1. Iris

ONE

Istood at the window of my tiny farmhouse sipping a strong cup of coffee as the sun slowly rose on the horizon. My fluffy black cat, Katie (Purry), perched on the windowsill, her tail whipping back and forth. She made little chirps in her throat as she imagined herself hunting the birds pecking their way across the side lawn.

"You get ‘em, girl," I said, and she twitched on the windowsill, shooting me a look full of scorn, as if by speaking, I'd scare her prey away.

An indoor cat, her prey was safe for now.

Once the pink rays had faded from the sky and my cup was empty, I gave her a quick pat and placed the mug in the sink. I strode through the cozy farmhouse I'd inherited from my deceased grandmother, entering my bedroom to get ready for work.

Katie scampered behind me, jumping up onto my bed and flopping with a heavy sigh. She rolled onto her back, exposing her big belly for rubs.

"Silly girl." Leaning close, I stroked her fur. "Look at that chonky tummy. So cute!" I'd inherited Katie from my grandmother, along with the farmhouse in decent shape, a barn in not-so-decent shape, plus fifty acres of overgrown fields and woods. Katie was a bit feral when I arrived, but once I brought her inside and fed her lots of treats, she turned into the spoiled kitty she was born to be.

Until a month ago, I'd lived in a city and managed a bookstore. My inheritance offered me a new start after my divorce. I'd recently rented a storefront downtown and fulfilled my lifelong dream of opening my own bookstore.

Romance books only. Sorry, guys, but you could buy your military hero books elsewhere.

Fortunately, my old job had paid well, and I'd saved all I could. Added to what Grannie left me, which wasn't a lot, I had enough money to cover my expenses for a few months until my bookstore took off.

Which it would, because . . . romance. Who didn't want to read about true love?

Katie and I lived a simple life. Sometimes I longed for someone kind to share it with me, but what I was doing now fulfilled me in ways I'd never thought possible. I could make peanut butter, chocolate chip cookies and eat five if I wanted to. I could lounge around on Sunday in leggings and a t-shirt without being told I needed to "dress nicely". Both things my ex had frowned upon.

After lying on the bed beside Katie and giving her lots of pats, I rose and booped her nose—she swiped at my hand.

"Missed. Ha." With a grin, I strode through the house and out to the big barn where my grandfather used to restore old cars for a living, and climbed into my vehicle parked inside. I drove into town, parking behind the building housing my bookstore. Inside, I flipped the Closed sign to Open and started straightening shelves.

It wasn't long before my first customer arrived, raving about the enormous monster romance selection I'd created. More eager readers followed, and the endless ca-ching of the cash register made my heart sing.

Finally, I had a lull in the action and flopped onto the stool I kept behind the register. Ten already? Whoa. Time did fly when you were having fun.

"Morning, Iris," Tessa, the fifty-something woman who ran the bakery next door, called out as she bustled through the entrance. "Here you go, honey." With her ever-present grin filling her lovely brown face, she rounded the counter and handed me an antique plate holding a donut. She served all her customers on real plates, not that foam stuff that might make you sick. They were a mix mash of all sorts of patterns, and I wasn't sure she had more than one of each, but it worked. Customers loved it and it made her happy. What could be better than that? "The donut is freshly glazed and still warm from the oven."

Oh, yum. The sweet smell of sugar and cinnamon filled the air, making my belly rumble.

She was the first person to befriend me in town, and we'd been best buds ever since. Like me, she struggled to get by. At least I had the farmhouse and my small savings. Tessa rented a house farther down the road from where I lived. But she had a ready smile and a positive attitude I emulated. I wanted to be just like her when I grew up.

"Oh my god, you're the best." Lifting the treat, I took a big bite, groaning at how amazing it tasted. Sweet, doughy, and warm. I'd gone to donut heaven, and I wasn't coming back anytime soon.

"Only the best for my friend." She handed me a covered cup of coffee. Not foam, though not antique stuff. She used paper that kept the coffee piping hot. "Listen, I'm hosting a costume party this Saturday night. I think you should come. It"ll be a great way to introduce you to the rest of the community."

"Absolutely count me in." Anticipation bubbled inside me.

"Everyone's wearing a costume." She grinned, and her eyes sparkled. "I know it's not Halloween or anything like that, but I thought it would be fun."

I frowned. "What kind of costumes are we talking about?"

Her eyes sparkled. "Whatever you choose to wear is fine. Maybe something fun. Not a toaster. The last time I held a costume party, there were three."

"Not a toaster then." Not that I'd thought of dressing like one. I frowned and popped the last bite of donut into my mouth, chewing as I handed her the pretty plate. "Any ideas?"

"A refrigerator?"

I scowled, though it was just pretend.

She snickered. "At least it's not a toaster! How about dressing as a witch?" she asked.

"I bet there'll be five witches at the party." Everyone wanted to cast spells and wave a star wand around.

"You're probably right."

"I know..." My gaze fell on the display of sci-fi romance novels. I had a complete collection from Honey Phillips, plus a few exclusive, signed copies from Vera Raye and Kate Stevens. My favorite authors.

But… Retro clinch covers were in right now, the couple clinging as they swooned at each other. I mean, who didn't love a hero dressed in a billowing white shirt and hair floating in the light breeze? "I'll dress in something similar to what the women wear on my books."

