Soul Mates Read online

  She shook her head. “Nae, I can’t—”

  “I really need you to do this with me, Lee. And if anyone could use a Fantasy Week, it’s you. It’ll take the—”

  “I know. The chill off,” she said coolly.

  Erinae leaned forward and touched her hand. “I didn’t mean it in an unkind way.”

  She nodded, squeezing Erinae’s hand. “Do you expect to meet someone special?”

  Erinae grinned. “No, but I do expect to get laid early and often.”

  “And what am I supposed to do while you’re getting laid early and often?”

  “Get laid too. What else? It’s time, Lee.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll go, but I am not getting laid.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “When are we going on this Fantasy Week?”

  Erinae smiled and rose. She turned at the door to look at Carlee. “We leave next Friday and come back the following Sunday afternoon.”

  “But that’s more than a week. That’s—”

  She held up a hand. “The reservations are already made so there’s no use trying to throw roadblocks in the way. Everyone has fantasies…even you.”

  Carlee closed her eyes briefly. Oh, she had a fantasy all right. Unfortunately, she didn’t have a hope of ever realizing it. So what was the use in wishing for the impossible? “Nae—”

  Erinae shook her head. “We’re going and what’s more, you’re going to have fun…even if it kills you.”

  “Okay, here’s the deal. If I go on this Fantasy Week thingy—”

  “Not if…when. When you go on this Fantasy Week thingy.”

  “If I go on this fantasy whatever, you have to promise to leave me alone for at least a month.”

  “An entire month?”

  “Yes. A month. No parties, no blind dates. Nothing. I’ll be free to do as I please for an entire month or I’m not going. Deal?”

  “That’s not a fair tradeoff,” Erinae complained.

  “Is it a deal or not?”

  “Okay. It’s a deal…but only if you promise to at least try and have a good time.”

  “I promise. Now do you mind? I have work to do.”

  Erinae blew her a kiss from the doorway and danced out of her office singing, “I’m gonna have myself a good time. I’m gonna meet my fantasy man. There’s gonna be all kinds of kissin’ and a huggin’ and a lovin’ going on. ”

  * * * * *

  Trey Brandauer surveyed the main lounge of the Hideaway Mountain Lodge and wondered what had possessed him and his friend Mick Reilly to come. Neither of them had been fond of the idea when their friend, Hal Williams, had first suggested it. It had taken Hal and his wife Marge two weeks to talk Trey and Mick into agreeing to go.

  “Oh, come on. Both of you need to get away from work,” Marge had pleaded over dinner one night. “You’re both entirely too handsome to still be single.” She had smiled at Mick. “And it’s time you thought about remarriage.”

  Mick, always a sucker for Marge, had given in first. Before long, Trey had found three pair of eyes trained on him. Since he had been working hard lately, he had reluctantly agreed to go as well.

  Now that he was here, he was annoyed and amazed at how easily he’d allowed himself to be suckered into the unwanted vacation. Why in the hell had he agreed to come spend ten days in this God forsaken mountain resort?

  He glanced around the room. Mick, tall, tanned, and with what Marge called delicious blue eyes, stood talking to a pretty blonde with heels so high Trey wondered how she managed to walk without falling on her face. Her expensive, black sheath of a dress’s plunging neckline exposed her small breasts and ended just an inch or so below her rather flat behind.

  Trey preferred a woman with a little more substance weight wise. What was the point of a woman with a flat ass and skinny legs? When he made love, he wanted there to actually be something to hold onto. He liked women with lush curves capable of welcoming hard, passionate thrusts with pleasure rather than with painful whimpers.

  Although Mick appeared to be enthralled, his head bent, as if eager to savor the blonde’s every word, Trey suspected Mick would have been happier if the blonde had dark hair and dark skin. He was fairly certain Mick preferred black women, but wasn’t ready to admit it.

  Trey looked away from Mick and his blonde to glance around the room. He was there for ten days so he might as well at least attempt to have a good time.

  He had all but decided he’d leave the “Let’s Get to Know Each Other” opening night of the Fantasy Week for a walk along the trails surrounding the lodge when a woman descending the main staircase caught his attention.

  Tall and statuesque with beautiful, smooth, dark chocolate skin, short natural hair worn close to her head, and full lips, she was stunning.

  She wore a black, sleeveless dress that highlighted her ample breasts before falling in soft, loving folds around her hips and deliciously rounded butt. Her legs were long and shapely.

  As she neared the bottom of the stairs, she looked across the room.

  Their gazes met and locked.

  She paused on the steps, a hand going to her breasts, a stunned look on her lovely face. She had warm brown eyes that pierced his chest and captured him—heart and soul. As he stood staring at her, he knew why he had come—to meet her.

  Feeling as if an invisible cord pulled him forward, he hurried across the room. He paused at the bottom of the steps and stood staring up at her. A vague memory tugged at the edges of his subconscious. Before he could grasp it, it danced away.

  After what seemed an eternity, she took a deep breath. She then rushed down the remaining steps and into his arms. “Trey! Oh, Trey, it’s been so long, but I knew you would eventually come.”

