The sign above him read: Crystal Jewelers--Rare Gems and Unique Crystal Designs--Brides and Browsers Welcome!

Crystal Lane, owner of the Bride's Inn jewelry concession, lifted the emerald ring from Seth's palm and held it up to the light.

"Look at that sparkle," she grinned as she admired the piece of jewelry she had designed. "I think Serena will love it." She laid it gently in Seth's large palm.

"I think the color will match Serena's eyes, don't you?" Seth's deep voice resonated with the sound of love.

A sharp pang of envy pierced Crystal's heart.

"Let me wrap that for you." She reached under the counter for the wrapping supplies, then centered the magnificent ring in a velvet-lined jeweler's box. She shuddered as a gust of cold air blew around her, rustling a stack of papers next to the cash register. Crystal caught them just before they drifted to the floor.

"We have to do something about the front door," Seth told her. "I'll get one of the maintenance people to see if they can't get it to close properly." He grinned sheepishly. "Seems like the renovations for our seventy-year old Bride's Inn aren't complete."

Crystal closed the ring box, placing it on the glass counter. For just a second, she thought she saw a shadow move in the far right corner of her shop

The lights above their heads flickered once, twice.

Seth shook his head and gazed upwards. "When did that start?"

Crystal shrugged. "It's been happening all morning, actually."

He sighed. "I'll get someone on that, too."

Crystal laid a hand over his when he placed his wallet on the counter. "No," Crystal shook her head. "This is on me."

He raised one dark brow, his handsome, chiseled face set in determined lines. Seth had always been a knock out, even in high school.

Crystal smiled as his beard-shadowed chin tightened--a sure sign that he was about to argue. "Put your money away, Seth."

He placed some bills on the counter. She gave him a stern look, but then her face softened. How could she be angry with him? Whenever she was around Seth, Serena, and their sweet baby boy, they made things seem normal. Like she was just a nice, normal girl. With a nice, normal life.

Right.

Well, she could dream, couldn't she?

She smiled once again, all trace of her stern demeanor gone. "So, Mr. Tough Guy, what are your plans for today?"

Seth glanced at the watch strapped to his wrist. "I've got a meeting in a little while."

"Oh," she placed the jeweler's box in a gift bag, stuffing the top with bright green tissue. "With who?"

"The Amazing Zodan--our star attraction for the holiday crowd. You remember him, don't you? He went to school with us."

Memories of tall, lanky Anthony Zodan swirled through her mind.

"Jake and my Aunt Clarice booked him for the holidays, so we're going to meet with him today. He's the hottest thing going right now--a mentalist and a magician." Seth snapped his dark brows together. "I think the term for him is--"

"Mind freak." Crystal replied, recalling the time she had watched Anthony levitate before her eyes. She remembered a sultry, summer night when she had been with a group of friends, including Seth and Anthony. In her mind's eye, Crystal could still see Anthony rising from the ground, his feet dangling in mid-air, the full moon bracketing his tall, bony frame as a lone wolf howled in the distance.

She angled her head. "Don't let Serena see this bag."

Seth frowned. "You're right. Can I leave it here with you, away from those beautiful, prying green eyes?"

She laughed, grateful for the light moment they shared. "Of course."

"Okay then, I'll be in next week to get it."

Seth made his way out of the shop, his long legs eating up the floor beneath him as the bell tinkled above his head.

Crystal grabbed some paper towels from underneath the counter. As she spritzed the glass countertop with her special cleaner, a chilly breeze kicked up once again.

"Oh for Pete's sake," she muttered as she wiped the foaming liquid from the side of the cash register.

The lights flickered again, causing the bright power-track lighting over her jewelry cases to fade, plunging her shop into a state of semi-darkness.

"Damn," Crystal muttered. She flipped the light switch on the wall behind her, but nothing happened.

Crystal shuddered as the ice-cold air swirled around her shoulders, lifting the ends of her hair, sending the shoulder-length tresses skimming her cheeks. She removed the errant strands and made her way towards the entrance when she saw a woman standing just inside the door. She wore a long white dress and held a bouquet of white roses in her hands.

