by Cathryn Fox
But not this morning.
Luke had stayed.
Just as he'd promised he would the night before.
Taking a sip of her coffee, she contemplated this. What did it mean? As she tried to make heads or tails of what had transpired between them last night, Sera chattered on in a friendly tone.
"I had a master the last time I was released who loved to cook. He taught me. I thought it was ridiculous at first. I mean, if I want to serve a huge feast, all I have to do is wave a hand. But ... this is so much more fun.” She searched a few cupboards until she found the plates. Pulling out three of them, she set them on the counter and then went back to the stove. Gone was the silly drunk from last night. Sera, though she was still dressed in the belly dancer outfit, was now a full-functioning woman who not only sounded articulate, but who was also someone Jillian realized she could be friends with.
As Sera piled the plates high with food, she said, “I can't believe I remembered how to do all this. But it came right back to me. Like riding an elephant."
"Bike,” Jillian corrected. “Like riding a bike."
Sera grinned. “Where I came from, we rode elephants."
"I should have known.” She accepted a plate and carried it over to the table. Sera followed with the other plates.
"You should wake Luke. I won't know what to do with all of this food if he doesn't eat some of it."
"Yeah,” Jillian agreed. She eyed Sera a moment longer, then added, “About Luke. What'd you do to him-to us-last night?"
Sera settled herself in a chair and looked up at Jillian, her dark eyes wide and questioning. “What do you mean?"
"I mean,” Jillian said as plopped into a chair opposite her new friend. “I felt things last night that I'd never felt before. And Luke ... He said things he'd never said before."
I love you.
The words had tumbled so easily from his lips, it had seemed. There hadn't been a hint of reservation or tentativeness in his voice.
But Jillian had known it was all Sera's doing, so she hadn't responded to Luke. In fact, she'd closed her eyes and willed herself to forget she'd even heard him speak such sweet words. Words that stirred her soul and made her heart soar.
Sera still looked confused. “I swear I didn't do anything. You didn't wish for anything last night, Jillian. And until you do-officially-I can't grant you anything."
This little revelation sent panic skittering through Jillian. “You mean, we just ... let go last night? On our own? And Luke said...” She shook her head, finding it almost impossible to believe what Luke had said to her.
I love you.
But he had said it.
"All on his own?” Her last words were soft, a mere whisper.
Could it be true?
Sera stabbed her stack of pancakes with her fork then popped the heap into her mouth. She chewed for a long time, simply eyeing Jillian, forcing her to draw her own conclusions.
"Wow,” Jillian mumbled. “This is so surreal."
Luke loved her?
He'd finally admitted his true feelings for her. His deepest feelings. And she hadn't said a word in return. She hadn't even acknowledged hearing him.
Suddenly, Jillian's appetite vanished. She stood and walked toward the living room.
"Where are you going?” Sera asked around a mouthful of food.
"To put some clothes on and go for a walk."
"But you haven't eaten your breakfast!"
Jillian waved a dismissive hand in the air. How could she even think about food at a time like this?
Slipping into her bedroom, she located her jeans from the night before and dragged them on. Her bare feet slid into her cute, albeit worn to the soles, flip flops and she left the room. Luke still lay in her bed, sound asleep.
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One Wish: Chapter 7
When he woke, Luke was monumentally disappointed to discover he was alone.
He rolled onto his back and stared up at the rotating blades above him. Jillian's room was painted a soft shade of lavender with crisp white accents. The ceiling fan was bright white with a fancy light fixture attached to it. He'd never really noticed it before. Or any of the other stuff in Jillian's very feminine bedroom.
Frowning, he sat up. His long legs were tangled in the rumpled sheets and he worked his way out of the bed. He yanked on his boxers and jeans, then searched all over for his shirt. It was nowhere to be found. Raking a hand through his hair, he surveyed Jillian's room, taking in every inch of it for the first time-though he'd been here many times before. The desk in the corner held a personal computer and some knickknacks. The few shelves mounted on the walls displayed awards and trophies Jillian had won as a kid. Mostly for volleyball tournaments and spelling bees. She was both athletic and smart.
