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He glanced toward a narrow stucco storefront. A woman in her mid-thirties leaned against the doorjamb, looking…abundant. Abundant black curls, abundant cleavage displayed by her flowing, emerald-green caftan, abundant silver jewelry and makeup.
“Excuse me?”
She indicated the store window, where a display of books, candles, and gemstones sat amidst colorful silk drapery. The name Moonbeams was written in gilt paint over the glass, and in the cornerDestiny Storm,Psychic and Intuitive.
“I offer discounted intuitive readings once a week.” The woman—Destiny apparently—slipped her gaze over him from head to toe. “You look like you could use one.”
“No idea what that is.”
“It’s a way to release blocked energy and connect with your inner self to clarify your life’s path. I read Tarot and Oracle cards, but mostly I readyou.”
Jake barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes. “No, thanks.”
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.” She pushed away from the doorjamb, her jewelry jingling. “You look like you could use some clarity.”
“What does that mean?”
“This.”She waved a hand in front of his chest. “Your heart chakra is leaking energy. That indicates you’re confused. Questioning your self-worth, perhaps. Do you have a One True Love?”
Jake had heard a lot of talk about chakras and auras among his Hollywood friends and colleagues, but he’d never paid attention to it, much less bought into all the weirdness. He’d sure as hell never heard of anyOne True Love. Then again, he’d never done a romantic comedy either.
“Uh…I don’t know what that is,” he finally said.
“Ah.” She lifted a finger with a claw-like red fingernail. “That might be part of your problem. If you…Evening, Joe!” Straightening suddenly, she looked past him and waved so hard her bracelets jangled again.
Jake followed her gaze across the street, where a Metalworks Hardware van was parked in front of a vacant store. A tall guy in jeans and a Metalworks T-shirt descended from the driver’s seat. He glanced in the woman’s direction and gave her a nod before opening the back doors of the van and disappearing inside.
“Speaking of closed books…” Destiny muttered. She started across the street, passing Jake in a whiff of smoky perfume. “Stop by another time. I’ll honor the discount.”
“Thanks.”
“Live in the light, honey.” She hurried over to peer around the back of the van.
Jake was pretty sure he’d have remembered if Destiny had been around when he was a teenager.
He started back to the theater, catching sight of a cat watching him through the window of the building across the street. A painted wooden sign read Meow and Then Café. As he passed, another cat leapt onto the windowsill and began licking its paw.
He turned away and scanned the street for Callie. His heart started beating oddly fast. What if she didn’t show?
Of course she’d show. She wasn’t the type to stand a guy up.
She was intense, though. Nothing had gotten in the way of her academics in high school, and nothing would get in the way of her career now.
What if she’d gotten busy with one of her research papers or stuck in a meeting…she’d prioritize work over a movie date with an old friend who hadn’treallybeen an old friend and—
What thehellwas the matter with him?
He pushed his sleeve up to check his watch. Exactly seven.
She wasn’t here. He’d notice her if she was. He was developing a habit of noticing everything about her, from the way the light shone on her brown hair to the way she crinkled her nose when she was puzzled…not to mention the double-breasted blazer she’d been wearing that did nothing to conceal the shape of her breasts beneath her beige blouse.
“Hi.” Her voice, smooth and warm with a hint of a rasp, slid right into his veins.
His pulse sped up. She approached from the corner, her dark hair loose around her shoulders, her stride long and purposeful. In high school, she’d walked across the quad like that, as if she were going somewhere important. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told her she’d caught his teenaged attention.
But they weren’t teenagers anymore. Now his reaction to her was a hard, hot pull of attraction more forceful than any he’d experienced before. It tugged low in his body, crackled through his veins, electrified his nerves.
And all he was doing was watching her walk toward him. She wore a thin, camel-colored jacket over a beige sweater and a straight tan-and-brown skirt that, while not plaid, showed off her long, shapely legs.