"Can I help you?" Crystal's eyes remained intent on the woman. Her beautiful gown had the most delicate beading and lacework Crystal had ever seen, but parts of it seemed tattered and worn. It was probably an heirloom passed down through her family for generations.

Crystal bit down on her lower lip as thoughts swirled through her mind. She hadn't heard the woman come in.

The odd woman stared straight ahead. Even though a veil covered her face, her eyes appeared wide and vacant.

Crystal's heart pounded with apprehension. "Are you looking for something in particular?"

She swallowed hard and watched the woman's slippered feet, which barely skimmed the ground as she seemed to float across the room, stopping near the display of diamond wedding jewelry.

Crystal shook her head to clear it--she must seeing things.

The woman looked down at the diamond-studded rings, the ends of her tattered veil trailing across the glass countertop.

"Why don't you give those flowers to me?" Crystal asked, trying for some levity. "You won't be able to try on anything if you're holding your bouquet."

The woman's skin had an odd, shimmery, translucent quality, as though Crystal could see through her hand, straight to the counter.

Crystal stuck out her hand. "Crystal Lane," she said by way of introduction, giving the woman a smile.

The woman's sad face and her wide, unblinking eyes remained fixed on the rings displayed in the case.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss ... Ms?"

Silence.

Crystal sighed in frustration.

The woman started to move toward her. Straight through the counter.

"Hey!" Crystal shouted. "What are you doing?"

The lady stood in front of Crystal, staring at her with those wide, unblinking eyes, her cold, frigid breath forming a white, misty puff.

Ghost.

Terror clogged Crystal's chest as she grabbed the bottle of cleaning fluid and hurled it at the specter. It passed through the strange bride's body, landing with a loud crash against a jewelry case, the sound of splintering glass echoing throughout Crystal's shop.

The woman spun around, the tattered train of her dress swirling around her legs, the tiny beads and pearls glowing as she vanished.

Crystal tore out of her shop and flew down the hall towards the lobby.

"Oh God, please, someone please be there," she cried, feeling her eyes well with tears.

Crystal skidded to a halt in the lobby, her eyes darting everywhere in search of a familiar face. Relief filled her when she saw Seth near a small alcove on the other side of the room, admiring the paintings that graced the walls.

"Seth!"

He turned his head and glanced her way. Dark hair brushed lean, fit shoulders. He wore all black, from head to toe--including a long, black leather duster. It trailed down to the tips of his black boots.

Before her mind could register the discrepancies, she ran straight towards him, her heart racing, her mind filled with the strange, eerie image of the woman in white. He opened his arms and reached for her just as she collapsed in a heap against his tall frame.

Slowly, her vision started to clear and she noticed his eyes. Like liquid silver, piercing as they bored down into hers.

He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand, his knuckles smoothing across her skin. She saw her reflection in his eyes, saw her mouth form a wide 'O' of shock when his long fingers trailed across her chin.

Strong hands circled her waist, pulling her against him and into the darkened alcove, cradling her between his long legs. Her eyes opened wide as he smiled down at her.

"You're not Seth," she whispered, barely able to speak.

He tugged her closer and closer still, leaning down to brush his lips across hers. "Sweet," he muttered thickly. "So sweet."

He had the most beautiful mouth--his upper lip slightly fuller than the lower.

Her eyes fluttered closed as the tip of her tongue trailed over his full upper lip. A shudder of pure erotic pleasure tore through her body and her fear melted away.

Her body hummed, her pulse quickening when his long fingers gently squeezed her waist, his stiff member brushing against her mound. Her clit pulsed with the most delicious throbbing sensation, making her body vibrate.

"Anthony Zodan," he said by way of greeting.

She blinked as she registered his words, but it was hard to concentrate. In fact, it was getting harder to stand, too. Her knees gave way as her body started to slide, her nipples peaking when her breasts brushed his chest. Warmth washed over her, bringing with it an all-consuming lethargy.

"Easy, angel," he whispered. "I've got you."

Her eyes closed and she slipped into darkness.