He took the desk to the car. She followed him out, wondering how she could get rid of him for the rest of the day. After buying some groceries and washing her clothes, she planned to sit down to work on her novel since it was taking off. She’d already chosen a new hero, different from Theo. Someone dark, brooding, and strong, not always there and too nice like Theo. Had she truly come to know him, though? Somehow, her first impression of him hadn’t stuck. In the beginning, he’d been a stalker, but, at the moment, he proved a nuisance. He had tried to help, though.
She didn’t like the feelings he drew out of her whenever near him. Unfamiliar, unwanted thoughts. Theo and her entangled in an embrace, lips glued, bodies hot and feverish, hands exploring forbidden places. Glancing at his body as he heaved the heavy furniture into her vehicle just cemented the attraction. How could she deny what a delicious male specimen stood before her? Someone worthy of a hero in a romance novel. And all the more reason to push him away, far, far away where I’ll never see him again.
She drove in silence most of the way to her place. What could she say to get rid of him? They were still married. The papers were on her desk. When she got home, she would phone a lawyer.
Once she’d parked in the driveway, Theo carried the bureau back to the spot in her study. Trying to keep as far from him as possible, she went to her desk where she’d put the papers from the bureau, and shuffled for the marriage license, finding it in the same cream folder with her signature on the line of consent. No way around the fact they were married.
Theo hovered over her, his nearness taking her breath away, leaving her confused about her heated thoughts—so unlike her. “May I help repack all your ornaments and papers in? I remember where you kept things.”
Her breasts tingled as if he’d touched them. “No, I want to do it differently this time.”
He retreated, allowing her spiraling mind to focus again.
“Will you take my chest of drawers to my house now?”
Relief eased her aching muscles, and the strange, tight sensation between her legs loosened a tad. He hadn’t asked for anything more. She hoped it stayed that way. I dare not mention it in case he tries to sweet-talk me or play the sympathy game. Besides, the tension would leave as soon as he did. She’d been attracted to men at work before, but this overwhelming physical response wasn’t good—not for someone like him. How undiscerning her impulses were.
“Of course.” She faced him, her smile glued on.
She shot out the door with Theo close behind her. Once again, they drove in silence to his place, her longing mounting by being enclosed in a small space with him. She couldn’t stop glancing at him, to take in his features—firm chin, solid jaw, thick fringe.
Once at his place, she remained in the car while he unloaded the chest of drawers. The less personal contact, the better. She couldn’t let him think she took an interest in his home or life at all. Not to mention, she needed to convince her body she didn’t need him or any man.
He returned to the car, a serious yet innocent expression on his face. “Thanks.” He shook her hand through the open car window.
More, her hand pleaded. More contact, her whole body screamed. She coughed. “Thank you. I couldn’t have carried the furniture on my own.”
“Bye, then.” As he turned to walk away, a desperation rose within her for him not to leave, not to be gone forever.
“Wait, Theo.” Why did I say that? I don’t need him. He’s a sick stranger who wished for an unknown woman to be his wife.
When he faced her, hope glimmered in his eyes. Hope, not desperation.
Her first impression of Theo had been very wrong. She’d thought him one of those weak, undisciplined types who “needed” a woman so badly they forced her hand. He did seem quite happy without her. He’d been about to walk away for good, without a solid good-bye. A good thing.
She cleared her throat and stiffened her chin. “Listen, I’m going to phone a lawyer and arrange for the divorce papers. Maybe we could even do an annulment because…well, you know.”
A slight, teasing grin lifted his sexy mouth. “Because the marriage hasn’t been consummated?”
“No, it hasn’t.” And never will be. Warmth infused her cheeks at the steeped-in-heat gaze he gave her. She wasn’t often the embarrassed type, but the way he looked right through her as though he knew what went on in her head caused her cheeks to flame.
“I’d like to read that paper from the previous owners. Will you send me the copy soon? I want to make sense of the whole magic thing once and for all, so we can move on with our lives.”
Oh, so he didn’t want or need her? He’d made out to be obsessed with her, but all he’d craved was “a” wife, not “the” wife.
“What is it with your strong need to get married?” she blurted then regretted getting personal when she’d been so close to making her escape.
Theo shrugged. “I have a rather romantic view of marriage. My parents have a good marriage, as do both sets of grandparents. I kind of see it as two people giving their hearts and souls to each other forever, letting their love evolve as they age. I’ve seen old, mature love, and I want that.”
His speech held good fodder for one of her romance novels. He seemed too idealistic for his own good though. She wasn’t about to burst his bubble.
Much to her distress, he came closer and placed his arm on the frame of her car window. She pulled away, the heat from his nearness like a desert wind in its intensity.
What’s wrong with me?
“I’m tired of flitting from one woman to another. I want to give my all to one person, make her feel special.” He held her with his sparkly gaze—green eyes clear, with depths of strong emotion she wanted to tap into as if she’d been deprived. She rested her hands in her lap and pinched her thigh, hoping the intentional pain would take away the pleasure curling in her core.
