Deceptions (The Mystical Encounter Series Book 2)

by Kimberly Readnour

  A moment passed before he whispered, “God, I missed you.”

  The distance closed between us, connecting our lips in a magical reunion. That, right there, was what I had missed the most. The banging of pans from the kitchen alerted us that we weren’t alone in the house. With a slight groan, Barry pulled away. I peered up at him as he grinned.

  “I’m afraid to see your mom.”

  “Don’t be. She adores you,” I said.

  His lips tightened, signifying his uncertainty. His nervousness was unwarranted because Mom completely understood. “Even though I hurt her only daughter?” he asked incredulously.

  “In this situation, you’re given a pass. Next time though…‌” I tried to sound threatening.

  While drawing me back in, he wrapped his arms around saying, “There won’t be a next time. Ever.”

  Ever? I liked the sound of that. Unable to stop smiling, I nodded in response. That warranted a smile from him before landing a soft kiss on my forehead.

  “Let’s grab our supplies and get going.” I was more than ready to leave. Spending the entire day together was Barry’s best suggestion to date.

  I laced my fingers through his as we walked toward the kitchen. Upon entering, Mom glanced at our joined hands before greeting Barry with a warm, tender smile. A tiny bit of tension I carried diminished with that greeting. The way she adored Barry, I knew she wouldn’t be mad at him. Barry’s body relaxed, mimicking the same effect. We let go of each other’s hands while I walked to grab the picnic supplies.

  Barry cleared his throat. “Ms. Reiner, I feel as if I owe you an apology, too. My actions have not been admirable.”

  “Barry, it’s all right. You’ve had so much to deal with, it’s understandable.”

  “Yes, but…‌”

  “No, stop right there. You’re a good person, Barry, and there’s no reason to keep rehashing old news. You’re still healing and it will take some time. But the last things you need to worry about is my thoughts. Okay?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “Now, where are you guys planning to go?”

  We filled Mom in on our plans for the day while we worked together gathering our food. Barry slowed our progress with his impersonation of some television cook. With a laugh, I smiled, taking in his appearance. I couldn’t believe how easily it was to step back into our banter.

  Just as I finished placing the last snack into the basket, Barry came up beside me with a mischievous grin. Before I could move away from him, he drew me into a bear hug. I wasn’t sure if he would try tickling me or not, but the doorbell rang, interrupting his hold on me.

  “I’ll get it,” I hollered, laughing as I sprinted away from his grasp.

  I was still laughing when I opened the door, but the laughter died on my lips as I stared into a familiar pair of dark espresso–colored eyes. I couldn’t breathe. Everything around me disappeared while I tried to make sense of who was standing in front of me.

  I whispered, “Dad?”

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  Acknowledgments

  Big thanks to you, the readers. Through your kind words either through Facebook or my email, the process for publishing my second book has been easier. I’m always happy to hear feedback and to learn how relatable the story is to you.

  Thanks to my family for allowing me to continue pursuing this dream. From the late night suppers, abandoned household chores, and constant battle for attention with my computer, your support can not be measured. I love every single one of you.

  Thanks to my beta-readers Staci Vecellio, Brandon Prosser, Denice Loveless, and Ian Pavelich. Again, each one of you brought something to the story. Staci, your ability to read through the very rough draft is so appreciative. It isn’t easy reading words that haven’t been polished and your willingness doesn’t go unnoticed. You’re a great friend. A huge thanks to Brandon for allowing me to pick your brain for all police material. Without your knowledge, I’d have a much harder time digging up the laws. Denice, thanks for giving me your opinion about the story. Ian, I will definitely use your insights for the next book! Each advice is very valuable in making the story solid. Thank you everyone!

  Sherri, my developmental editor, I cannot thank you enough for pointing out the areas where readers may question. Your knowledge helped enhance the story.

  Jasmine, my line editor, I can not thank you enough for taking your time to re–edit my manuscript. When I published the story and realized it needed further editing, I was not sure who to turn to. I am so thankful you were able to fit me in your tight schedule. Thanks so much.

  About the Author

  Kimberly is a published author of The Mystical Encounters Series, a planned trilogy. She is a former Registered Nurse who hung-up her stethoscope to pursue other avenues. Within the last five years, she has discovered her passion for writing. Now, whenever there is downtime, you will find her tucked away with the computer, creating the stories floating around her head.

  Kimberly lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children. The oldest is away at college, but when she returns, they enjoy hiking, camping, and simply hanging out as a family.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

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  ~10~

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  ~21~

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  Thanks for reading Deceptions!

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  ~1~

  ~2~

  ~3~

  ~4~

  ~5~

  ~6~

  ~7~

  ~8~

  ~9~

  ~10~

  ~11~

  ~12~

  ~13~

  ~14~

  ~15~

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  ~17~

  ~18~

  ~19~

  ~20~

  ~21~

  ~22~

  ~23~

  ~24~

  ~25~

  ~26~

  Thanks for reading Deceptions!

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author