by I. T. Lucas
“Oh, Amanda, you’re not that bad. I don’t buy the whole femme fatale act.”
“Who said it’s an act? I am bad. You have no idea how bad!” Amanda made a wicked face.
“You witch!” Syssi laughed, mock-punching Amanda’s shoulder.
Amanda shrugged, pushed away from the counter, and headed for her desk with the sensual saunter of a practiced temptress.
Syssi didn’t buy Amanda’s sex-on-a-stick act. It was nothing more than the theatrics of a drama queen. Being so strikingly beautiful, her boss naturally expected to be the center of attention wherever she showed her face.
Except, was it possible that she really was as sexually active as she claimed to be? Maybe.
And why not? Amanda wasn’t married—didn’t even have a boyfriend—she could and did as she pleased.
Good for her!
Reflecting on her own nonexistent love life, Syssi cringed. She hadn’t been on a single date since things had finally fallen apart with Gregg. For two lonely years, she’d mourned a relationship that had been dying a slow death long before it had ended. Though, in retrospect, she realized it was the sense of failure more than any lingering tender feelings that had her stuck on the sidelines while everyone around her was having the time of their lives, or at least pretending to.
Syssi had met Gregg her first week of college, and they’d stayed together until his graduation four years later. Being her first serious boyfriend, and her first and only lover, there had been this expectation that their relationship would lead to marriage. Except, when he had moved to Sacramento for a job, it had been a relief for both of them.
So why was she still alone? Syssi had no good answer for that. Men found her attractive, and she didn’t lack propositions, but there was no one she found even remotely enticing. Except the guy from her dreams, that is, but he didn’t count.
Her relationship with Gregg had left her wary of starting a new one. For some reason, being with him had dimmed her spirit, and two years later it hadn’t bounced back yet.
Most of the time he probably hadn’t been aware of acting like a jerk, never actually saying or doing anything that could have been perceived as outright offensive or belittling.
Instead, he’d just always managed to twist things around and blame her for everything that hadn’t been working to his satisfaction. His grades falling short of spectacular had been her fault because she had taken too much of his time. They hadn’t gone out enough because she hadn’t scheduled and planned it. They hadn’t had enough friends because she hadn’t been outgoing enough… and so it went.
But the worst part had been the sex. There had been no intensity to it, no excitement, it’d felt like a chore. Was it a wonder then, that she hadn’t been looking forward to it? And of course, it had been all her fault. She hadn’t initiated enough, she hadn’t excited him enough. She hadn’t been hot enough.
Blah, blah, blah...
Logically, she knew he had been full of shit. Where had been his contribution? Had he been just a bystander in their life together, waiting for her to do everything? But on the inside, in that irrational place where her fears and insecurities hid, she sometimes thought that maybe he had been right. Maybe she really wasn’t assertive enough, outgoing enough, sexy enough...
Lacking... She felt lacking.
Syssi shook herself. That’s definitely enough self-pity for one day.
And besides, not all of it had been bad. Gregg had stood by her side in her time of need. He had been loyal, and apart from the never-ending complaining, a pleasure to talk to.
But when the relationship had ended, she’d focused on the negatives; the bad parts had been vividly remembered and endlessly reexamined, while the good parts had been marginalized, forgotten.
It was time to move on, though. Maybe she should try some of the blind dates her friends were trying to set her up on. Or even look into those dating sites Hannah had suggested. But although Syssi had promised herself she would do it, she still hadn’t taken a single step in this direction. Tomorrow, next week…
“Yo! Syssi! Your cell phone is ringing!” Hannah called from the other room.
“Coming!” Syssi hurried to retrieve her phone from her purse. But by the time she fished it out, her brother’s call had already gone to voice mail. And if that wasn’t frustrating enough, David’s salami breath assaulted her as he bent over her shoulder to look at her screen, invading her personal space.
