Lover of My Dreams by Lynnette Bernard Page A

after.”
    “Geez, Paulette! Too much information!” Rachel groused, laughing softly when she heard Roy kissing his wife one more time before there was relative quiet.
    “Okay, Rachel,” Paulette said, laughing softly. “Mr. Grabby Hands is giving me a break so we can talk.”
    Rachel couldn’t contain the bark of laughter that escaped her. As tired as she was from driving continuously for the last three days from Connecticut on her journey to Colorado, she couldn’t help but feel lighter from talking with Paulette.
    “So, tell me what else,” Paulette urged her quietly.
    “There’s nothing else,” Rachel protested softly.
    “Rachel, I know you. Something else happened. What, honey?”
    Rachel hesitated, her throat constricting as she fought to keep her emotions under control. “Please don’t tell Roy,” she finally whispered.
    “You know I won’t,” Paulette promised.
    “I know.” Rachel hesitated, trying to remember the hateful words that Richard had spoken to her.
    “Tell me, Rache,” Paulette urged her.
    “He said that no one would ever want me,” Rachel said quietly, embarrassed by the words. “He said that even I would be attractive in the dark.”
    “Shit!”
    “Yeah. Pretty much.”
    “You know he’s wrong, right, honey?”
    Rachel remained silent. Even though she logically knew that Richard spoke those words to hurt her, emotionally she couldn’t help but be affected by them. She had lived a lifetime of isolation. She often questioned her worth as a woman. She ached to feel the love of a man who cherished her and desired her. She hadn’t ever felt that in her life, and Richard’s words had hit a nerve.
    “I don’t really know that, Paulette,” she finally admitted, her voice only a whisper.
    “Oh, Rachel,” Paulette said softly, her heart breaking for her husband’s cousin. “You should know that. Please don’t allow him to mess with your mind. Don’t give him that power over you. He’s a jerk. He’s a pig. He’s worse than that. He’s the mud that a pig rolls in. No. He’s the bugs in the mud that a pig rolls in.”
    Rachel laughed out loud at that one. “Paulette, you’re the best. I love you.”
    “I love you, too,” Paulette said softly. “Come home to us. We need you to stay with us.”
    “No. I’m going to the campground that Roy recommended,” Rachel said firmly. “Please don’t be offended, Paulette. I just need some time alone. I need the fresh air of the mountains. I don’t want to have to make conversation. I just want to relax and write. I have tons of edits to finish. I really need the peace of the campground.”
    Paulette sighed heavily. “Okay. I understand. I’ll give you your space. Roy will, too. But I need to see you. Promise me that you’ll come and spend some time with us.”
    “I promise. You’ll have to let me know when you feel up to me visiting. If you’re too tired, you need to tell me.”
    “Okay, honey. You drive carefully,” Paulette said softly. “Call me whenever you want. I’m pretty much stuck at home for the duration of my pregnancy, so I’ll be here whenever you need to talk.”
    “Are you okay, Paulette? Is the baby okay?”
    “Yes. Don’t you start, too! Roy is driving me crazy with his constant questions.”
    “That’s because he loves you so much,” Rachel whispered, smiling at the thought of the two of them. She was so happy that Roy had found someone so wonderful to love who absolutely adored him. She couldn’t have picked a better wife for him.
    “Yeah, well, the feeling is mutual,” Paulette whispered.
    “I know,” Rachel whispered back. “Go on and be with your husband. You promised him that you would make love to him when you got off the phone with me.”
    Paulette laughed softly. “Talk to you tomorrow, honey.”
    “Tomorrow,” Rachel said quickly, ending the call and concentrating on the road ahead of her.
    She liked driving at night. The traffic was much lighter. She planned on driving