2 Chapter 1

My mornings usually consist of going straight to the voodoo shop around the corner from my place after grabbing two coffees, where my best and only friend Zaline lives and owns.

Zaline is a kind woman, if you didn't know her, she could come off as weird, she is five-foot, has a small frame, tan skin almost brown, short brown hair, and has always dressed in pure fashion for her shop. Her dresses make my head spin with the colors and designs, the bangles on her arms and the sandals that match her dresses.

She is the rock in my world and I wouldn't ever change a thing. I'm about to knock on the back door that leads to her apartment above the shop when it swings open.

Zaline stands there with a frown on her face "I felt you coming" she says wiping the sleep from her eyes. I walk in with a smile, handing her the extra coffee. "How do you always do that? I would never be able to play hide and seek with you" she stifled a laugh and we walk up the stairs into her kitchen.

As she goes into to her room to change, I look around her two-bedroom apartment, with jars of herbs littered around, dark curtains, and candles everywhere, all of her furniture was passed down the family line as her mother before her and so on, owning this shop for generations, it must be nice...

"So, what was the night terror this time?" bristling as she steps out of the room in her bright green dress and hair in a bun on her head.

"Oh you know more death, and death, like always" she turns and looks at me with that, it's too early to be a smart ass, look"Did you see this one clearer? You know I can help you with those dreams, or try another herb to make them go away".

"No more herbs please, last time I thought I was going to pass out from the smell" I laugh.

We sit on the couch with our coffee as it hits five am, one more hour and I'll be at work "This dream was like the others, I don't remember much, but I do remember seeing the most beautiful blue eyes staring at me, the only highlight in all the gloom"

Cocking her head to the side "Oh, hhmmmm was he cute? It's about time you start looking at cute guys, not that Jackson wasn't super bad looking"

Narrowing my eyes at her, she had to bring up my one and only boyfriend of six months that was not the most faithful, I was not ready to lose my virginity to the guy, and he couldn't hold out long enough apparently.

Sighing "He was a loser anyway, that's what I get for thinking a nice smile was a sign of a nice guy, I know better now. Maybe I'll lose it to some random guy just to get it over with" I laughed with a wink at her.

"Sure maybe to blue eyes in your dream" she replies.

I never had the urge to try sex, I was worried about getting out of the foster system to think about boys, not that I didn't get my share of attention, Zaline says I'm oblivious to the looks and hints of flirting from people. I guess I don't understand it, I've never been close to anyone expect Zaline, and the thought of being alone is common for me, maybe one day I'll meet someone that I deem worthy of joining my makeshift family of two.

We sit and talk for a bit longer about how her shop is doing, family, which all retired and moved down the bayou, and how the new guy she is dating is getting along.

It's time for me to get ready for work, I change into my blouse and skirt, and throw my other clothes in my backpack, it's a habit from growing up to always carry a bag with extra clothes, makeup, food, and water mainly, with a few other items.

Telling Zaline bye and have a good day, I head back into town to the business section. My job for the past two years is located on the fifth floor of a five-story building filled with other professional offices, as I get off the elevator into the busy Law office of Nolan-Murphy and associates, I see that today is as busy as any other day.

Of course, who wouldn't want the handsome, lean muscular frame, light brown hair, strong jawline, and the sexiest green eyes, of Buford Nolan to represent you in any manner. There is also his cousin Kelvin Murphy as his partner, and good looks run in the family, just not those gorgeous eyes of Buford's that will have you daydreaming if you don't catch yourself. Lucky for me, he doesn't pay much attention to me except for work.