Azure's Premonition


Blurb:
Azure Blackstone has a chill. And—it isn't from New Orleans' November air. She fools herself into believing she has overcome her traumatic Halloween carjacking. A flashback proves her wrong.

Azure credits Frank Hickman with her rescue that awful night. Now she learns he wasn't quite truthful. Is Azure's premonition about Frank really just a bad omen? Will Frank convince her otherwise?


Story:
Azure Blackstone slipped into her winter jacket, slung her purse over her shoulder, collected her attaché, and prepared to leave. "I'm out of here," she chimed, thumbing a call on her cell as she sashayed to the door.

"What are you doing this weekend?"

Azure stopped at her colleague's question. She hesitated to hit the last digit on her phone. The thought of spending more time with Frank washed over her like a soft ocean breeze. Thanksgiving Day was over, but would never be forgotten. "Well...for starters..." Azure grinned, "...Frank's taking me dancing tonight."

She mashed the final number as Debby spoke.

"Girl, I haven't seen a smile that big on your face since before..." Debby stopped talking and apologized at once. "I'm sorry."

Too late.

A shiver skittered along Azure's spine. It wasn't from the frigid November air because she stood inside—on the thirteenth floor—at the pharmaceutical headquarters. Azure flashed back to her traumatic abduction of four weeks ago. Fear blinded her. Remembering the gaseous smell gagged her. She was trapped, crammed into the stuffy trunk of her mid-size car.

"Azure?" Debby called.

Azure was in a time warp; one Debby couldn't penetrate.

"Hey, Boo." The words filtering from her cell hung in the air and received no response.

The voice ribboned around her. Yet, Azure stood suspended in a foggy mist, unable to see her way out. The battle to let go of the past raged until the soothing baritone drawl intruded, again.

"Azure?" Masculine intonations drilled through the barriers that stopped up her ears. "I know you're there. Speak up."

Azure finally did, when she brushed her hair aside to put the phone to her ear. "Oh, hi, Frank." She pretended everything was all right.

"What just happened?"

Azure heard him well enough to notice the apprehension in his voice. "I tried holding two conversations at one time." She rushed to dispel his concern. "That's all."

"You have a sixth sense. I was just thinking about you. Are we still on for tonight?"

"That's why I call—"

He cut her off. "Don't tell me you're canceling." His disappointment echoed over the line.

"Frank, I'm excited about our date. I called to confirm the time, since I'm leaving the office now." Azure clasped her things tighter, waved to Debby and opened the door, her episode forgotten. "Eight o'clock, right?"

"I can't wait that long."

Azure giggled. She juggled her items to close the door. The hallway carpet muffled her footsteps as she strode to the elevators. Her cheery disposition reflected in her mirrored expression. Azure pushed the down button, stepping in the moment the doors parted.

"You always know just the right thing to say, Frank Hickman." She felt herself smiling. He had that affect on her. "I'm in the elevator, so I might lose you."

"It's the truth." He paused as if waiting on her reply. "Are you still there?"

It surprised Azure to maintain reception all the way down. The bell dinged, announcing she had reached her floor. "I'm here, Frank." They opened a tad then slammed back together. Azure straightened up. On the next try, they continued to jerk until they were wide open.

She stared out into the dreary, dim parking garage. Evening light barely chased the darkness away. Her first step onto the concrete publicized her exit.
Wariness descended over her.

"I'm wrapping things up here. This job was a gut buster. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong." Frank hurried to amend, "Except meeting you."

"Um-hmph." Azure concentrated on her surroundings. She walked at a brisk pace. Soon, the tapping sound of her heels broadcast a swifter cadence.

"Are you running?" Frank sounded alarmed.

Embarrassed, Azure issued a false denial. "Of course not." Her rental was now in view. She beeped the locks open.

"Sounds like it." He pushed the matter.

"I'm hurrying, that's all. I want to be prompt."

"I know something's going on."

"Frank, stop worrying about me." Azure tossed her things into one big hodgepodge on the passenger seat. "I'm so over my unfortunate incident." She followed them in, put the key in the ignition with a shaky hand, and started up the car.

"Azure, I'll come get you."

"That' sweet, Frank." She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "But, I'm safely in my car." She backed out of the parking space and shifted to DRIVE. "I'll be ready at eight."

Continue reading this sweet romance at my blog. Read Azure Apparition to enjoy how their budding romance gets its start. Look out for Azure & Frank (The Gift of Love) coming to my blog for Christmas 2013.

I would love your comments, if you liked what you read.

Mickie Sherwood
~~Sweet, spicy romance – a heartbeat away~~
www.mickiesherwood.com/blog
www.twitter.com/MickieSherwood
www.goodreads.com/Louisiana_Lady