Paranormal Dating Agency: Something Different (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 3

  To her dismay, out of the corner of her eye, she'd caught Jacob's subtle glances, catching them as if she could sense his attraction on the other hand. He'd spent the trip playing chess with another bodyguard he'd called Big Doom, or sometimes just Doom, which she figured had to be some sort of joke of a nickname that had stuck the way he used it, the specific inflection in the way he said the name.

  At the end of their flight, a car and driver met them at the airport, another private one, though she'd been informed it not his this time but rather a friend's. Whisked away, by the time they pulled up outside of a rather secluded beach house, the hour had struck nine o'clock. She'd been warned ahead of time their dinner would be a late one. However, with the food on the plane so amazing, she wasn't what one would call hungry by the time they got there, but with the smell of the food being served to them the minute their asses hit the chairs, she figured she could always eat. Appetite had never been an issue for her. Besides, given the amount of classes she had taught that day, a teacher having called in at the last minute sick, she had earned every calorie she took in, not that she ever counted or cared really. She kept herself healthy, but being a lean, bendy yoga teacher had never been her thing. She prided herself on the fact that she made the women who came to her studio feel comfortable in their own skin, showed them that every body, regardless of size or shape, could benefit from the practice.

  During the gaps in conversation at dinner, which had them seated at a table on a large deck overlooking the beach and ocean, she'd found herself finding Jacob. He stood, his back to them most of the time, looking down the beach, or out at the water She'd never felt more unsafe, not of an attack, but of her own thoughts, her own body. Both betrayed her where the man was concerned. While the ocean under the light of the moon, which danced over its waves, should have been what took her breath away, she had barely noticed the beauty of the place. The sounds didn't soothe her at all either. Not tonight. The way Jacob's ass filled out the black pants he wore distracted her from what nature offered. The way his light white dress shirt clung to his muscles as the wind from the water blew it against him didn't help her plight. Honestly, sheer shock gave her pause as muscles had never really interested her before. Not that she couldn't appreciate a well-built body, just usually the guy owning them spoke, and she'd not wanted to touch them or anything.

  She prayed that was it. Jacob had not really had much of a chance to talk to her, to ruin the attraction that tugged at her body's urges in ways she wished would subside. At this rate, but the time she made it home from this place, she'd be giving her toys a work out.

  She'd dozed off staring into the fire on the flight back home from wherever it was they had been. Ian had evaded answering that question, she presumed because he assumed the mystic made him more desirable. By the time they'd reached the private airport again, a car with another driver, and two other bodyguards took her home.

  After Ian had given her a small peck on the lips goodnight, Jacob had gone with him. They'd made another date, as in he agreed to have his secretary call her with the details, and she'd agreed to his terms per her agreement with Gerri. To appease her mother, she told herself, though the flutters in her stomach at the prospect of seeing Jacob again, stole her sanity, her ability to rationalize anything in the ways she usually did.

  As a means of self-defense, she continued to think through every man she'd met tonight whom Ian employed and who had muscles as this potential savior of hers apparently did. Any of them had to be a safer bet than Jacob. She had to force that sexy as sin panther from her mind. Besides, as most of Ian's employees were in his panther pride, most of them had muscles to spare, giving her many options to obsess through. At this point, she couldn't be sure if Jacob being her savior would be a blessing or a curse, but her gut feeling, the knot he'd left in her stomach, led her to believe the latter to be true.

  Chapter Three

  Sam stood beside Ian, only partially listening to the conversations going on around them. Instead, the decorations—linens and crystal on tables or flowers and ribbons hanging from everywhere else—caught her errant attention when she attempted to divert it to things other than muscle-bound men who attended this wedding in droves. Anyone could be him, anyone but Jacob.

  After two weeks of dating Ian, rather platonically, she'd agreed to come with him to his cousin's wedding. While dates had gone along well enough, him always going out of his way to go over the top to impress her, taking the time to listen to her talk, and always being a gentleman, she got the distinct impression Ian wasn't all that into her either. Surely, from the emotions she could read from him, he felt the same. For now, she was good enough, a decent person to pass the time with. She didn't feel the guy would be crushed to lose her, other than for a way to pass the time. He seemed a genuinely good guy. He took care of all around him well, which was nice given the way he worked them all. He didn't demand, though, he asked, and no one ever said no. They didn't seem to want to.

  All of these things made him a nice guy, a friend, but the attraction wasn't there. A few uneventful kisses were all he'd tried for, another indication he wouldn't care when they stopped dating. However, when asking her to this wedding, he did indicate he'd talked to Gerri, who had encouraged him to continue dating Sam. He hadn't put this in a way that had made her feel bad, or even a charity case, so he had skills, ones that probably had made him such a success in business.

  The only downside to these two weeks of dates had been her obsession with wondering who this savior could be, fearing who it would be. She'd found herself at constant odds with her own mind, fighting with herself about her attraction to Jacob. Whenever they'd gotten chances to talk, she found herself only wanting to talk to him more. Often, alone in the mornings trying to wake up or late at night trying to fall asleep, she'd remember conversations they'd had when Ian had received business calls, or some other immediate issue that couldn't wait. She'd actually grown grateful for Ian being so busy and having the opportunity to divert her attention to Jacob.

  Standing here now, seeing Jacob standing just a few feet away, doing his duty, keeping an eye on Ian's surroundings, she let herself really look at the man. With the heated discussion going on around her, she figured no one could possibly notice her sidetracked attention from the man she'd come with. She could do two things at once anyway. She'd already figured out the gist of what was going down here.

