Dreaming of a Hero (Heroes Series Book 2)

by Lyssa Layne

  I'm on my way out to the elevators, and I’m utterly exhausted. I’ve just had the most amazing night of my life. I’m already anticipating the next time I’ll get to see Abbie; there is a connection between us that is incomparable to everything else I’ve known.

  I had to stop her when she had latched onto me in the bathroom. As much as I want her, she has to get better, both physically and emotionally. When…and if…we do go further, I’ll want it all. I don't want any part of her to be thinking about that asshole. I intend to have Abbie all to myself…someday.

  ''Hey, shithead!'' I hear someone yelling behind me as I head into the parking lot. I turn around, wondering who the hell it is.

  It’s tie guy, Dean.

  Shit. I thought we were done with him. What the hell does he want now? I decide to keep walking, but my fists clench next to my sides, just in case. The last thing I want is more problems with this fucking loser; he's not worth it. By the time he catches up to me, I’ve reached my car and the thought of backing him over is incredibly tempting.

  ''I bet you fucked her all night. Didn’t it feel weird to fuck her and smell another man’s scent on her sheets?'' His eyes are bloodshot, his hair a complete mess.

  Seriously, this guy is fucking mental. We’re standing in a parking lot, random passersby are glancing our way and I just want to leave. ''I didn’t fuck her, as you so charmingly put it. I put some ice on her swollen face and I cared for her all night. We just filed a report on your ass, so if I were you, I would back the fuck up, before you have Seattle’s finest on your ass. Got it?'' I'm so fucking irritated right now. Adrenaline's pumping through my veins and my hands clench into fists. Calm down Presley, he’s not worth it. I have to leave before this gets out of hand, but I know I shouldn’t turn my back on him. He's like a fucking predator; stalking his prey.

  As I get towards my car, he hits me.

  Fucking Asshole.

  ''Come on, you’re going to hit me now? Wasn't it enough for you to hit the woman you supposedly love?'' I taunt him, even though it’s probably a lousy idea.

  People are staring at him. Even though he's humiliated, he fakes a smile, and pretends he doesn’t give a fuck. I get in my car and leave him standing there like a moron. The adrenaline has kicked into high gear. I’m not the type of person who walks away from a fight. I didn't actually know I had that much self-control.

  Sitting in the car, I dial Abbie’s number. ''Abbie, do me a favor and double check that your door is locked,'' I growl when she answers the phone.

  ''Why?'' she questions nervously, but I can hear her rattling the safety chain on the door and relief floods my chest.

  ‘‘Dean was in the parking lot. Just be especially careful, okay? Call me if you need me for anything at all. Please stay inside your apartment.'' My hand is shaking when I clench my fingers onto the steering wheel.

  ''Okay, I will.''

  ''Abbie?'' I wait for her response, wanting to make sure I have her absolute attention.

  ''Yes, Presley?''

  ''Be safe, I don’t want you getting hurt. He's dangerous.''

  I’m glad she changed the security code on her alarm system this morning. I know she’ll be safe, as long as she stays inside. She's supposed to be having her locks changed later today, so that eases my mind a little bit more.

  This is so fucked up. I finally meet the girl I’ve been waiting years for, and she's so loving, so pure, and this asshole is trying to destroy her. I truly hope he hasn’t hit her like that before. There’s no excuse for abusing a woman – ever. Not physically, not emotionally. Dean Hurley is a fucking prick, and I want to rip his fucking head off.

  I need to distract myself or I’ll just turn around and go and beat the shit out of him. No doubt Josh’s already gone to work, but Ali's probably home. I’ll stop by her place first. I need to talk to someone.

  ***

  ''Presley Williams, refusing to fight? Did I hear you right?'' Ali makes it obvious she doesn’t believe a word I’m saying.

  ''I told you, Ali, this guy's crazy, as in mentally ill crazy. I didn’t want to risk it. It wasn’t like a fight in a bar. This guy wants to choke me with his obnoxious ties. Getting into a fistfight with him just didn’t seem like the smart thing to do.”

