Girl Meets Mind Reader E-Book

Robert Jeschonek

• Herausgeber: Pie Press
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

Falling in love can be impossible for a mind reader like Virgil. Whenever he meets someone, he sees her deepest flaws and darkest secrets right away. But when beautiful Bridget swoops into his life, he can't read a thought in her head. Bridget's a closed book to him, so of course he falls hard for her—even as he realizes he might not be able to read her mind, but he can see the world through her eyes. And the world she shows him is full of things that shouldn't be there: mermaids, elfin knights...and bloodthirsty monsters. Now that Virgil can see them, too, will he save Bridget or be destroyed in the process? If the world is as strange and terrifying as it seems through her eyes, does their love stand a chance? Or will the dark visions that surround them take away their only chance at happiness? Don't miss this edgy, exciting, and surprising fantasy tale by award-winning storyteller Robert Jeschonek, a master of unique and unexpected fantasy that really packs a punch.

Leseprobe

GIRL MEETS MIND READER

A Fantasy Tale

ROBERT JESCHONEK

CONTENTS

Also by Robert Jeschonek

Girl Meets Mind Reader

About the Author

Special Preview: Heaven Bent

GIRL MEETS MIND READER

Copyright © 2023 by Robert Jeschonek

http://bobscribe.com/

Cover Art Copyright © 2023 by Ben Baldwin

www.benbaldwin.co.uk

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved by the author.

Published by Blastoff Books

An Imprint of Pie Press

411 Chancellor Street

Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15904

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ALSO BY ROBERT JESCHONEK

A Pinstriped Finger’s My Only Friend

Bloodliner

Dolphin Knight

Heaven Bent

Six Fantasy Stories Volume One

Six Superhero Stories Volume One

The Return of Alice

GIRL MEETS MIND READER

Virgil Flint was surprised when the black-haired woman asked him to fly her kite while she went to use the porta-john.

Virgil was just standing there on the beach, watching the flock of kites as they wandered and dove in the blue Oregon sky, when the woman waltzed up and pushed a spool of kite string at him.

"I'd really appreciate it," she said, grinning.  She wore sunglasses with round, mirrored lenses, so he couldn't see her eyes.  Her dark hair was long and braided in pigtails. His first impression of her age was mid-30s to early 40s.

Immediately, he liked her round, expressive face.  Though she wore a baggy windbreaker and bluejeans, he could see enough of her body to know that he liked that, too.

Then, he read her mind.

He didn't dig deep, because he didn't see the need at that moment.  Reaching out from his own mind, he touched the surface of hers, dipping just far enough to get a general sense of her personality and determine if the

kite-watching request was sincere or some kind of scam.

He was pleased to discover that it wasn't a scam.  She really did have to go to the bathroom. She really just wanted him to watch her kite for a moment.

Why didn't she just reel it in until she got back, instead of bothering a stranger?

He liked the answer:  the kite looked so beautiful and free up there, she couldn't bear to pull it down out of the sky.

Virgil smiled and shrugged.  "Okay, sure," he said, reaching for the spool of string.  "I'll do my best."

"Thanks so much," said the woman, her smile widening.  As she handed the spool to him, her hand briefly touched Virgil's.  "You're a real Good Samaritan."

Then, she turned and headed up the hill toward the porta-john.

He watched her for a moment, admiring her figure.  She was just right, not too thin and not too thick for his taste.

As he watched, he realized that she hadn't told him her name.  That was okay, because he'd read her mind.

Her name was Bridget Samovar.

* * *

When Bridget returned fifteen minutes later, she surprised him again.  Twice.

Because he was a mind reader, he didn't have to turn around or hear a telltale sound to know she was coming.  He sensed her as she drew closer, like a soft wind rustling leaves first far away and then ever nearer as it approaches.

Choosing to wait for her to get his attention, he continued to watch the kite as it bobbed overhead.  The kite was bright red and triangular with arched wings; its profile, when seen from the front, resembled that of a gull seen from a distance.  Though its design wasn't nearly as elaborate as the other kites soaring over the beach, something about that simple red wedge made him feel wistful.

"Nice work," said Bridget as she drew up beside him.  "I knew I picked the right man for the job."

"Have kite, will fly," said Virgil.  Now that she was there, he didn't really want to give up the spool of string.  He was having too much fun...and fun was in short supply, he had found, when you could read people's minds.

As if she could read his mind, too, Bridget didn't reach for the spool right away.  "Sometimes, I wish I could trade places with the kite," she said. "The kite's having the most fun."

"Oh, I don't know about that," said Virgil, grinning.  The red kite suddenly changed direction, spinning off and cutting downward, then back up.

That was when Bridget surprised him again.  "I brought you something," she said.

Virgil wasn't easily surprised.  He tore his eyes away from the kite and saw her hold out a stick of driftwood, five inches long and worn smooth as the skin of a pearl.

Bridget reached over and slid the stick into the pocket of his khaki slacks.  "A reward for your good deed," she said, grinning. "Its name is Drifty."

Virgil couldn't help but laugh as he handed over the spool of twine.  "Drifty," he said, shaking his head. "I like it. Thank you."

"Take him for a walk twice a day," said Bridget.  "And keep him away from dogs, whatever you do. He doesn't like playing fetch."

Virgil laughed again, watching her lips.  When she spoke, her mouth had an odd way of flexing; the shapes it took when she pronounced words were always a little different from what he expected.

The fact that he was focused on appreciating her mouth was the main reason she managed to surprise him again.  Normally, when he was with someone he was attracted to, he tuned in their thoughts at least a little, at least enough that he should have caught a ripple of what she was about to do.

But not this time.

"So, I was wondering," said Bridget, steering the kite.  "Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"

Surprised, and a little annoyed, that he hadn't sensed it coming, Virgil just stared at her for a moment.  He reached out, brushing his mind like fingertips over the surface of hers...and there it was. Her intentions were clear, her feelings unmistakable.

She liked him.  She liked the way he looked and the things he said.  She wanted to get to know him better.