Free Taking Chances by Loni Flowers Page B

design. She held it up to her neck and looked at it in the mirror, which sat on the table. Maybe if I had something like this, the dreams of my attackers would stop, she thought. It was a nice thought but seeing as she had hardly any money left, Clair laid the necklace down on the table and continued to the next booth.
    After a few moments, Alex caught up with her, and they made their way down the street. They took a seat on an empty bench and watched the people dance to the music.
    “They have homemade ice cream,” Alex said, pointing to a vendor across from them. “Would you like some?”
    “I don’t know. I’m still stuffed from the pizza,” Clair said, holding her stomach.
    He stood.  “If I get some, will you share with me? You like vanilla, right?”
    Clair smiled. “Chocolate is my favorite, but vanilla is the best on apple pie.”
    “Chocolate it is then. You know you want some,” he nudged.
    “Oh alright, I’ll just have a little.”
    “Great, I’ll be right back.”
    Clair watched him as he stood in line. His hair kept falling in his eyes and she’d been trying to fight the urge to brush it away ever since he picked her up. He had the kind of hair you wanted to run your fingers through. The firm muscles flexed in his arms as he reached for the ice cream across the counter. His line of work was obviously beneficial to his body and Clair wondered what else on his body might be tight and sculpted; or how good it might feel to run her fingers across his skin. She looked away, feeling herself flush with embarrassment. She didn’t know why she was having these thoughts. Especially now, after confirming she had no intentions of getting into any kind of relationship with him.
    Sitting next to Clair, Alex handed her a spoon. “Are you okay? Are you getting too hot? Your cheeks are red. We can go if you want.”
    “No, I’m fine.” Avoiding his gaze, she dipped her spoon into the ice cream. It was rich and sweet; cooling her cheeks as she ate it.
    “So, Alex,” Clair pointed at him with her spoon, “what’s one of the craziest things you did while on the streets?”
    He thought about it for a minute. “That would have to be when I had the bright idea to join the circus.”
    She nearly choked on her ice cream, “The circus? Seriously?”
    “Hey you asked,” he said laughing. “Not the brightest idea, I’ll admit, but it was something crazy to do at the time. I saw some pretty weird people while I was there and I only managed to make it a few weeks. There was a psychic there who was convinced I had the skills to become a palm reader. I still don’t know what gave her that impression,” he laughed. “It sucked. I didn’t want to learn palm reading, I wanted to learn how to walk the high wire and they wouldn’t let me.”
    Clair looked at him like he was crazy. “Oh, I see. You didn’t have a death wish or anything, did you?” she teased.
    “No, not really, though after everything I’d been through, I can honestly say I didn’t care what happened to me.”
    “I understand what you mean. I’ve felt the same, many times.” She knew the conversation was moving in the wrong direction. She didn’t want to darken the mood by saying she never cared it she lived or died while roaming the streets, so she asked, “Did the psychic teach you anything?”
    “Not really,” he said, shrugging his shoulders, “just how to look at someone’s hand and make assumptions. That’s about it. It was stupid really, just something to make a buck.”
    “Show me,” she said, holding her palm out. “Tell me what you see.”
    “But I don’t really know anything. I never paid much attention to that crazy lady.”
    “Then just humor me.”
    Turning her palm upward, Alex held her hand in his. “So basically you have lines that run all across your hand, but there are main lines you’re supposed to concentrate on. Each line has a different name: the life line, head, heart, health, and marriage