Love Loyal and True (Must Love Diamonds 2)

“So, let’s get to it, shall we? Show me where I’m working,” he said a little too brightly. Because somehow they had to be only friends.

He wasn’t sure how the fuck that was going to work, but for her sake, he’d try.

“The computer is all ready in the back room,” she said as she moved past him, food in hand.

He followed her, his gaze locked on the sexy roll of her hips and the back and forth swish of her shiny brunette curls. He already knew they were long enough to wrap around his wrist. One little tug would give him full access to the smooth line of her throat, and then he could skim his lips lower.

Just thinking about it took him from half to full mast by the time she reached the back room. In an attempt to buy some time to talk himself down, he paused at the beaded doorway of the gypsy-looking room on the right.

Chapter 21

Roxanna closed the fridge as the sound of the beads hanging in front of her reading room clinked together in that musical harmony she loved so much. She went to the doorway in time to see Loyal step inside.

Her stomach got all fluttery as she crossed the floor and passed through the beads. With only the salt lamp and the tiny star-lights on the ceiling, it was too dark. Too intimate. Too seductive. She flipped on the lights, but they were muted by design, so it didn’t help as much as she’d hoped.

“So, this is where the magic happens?” he asked without looking at her.

“It’s not magic,” she bristled automatically. “I’m not a witch.”

“I don’t know.” He lightly trailed his fingertips over the top of her satin covered table. “It feels like I’ve been under your spell since the night of the fire.”

She didn’t respond to that. What could she say after their earlier conversation?

Likewise. And by the way, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t care if you can’t do forever, I’ll take now.

She could say all those things, but she wouldn’t. If she wanted to ensure she didn’t lose the rest of his family, she couldn’t.

Then why did she still want to so damn bad? Why had she been thinking about taking back her ‘just friends’ decree from the moment they sat across from each other at the table?

Loyal’s gaze travelled slowly around the room, taking stock of her space. The decorating had been specifically designed for comfort, relaxation, and to facilitate a positive energy flow. One of the walls was painted to appear as if there was a huge bay window overlooking the Rockies. As much time as she spent in the room, that gorgeous view was for her own benefit as much as for clients.

She wondered what he saw as he looked around. Did he like the warm colors and soft light? Could he feel the affirmative energy, or would he only look at her crystal ball and tarot cards on the side table and consider the cliché psychic trappings as another layer of her fraudulent enterprise? They had been given to her as a gift from clients and were for decoration only; hence their placement on the side table near her chaise lounge. But he wouldn’t know that, and she didn’t feel the need to explain.

She swallowed hard when he turned around to face her, his brown eyes serious. She wished she could read him, and at the same time was relieved she couldn’t. Some things she shouldn’t know—didn’t want to know.

“Do you talk to dead people?”

“No.” She frowned. “That would be a medium.”

“Can you read minds?”

“No.”

His gaze flicked up past her shoulder as he asked, “How does it work? What exactly is it that you do?”

“Why are you asking about all this now? I know you don’t believe, so what’s the point?”

“I’ve never let myself get to know who you really are. Now that I have, I’d like to know more.” He squinted and stepped toward her, but he still wasn’t looking at her.

She moved aside to put distance between them again, and that’s when she saw he was reading the diploma for her bachelor’s degree from CSU. She’d earned every credit through hard work, so yes, she displayed it—but on the darkest wall, where most people didn’t even notice. Of course, Loyal would notice.

“You have a psychology degree?”

There was a hint of surprise and respect in his voice. She wasn’t sure if she should be offended or proud.

“It compliments what I do. Gives me a deeper understanding of human behavior,” she explained briefly.

In truth, suppressing her abilities in high school had left her frustrated with no outlet. She’d chosen psychology so she could help people. After her mother coaxed her into using her gift again, after she then stole the money that was supposed to help pay for her master’s so she could become a licensed counselor, Roxanna had put her degree to use by guiding customers in positive life affirmations.