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Eric stared at my lips, amusement dancing in his eyes like he knew what I was thinking. Or perhaps was himself wishing what I wished. That my dreams would come true. Then he laid his pen down on his notes with a smirk so conceited it warranted being smacked off. “Didn’t you accuse me of not being able to have fun, Ms. Black?”
It was back to reality. Back to mostly despising him. “I suppose I did. So, what brings you here today, then?”
He leaned in, a rich, spicy scent rolling off of him. I recognized the intoxicating artemisia in his cologne. It was better known as wormwood. I had used it to help those suffering from malaria when I visited India during my travels. The way he smelled and the way he looked at me made my hands itch to come out and touch his stubbled cheeks like I had in my dreams. But I had to remind myself that this man was not the man of my dreams, just the man in my dreams.
“I thought perhaps it would be fun to see you again.”
His seductive tones sent a shiver down my spine. “Is that so?” I stuttered.
“Yes, as much as I’ve enjoyed interviewing your sycophants all week, I wanted to get up close and personal to my subject.”
I had to press my lips together before I said, “I would like that too. Very much.” Thankfully, my head reminded me what a jerk he was. “Sycophants?”
“Flatterers and fawners,” he cockily clarified.
“I know what the word means. I may not have taken Journalism 101 like you, but I’m not uneducated.” My education might not have come in the halls of higher learning, or in any school for that matter, yet I was well learned. My classroom was the world, and at my mother’s and father’s feet.
His eyes dropped. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
I tilted my head. “Are you sure? What do you call interviewing all my friends and acquaintances?”
He picked up his pen and tapped it on the pad of paper. “I call it a challenge. I’ve never met someone as admired and loved as you.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I’m skeptical. You know what they say: ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it always is.’”
I shrugged. “Maybe you’re right. But . . .” I leaned in and spoke softly. “What if what you see before you is who I am? A woman who sells tea and cake.”
He thought for a moment, his eyes searching my own. “You don’t know how much I wish that were true. But I don’t live in fairy tales.”
“You think I’m make-believe?”
“Well, according to your fans, you cure diseases, make Christmas wishes come true, and leap tall buildings in a single bound.”
“You forgot X-ray vision and superspeed,” I teased him.
He chuckled, and I remembered the way he laughed in my dreams. It was melodic and heartfelt, not sarcastic like now. “Please accept my apologies for underestimating you.”
I pushed my chair back and stood. “You shouldn’t underestimate me.”
He looked up at me with narrowed eyes. “I don’t.”
“Good. Now that we’ve cleared that up, what can I bring you? These tables are for paying customers only.”
He gave me a half smile. “Touché, Ms. Black.”
“Please call me Sorrel.” That’s what he’d called me in my dreams.
“Sorrel,” he crooned.
Oh, was that sexy. I grabbed onto the chair.
His grin said he knew it affected me. “I’ll take some tea.”
“What kind?” I breathed out, trying to compose myself and wondering why I felt so overcome by him.
“You choose.” He had no idea the power he’d just given me.
My father’s words rang in my head that those who were given great power must use great restraint. I had never used my gifts as a weapon. I was to heal, not hurt. And as much as I wanted to make him forget about this ridiculous story he was writing, I wouldn’t do it by supernatural means. However, I might give him a little something to make him happier, but that was only because I was a good person.
“I’ll be right back.” I turned to leave.
“I look forward to it.”
I stopped midturn. “For a second there, you fooled me. You almost sounded sincere.”
“Believe me, there is hardly a thing I look forward to more than your return.”
There was dream Eric in the flesh. My mouth dropped open, only to make a squeaking sound. I pointed to the counter. “I’m going to go now,” I eked out, hardly able to speak.
Josie was waiting for me near the end of the display case. I had texted her when Eric walked in about thirty minutes before, telling her I needed reinforcements. She was shaking her head at me. “Hey there.” She clapped loudly in my face, bringing me back to my senses. “What was all that about? Looks like you were on a date. Did you forget that he’s enemy number one?”