But something was missing. As Luke studied Jillian's personal space, it slowly dawned on him that there were no photos. Not a single one. Not of her, not of him, not of her friends. Most disconcerting of all, there wasn't a single photo of Jillian's family-her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins...
And that's when it all fell into place for Luke.
He suddenly realized what it was that had Jillian killing herself at work. If she occupied every minute of her day and drove herself to the point of extreme exhaustion, so that when she came home at night she collapsed into bed and immediately slept, she wouldn't have to think of her family. She wouldn't have to think of all that she'd lost over the years.
She wouldn't have to accept that she was alone.
* * * *
"What are you doing here?” Jillian asked as Luke strode through the entrance of the Old Age Saloon. She'd been catching up on paperwork when she heard the lock release. Her heart had leapt into her chest at the thought of someone breaking in, and it stayed there as she gazed at Luke, looking as tempting as ever in his jeans and worn boots. And no shirt, because she was wearing it.
"Time for a reality check,” he told her.
"Little early in the day for that, don't you think?” She forced her voice to remain on an even keel, though her pulse was racing at the sight of Luke. And the remembrance of the way he'd made love to her last night. Not to mention those three little words he'd uttered...
He slid onto a stool and stacked his hands on the bar. “We can do this at seven a.m. or seven p.m. I don't care which. But we're going to do it. May as well get it out of the way."
Jillian steeled herself for what lay ahead. “Look, I know you want to gloat over the fact that I was the one to run away after our night together, after I'd accused you of always doing it, but ... I just...” She gave a helpless little shrug.
You just what? Panicked?
Even now, anxiety began to well inside her. She gnawed her lower lip a moment, searching for the right words. But she couldn't latch onto anything reasonable or sensible.
What Jillian really wanted to do was tell Luke how happy it had made her when he said he loved her. But she just couldn't bring herself to say the words out loud.
Which frustrated her all the more.
So instead, she asked, “Where's Sera?"
"Still at the house. She said you'd gone for a walk. I figured this is where you'd end up, since Fae is out of town."
She closed her ledger. “We shouldn't have left Sera alone."
"She was cleaning the kitchen when I left. She was fine. Why are you worried about her?"
"Because she doesn't know anything about..."
Today's world.
Except, Jillian had to admit that wasn't entirely true. Sure, Sera had been trapped inside that clay pot for about fifty years, but as soon as she'd been released, she'd instantly adapted to her surroundings. Well, with the exception of that ridiculous outfit she wore.
As a matter of fact, Sera's speech and her mannerisms weren't a product of the ‘50s. They were contemporary. She'd even been able to work all of the modern gadgets in Jillian's kitchen.
And hadn't she said that she hadn'
t cast a spell on Luke and Jillian last night?
Was it possible that Sera was no genie at all?
Explain the Incredibly Shrinking Drunk Girl then.
Oh, yeah.
Jillian had forgotten about that little freaky episode.
Okay, so maybe Sera was a genie. Still. It wasn't fair to just abandon her. “I should go back home."
"I'm sure she's fine. Let's talk first."
Her anxiety kicked up a notch. “I'm not really in the mood. Besides—"
Jillian's thought vanished from her head as the door to the Old Age flew open and two men rushed inside.
Before Luke could even turn around, the first man yelled, “On the floor! Now!"
Shock and fear seized Jillian, rendering her speechless. And motionless. She simply stared at the two men, dressed in dirty jeans and flannel shirts. One held a rifle. He lifted it, taking aim at Luke.
"Get behind the bar,” Luke told Jillian in a tight voice. “Now!"
She did as he asked, crouching low. But from the mirror mounted on the far wall, she could see everything that happened in the bar. The two men pressed further into the saloon. Luke held one hand up in the air. In the other, he clutched Jillian's night drop bag, which she'd left on the counter the previous evening.