“Amanda said you needed my help,” he breathed into her ear. “For a kiss, I’m willing to do you a favor,” he added with a smirk, amused by his own wit.
“Cut it out, David, and please move your salami breath away from me. You know I can’t stand the smell of meat,” Syssi snapped. Pushing to her feet, she almost toppled her chair backward, forcing David to back up.
His eyes widened. “That was such a bitchy retort, so unlike our polite, proper Syssi. It was hot!” He leered before taking the seat she’d vacated.
“You want me. I know you do. That’s why you’re so flustered.” He winked and started scrolling through the program. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll take good care of you.” His hands flew over her keyboard, his concentration not at all affected by his sorry attempts at flirting.
She had to hand it to him. David had a way with computers that he definitely lacked with women.
With his face almost touching the screen, he kept going, “Nothing turns me on like a strong, assertive woman. I’ll scrub my mouth with thorny roses for a kiss from you.” Riding on a wave of his fetid breath, David’s whispered poetic attempt did nothing but trigger Syssi’s gag reflex.
She couldn’t believe it. Instead of discouraged, he seemed even more determined.
“Look, David, I’m going to return this call, and you are going to find out what’s wrong with my program. Not as a favor, but because it’s your job. Amanda hired you for your programming skills. It sure as hell wasn’t for your charming personality!”
“Oh, baby, you have no idea how hot you look when you’re angry.”
“Ugh! I’m going to strangle him!” Syssi kicked the leg of the chair he was sitting in.
Snorting, Hannah shook her head.
“It’s not funny!” Syssi barked and walked out the door.
She hated confrontations. Especially futile ones like this. But at least David was going to fix her programming. Except, what would it take to fix him? For some reason, a vet with a scalpel came to mind.
Leaning against the wall, she banged her head. Today was such a shitty day, with her shortcomings and insecurities popping up like teenage zits. Just when she thought she was rid of them for good, they returned sprouting white heads. More than the confrontations themselves, she hated how ill-equipped she was to deal with them. Why the hell was it so hard for her to assert herself or show her temper?
Even now, her hands were still shaking, and she had to take a long calming breath before returning her brother’s call. If Andrew detected her agitation, he would start a full-blown interrogation. And she was so not in the mood for that.
He answered on the first ring. “Hi, Syssi, how’s the new job?”
“It’s okay. Though I really suck at programming. Other than that, Amanda is a great boss and the work is interesting.” Syssi paused before plunging. “You really should come visit. The woman is a stunner, and I would pay good money to see your jaw drop when you see her. The great Andrew Spivak will be speechless!”
Syssi was joking. Nothing ever fazed Andrew. But he was single and so was Amanda. Who knew what might happen if the two got together...
“You have piqued my curiosity. Though I doubt she’s all that. Anyway, I spoke with Dad today.”
“Yeah? How are they? What are they up to?”
Their parents were volunteering in Africa. Her mother, Dr. Anita Spivak, a retired sixty-six-year-old pediatrician, was working twelve-hour shifts in the harsh conditions of the ravaged region, providing much needed medical care to its children. Syssi’s fat
her, who had spent his professional career as a pharmaceutical sales rep and later as an executive, was enjoying his retirement; photographing nature and wildlife while helping his wife.
They rarely called.
Syssi wished she could blame Africa for that, but it was nothing new. Her parents had always been too busy with their careers, their social life... each other.
Andrew had been the responsible adult in their household, practically raising Syssi and their younger brother, Jacob.
Their mother had had Andrew at twenty-eight, and had given up on conceiving again when long years had gone by and nothing had happened. It hadn’t been a big heartbreak. With her workload, raising even one child had been difficult. Lucky for Andrew, their grandparents had stepped in, providing the care he had needed. Syssi’s arrival had been a miracle, the pregnancy taking Anita by surprise at the age of forty-two. A year later, she had been blessed again with another miracle. Jacob.
