Dreaming Josie

By Susan Macatee

Excerpt:

Kyle paced his apartment. He had to be losing it. The woman—Josie, she'd said her name was—vanished into thin air. What the hell was going on?

Derek had told him he'd had too much to drink the night before, but Kyle knew that wasn't true. Something strange had happened. Could his dream girl be a ghost?

He didn't even want to entertain that thought.

After a shower, he took in a baseball game on cable, then decided to turn in. He still felt shaky after the encounter on the field. All the way home, he’d kept going over it in his mind. He must be going nuts.

He finally settled into bed and tried to clear his mind. Maybe a good night's sleep would put the whole thing to rest. He doubted it, though.

An inviting scent of lavender and woman woke him from a deep sleep. Someone leaned over him. He opened his eyes and stared into Josie's. He glanced around and found he was in a large canvas tent. Men lay all around him on cots.

"I"m here to wash you, Corporal." Josie placed a pan of water on a small table beside him.

"It's Kyle," he said.

She smiled. "Here, let me help you with your trouser leg." She pulled back the blanket covering him, and he stared down at his leg. His pants were torn at the seam, allowing access to his thigh. A gauze bandage wrapped around it.

"What the...?"

"I told you I'd stay to take care of you." She lightly touched his cheek.

Her scent and feather-light touch caused an embarrassing reaction. He glanced down, wondering if she'd noticed, but she concentrated on his thigh.

She expertly cut away the bandage, and Kyle stared at his leg. Stitches covered a long, pinkish scar.

"What happened?"

Josie glanced at him and frowned. "Surely you remember being shot."

"Shot!"

"In the cornfield." She bit her lip.

"I - no! I wasn't shot. I..."

"It's all right. I'll take care of you." She lifted a towel from the basin and started cleaning the wound. "We have to keep it clean to prevent infection."

"This doesn't make sense. I was never shot."

She studied him. "Perhaps I should call the doctor."

She rose, but he quickly grasped her hand. He didn't close on air this time, but soft, warm skin.

"Please stay," he said. "We need to talk."

"All right. I'll put a fresh bandage on your wound."

He nodded. Anything to keep her with him. He watched as she wrapped the bandage around his raised thigh, then tied it off.

"You'll be good as new before too long, so Doc says." Josie rose and took the pan.

Kyle feared she was leaving again. His hand shot out to stop her.

"Please, don't go."

She frowned but placed the pan back on the table. "What may I do for you, Corporal?"

"Kyle."

"All right, Kyle."

"I need to know..."

When he hesitated, she leaned down.

"What your lips taste like." He grasped the back of her head and pulled her down.

"Corporal, what are you...?"

He took her mouth, silencing her question. Her lips held tightly firm for a moment, then yielded to him. His tongue slid inside to taste her thoroughly. Sweet, soft and amazing. When he released her, he read the unleashed passion in her half-closed eyes.

She blushed a deep red, glancing around the tent. "Corporal ...Kyle...you mustn’t take such liberties. What will the others think?"

He looked around and shrugged. "No one's paying us any attention."

She lifted the pan. "I have to go."

Before he could stop her, she hurried past him moving to the front of the tent.

"Josie."

Something blared beside his cot. He turned his head and woke in his own bed to the blast of rock music from his alarm clock.

He shut it off and sat up. What a vivid dream! The ones he’d had before had been fragmented and fuzzy. He’d barely remembered them afterward. But that kiss. He touched his lips, swearing he could still feel her softness, smell her lave

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Macatee
• Release date: Jun 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476383262

Susan Macatee

Susan Macatee writes American Civil War romance, some with a paranormal twist. From time travels to vampire tales, her stories are always full of love and adventure. She’s spent many years as a Civil War civilian reenactor with the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. Besides writing romances set during the Civil War, she’s a big science fiction fan and is currently working on her first ever sci-fi romance. Her other loves are reading most genres of romance, rooting on her favorite baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies, and spending time with her husband and three sons.

Book preview

Dreaming Josie

by

Susan Macatee

Dreaming Josie

by

Susan Macatee

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Cover art by

Erin Dameron-Hill

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Copyright © 2012

by Susan Macatee

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Published by Susan Macatee

on Smashwords

Formerly published under title Angel of My Dreams in the EPIC finalist anthology, NORTHERN ROSES AND SOUTHERN BELLES, published in 2009 by The Wild Rose Press.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission, except for brief quotations to books and critical reviews. This story is a work of fiction. Characters and events are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Other books

by Susan Macatee

Cole’s Promise

Cassidy’s War

Sweet Redemption

Confederate Rose

Erin’s Rebel

Coming Soon

The Christmas Ball

Thoroughly Modern Amanda

For more info visit: www.susanmacatee.com

Dedication

To all reenactors, past and present, of the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. You continue to keep American history alive.

Chapter 1

Heard Monica dumped your ass.

Kyle Dalton shielded his eyes from the sun as he scowled up at his friend. He laid the rifle he’d been cleaning on the grass beside him and rose to his feet.

What’s it to you, Derek?

Derek scratched at the sandy-blond whiskers of the beard he was trying to grow and smirked. I told you Monica wasn’t the reenactor type. Once the novelty wore off, she’d get tired of it real fast and start making demands for you to either cut back or give it up altogether.

Although Kyle hadn’t wanted to admit it, Derek was right. Monica had moved into his apartment six months before, and since the new reenacting season had started up again, she’d done nothing but complain.

Kyle glanced around at the canvas tents and fellow reenactors strolling by or cooking breakfast over the fire. Wood smoke mixed with the enticing scent of frying bacon. His mouth watered. He’d risen for roll call a half hour ago and hadn’t even had his coffee yet. The last thing he wanted to think about this weekend was Monica.

It’s finished between us, Kyle said. She’s moved out, and I say good riddance.

Thata boy. Derek slapped Kyle on the back. Look around you. Lots of cute reenactor chicks ripe for the picking.

Kyle scowled. Most of who are here with husbands or boyfriends.

Derek grinned. You gotta have faith, dude. Don’t forget those civilian groups that come on their own. I’m sure there are more than a few lovely ladies looking for companionship.

Kyle shook his head. No way am I ready for that. I’m here to forget Monica, my hard-ass students, school administrators, and all other problems. I just want to relax and enjoy the weekend.

I hear you, but you need to get your butt out of those inner-city schools.

I’ve been thinking about that, but I wanted to get at least a few years of teaching experience under my belt.

You’ve done that. I’d like to see you get out before one of those bad asses puts you in the hospital for confiscating his cell phone.

Kyle shook his head.

Start looking around for a better position now. Don’t put it off.