a bit more.” My eyes hold his. Please, please get the hint. I don’t


    want to have toe out and say I don’t like you. I do have to work with him, after all, but then I don’t


    want to lead him on, either.


    “You want to get to know me and be friends?” he repeats.


    I smile. “Yes.”


    He grins and stands really close to me. “So you are after a friend with benefits kind of thing?”


    What?


    “Ahem,”  a  female  voice  interrupts.  We  both  turn  around  sheepishly.  Great.  It’s  Stephanie  from


    reception… again. This chick is busting my every move.


    “S-steph,” Mark stammers. “How are you?”


    She looks at him nkly and raises a brow. “Did you just say what I think you said?”


    His eyes widen and flicker back to me. Christ, they are still on together.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    “Steph, let’s go into my office.” He tries to get her away from me before she says anything else.


    I smirk and drop my head. Busted, asshole.


    I walk back to my desk. “Your phone has been going off,” Travis tells me as he types.


    “Oh, sorry. I forgot to turn it on silent.” I pick it up and swipe the screen to see six missed calls from


    star.