Spotilicious (Jaguartow)

Kelly’s mouth fell open as the two police officers moseyed to their cruiser. “Wait!”

The rookie turned around. “Yes, ma’am?”

Marc cut Kelly off. “Go on, Officer. Get into your car. There’s nothing to see here. You and your partner will drive around the neighborhood one hundred times and go straight to your precinct. You will not respond to any calls for the rest of the day,” Marc beamed as he commanded.

“Yes, yes, of course.” The rookie followed his partner’s suit. The doors slammed and they left a second later.

Kelly was dumbfounded. “What was that all about?” she asked. “That felt a little too easy. What did you do to them?” She was outraged. Her gaze swung back to Marc, and she saw that his expression had turned to one of amusement.

That wacko was smiling. “I have a gift—the gift of persuasion. I can command people to do anything my heart desires.”

Yup. A certified wacko. One hundred percent, non-fat gluten-free free range humanely-raised wacko. “Gift of persuasion, my ass. Are you a magician? You know, like Chris Angel? You can hypnotize people, can’t you? Admit it!”

“Kelly, dear, I’m just a humble businessman, but I can be very persuasive when I want to be,” Marc drawled. “Now, can we go inside and have that civil conversation?”

Kelly hesitated.

He sighed. “Look, Kelly, I came here as soon as my brother found your address. Whether you’re ready or not, we will have that conversation. If you’re planning to call the police again, I will simply turn them away like I did before. Or I might make them do a crazy dance for my entertainment. Or perhaps, you’d like to see that?”

He can do those things? Kelly blinked in disbelief. Putting people under hypnosis by simply commanding them? This man was dangerous.

“We have a lot to catch up on,” he pressed.

Kelly bit her lower lip. There was still something so strange about the situation, but she should be willing to at least listen. The guy had flown a long way just to see her, which when she thought about it, was rather flattering. Kinda. Okay, a lot. Like, seriously.

Defeated, she gave out a long sigh. “I guess I can make you some tea. But you have to promise that if I don’t like anything you say, you’ll leave.” She held up the shovel in warning, although she felt foolish enough about already using it the way it was.

Marc put up his hands again and gave her a short nod. “I promise that if you don’t want to hear anything else, I’ll leave. I’ve learned my lesson. Scouts honor.”

She stuck her finger out at him. “And don’t try pulling any of that persuasive crap that I just saw you do with the cops. I’m not falling for any of that funny business.”

She was surprised again when Marc threw his head back and laughed. It was a deep, throaty laugh that seemed to rumble the ground beneath her feet. She could feel the vibrations of it even in her chest. She couldn’t help but smile back at him even though she had no idea why. His laugh was infectious.

Kelly put her shovel down and stowed it behind the big flowerpot. Marc waited for her expectantly. She dusted her hands as she walked past him. “Come in.”

“Ladies first.”

“No hypnotizing crap!”

“You have no worry of that, babe. Unfortunately for me, you will always be the only person who is immune to my persuasive gifts. I guess I will just have to charm your pants off the old-fashioned way.”

Goodness. He was flirting with her, and strangely, she found that she didn’t mind at all.

Feeling the rise of heat in her cheeks, she turned and motioned for Marc to follow her inside straight to the kitchen. He pulled up a chair and sat elegantly like he owned the room. Once there, she sensed that he was inspecting her space as she made them a pot of tea. She wasn’t sure what kind of tea that he would like, and he didn’t strike her as a tea drinker to begin with, but he said nothing as she put the cup in front of him. He thanked her and fiddled with the saucer.

Kelly sat across him. “Okay, I’m ready to listen. Why did you track me down?”

Marc took his time sipping the tea with such grace it was like he belonged to a tea club of upper class socialites. He set the cup back down. His facial expression changed to one of seriousness. “I told you that I came for you. A bond was created between us that night that cannot be broken. Wherever you are, that is where I want to be, too. And not only for me, but for the one that you carry inside of you.”

Huh? Was he even speaking English? It was like she was spirited away in some bizarre alternate reality from the Twilight Zone. Ridiculous. He must be nuts. Like, chipmunk lost its nut kind of nuts. Kelly let out a chortle at his words. He didn’t seem pleased to hear it.

“Sorry. You’re saying I’m pregnant?”

“Yes.”

“You’re serious?”

“Do I look like I’m joking to you? ‘Cause I have to tell you, it isn’t funny. You didn’t take me seriously.”