by Fiona Roarke
Dustin took a drink of his beer. “It’s all Spot’s fault.”
She laughed. “Definitely.” The first time she’d brought her car to Spot On Auto Service for an oil change, she’d fallen in love with the cat for whom the place had been named. When Spot had wandered into Dustin’s office, Ami had followed, and found an incredibly hot guy seated behind the desk. Something sensual had ricocheted between them in that first moment—a zing of powerful desire. They’d started talking, and discovered that they had so much in common—they were both foodies with a passion for baking. They shared a love of cats, and both enjoyed bike riding. He’d asked her out before she’d left.
Now that she was here with him, remembering how great they were together, staring at that handsome face, she considered telling her mom that she couldn’t date Lawton. How could she go out with anyone else when her heart belonged to Dustin?
When she’d done Lawton’s hair, all he’d talked about was himself—his big, beautiful home, his affinity for expensive clothes, and fine wine. At least he’d taken her up on her advice to return his hair to dark brown, his natural color.
The server came back to clear their plates. “Can I interest you in our famous apple pie for dessert?”
Amethyst never refused sweets, but since Dustin hadn’t made much of a dent in his dinner, she figured he’d skip it.
“Want to split a slice?” he asked her.
“Yeah,” she said immediately.
The giant piece of pie topped with a decadent dollop of ice cream, arrived a couple of minutes later. The wonderful smell made Ami yearn to dive into it, but she controlled herself, and handed Dustin one of the forks the server had brought.
“Help yourself,” he told her.
She shook her head, not wanting to make too much of a pig of herself. But when Dustin still didn’t make a move to get some, she did. He reached across with his fork at the same moment, and their fingers touched. Their gazes locked.
Dustin forked a decent-size bite, but instead of eating it himself, he held it up for her. Eying her lips, he said, “Come on, open your mouth.”
He cracked up, which made her laugh, too. She let him feed her, which was anything but funny. It was sensual and sexy. She licked her lips and caught the heat in his gaze as he stared at her mouth.
Danger, danger.
Didn’t matter that she craved his touch, and dreamed about kissing him almost every night. The last thing she ought to be doing was leading Dustin on. Bad enough that she’d hurt him last month. So she forced herself to back away, and used her own fork. Much safer.
When the server delivered their bill, she grabbed it before Dustin could.
“No way.” He shook his head and held out his palm.
“Sorry. This is my thank you for coming to my rescue tonight.”
“That’s my job.”
Holding the check presenter out of his reach, she fished in her purse for her credit card. “I’ve got this.”
Reluctantly, he gave up.
As they left the pub and strode across the parking lot, Dustin hooked her arm, stopping her before they reached his truck. “Can I ask you something?”
She gulped, pretty sure what the question would pertain to. “O-okay.”
Exhaling loudly, he frowned. “I don’t get it. Was I wrong about how good we were together?”
She dropped his gaze. “No, you weren’t.” No guy’s kiss had curled her toes like Dustin’s had. When he’d held her, it was as if she’d finally found her home. Sadness seeped through her.
He lifted her chin so she was forced to meet his stare. “Did I do something wrong?”
Tears threatened. “You did everything right. It isn’t you. It’s me. Well, not me exactly.”
Tiny muscles around his jaw ticked. “Is there someone else?”
“No, well, yes.” She huffed. “Not someone I care to date, no. It’s…complicated.”
He let go of her. “Kiss me, and then tell me how complicated it is.”
God, she wanted to. Their bodies were a fraction of an inch apart. She could feel his heat, his desire. Or was it hers?
What could one little kiss hurt? Staring at his sensual mouth, those lips shaped like the perfect Cupid’s bow, she couldn’t stop herself. Standing taller, she slid a hand behind his neck and parted her lips. All thoughts of her parents, that icky vampire, her car breaking down, everything fell away. There was nothing and no one but the two of them, and a moonlit night perfect for romance.
Her eyes slipped lazily shut and all she could feel was his arms around her, then his mouth on hers. This wonderful, patient man wanted her so much—almost as much as she wanted him. The sweetness of apples and cinnamon lingered on his tongue. She threaded her fingers through his thick hair, and he growled his pleasure.
When they finally broke apart, she happily remained in his arms, not only for the warmth he provided, but for the comfort as well. Being so close to him had ignited sparks inside her that she hated to douse.
He stroked a thumb over her cheek. “You still haven’t told me why you broke up with me.”
Reality sucker punched her in the gut. She backed away. “Yeah, well…” She owed him an explanation. “Let’s talk in your truck. It’s freezing out here.”
They got inside the Toyota and she drew in a deep breath for courage. “Okay, you’re not going to like this.”
Dustin listened as Amethyst spoke about her family, how her dad was a frustrated inventor who’d had no commercial success with his ideas, how money troubles had been a constant issue between her parents, and about her sister who’d left at sixteen because of all the strife at home. “I’m still confused about why that means you and I can’t date.”
Her brow knitted. “Because my mother is…a snob. Practically no one meets her ridiculously high standards.”
So in her mother’s eyes, he wasn’t good enough for her daughter. “What about your standards. Isn’t that more important than what she thinks?”
