Aeromancist - The Beginning (Seven Forbidden Arts 2)

“It could’ve been a misunderstanding.”

“Yeah. Just keep on believing that if it makes you feel safer.” When Kat didn’t answer, she said, “Look, I can see you’re all hot, wet, and bothered.” She ignored Kat’s snort. “Why don’t we go out for lunch? There’s a cute new pasta place in Bella Vista I’d like to try.”

“I’ve got to work on my thesis today. I need to type up my notes from yesterday.”

“One hour isn’t going to—”

The doorbell interrupted Diana’s attempt at twisting Kat’s arm. Kat glanced at the wall clock. It was barely eight. They were both still in their pajamas, but Diana was already rushing to the entrance.

A short while later, she reentered with a basket wrapped in cellophane. “For you.” She held it to Kat.

“For me?”

“That’s what the deliveryman said.” Kat didn’t budge, so Diana left the gift on the table and clutched her hands behind her back. “Come on, don’t keep me in suspense. Open it.”

Her scalp pricked and her gut clenched in warning even as excitement coursed through her. She hesitated, afraid that the basket was from the man who’d taken her rejection so casually last night. Finally her curiosity won out. She untied the ribbon, and pulled away the cellophane and blue tissue paper to expose a selection of the finest Colombian and Costa Rican coffees.

Diana leaned over her shoulder. “Wow. How weird. That must be a first.”

Even if she knew the answer, the knowledge making her feel like she needed to open the window to breathe, she said, “Who sends a woman coffee?”

“Him.” Diana brought her hand from behind her back.

Kat snatched the white envelope from Diana’s fingers. “You read it?”

“He wants you to have dinner with him tonight.” Diana jumped up and down. “He’s giving you a second chance!”

Kat stared at the textured paper. Her name was written in a beautiful cursive script, and in the corner were the embossed initials, LD. Her hand trembled as she removed the gold-trimmed card. Her heart fluttered as she skimmed over the note.

It was a dinner invitation, just as Diana had said. He’d quoted The Flower Song, an Egyptian love poem from before 1539BC, one she was familiar with because of her thesis subject. The poem was intense, a declaration that the author would rather see and hear his lover than eat or drink. He ended the message with his own line.

I’d gladly starve for one more chance to watch you eat.

“Come on, Kat,” Diana said, “you have to admit, it’s very romantic.”

“He only wants to get into my panties.”

Diana threw her arms in the air. “So?”

Kat pushed the basket aside and got to her feet. “I’m going for a shower.”

“Mind if I try one of these?” Diana lifted a hessian bag and sniffed it.

“For all I care, you can fertilize our plants with it,” Kat said, walking from the room while repeating a mantra in her head.

I’m not going to sleep with Lann.

It was a sure way of getting hurt.

After her shower, Kat pulled on a dress of soft cotton that was comfortable to study in. She took a seat by the desk in the lounge and opened her notes. Normally she itched to work on the new material she’d gathered, but today she battled to stay focused. Her thoughts kept on drifting back to last night and the gift in the kitchen.

Diana stepped from her bedroom, looking fresh and feminine in a yellow sundress and golden sandals. Her camera bag was slung over her shoulder. She was making a name for herself as a freelance photographer specializing in portraits.

“I’m off,” Diana said, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl. Sneakily, she added, “Shall I get take-outs for dinner?”

Kat knew what her friend was doing, but she wasn’t taking the bait. “Good idea.”

Shaking her head, Diana said, “Suit yourself, but if I were you I’d already be waxing and exfoliating.”

Both women fell quiet when the doorbell rang. They stared at each other for a surprised moment. Diana got to her senses first, sprinting for the door before Kat had time to push back her chair.

“Don’t you dare get that,” Kat called after her, getting tangled in the feet of the chair as she hurried to follow.

She came to a halt behind Diana who’d flung open the door, revealing a deliveryman carrying a small polystyrene insulation box.

“Delivery for Miss White,” he said.

“Take it back,” Kat said over Diana’s shoulder. This game had gone far enough.

The man opened his mouth to say something, but Diana held out her hand. “Thank you.” Her smile was like syrup. “I’ll take it.”

The man didn’t present a receipt note to be signed. He simply handed over the box and left. Diana kicked the door shut and walked to the lounge where she deposited the box on the coffee table.

“Now I’ll be late for my shoot.” She picked up the note and gave it to Kat. “Hurry up or I’ll get into trouble. My client this morning is a particularly impatient model.”