  She's laughing, which surprises me. ''Well, in less than twenty-four hours this girl has changed you more than I’ve managed to do in the last twenty-four years.'' Ali sighs. “That’s good. It’s nice to hear she has that kind of influence on you.''

  ''It’s a lot more than influence; I’ve never felt like this about a woman before. It’s almost as if she owns me or something.'' I rub my face, trying to get it clear in my head, but I still don't know what’s going on. It’s all so confusing. I can't wrap my head around it.

  ''Soulmates?'' she suggests quietly. Her expression is deadly serious, and I know she wants the truth from me.

  I smile grimly. ''Something like that.'' Could I already be in love with Abbie? It’s a distinct possibility.

  ''Will I get to meet her properly soon?''

  ''I hope so. I have a shoot in New York in two weeks, I’m leaving on Monday... but I hope I see again her before I leave.''

  Ali’s eyes light up with excitement. ''Presley, why don't you invite her along?''

  Is she crazy? I don’t want to scare Abbie away. Inviting her to go to New York is absolutely out of the question. This is way too fast.

  ''Nah, it’s too soon, Ali.''

  ''You should at least ask her,'' Ali insists. “She can always say no.”

  ''We’ll see.'' I’m not so sure it’s a great idea, though I would love to have Abbie by my side. It's a photo shoot for a magazine; I could probably bring her along with me without too much drama. I have to admit, the idea is appealing...and I could have her all to myself, get to know her better. I decide to give it some more thought, and see how the next few days pan out.

  Abbie

  The past ten days have been great. I haven't heard anything from Dean, and I've talked to Presley every day. I haven't been able to see him more than twice, but that’s okay. I'm taking things slowly. Presley turns out to be the type of guy who needs to make sure I'm doing fine. I know he’s been worried about me, particularly because of my asshole of an ex-boyfriend, but actually, I'm doing great. I feel free to live my life and now that my face has healed completely, I enjoy going to read in the park or the nearby coffee shop. That sort of thing was always an issue with Dean. He didn’t like it when I spent time alone in public. Jealousy was controlling for both him and me. I'm enjoying my life very much without him in it.

  Presley interrupts my Sunday morning reading session with a phone call. I get almost giddy when I see his name show up on the screen of my phone. I love hearing the sound of his sweet voice.

  ''New York? Are you kidding me?'' I ask. To say I’m surprised by the invitation is an understatement.

  ''I know it's…hmm. I guess it’s a little too soon, we haven’t known each other long, but I thought you might like the distraction.'' I can hear the hope in his voice. He wants me to go with him. For Presley, it’s a way to make sure I was safe.

  ''When are you leaving?'' I question. I need to know if I can make a trip to New York work with my schedule.

  ''Monday. The flight leaves at one am.''

  ''Geez, Presley, that’s a little last minute, don't you think?'' I exclaim.

  ''I know... I...''

  ''Alright.'' I agree before he can continue.

  ''You’re coming?'' He sounds surprised.

  ''Yeah.'' I respond with a huge grin on my own face, happy it doesn't hurt when I smile anymore.

  ''I'll get you a ticket. We’re going to stay at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Is that alright?”

  Is he serious? How can you go wrong with a Marriott hotel? He had already hooked me with ‘New York’. ''It sounds great, Presley.” I chuckle. “I didn’t expect an offer to go to New York when you called.''

  ''Yeah, well, Ali thought... I... well
... I thought it would be good for you to get away for a bit, you know, a little distraction. I'll have to work most of Monday, but I should be done around dinnertime and we can spend all day Tuesday together.''

  I’m already nodding, even though he can’t see me. I’ll take what I can get. I love spending time with Presley, even if it's only for thirty seconds at a time. Plus, I like the idea of getting to know him better – it’s important to me.

  ''Okay, I'm sure I’ll manage to find something to do on Monday. It's New York, there’s got to be something interesting going on somewhere. I could probably spend my day in a bookstore, like the one in that movie ‘You’ve Got Mail’ with Meg Ryan.''

  In actual fact, there are so many things I can do in New York. Visit the Statue of Liberty, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, then there’s MOMA and Central Park! I’m excited about the idea, and I hope we’ll have time for a walk in Central Park—it would be incredibly romantic. Romance with Presley sound like the perfect escape from reality right now.