  He briefly held her against him, overcome by a rush of joy and delight he’d never experienced. Then he realized she had mistaken him for someone else. They’d certainly never met. There was no way he would have forgotten her.

  He drew her away from the steps and along the adjacent wall. “Ah…I wish I was this lucky…” He paused and stared at her. “Did you say Trey?”

  She blinked up at him, a frown marring her pretty face. “Yes, but I…I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.”

  That figured. He finally met a woman able to stir his under-active libido and she had mistaken him for someone else. “Who did you think I was?”

  She shook her head. “I…someone I used to know a long time ago.”

  “What was his name?”

  She shrugged. “It was a very long time ago.”

  He nodded. “So I gathered. His name?”

  “Trey.”

  “Trey?” He swallowed hard. “Trey what?”

  “Trey Brandauer.” She shook her head again and smiled at him, making his heart thump painfully in his chest. She extended her hand. “Since I’ve made a fool of myself the least I can do is tell you my name. Carlee Vanleer. And you are?”

  He took her hand in his and held it against his chest. “Me? My name is Trey.”

  “Trey? Trey what?”

  “Trey Brandauer.”

  She blinked and clutched his arm. “Trey! Oh, Trey. It is you! It’s you. At last! She was right.”

  “Who was right?”

  “She said if I were patient, you would find me one day. And I’ve waited a very long time, but now you’re here,” she whispered. “You’re finally here. I…” Her voice trailed off and she passed out.

  * * * * *

  When Carlee opened her eyes, she found herself staring up into a pair of ice-blue eyes that belonged to one of the most striking men she’d ever seen. He had a handsome, rugged face and sensual lips. Although his hair was short and silver, she knew he was only a few years older than she. And she knew he was the man who had haunted her thoughts and dreams for as long as she could remember. He was her Trey, the man for whom she’d spent several lifetimes waiting.

  He brushed the back of a hand against one of her cheeks. “Are you all r
ight? Can I get you anything?”

  She turned her head and realized she was in a strange room, lying on a bed that was not hers with a strange man seated beside her, holding her hand and caressing her face. She sat up slowly.

  He slipped an arm around her shoulders and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to lean against him.

  “I’m a little groggy but otherwise all right.”

  He stroked her cheek again before tipping up her chin. “You’re sure? Before you fainted, you seemed to think we knew each other.”

  She stared into his eyes, amazed that he could say he didn’t know her. How could he have forgotten her? “It was a very long time ago, but we knew each other well.” She closed both hands around his big left hand. “We meant something to each other. You and I shared something wonderful and special.”

  His gaze narrowed.

  “It was timeless and eternal. How can you have forgotten me?”

  He shook his head. “I would never have forgotten you. Unfortunately, we have never met.”

  She balled her hand into a fist and hit it against his shoulder. “Damn you! It was a very long time ago, but we have met.”

  “How long ago?”

  “Very long.”

  “Where are we supposed to have met?”

  “At a…plantation in Virginia.”

  He arched a brow. “I’ve never been to Virginia.”

  “You have. You were born and raised there. We both were.”

  “Neither of us have a southern accent.”

  She gulped back a lump of pain. Her eyes filled with tears. “It was a long time ago.”

  “How long?”

  “Long enough for me to have been a…slave.”

  “What?”

  “Your father sold me away from you. Don’t you remember?”

  He shook his head.

  So while she had waited for him he had forgotten her. “You came after me, but he stopped you.”

  “Who?”

  “Your father. Before we were separated for good, you promised you’d find me. You have to remember, Trey.”

  He shook his head again. “I don’t.”

  Disappointed, she pushed away from him and rose. She found her heels near the bed, pushed her feet into them, and headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  She sighed. “I need to get away from you.”

  “Why?”

  She glanced over her shoulder at him. “So I can think. Something is wrong. You’re supposed to remember.”

  “Wait a minute. Please.” He followed her and they arrived at the door at the same time. He placed a hand against the panel.

  She looked at him, her lips pressed into a tight line.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I do know that you’re the reason I came here. I didn’t want to come and I couldn’t imagine why I had until I saw you on the staircase. Then I knew I’d been drawn here to meet you.

  “Clearly we’re not quite on the same page, but I want you to stay so we can talk and get to know each other.”

  Carlee shook her head, unwilling to be sweet talked into staying with him. “I’m tired. I’m going back to my room. Please remove your hand from the door. “

  He stared down at her. “Please don’t tell me you’re afraid of me.” He stroked a finger down her cheek. “Because there’s absolutely no need for you to ever be afraid of me.”

  “I’m not afraid.”

  He clutched her hand in his and held it against his chest. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “I could never be afraid of you, Trey.”

  “Good.” He bent his head and kissed her cheek.

  Good? She stroked her hand over his chest, recalling their first kiss. She cherished the memory of their first kiss shared in the distant past. How could he have forgotten it and her?

  “I’ll walk you to your room.”

  She tingled with pleasure when he slipped his fingers through hers. She had always loved walking hand in hand with him. “Thank you.”

  They didn’t speak as they walked through the halls to her room, which was on the other side of the main building. At her door, she tugged at her hand. “Here we are.”