The two babies had been welcomed and loved but left mostly to the care of nannies. By the time they had arrived, their parents had been too established in their routines to make any changes for their sake.
“Dad sends their love. He says he has enough material to publish his first book, and he promises to send us the files to look through and choose the pictures we like most.”
“I wonder when that will happen. You know him; lots of promises and little delivery.” Syssi could not help sounding bitter. Their dad had been promising to drag their mother away from her work for a few days back home. Syssi was still waiting... two years later. She had hoped they would at least show up for her graduation, wishing they’d surprise her at the last minute. How naive of her. They never had.
“How are you doing, Andrew? Still bored at your desk job?”
It had been a while since he’d been sent away on one of his assignments abroad, and being stuck in the office usually made him restless.
Syssi had often wondered about Andrew’s frequent trips. After retiring from a hush-hush Special Ops unit, he had joined the Internal Antiterrorism Department—supposedly as an analyst. Why then, had he been spending months at a time abroad? Doing what? Research?
“Actually, I’m swamped with work here, and truth be told, I’m tired of living out of a suitcase. I think you’ll have to tolerate my annoying presence in your life for a little longer this time.”
Andrew sounded happy to stay home... Intriguing... Was it possible he’d finally met someone?
“There must be a woman involved. I can think of no other reason for you to sound so cheerful about staying put. So tell me, who is she? Did you find someone special?” Syssi asked hopefully.
Andrew chuckled. “No, there is no one special. Who’s crazy enough to stick around me?”
“You’re a great guy, Andrew. Someday, you’ll make some lucky girl very happy.”
“I doubt it.”
“You’ll see. I have a feeling... Soon.”
When Syssi had a feeling, those who knew her listened. Her premonitions had a freakish tendency to come to pass.
“I hope you’re kidding because if you’re not, you are scaring the shit out of me. You know I’m not built for anything serious!”
It was funny how scared he sounded. The brave warrior afraid of being snared by some mystery woman. “Nah, just messing with you,” she lied.
“Wow! You had me there for a moment.” Andrew took a deep breath and exhaled it forcefully, exaggerating his relief... Or maybe not.
“I have to let you go. I have to get back to work and deal with a pesky problem.” Syssi sighed.
“Need me to come beat that problem up? I will, you know...”
“I just might take you up on that offer,” Syssi answered, not sure she meant it as a joke. “Bye, Andrew.”
Andrew leaned back in the swivel chair and laced his fingers behind his head. He wondered what Syssi wasn’t telling him. The pesky problem was probably a guy, he smiled knowingly.
Nothing new there.
Syssi was so lovely, there would always be some poor schmuck making a pest of himself over her.
Maybe he should visit that lab after all, and not just to admire the infamous Dr. Amanda Dokani.
Chapter 7: Amanda
“Promise me that you are not going to drive like a lunatic.” Syssi put her hands on her hips and glared at Amanda.
Folding her tall frame into the driver seat of her Porsche, Amanda buckled up and lowered the passenger side window. “Would you get in already? You’re jumpy because of the nightmares, not my driving.”
With a frown, Syssi opened the door and leaned against the frame. “If you don’t promise, I’m not getting in. I’d rather walk.”
“I’ll be good. But only until I drop you off. After that I’m going to drive this baby like it should be driven.”
Syssi got in and turned to look at her, worry lines furrowing her forehead. “You should be careful. Remember my premonition?”
Amanda shrugged. “You don’t know what or when or how. I’d rather live dangerously than not at all.”
With a wince, Syssi looked away.
Oh, shit, she shouldn’t have said it. Hurting the girl’s feelings hadn’t been her intention. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Please don’t take it personally.”
“No, you’re right. I’m too cautious. I don’t go on dates because I’m afraid the guys will end up being jerks, or boring. Worse, I’m anxious about having to tell a guy that I don’t want another date even before I went on the first one. Pathetic. My money is in a savings account, earning zero interest, because I don’t want to chance losing any of it in the stock market. I could’ve doubled what I have if I trusted my gut and bought Apple stock even though it was already high.” She let out a sigh and slumped in her seat.