She wrung her hands. “It should be, but she’s relentless. She browbeats my dad something awful. It’s painful to watch. And she’s almost as bad with me. You have no idea what it was like growing up with them constantly fighting.”
He struggled to understand why her mother’s approval was so important to her. After what his folks had put him through, he didn’t give a damn what they thought of him now. “You’re an adult, Amethyst, a strong, capable woman who has the power and intelligence to make your own decisions.”
Her lips flattened. “I live in the apartment over their garage. I have to see them every day.”
“Then move out. You do well enough at the Hair Scare, don’t you?”
“I do. It’s my parents who are struggling to make ends meet. Without the rent I pay them, they’d have a hard time financially. Plus…”
“What?”
She told him about Lawton—a wealthy vampire—and how he was likely to finance her dad’s latest invention if she dated him. “He’s going to be my date for the salon’s Christmas party.”
Pain throbbed in his head. He leaned back against the seat and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “So you’re letting your parents pimp you out? And to a vampire, no less?”
She bristled. “It’s not like that. I only want to keep the peace. And if there’s a way for me to help my dad, of course I’ll do it. They’re my parents.”
Putting her on the defensive hadn’t been his intention, but clearly, he’d touched a nerve. “I understand that you want to do something nice for your father, but are you sure this is the way to go about it? You can’t deny that there’s something between us, something special.”
She stared straight ahead. “I’d appreciate if you’d take me home now.”
Darn, he’d gone too far. “If that’s what you want.”
Her only acknowledgement was a half nod.
When he turned onto her street a little while later, after a mostly silent drive, she said, “Just drop me here.”
Hi
s chest constricted. “Are you ashamed of me?” He pulled to the curb four houses before hers and shut off the engine.
She flicked her gaze at him. “That’s not it at all. I already told you the problem.”
The real problem was that she needed to grow a backbone when it came to dealing with her mother. Although he wasn’t in a position to give out advice on handling family relationships. He’d left home at seventeen. After the way his parents had treated him, he hadn’t even gone back for a visit in the past eleven years, so Amethyst’s ridiculous kowtowing to her mother’s wishes baffled him. “You can’t live your life for your folks. But I guess we all have our issues, myself included.”
“I remember you telling me about your family, how they’d studied you like a lab rat.” Her expression softened. “I won’t lie, Dustin, I miss you. And yes, we have a strong connection. I’m honestly confused about what to do. Would you give me a few days? I need some time to think, and maybe get a reading from one of the other psychics at the salon.”
“Okay.” At least he had a chance with her, which was more than he’d had a few hours ago.
Hand on the door, she gave him a chaste kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”
Watching her walk down the street to her place, he wondered if she’d been exaggerating the demands her mother put on her, and the control the woman exerted. As Amethyst strode up the path to her house, the porch light went on.
Okay, maybe she hadn’t been exaggerating. All he could do was wait, and hope for the best.
Chapter Four
Monday morning Amethyst had a break between clients. As luck would have it, Mallory—the best tarot card reader in the shop—had an opening at the same time. Plus it was Petra’s day off, and Ami preferred having a reading when her best friend wasn’t around. After she’d witnessed her mom and Petra whispering the other day, she suspected the two were colluding about something. Perhaps Mallory could shed light on what was going on there. But the more pressing issue was what to do about Dustin and Lawton.
Amethyst sat at Mallory’s table and waited as the nail tech cleared a few manicure supplies from the surface then wiped it down with disinfectant. “Thanks for doing this. If you want, I’ll give you a reading later using my scrying mirror.”
Mallory shrugged at the offer. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll work it out.” Unlike the other readers at the salon, Mallory appeared to be the antithesis of a psychic. With her long blond hair and preppy style, no one would peg her as a tarot reader. She took her cards out of a drawer, and laid the green silk scarf in which they’d been wrapped on her table. Handing the deck to Ami, she said, “As you mix them, think about what you’d like to know.”
Amethyst closed her eyes and concentrated on the two men, and her mother’s wishes. After shuffling the cards a few times, she set it on the cloth and nodded.
Mallory spread the deck out. “Pick one.”
After Ami had chosen five cards one by one, Mallory built a spread and widened her eyes. “Interesting. Let me guess. You’re wondering about your love life.”
“Mm hmm.” That was apparent from the number of cards in the cups arcana, which were all about emotions, feelings and relationships.
“You have regrets that you can’t seem to shake.” Mallory touched the Five of Cups. “He’s focusing only on the three spilled goblets, ignoring the two that are still full.” She moved on to the next card, the Ace of Cups. “Ah, new love.” She winked at Ami.
That could mean either man. She’d only dated Dustin for a few weeks, and Lawton was definitely a new addition to her private life.
Mallory narrowed her eyes as she peered at the spread. “You have to be strong.” She tapped the Queen of Cups. “This probably represents your mother, or another spiritual counselor. She’s psychic, and isn’t above emotional manipulation.”
Ami rolled her eyes. “Yup, that’s my mom. Except she no longer has her psychic abilities.”
