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“Go on. I’ll be here when you’re finished for the day.” A dull, lifeless stare was all she had to offer.
His gut twisted each time he laid eyes on her. Her attempt to take care of him despite her grief touched his heart. His mother was always there for him, even if her life was in turmoil. She lifted a hanky out of her pocket and clenched it tight between her delicate and thin fingers. He stood, left her room, and quietly closed the door before he joined Krista back in his office.
Reality hit him in the face like a brick, but he couldn’t stop thinking about how it felt to hold Krista in his arms. It was as if she had miraculously appeared at his doorstep to give him what he’d always yearned for. Never in his life had he felt such a strong physical, emotional, and spiritual connection to a woman.
He’d always heard stories about finding the right one when you least expect it, but things like that only happened in fairytales. In the past it took time for his feelings to grow in a relationship, but this woman was unlike anyone he’d ever met. The moment she opened her mouth to speak, he was enthralled and wanted to learn everything about her. Krista’s soft, feminine voice was music to his ears. In his mind, rules and regulation mattered. Spontaneous was not a word in his vocabulary, yet as soon as he took one look at her, waiting patiently in his office, all of his boundaries crumbled. His heart fluttered as she parted her lips and smiled. With his blood surging through his veins, he found it nearly impossible to remain professional.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
“I understand. Is everything okay?” she politely asked.
“All is well. Thank you for understanding.” His body told him to pick up where they’d left off, but the distraction had zapped him back into reality.
Her long, dark brown hair glistened, and her beautiful, big brown eyes held a seductive stare. Her magnetism grabbed him and wouldn’t let go. She had curves in all the right places, and he longed to run his fingers along the nape of her neck, down her back, and around to her breasts. However, a one-night stand was not on the agenda with a woman like Krista. She had all the characteristics of a class act. A well dressed, poised, soft-spoken, dark-haired beauty didn’t walk into his office every day. A relationship wouldn’t work at this stage of his life. Not until he found the answers to his mother’s maddening state.
“I apologize for my actions.” He’d refrained from dating clients in fear of breaking the professional oath, but this time, it wasn’t stopping him. His gut churned at the thought of ruining his chance with her. “Is there a way to make it up to you?” Jon found himself stumbling over his words. Heat rose from his feet to his head. His foolish actions left him feeling like an idiot. Hopefully, she’d understand and give him a chance to make things right. He would treat her the way she deserved—with respect and admiration.
An attempt not to stare failed miserably since the dip in her dress led his gaze to her cleavage, and it was hard to think of anything else. It had been years since he’d fallen this hard. It felt right to hold her in his arms, to kiss her lips, to inhale the sweet smell of her hair.
Now what? Rules and regulations were imbedded in his DNA. Rule number one: never mix business with pleasure. In a brief moment, everything had changed. If only he were able to share his secret. If he told her he housed a member of the living dead, she’d probably call the police or have him committed. It was as if he was a member of a horror reality show with no chance of an ending in sight. But giving up without a fight was not part of his character. It took determination to shake off the feeling of doom. Krista was worth the fight.
“How about we talk over dinner?” He put his hand on the small of her back and escorted her to the foyer.
Her warm and inviting smile gave it away. She felt the same about him. “I have plans with a friend this evening. What day did you have in mind?”
“Are you free tomorrow night?” he asked.
“I close the shop around six, and I have nothing planned. I’d love to go out to dinner with you.” She parted her heart-shaped lips and stared directly into his eyes, as if to tempt him. Her every movement was making him fall prey to her spell.
“What’s your address? I’ll pick you up around seven, if that’s all right with you,” Jon said.
“It would be better to pick me up at my shop.” She fumbled with her words and rubbed the side of her temple.
“Is something wrong?” He had a hunch she was going to back out, but still, he wasn’t giving up. He gently touched her arm.
“I’m fine, tired, but dinner is a nice idea.” She took a business card from her purse and handed it to him. “Here’s the address and my number.”
“Great.” Making a date with a client was so out of character, but it felt right, and he couldn’t wait to get to know her better. If only he could keep his hands off of her long enough to eat dinner. He glanced down at her address before he tucked it into his jacket pocket. “We’re neighbors. I find it hard to believe we haven’t met before.” Her inviting perfume made her impossible to resist.
“Maybe it wasn’t in the stars prior to today.” She gave a seductive smile.
The one thing he feared was losing another person he’d cared about due to his secret. The last woman he’d dated fled the moment he attempted an explanation about his mother’s unfathomable state. If only he was able to move forward in his life. His mother’s agonizing condition continued to torture his soul. He knew his home was not a place to entertain. The dark stench of death lingered throughout the rooms like years of decaying flesh. The nightmare curse held him and his mother hostage, as if revenge lived and breathed inside their once peaceful existence.
He accompanied Krista outside, still shocked by his behavior, but with no regrets. They strolled down the walk side by side. Never in his life had he felt more alive. He’d heard his friends’ stories about the right woman being a turning point in a man’s life. He even tried to convince himself the life of a bachelor was what he wanted. Who was he fooling? It had been his desire since he was a young man to settle down, have a son to carry his name, and a daughter to call his little girl, but it seemed impossible. The burden of a life with a lingering spirit wouldn’t go over well if he entered a committed relationship, yet deep inside his gut, he knew true love only came along once in a lifetime.
Her hand brushed his as he opened the car door for her, and she looked up at him with an innocent gaze that took hold of his heart. Her eyes held a sexy gleam.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night, and please don’t give Andy another thought,” he said. “If he calls again, we’ll discuss how to proceed.”
“If you say so.” The sweetness of her tone made him want her more. She smiled. “Thanks for setting my mind at ease.” Krista glanced down and sighed.
Hopefully she wasn’t thinking about canceling their date. He knew all too well that his life was about to become even more difficult; nevertheless, he didn’t give a damn. She turned back to look over her shoulder, then flashed a beautiful smile and waved before she got into her car. Reassured, he exhaled and relaxed his body.
The hell surrounding his mother’s tired spirit fueled his will to fight for her freedom. Research on ways to lift the spell had fallen through up to this point, but he had an appointment with a friend who might know the answer. It was no secret the woman was a witch. He needed an experience member of the coven to help. She might hold the secret to ending this torturous way of life. By day, his mother wandered aimlessly, but by night she suffered with no rest in sight.
Inside his office, he sat at his desk, deep in thought. One part of him wanted to hold on to his mother at any cost, but the sensible part of him knew he had to let go. The years had been a blur to him. He had fought for his clients, now it was time to use the same determination for the woman who had sacrificed so much for him.
His brow twitched as he wondered if Krista would agree to trust him after his hasty moves. An uneasy feeling came over him at the thought of losing an opportunity with the woman who’d stolen his heart.
