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I blinked in surprise at her unexpected kindness Every other proprietor had been anxious fora fa with a sudden rush of tears Maybe it was My parents’ funeral was the day after tomorrow

“Thank you, but I can’t,” I said, voice husky from emotions I couldn’t let o,a bad impression on e alerts kept going off in his class Then I read Jased

Mrs Paulson gave me another sympathetic smile “At least let me make you a hot cup of tea—”

A dark, hazy double i it look as though it had aged over a hundred years in an instant I stifled a groan Not this again

The pricey antiques vanished, replaced by broken-down furniture or nothing at all The te ht my eye

A blonde girl walked past the decrepit-looking reception lounge Her face was sed with dirt and she was bundled up in a tattered blanket, but I didn’t need a second glance to recognize her

“Jasmine,” I whispered

Mrs Paulson ca shadows suddenly darting across her face as if she had snakes trapped beneath her flesh Jasmine continued to walk by as if she wasn’t aware that ere there If not for the innkeeper’s surprisingly strong grip, I could have reached out and touched my sister

“Wait!” I cried out

The house blinked back into elegant furnishings and warm, cozy temperatures Just as quickly, Jasrip, although the shadows on her face had vanished I finallydown the hallhere I’d glimpsed my sister

Before I made it three steps, pain exploded in the back of my head ItI kneas on my knees and Mrs Paulson was about to hit ain

Get out! The single, e My body reed I don’t kno, but I was suddenly outside and sla the door shut onwhat had made Mrs Paulson turn fro maniac

I drove back to h on autopilot After I parked, I sat in the car with the engine off, trying to fight back nausea while I figured out my next move I could call 911, but I didn’t want to adht before Mrs Paulson attackedup for a stay in a padded rooton already didn’t like , I’d bitched theh to find Jasmine They’d probably take Mrs Paulson’s side and assu to provoke her

I paused Had I? I didn’t re away fro else I didn’t re that had scared her so ht be having blackouts in addition to hallucinations soured ot out of the car and went to h it were a fifty-pound anchor, then flicked on the light

Everything in uy with hair the color of dark honey sat there, his large fraht nose, high cheekbones and a sensual h to adorn billboards He didn’t look startled by my appearance, either In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear he’d been expecting me