Chapter One
Alden Glen, Georgia
Chelsea Ash tapped her hand against the steering wheel in
time to the music pulsing from the sound system. The warmth of the sun
streaming through the windshield tempted her to get out of the car and enjoy
the sweet air. The day was much too beautiful to stay inside a vehicle.
She always savored being surrounded by light and air. Then
again, her particular Aelfir gifts led her to that environment. An Aelfir could
have more than one talent, but one type would be stronger. Chelsea’s only
focused in one area.
She was of the branch associated with plants. Her abilities
pulled her to flowers and trees, but extended to plants in general. She enjoyed
watching them grow and helping them reach their full potential.
The confines of a vehicle made her a little antsy and always
had. In most cases, she loved to walk and soak up the sun. She couldn’t do that
though. The distance between her family’s floral fields and her home was too
far to walk. Not to mention, she had to be aware of the danger posed by her
stalker.
The window was down though, letting in the fresh air as she
drove home. The scent of fresh cut grass, peaches, and honeysuckle drifted in,
helping her relax.
Today had been a good day. No, it had been a great week. She
hadn’t found any strange notes or little gifts in the previous six days. With
the work day over, she’d made it a week without one of those creepy gifts
appearing for the first time in months.
She had no idea who sent them. With a week of silence, she
had a little hope the gifts would stop permanently. A little excitement bubbled
inside her at the thought of the stalker leaving her alone.
She was cautious in that belief and had been warned it
probably wouldn’t be that easy. Is Alexander right about the man being
dangerous?
At first, the little presents hadn’t seemed so bad. She
found them creepy and curious, but she hadn’t worried. Alex, a police officer
and the man she was dating, thought the person behind them was fixated.
The gifts and notes came without a signature. Sometimes two
to three times a week. That made her uneasy.
As best as she could, she ignored the presents. She didn’t
want to feed the stalker’s interest by giving him a reaction. Other people had
noticed the boxes, though.
Without fail, the gifts appeared at her desk. No one saw who
put them there or even once in the insulated lunch box she kept in her car. The
amount of time and risk involved in placing that gift raised her concern. He
had to learn her schedule and find a moment when no one would see him.
She worked in a building where the desks faced each other.
Everyone in that small outbuilding worked in the fields more than indoors, but
someone always stayed in the office. People came and went with messages and
products off and on during the day. It wouldn’t be easy.
At first, her family had taken the stalker more seriously
than she had. She might not have reported the incidents until the one in her
lunchbox. That one almost panicked her. Her family called the chief of police
in to take a look at the notes and gifts when the fourth appeared on her desk.
To her surprise, the chief became worried as he heard the details.
Maybe, since there had been no gift this week, the stalker
had moved on with his life. She hoped. She’d like time to relax and think. At
some point, she needed to handle the other stressful matters in her life. She
hadn’t had the energy to deal with much when strange gifts and notes kept
appearing.
The whole Alexander thing loomed. She didn’t want to face
what seemed inevitable. Not that it would be easy.
“Definitely can’t forget him.” She took a deep breath. If
she walked away from him, it would be like ripping off a part of her.
She was beyond attracted to Alexander Woods. Had been from
the first time she’d seen him walking into the local diner. Any time Alexander
came near her, her thoughts raced to the carnal as well as the
Alden Glen, Georgia
Chelsea Ash tapped her hand against the steering wheel in
time to the music pulsing from the sound system. The warmth of the sun
streaming through the windshield tempted her to get out of the car and enjoy
the sweet air. The day was much too beautiful to stay inside a vehicle.
She always savored being surrounded by light and air. Then
again, her particular Aelfir gifts led her to that environment. An Aelfir could
have more than one talent, but one type would be stronger. Chelsea’s only
focused in one area.
She was of the branch associated with plants. Her abilities
pulled her to flowers and trees, but extended to plants in general. She enjoyed
watching them grow and helping them reach their full potential.
The confines of a vehicle made her a little antsy and always
had. In most cases, she loved to walk and soak up the sun. She couldn’t do that
though. The distance between her family’s floral fields and her home was too
far to walk. Not to mention, she had to be aware of the danger posed by her
stalker.
The window was down though, letting in the fresh air as she
drove home. The scent of fresh cut grass, peaches, and honeysuckle drifted in,
helping her relax.
Today had been a good day. No, it had been a great week. She
hadn’t found any strange notes or little gifts in the previous six days. With
the work day over, she’d made it a week without one of those creepy gifts
appearing for the first time in months.
She had no idea who sent them. With a week of silence, she
had a little hope the gifts would stop permanently. A little excitement bubbled
inside her at the thought of the stalker leaving her alone.
She was cautious in that belief and had been warned it
probably wouldn’t be that easy. Is Alexander right about the man being
dangerous?
At first, the little presents hadn’t seemed so bad. She
found them creepy and curious, but she hadn’t worried. Alex, a police officer
and the man she was dating, thought the person behind them was fixated.
The gifts and notes came without a signature. Sometimes two
to three times a week. That made her uneasy.
As best as she could, she ignored the presents. She didn’t
want to feed the stalker’s interest by giving him a reaction. Other people had
noticed the boxes, though.
Without fail, the gifts appeared at her desk. No one saw who
put them there or even once in the insulated lunch box she kept in her car. The
amount of time and risk involved in placing that gift raised her concern. He
had to learn her schedule and find a moment when no one would see him.
She worked in a building where the desks faced each other.
Everyone in that small outbuilding worked in the fields more than indoors, but
someone always stayed in the office. People came and went with messages and
products off and on during the day. It wouldn’t be easy.
At first, her family had taken the stalker more seriously
than she had. She might not have reported the incidents until the one in her
lunchbox. That one almost panicked her. Her family called the chief of police
in to take a look at the notes and gifts when the fourth appeared on her desk.
To her surprise, the chief became worried as he heard the details.
Maybe, since there had been no gift this week, the stalker
had moved on with his life. She hoped. She’d like time to relax and think. At
some point, she needed to handle the other stressful matters in her life. She
hadn’t had the energy to deal with much when strange gifts and notes kept
appearing.
The whole Alexander thing loomed. She didn’t want to face
what seemed inevitable. Not that it would be easy.
“Definitely can’t forget him.” She took a deep breath. If
she walked away from him, it would be like ripping off a part of her.
She was beyond attracted to Alexander Woods. Had been from
the first time she’d seen him walking into the local diner. Any time Alexander
came near her, her thoughts raced to the carnal as well as the
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