“What you need is a pattern interrupt. Something to zap you out of your comfort zone and force you into action.” Amanda knew exactly what that something was, or rather who, but he’d refused to cooperate.
She needed to come up with a plan of how to get these two together in the same room. Kian was basically in the same situation as Syssi.
His days consisted of work and his nights of meaningless hookups. Day in and day out. He’d never taken a vacation, had never gone to see a concert or a play, and he’d been to the movie theaters exactly once. Kian wasn’t living, he was functioning. He just wasn’t aware of it.
Amanda was betting that once Kian and Syssi laid eyes on each other, the encounter would shock both of them out of their stagnation. It was only a gut feeling, but it was a strong one. She just knew that they would make each other happy.
But she was getting ahead of herself. One thing at a time.
First she needed to get them together, then let nature take its course on the express lane to the nearest bedroom. After that was accomplished it was a matter of waiting to see if Syssi transitioned.
Amanda believed she would.
Leaving the university grounds, she accelerated, and the Porsche glided along at what she considered an excruciatingly slow pace. It was late, and most of the rush-hour traffic was over. There was no reason to go so slow. With a quick glance at Syssi, Amanda let her foot press down on the gas pedal a little. The girl didn’t notice a thing. She was busy looking out the window and moping.
Amanda kept accelerating until she was cruising at a more reasonable speed.
Turning her head toward her forlorn passenger, she was about to tease Syssi about her bad mood, when suddenly a stupid suicidal squirrel decided that it was a good day to die.
The furry thing jumped from a low hanging tree branch, right in front of her car. Amanda slammed on the brakes and the car swerved, skidding out of control. She managed to right the Porsche a split second too late, hitting a water hydrant head on.
Metal groaned, Syssi cried out, and Amanda held her breath, waiting for the airbags to deploy and the hydrant to erupt in a geyser. But the impact hadn’t been powerful enough to cause either. Evidently, she’d managed to
slow down sufficiently to avoid more serious damage.
Throwing the door open, Amanda unbuckled and got out, rushing around to open Syssi’s door. “Are you hurt?” The impact had been mild, but humans were so damn fragile.
Syssi tried to shake her head, then winced, rubbing the spot where the seatbelt had cut into the skin of her neck.
“Hold on, darling. I got you.” Amanda leaned inside and unbuckled her.
“What happened?” Syssi asked.
“A good for nothing stupid squirrel. I should’ve just ran him over.”
“Don’t say that!”
“Just kidding. But I’m mad as hell. I have plans for tonight.” Amanda went over to the front and examined the damage. “Not as bad as I thought. It’s just cosmetic.” She got inside and turned on the ignition. “It’s good that the Porsche’s engine is in the back. Get inside, Syssi.”
“What about the hydrant?”
“It’s fine. Let’s go.”
Amanda waited for Syssi to buckle up before backing away from the hydrant and easing into traffic.
She’d better call Onidu and tell him to get her a loaner. Pressing a button on the steering wheel, she called home.
“Onidu, darling. I had an unfortunate fender bender with a hydrant. I need you to get me a rental.”
“Of course, Mistress. Are you well? Do you require medical attention?”
“I’m perfectly fine. But my beautiful car isn’t. Would you take care of it for me?”
“Naturally, Mistress.”
“Thank you.” Amanda ended the call.
“Who was it?” Syssi asked.
“Onidu? He is my butler.”
“Figures,” Syssi murmured under her breath, thinking Amanda couldn’t hear her.
When they reached Syssi’s place, Amanda parked next to the curb and turned to her personal seer. “So that was it, I guess,” she said.
“That was what?”
“The bad thing you were predicting was going to happen. I was in danger and it wasn’t life-threatening. To either of us.” She winked. “Case closed.”