Mallory raised a doubtful eyebrow. “This woman is definitely psychic, although we’re talking about your future here, so maybe it isn’t your actual mother. A mother-in-law maybe?”
Ami gulped. Dustin’s mother was a scientist. Surely he’d have mentioned it if she were also psychic. Could Lawton’s mother be intuitive? Was she even alive? He’d said that he was almost two hundred years old.
“Interesting.” Mallory pursed her lips as she stared at the cards.
“What?” Ami sat up taller.
“The man you’re destined to be with forever is going to be at your side for an important event, very soon.”
The holiday party?
“He’s going to help someone you love,” Mallory continued. “No, not just help them. He’ll save them.”
Lawton. Must be him, since he had the power to help her dad—in a way, saving him. She couldn’t choose Dustin. The realization hit like a slap of icy morning air. She’d have to tell him, and deal with not following her heart. Dread washed over her. Her eyes stung but she refused to give in to her sadness.
Mallory gathered the cards up. “Anything else you wanted to ask?”
She’d had another question on her mind, but now she couldn’t recall what it was. Didn’t matter. Her dad needed her, and she had to help him. She’d just have to pull on her big-girl panties and put family before her own desires.
“I appreciate you getting my bike in so fast.” Aiden shook Dustin’s hand. “Darcy and I had planned to ride to the cabin yesterday but when the clutch wouldn’t work, I figured I had a big problem on my hands.”
Dustin brushed off his friend’s thanks as he stashed the ticket behind the counter. “A broken cable’s a quick repair. Besides, Monday afternoons have been slow around here since Thanksgiving.”
Aiden took out his wallet. “What are the damages?”
“No charge.”
When his friend protested, Dustin shut him down. “I couldn’t sleep nights if I took money from a guy who gives most of his weekends to the Nocturne Falls Magic Scouts. Consider it my contribution to your troop.”
Although in truth, he hadn’t slept well since Friday night, when Amethyst had said she was going to think about dating him again. He just prayed her answer was yes.
As soon as his friend drove off the lot, Amethyst got out of the passenger door of a late model Honda sedan. Was the driver her vampire friend? His temples throbbed. He tried to see who was driving but with dark tinted windows, he couldn’t.
She waved to whoever it was as the car pulled away then strode toward the entrance. Wearing a black skirt, silver boots and a lacy black top with a wool jacket over it, she was just as gorgeous as she’d been the other night.
Please let her answer be yes.
Heart thumping against his ribcage, he opened the door for her and breathed in her strawberry scent as she stepped past him. “Hey.”
“Hi.” She gave him the briefest smile. “How’s my car?”
“Good to go. It was the alternator.” He grabbed her key from the board and handed it to her.
Another customer came in. He rang the man up as Amethyst waited.
Finding the work order for her car, she picked it up and read it as he finished with the guy. After the man left, she pointed to the paper. “This only has the cost for the part. What about labor?”
He shook his head. “I did it myself. The work’s on the house.” He knew better than to try to comp the price of the alternator for her. They’d had that argument while they’d been dating. Even then she hadn’t wanted anything for free. Thankfully, she paid her bill without complaint.
Hoping for privacy, he started to walk her to her car, which he’d parked in the back of the lot, but she stopped in the doorway. “I can find it.”
His hopes fell, until he glanced up and found a sprig of mistletoe hanging from the jamb. A few snowflakes blew past, setting a romantic mood. He took hold of her arm and eased her inside. “I was hoping we could talk.”
Her eyelids shuttered. “I-I can’t do this, Dustin.”
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His chest tightened. “The choice is yours.”
When she met his gaze, desire sparkled in her pale blue eyes. She took his hand. “You have to believe that if I could, I would. But it’s just not possible.”
If that were really true, why hadn’t she released his hand? Why was she still staring into his eyes with unmistakable attraction?
Their bodies pressed together, and she touched his cheek with a tenderness that took his breath away. He slid his hand around her waist, drawing her even closer.
Her gaze fell to his lips, and his mouth watered to taste her. But no sooner had he moved in for a kiss when she splayed her fingers on his chest and nudged him back.
“I want to. I really, really do. I just can’t.”
The sadness in her expression mirrored what he felt.
She shook her head. “We can’t see each other.”
Her words ripped through him. “So you had that reading you were wanting?”
Lips pursed, she nodded. “The cards said I’m destined to be with Lawton.”
Lawton. Even his name gave Dustin the creeps. He scrubbed a hand over his face. “You should probably get home before the roads ice up.”
Her throat twitched with a swallow. She dropped her gaze then hurried toward her car.
He didn’t wait around to watch her leave. His gut was already tied up in knots. But he refused to throw his dignity to the wind by chasing after her or pleading with her to reconsider. He had to get his mind off of her. Aiming to do just that, he closed himself in the office and reached for the day’s mail.
Spot rubbed around his ankles, purring. After a few seconds, she leapt onto his lap and nuzzled her face against his belt.
“How am I supposed to get anything done with you distracting me?”
She looked up at him and meowed as if she’d understood. Her eyes grew wide with mischief, and she hopped down, then picked up her toy mouse in her mouth and dropped it at his feet.