Jacquie D’Alessandro - Jinxed!

“What idea?” she asked, hoping it had something to do with making that dream come true. Every cell in her body wanted to reach out and grab him, but she was afraid that once she touched him she wouldn’t be able to stop. Was that why he hadn’t touched her? Was he afraid of what would happen if he did? Was he suffering from the same “should I, shouldn’t I?” dilemma as she?

Instead of telling her his idea, he said, “I paid Madame Karma a visit today.”

She couldn’t hide her surprise. “You did? Why?”

“I wanted to talk to her about my sudden run of bad luck. She didn’t seem the least bit surprised, and told me it was because I was fighting fate. She predicted that you’d suffered a similar series of unfortunate events. Based on what you’ve told me, she was right.”

“Did she have any suggestions?”

“As a matter of fact she did. She told me the only way to fix my cursed karma was to stop fighting fate. And the only way to do that was to spend time with you-which would also fix your karma problem. So that’s my idea. That we spend some time together. Worst-case scenario is we won’t be any worse off than we are now. Best-case scenario is we’ll undo our karma curse and our lives will return to normal.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in any of that karma or fate stuff. Called it a bunch of nonsense.”

“I didn’t believe in it, and I’m not sure I do now. But there’s no denying the oddball things that have happened to both of us since Saturday, and I’m at a loss to explain them. Frankly, I’m exhausted from this spate of bad luck and am willing to try just about anything-no matter how off-the-wall it sounds-to end it.”

“Including spending time with me?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s certainly not the most romantic offer I’ve ever received.”

Instead of looking abashed, he appeared amused, which she found highly irritating. “Do you want a romantic offer?”

“Certainly not. You’re not at all my type.”

He folded his arms over his chest and shot her a quizzical look. “Not that I’m arguing that point, because, to be blunt, you’re not my type, either, but what is it about me that you find…unacceptable?”

Lacey studied him for several long seconds, debating how honest to be with him, then decided what the hell? No point in sugar-coating anything. He’d been blunt with her, and it wasn’t as if she were trying to impress him.

“I’ve always avoided getting involved with soulless clones. I see them every day. They come into Constant Cravings at the crack of dawn for their caffeine fixes, already talking business on their cell phones, tapping on their laptops, completely consumed with their work, never taking a moment of downtime. I see them sitting in the courtyard at lunch, hunched over reports, never so much as looking up to enjoy the sunshine.” She shrugged. “You’re one of them.”

He didn’t say anything for nearly half a minute, but she could tell by his frown that he was considering her words. Finally he cleared his throat. “There’s nothing wrong with having goals and working hard. In trying to succeed.”

“I agree. But I think there is something wrong when all your time and energy is devoted to your career and every other aspect of your life becomes just going through the motions. When success is measured only in terms of getting ahead professionally. When people and relationships and participating in life cease to matter.”

“And you think I’m one of these soulless clones?”

“Yes.”

“That’s pretty harsh.”

“Did you want me to lie?”

“No. But I think you’re wrong.”

“Really? I’ll prove I’m right. Close your eyes. And no peeking.” After he’d complied, she asked, “What’s depicted in the painting on the wall behind your desk?”

A frown bunched between his eyebrows. “There’s a painting on the wall behind my desk?”

“Oh, brother. You’re worse than I thought.”

He opened his eyes and looked at the wall behind her. “That’s not fair. My office was redone during the renovations.”

“Uh-huh. And when was it finished?”

“Three weeks ago.”

“Three weeks is a long time not to notice something that’s right under your nose, or in this case, hanging right over your head. I rest my case.”

“Give me another chance.”

She blew out a sigh and closed her eyes. “Fine. What color are my eyes?”

Without hesitation he said, “Golden-brown. Like caramel. With little flecks of gold. The irises are surrounded by a dark ring that looks like melted chocolate.”

Lacey’s lids popped open and she found him looking at her intently. “You seem surprised,” he said.

“I am. Stunned actually. I didn’t think-”

“I’d noticed? Believe me, I’ve noticed. Maybe I’m not the soulless clone you think I am.”

“Maybe not. But you’re still a rigid rule follower. And way too prim and proper for me.”

“You think I’m rigid? Prim? Proper?”

“Yes, I do.”

“You say that to a man with whom you shared wild sex against a coffee-house counter?”

“One bout of wild sex that we both agreed was the result of temporary insanity isn’t enough to change my opinion.”

“I see. So then you say that to a pirate who used a knife to cut off the dozens of tiny buttons running down the front of your gown?” He reached out and traced a single fingertip down the front of her shirt, slowly circling each button, halting her breath…and hardening her nipples. “A pirate who made love to you until you were too exhausted to move?”

She had to swallow twice to find her voice. “That was just a dream.”

“And a helluva good one.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

“Your assertion that I’m too proper…you realize it challenges me to prove you wrong.”

His words, spoken in that husky voice, the way he was looking at her, as if he wanted to devour her, ignited fire in her veins. She could feel her pulse throbbing everywhere. In her temples. At the base of her throat. Between her legs.

“Well, even if my assertion is incorrect, that still doesn’t mean us spending time together is a good idea. After all, you said I wasn’t your type.”

“I think it’s probably more accurate to say that based on the wrong way we’ve rubbed each other since almost the minute we met, I wouldn’t have believed us compatible in any way. But there was nothing wrong with the way we rubbed each other Saturday night.” As if to prove his point, he stepped forward and lightly brushed his pelvis against hers, shooting sparks to her every nerve ending.

“Uh, no,” she murmured. “There was nothing wrong with that.”

He studied her for several heartbeats, his blue eyes breathing fire. “Since we’ve both said we’re tired of games, I’ll throw out the unvarnished truth-I know you said we needed to forget what happened between us Saturday night. And believe me, I’ve tried. But I can’t. I’ve tried to stay away from you, but I simply don’t want to. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, even when I managed to fall asleep. And there is nothing prim or proper about the things I want to do to you.”

A dark thrill she couldn’t name rippled through Lacey. And based on his honesty, she couldn’t give him anything other than the same consideration in return. “I could waste a lot of time repeating everything you just said or I could sum it up in five words: that makes two of us.” She slid her palms up his chest and over his shoulders to link her fingers at his nape. “And I’m tired of wasting time. Here’s my unvarnished truth-I’ve been dying to get my hands on you again.”

With a groan, he pulled her against him. “Me, too. My hands, my mouth…all of me on all of you.”