  He tightened his grip and stared silently down at her.

  “Well, I…” She moistened her lips. “Good-bye.”

  “Good-bye?” He shook his head. “I don’t think so.” He bent his head and kissed her cheek, close to her lips.

  She swallowed quickly and turned her head so that their lips brushed lightly. She felt a tingle and drew back, her heart racing.

  He lifted her hand to his mouth and touched his lips to her knuckles. He then turned her hand over and pressed a soft kiss into her palm.

  “Good-bye, Trey.”

  “Good-bye? Are you sure you want to go, Carlee?”

  She longed to linger with him so she could help him remember their past. Since he didn’t recall their shared past, staying would probably lead to almost certain heartache. “Good-bye,” she said again. Despite herself, she paused, hoping he would talk her out of leaving him.

  He inhaled quickly but remained silent.

  She opened her room door and slipped inside. For several moments, she leaned against the closed door with her eyes closed before she walked to the vanity that sat along one wall.

  Seating herself, she stared at her reflection. Her eyes were wide, her face uncomfortably hot. Her heart pounded. Confusion, fear, and frustration warred with each other. How could he not remember after all the long, lonely years and all the heartbreak she had endured while waiting for him?

  All she had were questions. Getting the answers she needed would require a plan. She dismissed the fleeting desire to go see Dr. Cheyenne. All she would get from the doctor was sympathy and yet more assurances that she would eventually meet Trey again.

  Dr. Cheyenne had never once hinted that Trey might not recall having met and loved her in the past. Through all the long, lonely years of separation, Carlee had remembered him—at least on a primitive level.

  Perhaps a good night’s sleep would help. She removed her make-up, showered, and got in bed. With her thoughts in turmoil, sleep eluded her. Instead of struggling to sleep, she thought of her life.

  As she entered her early teens, she’d become aware of an unbearable emptiness eating away at her. In her late teens, the dreams of her nameless and faceless lover began. She’d then compared every man she met to him. No male even came close to measuring up to him until she met Sam. Sweet, passionate, considerate Sam couldn’t be unfavorably compared to any man. Nevertheless, she hadn’t been able to love him unreservedly as he deserved.

  After several lifetimes spent in misery waiting for Trey to ride to her rescue, he finally showed up—minus his damned memory.

  She finally fell asleep in the early morning, angry tears streaming down her cheeks.

  * * * * *

  Trey stood on the bedroom balcony, staring into the thick foliage surrounding the lodge. After turning and tossing for over an hour, he had given up trying to sleep. He had given up smoking several years earlier and had never really missed it until now. Stress always left him longing for a cigarette.

  Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the devastated look in Carlee’s eyes when he denied ever meeting her. Why did she think they met before? Although he knew his ancestors had owned property and slaves in Virginia, he had certainly never lived before. Nor had he ever lived in Virginia. So why did he feel so drawn to her? Why did the thought of her evoke vague memories of old nightmares?

  During the last few years, he’d been distressingly disinterested in women. Oh, he wasn’t above the usual one night stand, but the passion most men had for women and sex eluded him with increasing frequency. Lately, no matter how attractive or sexy, women left him emotionally cold and barely physically satisfied. Finally, he knew why. He’d been waiting for Carlee Vanleer to walk into his life and capture his heart. Although he didn’t believe in reincarnation, he
knew she was the one woman he would forever long for and need.

  Recalling the finality of her good-bye rather than good night, he suspected he would have to fight to win her trust. After he’d won that, he’d work on her passions and her heart.

  He hadn’t made a very good impression that night. He didn’t know how long she was staying, but at the very least, she would probably be there for the weekend. A lot could happen during a weekend. Resisting the urge to go leave his room to go buy a pack of cigarettes, he returned to bed.

  * * * * *

  “What’s wrong, Lee?”

  Carlee shook her head and sipped her coffee. There was no point in trying to discuss reincarnation with someone who didn’t believe in it. On some level, she wasn’t sure she fully believed. Yet she knew she’d lived several different lifetimes. In each previous life, she had loved Trey Brandauer with a timeless and consuming passion that had left no room for meaningful relationships with other men. Other than Sam, no other man had even come close to touching her deepest emotions.

  “I didn’t sleep well last night.” If Erinae told her she needed a man in her bed, she’d scream.

  Erinae sighed. “Neither did I. What are your plans for the day? I think I’d like to head back to bed for an hour or two and then maybe sashay over to the Swinging Singles Brunch and Pool Party. You coming with?”

  She needed to be alone to think. “Thanks, but I’m going to spend the day walking the trails. Interested?”

  Erinae shook her head. “You know I never walk anywhere I can ride.” She tilted her head, a concerned look on her face. “You all right, Lee? You look kind of sad this morning.”

  “I’m a little down, but I’ll be all right.”

  “Something happened last night?”

  She nodded.

  Erinae leaned forward. “What? What happened?”

  “I met him, Nae.”

  “Who?”

  “Trey.”

  “Trey?” Erinae compressed her lips. “Oh, Lord, Lee, you don’t mean the guy you said used to own you when you were a slave?” Although Erinae tried to keep the disbelief off her face, Carlee heard it in her voice.