Tessa picked one up and studied the image. "He's cute. Love how he's leaning over her like he'd like to devour her in one bite. Funny how guys look better on covers than in real life."

"Tell me about it. I'm convinced the real deal doesn't exist."

"Same, girl, same."

"I've got a long, red dress I can wear." A holdover from when my ex insisted that I dress formally for his company's swanky social events. "It's one of the few things I held onto after my divorce." I'd wear it if I could squish into it, that is. My boobs might threaten to plunge over the top, but I'd deal. That fit with the image I wanted to project. "I'll go as a romance cover model."

"Definitely wear your hair down like her." She poked the model on the cover of the nearest novel.

My long hair was my one indulgence. Thick and golden, I only cut it when the ends needed refreshing. Released, it curled in the heat and hung almost to my butt, though I wore it in a braid most of the time to keep it from bugging me.

"Perfect." Tessa clapped her hands. "Can you be there about seven?"

"Yup. Can I bring anything?"

"All covered."

"No homemade cookies?"

"Well… Sure. Bring what you like. There's no such thing as too many homemade cookies."

Since she lived about a mile away from me, I could walk, cookie plate in hand. Then, if I had a drink or two, I wouldn't need to worry about driving home. Maybe I'd meet someone at the party, and he could walk me home. Oh, my, yes. I could picture him stalking up to my front door with me, leaning one arm on the wall while gazing at me as if the moon and the stars existed solely to shine down on me.

He"d murmur something sweet and sexy by my ear and then cage me with his arms, pinning me against the wall.

His mouth would descend to slake across mine. Slake was an amazing term when it came to kisses. I pictured his head tilting, his fingertips sweetly stroking across my jaw. He'd kiss down my neck and…

I looked up to find my friend watching me with a smirk on her face.

"I think you got lost there, honey."

"Not yet, but maybe soon."

What a delicious fantasy. If only things like that happened in real life. Instead, I'd probably meet a guy who asked if he could borrow ten bucks.

"Anyway, I've gotta go." Tessa strode toward the front door. She must have yummies in the oven she needed to tend. "Don't be late!"

"I won't. See you Saturday!"

Saturday night arrived cloaked in darkness. A nip of anticipation drifted through the air, telling me almost anything could happen tonight.

I'd baked my favorite cookies, and they waited on a pretty plate covered with clear plastic wrap. I'd showered. Spritzed on my favorite cologne. And made up my face—something I hadn't done for ages.

After squishing myself into the red dress which pretty much fit as long as I didn't suck in a deep breath, I brushed my hair until it crackled, added a bunch of glitzy jewelry for affect, and slipped my feet into my only heels. Red bottoms—a holdover from my jerk of an ex. He'd bought them. I took them with me when I moved out. No way was I throwing away pretty shoes.

When I strutted into the bedroom feeling like a million bucks, Katie meowed from where she lounged on the bed on top of a big fluffy pillow.

"Glad you approve, princess." I paused to scratch behind her ears and her neck, adding a few strokes to her belly before her claws snagged out, then grabbed my plate of cookies and left for the party.

My heart raced with excitement as I stepped onto the road running past my house. A cool breeze tugged at my hair, making it swirl around my head in a silky cloud. My heels clicked on the road, and my dress swirled around my ankles. This was it; tonight held endless possibilities. I could taste it in the air.

I'd barely made it a few hundred feet before a thick mist shrouded the road, enveloping me like a fog and smelling vaguely like ozone. I paused.

"Hello?"

My voice echoed back at me, hello, hello, hello… Creepy.

My heart flipped over.

"Stop it," I said, as if my heart would listen.

"Who knows what tonight will bring?" I whispered, my hands outstretched as I made my way through the mist. "I hope it's adventure." If anyone needed one, it was me. My divorce was final. My life belonged to me.

It was time to take a step in an unusual direction.

For whatever reason, I felt like tonight it was going to happen. My life was about to change for the better.

As quickly as it had appeared, the mist dissipated. A flash across the clear sky caught my eye.

"Ah, a falling star," I breathed. Make a wish, my grannie always said. I pinched my eyes closed and...

I wished for love.

A silly thing after what I went through with my ex, but it was my wish, and I'd spend it as I pleased.

The shooting star grew bigger, as if it was hurtling right at me, its fiery tail illuminating the night sky. I'd never seen one that didn't burn out long before it reached the planet.

It rumbled closer. I could actually hear it, a roaring whoosh that vibrated through my bones and made my heart flip over.

Maybe it wasn't a star? A meteor then. How amazing.

When it slammed overhead only twenty or so feet above me, I yelped and crouched. It hit, the bang echoing in Grannie's overgrown field on my left, sending tremors through the ground.

"Oh, wow." My heart pounded wildly, my mind racing with questions and possibilities. "I'm going to check it out." I had plenty of time left to reach the party.

With my pulse thumping heavily in my throat and my breath hitching, I hurried off the road, taking a narrow deer path through the spindly woods. Trees loomed overhead, but I felt no fear—only excitement and an unquenchable thirst for discovery.

My one regret was that I hadn't worn something easier to walk in. Damn heels. This was why I'd thrown all the others out.

For some reason, I sensed my fate waited for me in the field, and I was determined to grasp it with both hands.

When I stepped out of the woods, I gasped.