Free Her Sexy Valentine by Stephanie Bond

turned back and forced a note of casual nonchalance into her voice. “I don’t think so. Look, this was just a one-time thing to satisfy curiosity.I’m not curious anymore.” She adopted a blasé expression.
    Luke pursed his mouth. “Uh…okay.”
    She slipped her feet into her pumps. “Why don’t you go out first so it’ll seem less suspicious if anyone is watching.”
    â€œOkay.” He hesitated, then rechecked his clothing and made his way to the door.
    She turned away and closed her eyes. That was close. Having sex with Luke Chancellor might not have been the smartest move, but thinking it meant something would be the biggest mistake. “Carol.”
    She schooled her expression, then turned around. “Yes?”
    â€œWhatever he did to you, I’m sorry.”
    She swallowed. “Who are you talking about?”
    Luke shrugged. “I don’t know. Whoever it was who hurt you so badly.”
    Her jaw loosened, but he didn’t wait for a reply. He slipped out the door and it closed behind him.
    She fisted her hands, shaken by his words…and angered. If she wasn’t interested in being swept into Luke’s emotional riptide, then she must be damaged. His reaction only reinforced her decision not to have dinner with him, not to foster false hope that a sexual encounter, no matter how explosive, would lead to something more serious.
    Carol patted her hair, then realized with some small measure of relief that her headache was gone. She lifted her hand to her forehead to find that the goose egg she’d been nursing was also gone. It was something to be grateful for on an otherwise lousy day.
    From the floor, a glint of metal caught her eye—her silver-and-emerald earring. In all the commotion this morning, she’d neglected to take it with her. She knelt to retrieve it from under the shelf, but lost her balance and bumped the shelving unit accidentally. Above her, she heard a scraping noise, and when she looked up, something large was bearing down on her.
    Despite the sense of déjà vu, Carol didn’t have time to put up her hand. Pain exploded in her head, then everything went black again.

9
    Someone was shaking Carol by the shoulder.
    â€œCarol…Carol?”
    The voice was familiar…but out of context. Carol opened her eyes to blink Gabrielle Pope’s face into view, then winced at the pain that stabbed her temple.
    â€œOh, good—you’re not dead,” Gabrielle said.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Carol asked.
    â€œJust popping in to give you a hand.”
    â€œA hand with what?”
    â€œCan you sit up?”
    â€œI think so.” Carol pushed up to a sitting position, then lifted her hand to her head, where a goose egg had formed—again. “Ow.”
    â€œThat looks painful,” Gabrielle said. “Maybe I should call an ambulance.”
    â€œNo,” Carol said, gingerly pushing to her feet. “It’s just a bump on the head. I’ll be fine. I need to get back to work.”
    â€œNot yet,” Gabrielle said. “First I have to show you something.”
    â€œWhat?”
    Gabrielle pointed to a boxy computer screen sitting on the floor nearby. “A memory of Valentine’s Day Past.”
    Confused, Carol watched as the monitor blinked on, then zoomed in on a woman sitting at a restaurant table alone, as if she were waiting for someone.
    Carol gasped. “That’s me.”
    Gabrielle nodded.
    It suddenly dawned on Carol what she was watching. “I don’t want to see this,” she said, turning her head away.
    â€œBut you must,” Gabrielle said gently.
    Carol reluctantly pivoted back to the monitor, dread billowing in her stomach. The woman sitting at the restaurant table looked younger…hopeful…in love. Gabrielle leaned forward and turned a volume knob.
    A handsome blond man walked up to the table and leaned down to place a