His voice held warmth, passion, and a tone that sank into her like hot cocoa on a cold night. “There’s nothing more amazing than seeing the contentment on a woman’s face when she knows a man has chosen her and her alone for the rest of his life. She has a glow about her, a certainty and peace that no single woman could ever possess.”
Joanie turned away. He wouldn’t understand her, then. She needed alone-time to get that peace. Not another noose around her neck.
“I’d better go. I have a ton to do today. Will drop off the copy and the papers as soon as I have them together.”
He winked at her then turned to go.
As she drove home, she tried to decipher what his wink had meant. Why did she have to think he meant something deeper by it? Maybe he was just being friendly. Why did it bring a funny flutter in her tummy, like she was a schoolgirl holding hands for the first time?
Her very sensible, mapped-out future tumbled about like a garment in her washing machine.
Distance from him would bring normality. As she drove away, her heartbeat returned to normal and her sex relaxed. She hadn’t realized she’d been biting her lower lip, and as she let go the grip with her teeth, relief eased through her as the pain subsided.
This Theo might physically resemble the one she’d created, but he didn’t act like the hero in her plots and plans. The real Theo had existed long before her made-up one. She didn’t like the real one a single bit—because her body liked him way too much.
Chapter Seven
Joanie phoned divorce lawyers for prices and received several promises of quotes and even a visit from one woman, who took an immediate interest in her case. Could the unwanted marriage turn out easier to end than she thought?
Maybe the magic had been mistaken. Things went wrong sometimes. Who knew how magic worked, whether it was foolproof or not?
The lawyer would be available to see her in an hour. She’d shop later. Sorting out her bureau could keep her busy in the meantime. Maybe she could even get back to her book to change the hero. No one wanted to write a real-life person into their book.
The bird
ornaments still looked perfect on the bureau, so she set everything as it had been. She decided to use the quill and inkwell as an ornament and found a tight spot for her laptop on the surface of the ancient desk. Finished, she sat down to transcribe her written scrawl into the word-processing program.
Her typing skills left much to be desired, yet she found it faster than the fountain pen. Maybe she should take a typing course to increase her speed.
As she replaced the last “Theo” on her document, she rested into the chair with a sigh of relief. She gave a small wave at her computer screen. “Bye-bye, Theo, dear.”
“Bye, Joanie.”
She bolted to her feet in horror, whirling around to face him. The pained expression on his face said it all. The magic worked as strong as ever. It seemed neither she nor Theo could stop it.
His presence overwhelmed her small study, and his familiar scent wafted toward her, robbing her of the blessed peace she’d just obtained. She clamped her thighs together to ease the sudden tightness in her pussy.
“You should know, I didn’t plan to invade your home.” He shifted his gaze toward the window. “The second I finished repacking my clothes and papers into the chest of drawers, poof, here I am.” He faced her. “Have you ever gone somewhere without being able to stop yourself? It’s kind of freaky.”
Could she believe him? He could be acting victim-like, as though the magic had brought him while in reality he’d arranged the whole thing. She’d locked the back door when she came in. Had he made a copy of her key? She only had two, one in her handbag and the spare hidden away at the back of her closet. “Did you break into my house?”
Theo groaned, sinking onto the room’s sole chair.
She peered down at him, hands on hips. Make yourself at home, Theo, dear.
He held a lazy, satisfied grin and heat in his gaze. Even from the vantage point of being above him, he still disarmed all her defenses. He knew she was attracted to him, didn’t he?
“Joanie, I know you’re intent on keeping the paper from the previous owners yourself and giving me a copy, but I need to see the original now. This can’t go on.”
“Okay.” She rummaged for it in her handbag. In her rush to find a lawyer and delete Theo from her book, she’d forgotten to read it. “We can go through it together.”
She kept it in her hand while she ran to the kitchen to fetch another chair. Very seldom did she have guests in her study, and it didn’t feel right to have someone else in her private space, in particular a man. She’d grown up with sisters and an aunt. The only man she’d ever lived with was her dad—very different.
Putting aside her feelings to deal with the situation, she placed the kitchen chair next to the one she used when writing. With much difficulty, she held the paper out for them both to read while still trying to keep a distance from him. Her hand shook a little, her senses having zoned in on Theo—his smell, touch, and taste. What would he taste like?
Biting on her lower lip, she forced away the lurid thought and focused on the words.
To the next owner of the Victorian chest of drawers and bureau:
I sincerely hope you have bought these as a set, and, if you haven’t, somehow you meet with the other buyer.
We believe these pieces of antique furniture have magical powers. They changed our lives forever.
The magic thrust itself on us unexpectedly. We never looked for it. We never expected our dreams to come true, yet they did. Thanks to the furniture.
Although we love the style of these pieces, when our dreams reached fulfillment, we knew the time had come to sell them—let someone else experience the magic.
We don’t know the source of the magic or how it became attached to the furniture.
We don’t know if the previous owners experienced it.
All we ask is that you open your heart to what the magic will show you.
Is that all? Nothing significant? Nothing about stopping the magic?