  Presley is laughing. ''Whatever makes you happy, Abbie. If you don’t want to spend the day in the bookstore, you could always spend the day with me. You could be my assistant,” he suggests casually.

  Oh! Maybe that was his plan in the first place; maybe he wants to spend the day with me, rather than have me go off sightseeing. I’ll be more than happy to pretend to be his assistant, for as long as he needs me. ''Sure, okay, I can always visit the bookstore later.''

  I've never visited New York before; no matter what we end up doing, it should be fun. After disconnecting the extremely long call from Presley, I look around my apartment, already planning what I’m intending to pack. It’s only a one night trip, so I won’t need a lot. I make the decision that packing a backpack will do. I’ve never been the type of person who carries her entire wardrobe when she goes anywhere. I'm a pretty simple girl. Jeans and t-shirts always do the trick for me.

  ***

  Planes. I truly don't like planes, they make me anxious. My palms sweat like a criminal in church, and I’m anticipating that every announcement is going to be informing us that we’re all going to crash and burn. It’s going to be a long flight and I intend on napping for most of it. Sorry, Mr. Presley! I certainly won't win travel partner of the year!

  I'm so tired. It's 11:30pm and Presley has arrived to pick me up. We grab coffee and something to eat on the way to the airport. Once we arrive, we drink our coffees on the bench outside. I guess he doesn’t like eating in his car. Of course, he does have a nice car, and I have to admit he keeps it pretty neat.

  After he called and asked me to go to New York with him, we talked on the phone for hours. My ear was hurting by the time we disconnected. Everything about Presley is intriguing, and it only makes me want to know even more about him. He is passionate, protective, artistic – and so freaking hot. The only thing I’ve found strange was his reaction when I suggested meeting him at his place, instead of having him pick me up to go to the airport. He almost sounded panicked... and I don’t understand why. I'm not going to ask him now, but I get the feeling he’s hiding something. While I'm not letting it go, now isn’t the time to bring it up. I’m sure I’ll discover why he didn’t want me to come to his apartment at some stage in the near future, and if not, I’ll pry mercilessly until I figure it out.

  The airplane is about to take off and we're sitting side-by-side in our seats. Presley caresses my knee with his fingers, and I lean my head against his shoulder. His cologne is intoxicating, a mix of lemon and various strong spices. I press feather-soft kisses on his neck and goose bumps form on his skin, confirming he likes it.

  I don’t know what it is, but around Presley, I always have a need to touch him.

  We’re halfway through the flight and I'm extremely tired. My eyes are getting heavy and my vision is blurring. I’ve been reading a lot lately, and I have to complete a report on this book in three days. A seven hundred page contemporary romance; it's been a great read, and I only have a hundred pages left.

  I try to stretch out my cramped legs and arms in the confined space. Seeing my discomfort, Presley lifts my legs over his. He places a hand on each side of my face and kisses my lips, deliciously and passionately. Each kiss only serves to heighten my desire and awakens a yearning for him. He's killing me. I want to get closer to him, but sitting in an airplane doesn’t allow much room to manoeuvre. Presley pauses in his assault, gazing into my eyes; I think he’s trying to read me. I’m quite certain all he's going to see in my face is longing, hope and desire. He squeezes my knee gently and he seems nervous. ''You are the prettiest – you know that, right?''

  “Mm hmm.''

  “Go to sleep, Abbie. It's going to be a long day.”

  He puts his arms around my neck and I doze off lying against his chest. What I wouldn’t do, to fall asleep like this every night, without fearing an argument or a battle. Presley is so different from Dean and I don’t feel any fear when I’m with him – he makes me feel safe and important.

  Presley

  I have the most charming and charismatic woman in the world sitting beside me, sleeping soundly. I would love it if she could be mine, forever. I hope she will be, because I feel so much for her already. I could happily spend the rest of my life with her. I can’t stop watching her and I’m elated she agreed to come with me to New York. I love that she is trusting me enough to come with me. It’s a big step for her, I’m sure.