"Take the money and get out of here.” He tossed the bag across the room and it landed at the men's feet.
Jillian breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God he was here. Thank God he was so calm and so level-headed. She would have freaked if she'd been here alone. There was no way Jillian would have even thought about the night drop bag-or anything else. She just wasn't as cool and collected as Luke in a crisis.
Okay, she thought. Please let them take the money and get the hell out of here!
"Pick up the bag, Jimmy."
Jillian's eyes remained locked on the mirror and she watched as the one called Jimmy bent over and snatched up the loot. He unzipped the bag and skimmed through the cash it contained.
Fuck! Of all the days to get robbed!
She'd made a pretty penny yesterday with the overcrowding and she needed that money to pay her vendors. And the A/C guy.
Damn it!
But Jillian reminded herself that the money didn't matter. All she really cared about was that the two men took what they'd come for and got the hell out of there. And fast. So that she could report them to the sheriff.
"There's a couple grand in here,” Jimmy said, sounding excited. “Let's go!"
"Not yet,” the other one, who held the gun, said. He lifted his arm a notch, raising the rifle so that it was point at Luke's chest. “There's a pretty little thing behind the bar and I'd like to get to know her better."
Jillian didn't have to see Luke's reaction to those words to know that his anger was sparked. She could feel the tension that instantly filled the room.
"Oh, Sera,” she whispered. “Where are you when I need you?"
Jillian knew what her wish would be-for these men to disappear.
And leave the money behind, of course.
"Come on out, darlin',” the gunman said.
"Stay put, Jillian,” Luke insisted. His voice was tight, strained.
Her heart rate accelerated. When she heard the cocking of the shotgun, tears sprang to her eyes. Jillian couldn't let anything happen to Luke-especially not because of her.
Lord, hadn't she lost enough people in her life?
Jillian couldn't stand the thought of losing one more. She couldn't lose Luke. So she made a move behind the bar, prepared to come out of hiding.
But a hushed, albeit familiar, voice caught her attention. “Jillian, no!'
Her head whipped around and she found Sera crouched low behind the counter adjacent to her. She was tucked away in a little nook. Jillian had never been so happy to see anyone in her life!
Do something, she mouthed.
Sera's gaze shifted from Jillian to the mirror above the bar. Then she looked back at Jillian and said something in return, but it was too faint for Jillian to hear. Especially when the gunman called for her again, demanding she come out.
"Don't move, Jillian,” Luke ordered. “You got what you came for. Just take the money and go."
"Yeah, Pete,” Jimmy said. “Let's get the hell out of here. The longer we stay—"
"I'm not through here!” Pete called out. “So we're staying. And the little girl behind the bar needs to get her ass out here so I can take a look at her. And decide what I want to do with her..."
The vile, lecherous sentiment lingered in the air for just a breath before Luke's temper got the best of him.
"I told you to get the hell out of here."
"And I'm telling you to shut up."
Jillian saw Luke take a step forward. In her mind, she screamed for him to stop. But the words were lodged in her throat. The next few seconds unfolded in slow motion. Luke ordered the men out again. Jimmy begged Pete to leave with him. And then he reached for Pete's arm, presumably to force him to lower the weapon. But Pete held fast and his finger hit the trigger.
The shot rang out, piercing the quiet morning. Piercing Jillian's heart.
She let out a loud scream-this one resonating in the quiet bar. Then she sprang to her feet.
"Jillian, no!” Sera cried.
Rounding the bar, Jillian found Luke sprawled on the floor, blood spewing from his chest like a fountain. “Oh, my God!” She fell to her knees beside Luke. Sera appeared instantly at her side.
The two men began to argue in heated, agitated tones.
Jillian reached a shaky hand out to Luke, who stared at her with watery eyes and a glassed-over look. Her fingers grazed his cheek. “Okay, lay still,” she managed to choke out. She looked at Sera and said, “Pick up the phone and dial 911. Tell them a man has been shot and we need an ambulance."
