Synchronicity, Volume 3

Whiskey Creek Press Torrid

Abigail Montgomery reads cards. And this time around she has twenty-two very special readings to do. From a woman who needs to learn she is not what she thought, to another that finds love is closer than she thinks. One who learns giving up control brings a lot more than she ever expected and one who learns the magic of love really can happen twice. Abigail will set each of these on their paths, it is up to them whether to take the road less travelled.

EXCERPT

The Sun

“The Sun. An interesting card. You have a very positive time ahead of you, my dear.”

Eliana Thomas watched the fortune teller as she pursed her lips. “I’ve always been told the Sun is a sign of positive things in your life.”

The woman smiled. “You’re right, it is. It is also a sign of strong masculine energy.” She pointed to the young man standing in front of the sun. “The sun god. In your case, I see much ahead of you that is positive. Have you recently graduated or gotten a promotion?”

Eliana furrowed her brow. “Yeah, I graduated from grad school last May. I just got my first job.”

“I do see such wonderful things in your future. Many of your goals and dreams are about to be fulfilled, perhaps some you didn’t even realize you had.”

Eli smiled. Dreams she didn’t realize she had? Well if they were about to be fulfilled, that sounded nice.

“Your life is looking up. A new career, health, and you’re beautiful to boot. What could you possibly want to see a fortune teller for?”

Eliana snorted. “You don’t have to pay me empty compliments. You’re getting paid regardless of what you tell me.”

“I don’t lie, young lady. Do you not feel you are beautiful?”

“Oh, I have no problems with my looks. I like myself just the way I am. But I do know that I don’t fit most people’s idea of beauty, and that’s okay with me. I just didn’t want you to feel the need to flatter me for a tip.”

“Never.” The woman’s smile was so sincere, that Eliana believed her. “In fact, young child, this card tells me that you’re in for a surprise or two from someone very close to you. Perhaps a male?”

Eliana laughed. “Is this where you tell me I will meet a tall, dark and handsome stranger?”

The woman smiled. “No. Sorry, my dear. I can promise you that I see nothing about a tall, dark stranger in your future.”

“Oh well. I guess I can’t have everything, can I?”

* * * *

“What did you see her for?”

Eliana looked up at Paul and shook her head at his question. They had been friends for years, but sometimes she just didn’t get the man. He could be so nice, and then sometimes almost disparaging.

“Paul, it’s for charity. It was a bit of harmless fun.” Eliana gestured to the entire Green Earth Fair.

She watched his scowl grow before finally having enough and tugging him down to her. At his six feet two inches and her five foot two inch frame she couldn’t reach his face easily unless he made an effort for her.

Still frowning, he bent down and she reached out to his face to wipe the scowl away. “Stop being a shit.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”

Eliana placed her hand on her best friend’s mouth and told him, “You heard me. Now behave.” She kissed him on the cheek gently, as a friend. Because that’s all they were, and all they would ever be.

Looking at him though, she lost herself in his eyes like she always did. They had known each other for almost ten years and she had lusted after him that entire time. But with thick black hair, a perfect body and a face more handsome than a Greek god’s, Eliana knew she had no hopes of ever attracting him as more than a friend.

So she lusted after him from afar and watched him date thin sophisticated bimbos while she worked her ass off to get her graduate degree. And took any pitiful crumbs he sent her way.

The moisture on her finger brought her back to the present with a snap. Paul had sucked her fingertip into his mouth. Her body reacted instinctively, her nipples hardening in anticipation and desire.

“Eeew!” She pulled her hand away, shaking it and then brushing it dry on her jeans. If he only knew that she wasn’t really grossed out by his actions—she was so turned on she was ready to jump his bones. What she wouldn’t give to have him sucking on a more intimate part of her.

Knowing those thoughts were pointless, she started walking, only stopping when she realized he wasn’t beside her anymore. She turned to look at him and saw something on his face she had never seen before. If she didn’t know better, she’d think it was lust. In fact, it seemed so likely that she turned around and checked behind her to see who put that expression on his face. But there was no one there. No one for him to be sending that heated gaze to.

Shaking her head, deciding that she was imagining it, she held her hand out to him, waiting for him to join her. She didn’t know what was going on in that head of his but she wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it. She was Paul’s friend, and would take him any way she could get him.

“Come on, slowpoke. You promised me dinner, and I’m starving.”

She could have sworn she saw his eyes narrowing even from over ten feet away. What the hell was going on in that head of his?

He strode toward her with purpose in his step before joining her and grabbing her around the waist with one arm, leading her out of the convention hall.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Chinese, of course.”

“Of course.”