  I’m scared it’s happening too quickly, but I can’t help the way I feel. Abbie is exactly what I need in my life. The past couple of days have been magical, when we’ve talked for hours on the telephone. Everything I’ve learned about Abbie has only made me appreciate her even more.

  I press a kiss to her hair. I’m certain I'll remember the exact smell of her perfume, a thousand years from now. As we're about to land, I carefully remove my arms from around her neck, and adjust her seat belt, all without waking her up.

  I love New York. I’ve come here a couple of times in the past year, once for a tattoo convention, and a few times for photo shoots. I enjoy being in the city every single time. The photo shoot I’m working on today is being shot in the hotel where we’re staying, so I won't have to rush from to a set somewhere else in the city. We’ll have a bit of time to freshen up before I begin work.

  ''Come on, love, we’re here.'' I whisper huskily in her ear.

  Abbie opens her eyes slowly and I can see how tired she still is, despite the nap. This is going to be a rough day for her. ''You can go back to sleep once we get checked in to our room,'' I promise.

  Abbie sits up, rubbing at her eyes as she glances out the window. ''The last thing I want to do while I’m in New York is sleep, Presley.''

  I can't help but laugh; she's so cute. ''Alright, alright. We’ll find some coffee, grab a cab to the hotel and get to work then.''

  ''Sounds good.'' She concentrates on the view from the small window. Her face lights up in a grin that reaches her eyes. Right here and now, I know bringing Abbie to New York was the best plan I’ve had in a while.

  ***

  The view of Times Square is breathtaking. We stand outside on the balcony, enjoying the views. Abbie steps closer and encircles my waist with her arms.

  ''Thank you, Presley,'' she says, and I can hear the happiness in her voice.

  ''You’re welcome, Abbie. I'm happy to have you here in New York with me.'' I kiss her forehead and then the tip of her nose. She smiles. This sort of happiness is everything I wish for her.

  ''I love it when you kiss me like that; you have no idea how good it feels,'' she admits.

  I kiss her temple. ''I think I do, Abbie. You make me feel exactly the same way.'' I press another kiss to her neck and feel her smile when I kiss her lips.

  “If you want a separate room, I understand. It didn’t cross my mind until now. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.” I took for granted that we would spend the night here in the same room but now, I feel like a fool for not asking her before
hand.

  “No, I’m okay here with you.” I nod reassured. ''How long do we have until you have to be at the photo shoot?'' she questions.

  I glance at my watch, suddenly hopeful. ''We have a little over forty five minutes.''

  Her expression lights up. ''Enough time to go outside! I want to take some pictures of Times Square!''

  ''Pictures?'' I’d been hoping she wanted something a little more intimate.

  ''Yeah, it’s amazingly cool here and I’ve never been to New York before.'' Abbie slips inside the room and searches through her backpack, producing a camera. She grins delightedly.

  I lift an eyebrow. “That’s your camera?'' I can’t help it, I chuckle. It's a basic red digital camera, and she suddenly seems a little embarrassed, so I try to make her feel better. ''Abbie, this is your first trip to New York – borrow one of my cameras. At least you’ll have some good quality pictures to remember your trip.''

  She puts a hand on her hip, but I can see she’s amused. ''Presley, you are such an ass. My camera works just fine,'' she pouts.

  ''Don’t even think of bringing it along with you. I’m telling you now...'' I can’t help laughing and Abbie begins to giggle. ''You are seriously going to ruin my photographic career if anyone sees us with your camera.'' I hold out a hand. “C’mon, let’s go see Times Square.”

  ***

  Within a short period of time, I've already taken seventy-nine photos of her. Abbie is a natural beauty, and it comes effortlessly for her. We had a long flight last night, and yet, she's looking marvellous. I love her Converse sneakers and her skin-tight jeans. She’s sexy, even wearing a basic t-shirt. Her hair is hanging loose and, sometimes, the breeze catches it. She's not even aware of me as she takes in the excitement of her surroundings, and I know there isn't a single shot in there that isn’t breathtaking. Abbie is naturally photogenic and adorable. When she does meet my eyes, I see the light in hers. I hope I'm responsible for that sparkle of life.