At the mention of 911, the two robbers raced for the door and disappeared.
Sera knelt next to Jillian and said, “He's losing a lot of blood."
"I know! Call 911! Please!” Jillian's fingers pressed to her quivering lips. Tears flowed down her cheeks.
Luke's breathing grew shallow. His bare chest was a mess from the shotgun balls that had pelted his flesh, driving deep.
"Why aren't you calling?” Jillian suddenly screamed. She was on her feet a second later and rushed to the phone, sitting on the bar.
She snatched up the receiver, but Jillian's fingers only hit the ‘9’ when Sera said, “Don't call anyone. We can't have anyone here."
"What?” And then it hit her. As Sera stared compelling at her, Jillian knew what Sera wanted her to do. “Oh, my God, you can't be serious. I mean ... I don't believe..."
"I know you don't. But it's time you start believing, Jillian.” Sera slowly stood and faced Jillian. “It's time that you stopped doing everything on your own. Ask me for help, Jillian."
"He's dying,” she said as the arm holding the phone extended, pointing toward Luke.
"Yes. And he will die if we wait much longer. Jillian,” Sera urged, “Make a wish."
"What? No, it's ... I can't ... I told you! I don't believe in that!"
"Jillian...” It was Luke who spoke her name. His voice was low and weak. Full of pain. It tore Jillian apart. Her heart felt shattered in a million pieces.
"Please believe in me,” Sera demanded. “Please, Jillian. Make a wish."
Slowly, Jillian returned the phone to its base. She stepped away from the bar and moved closer to Sera and Luke. She spared a glance at the man she loved, who was now gasping for air and fighting to stay conscious.
Returning her attention to Sera she said, “Okay. I can do this. I can trust you."
Sera gave a quick nod. “You have to. You have to believe in me. Now, make a wish. Quickly, Jillian."
Tears streamed down her hot cheeks and she swiped at them with her hand.
Emotion welled inside Jillian as she took the leap of faith, praying that what her heart told her about Serafina was true.
"I wish thi
s never happened."
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One Wish: Chapter 8
The most enticing smells wafted under Jillian's nose in the wee hours of the morning. She cracked an eye open and consulted the digital clock on the bedside table. Five a.m.
Jillian couldn't remember the last time she'd been awake at five, couldn't even remember the last time she'd seen the sun rise. She usually didn't get home until one and slept until nine. She was in the saloon by noon, which didn't leave a hell of a lot of time for anything else in her life.
Including breakfast.
She inched away from Luke, who had a firm grip on her as they spooned. Sitting up, she pushed strands of hair from her face and tried to reconcile the thoughts that ran rampant through her mind. On the one hand, she wanted very much to wake Luke and make love again. On the other hand...
Her stomach growled and she stifled a giggle. She was starving. And the aroma that filled her house was just too tempting to pass up.
Carefully slipping off the bed so as not to wake Luke, she scooped up his discarded T-shirt and pulled it on.
"Where are you going?” he asked in a groggy voice.
She turned back to him. “You don't smell that? I'm famished and I bet you are, too. How about I bring you whatever it is that Sera has concocted?"
He eyed her from head to toe, shifted on the mattress. “How about you bring that gorgeous body back to bed?"
Jillian regarded him for a moment. She debated what to do.
Luke sat up and reached out a hand to her. “Come on,” he said in his low, sexy tone. “I'm not done with you."
Jillian bit back a smile as her heart fluttered. “Oh, really?"
"Yeah, really. I want to make love to you again."
She took a step toward him. “You were pretty thorough last night."
He shook his head. “Didn't even begin to scratch the surface."
Suddenly, something inside Jillian urged her to climb back into bed with Luke. Yanking his shirt over her head, she tossed it aside and moved closer to the bed.
"That's better."
She inched toward him. “This is something new for both of us."