Free Heavenly Lover by Sharon Hamilton Page A

wondered in a flash what it would feel like to kiss those smiling lips and feel their power on her body.
    It wore off just as fast as it came on. Josh toasted her with the mug.
    “That was a beautiful thing to watch,” he said as he winked. He didn’t mask his arousal.
    Claire was losing the battle and needed escape to safety. She was not used to being outmatched, so she leaned forward on one elbow, chin perched on her upturned hand. Under the table she rubbed her thumb against her first two fingers, filling her other palm with dust. She motioned with forefinger for him to bring his face closer to hers.
    Eagerly, he leaned into her, elbows matching and almost touching hers, chin resting on his fingers. Josh’s face was only a foot away from hers. He spread that affable Cheshire cat smile. He smelled of cinnamon and cardamom, and she heard deep organ music.
    She inhaled deeply, and in one long movement, brought her other hand up to her chin, then slowly opened her palm full of dust and blew it in his face. His eyes widened initially as he appeared temporarily immobilized. Fear brushed across his face for one brief second. At last, he recovered with a sigh. Then he sat up straight.
    “You’re very good,” he said at last.
    “You’re very bad.” She gave a tight smile in return. She was hoping her shaking didn’t show. No sense to stay to do battle all day. So she stood. “I’m leaving.”
    “Yes, you are.” He rose slowly to his feet, appearing enchanted. “It has been a pleasure, Claire.” He made a hint of a bow in her direction.
    “I’m not going to play this game with you. We aren’t friends and we have nothing in common.”
    “Is that a challenge I hear?”
    “This is not happening,” she replied, putting on her jacket.
    “Oh, but it already has begun, my dear.”
    “Well, perhaps in your mind. It’s something else entirely to me.” She turned to leave. He grasped her forearm over the jacket sleeve firmly, showing his need to touch her, pulling her toward his chest as he inhaled her scent.
    “Tell me what it is for you,” he murmured.
    She saw a flash of something in his eyes—need? Emptiness? Something had shifted. She didn’t know what, but she’d seen something Josh wanted to remain hidden.
    Claire held her breath to ward off the effects of his power at this close distance, and then blurted out, “You’ll never know.” She yanked her arm from his grip. Knowing he expected his seductiveness to work on her, she added, “I can say this: I saw a lot of wet, slimy frogs and snakes. I saw mushrooms and rotting leaves. I was chilled to the bone. You do have that effect on me.”
    It was a complete lie, of course. Her heart was racing. Her eyes felt like they were going to burst into the tears she stubbornly would not give him the satisfaction of seeing. She wanted to run, but turned and walked out into the street.
    Claire didn’t look back at him as she walked away, feeling the warm sun on her face. This was the best she could muster today. She needed help. Now she understood how dangerous Josh was and how he’d gotten his hooks into Daniel. Claire was worried, for both of them. Josh made it clear he’d shifted his sights to her. She needed someone else’s advice, immediately.
    If I’m not careful, Josh will have a twofer.

Chapter 7

    Daniel burst through the front door as his phone rang. He dropped his portfolio bag and ran across the broken glass left over from his last night’s indulgences.
    “Shit.” He gripped the cordless phone, then heard something squawk as it fell from his fingers. He could hear “Hello? Hello? What the fuck?” from the handset.
    He bent over, grabbed the phone off the floor, then brought it to his ear. “This is Daniel.”
    “What just happened? You okay, man?” Beau Bradley’s speech was slurred. Daniel assumed the slur came from Beau’s steady diet of Quaaludes and Southern Comfort.
    “Sorry, Beau. Dropped the phone.”
    “Okay. Woulda hurt, if I