There wasn’t even a name at the bottom. Joanie had their contact number tucked away in her handbag, though. She’d hoped to keep it from Theo unless he needed it in order to dissolve the marriage.
“Oh, well. That doesn’t solve anything,” she said, pulling as far away from him as possible without being obvious.
“I can try to return home.” Theo leaned back in the chair.
Her gaze dropped to his pants. Flustered at her sudden desire to see his cock, she turned away to lay the paper on the table.
“You could try.” She buried her face in her hands, more so to hide him from her sight. Why bother talking to the previous owners? The unbeliever in her wouldn’t be convinced by their positive faith in the magic. The magic seemed defunct. Maybe something had happened to it in the process of changing ownership.
She lifted her head. Wait. Could it be the answer? “Maybe you need to take your wish away. Your magic is linked to mine, somehow. If you take your wish away, the magic has no power.”
He shook his head. “I can’t change who I am, what’s in my heart. I could ask you to get rid of your secret desires.” When he said “secret desires,” his eyes blazed with heat and his face drew closer to hers.
She resisted shoving him away. She had to remain polite with him so he would cooperate with her.
“My desires are not secret. All I want is to have a book publishing contract. The magic has got a screw loose. It’s messed up. Broken-down telephone and all that.”
He laughed. “You want to talk to them, don’t you?”
“Who?” Did he know what she had been planning?
“The previous owners.”
She shrugged. “What could it help? I’m a skeptic. They’re the converted.”
“I called Petronella when I arrived home. She gave me their number. ”
“Oh.” Maybe he was as determined as she to break the stupid curse.
“I called them.”
She straightened. “You did?”
“They laughed when I told them our situation. Their story sounded similar. The furniture brought them together and now they’re happily married.”
Joanie rose to her feet, anger pulsing through her. He’s a freak! He’s manipulating me. “Get out.”
He frowned. “I beg your pardon?”
“It’s you, isn’t it? You’ve planned the whole thing. Find a good psychiatrist and get yourself sorted out because you’re messing up my life.”
Theo stood and moved toward her. How could he think coming closer would help? A stifled feeling choked her throat as his maleness cloaked her. Tingles zipped along her spine, and her body screamed for him to touch her, to run his hands down her arms, to cradle her against him. Her body betrayed all common sense. How could she be so attracted to a stalker?
She whirled toward the window, staring out at the leaf-covered ground. “I told you to get out.”
“This isn’t me. You can believe it all you like. I don’t enjoy going around making women my wife. I’m going to take a walk home. If you think it will work, I’ll withdraw my wish and remove my belongings from the chest of drawers.”
Keeping her back to him, she shrugged, unable to look at him, to take in those magnetic features.
Warm breath caressed her neck. She sensed his hurt. Deep inside, she knew he was innocent, so why did she persecute him?
“Bye.” The word echoed in the room as his footsteps retreated, followed by the kitchen door slamming.
Moving back and slumping on the hard kitchen chair, she tried to ease the tension in her shoulders by rubbing them with her fingers.
Somehow, her life had spiraled out of control.
Chapter Eight
“Where are you?” Theo spoke to Joanie on his cell phone while pacing his empty house. His heartbeat galloped like when he did the last sprint at the end of one of his ten-kilometer runs. His lungs squeezed, robbing him of air, but still he managed to compose himself enough to speak.
“I’m on my bed. Having a meltdown.”
Her op
enness astounded him. Joanie had never let any emotions out in front of him except for anger…well, and the one time she’d sobbed on the entrance floor.
“I’ve been robbed,” he said.
“Why?”
“How the hell would I know?”
“Why are you telling me?”
“Because it happened while I was teleported to your house.”
“So, what must I do? You have a phone. Call the police.”
If he hadn’t sensed a softer inner, he would be repulsed by her cold, uncaring attitude. The reason for her coldness ran deeper than a simple selfishness. Fear showed in her eyes whenever he came near her. What made her so afraid? Why did he even care, when he’d been cleaned out of all his clothes, appliances, and personal belongings?
With the cell pressed against his ear, he walked to the kitchen and opened the cupboards. At least the kitchenware appeared as it had before. Except for…a couple of his favorite mugs and his coffee machine, which he relied on for his daily fix.
How come the robbers seemed to go for the things that held special value to him?
He ran to the bathroom. Had they taken his new shaver?
Gone.
“Are you there?” Panicked concern laced her tone. “Theo, are you okay?”
Oh, so she isn’t that cold. “My coffee machine and shaver are gone.”
“Is there any sign of a break-in?”
“Nothing. The door was locked when I came home. The place wasn’t tossed. I’ve just been cleaned out.”
“Shall I come over?”
“You could. I wonder if my car is here.” He ran outside to the detached garage and pressed the remote to open the door. The room stood bare and dusty before his eyes. They’d even taken his beloved power tools. “It’s gone.”
“What?”
“My Nissan.”
“Oh, my goodness. I hope you have insurance. I’m coming right away.”
Her Real-Life Hero Page 5