  While this was Ian's cousin, Trina's wedding, her parents were at odds with Trina's brother Jason for being in an interspecies relationship. Jason, a panther like Ian, of course, had been dating an eagle named Micah. She'd been around both groups now, Ian trying to mend fences in each to no avail. Right now, Jason stood to her right, all tan with chiseled cheekbones. With Micah to his other side, they did, even in human form, seem different, Micah being pale in contrast with a firm but leaner body and fair features. Still, they made a cute couple, she thought. Hell, she couldn't imagine what his family would say if Ian dared get serious with a witch.

  As they continued to lay out plans to best win over the parents, she dared another look at Jacob. Her heart skipped a beat. Turned to the side, his longer black hair hung just past his shoulders, down for the day, yet slicked back and styled to go with his suit. Nothing, no amount of clothes, could hid his build, the thick muscles that roped beneath the material. Her body longed to be pressed against them, to feel the way his hardness would meld into her soft curves.

  Her breathing coming in pants, she had to hide from the crowd around her. For just a few brief seconds, she let the realization come to the forefront of her thoughts that Jacob was the reason that she kept saying yes to dates with Ian. Feeling guilty, she turned that into anger aimed at Gerri for putting her in this position on all fronts. She continued to date, longer than she had any other guy, a man she didn't like as a boyfriend, only as a friend. Safe, of course, still insanity prevailed there. And, she continued to go along with this ruse on the chance of seeing another man. Jacob captured her interest
. She liked talking to him way too much. Plus, when they talked, she only wanted to touch in the worst way.

  It couldn't happen though. She had to keep her distance. She would not let herself fall for a man. She wouldn't risk her heart on love, on someone else that life could take away from her. Yet, there were moments in his presence that she forgot her fears, ones that had paralyzed her for years, and let them be overridden by the possibilities of joy long term.

  As a way to deal with this startling reality she'd hidden from herself, she went on the usual mental tirade of wondering who her savior could be if not Jacob. In her panicked mind, another option, another guy, any other guy around Ian would be a safer bet because she could still easily walk away, go on with her life as planned. If she let herself, she feared that touching Jacob would be her downfall. She'd fall helplessly in love, so out of character for the woman she needed to be.

  So, checking off her mental list, something she'd gotten down to a science, she wondered about another of Ian's friends she'd met, one who didn't work for him, yet had been a bit creepy in her mind. In fact, this Will had sized her up upon their first meeting, not trying to hide the fact at all that he approved of Ian's current choice. He'd been a blockhead if she'd ever met one. So no, he had to be out, as he repulsed her. Gerri couldn't be that far off her game.

  That was it, wasn't it, at this point. Sam prayed that Gerri, a woman with an impeccable record in matters of the heart and true life mates, would be off her game in regard to her. She didn't want to fall in love. She didn't want that in her life. Yes, she was attracted to Jacob, in a heart-stealing sort of way, but if she walked away now, made this her last date with Ian, surely she'd forget, in time, after just a few more sexual fantasies, that Jacob had ever existed, right? This had to be her and Ian's last date. In her mind, she stomped her foot in front of the image of Gerri, determined to call a halt to this whole insane setup and dating thing. She felt determined to end it tonight, right after her date to this wedding finished, no matter what anyone had to say about it.

  She would never let her mother guilt her into this dating thing again. Right then and there, she followed that up by vowing to never talk to her mother's friend Gerri again either. In the last few minutes, battling her own thoughts, her swirling hormones, she grew relentlessly determined to be Gerri's best failure. Though to hear the woman speak, she'd never had one before. Goal in hand, in metaphorical, tightly clutched fingers, Ian's voice startled her, enough to make her gasp, realizing by the burning sensation that followed she'd been holding her breath. Again. The bad habit had become a frequent occurrence, as has immature thoughts of standing up to Gerri and her mother. Of course, her teeth joined into ache, basically yelling at her for gritting them as well. With a sigh, she gave Ian her dazed and confused attention.

  "Sam, honey, are you okay?" he asked, a look of genuine concern on his face, further breaking her heart for the series of thoughts she'd had once again, none of which favored him, this guy who had lavished attention and money on her while never anything but a gentleman. A nice, kind gentleman who didn't deserve this plan even if he'd agreed to it.

  "Yes. I'm fine. Think I just need some air."

  "Oh, good. Perfect timing then. I have a phone call I need to make, so Jacob can escort you outside."

  Before she could protest, Ian had his hand on her back, escorting her toward Jacob who he'd simultaneously waved to come toward them with the hand he clutched his phone in. Before she knew it, Jacob had fallen in step, his hand replacing Ian's on her back, her breath hitched despite the protest of her lungs. Jacob's hand caused a firestorm of her magic to swirl around his fingers. While she wondered if he noticed it, too, a glance at him only showed his serious face looking ahead, scanning the area he took her into. To him, she was a job. He could be a savior, yes, and he would be, to just about anyone she figured. She didn't matter to him any more or any less than anyone else Ian would assign him to. Yet, the connection, the swirling energy tightening her core, making her wet with desire, threatened to prove her wrong. She so wanted to be wrong.

  Outside now, with the sunlight caressing her face, she barely noticed her surroundings, though she looked right at them, so conscious of Jacob standing beside her. Greens, browns, grays, cars, trees, whatever, it could have been a parking lot full of angry drivers or the world's most beautiful garden, and she'd have paid it no mind. What she cared to look at she didn't dare to, so she kept him in the corner of her eye. The rest blurred before her, a victim of her thoughts.

  "Are you sure you are feeling alright, Ms. Samantha? Ian said you needed some fresh air, and you are looking a bit pale," he said, his voice deep, creating a buzz deep into her core that her stomach coiled around moments later.

  Her eyes darted his way, and she hadn't thought, or been cognizant enough to keep her emotions out of them apparently.

  He quickly followed with, "I'm sorry, Miss, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or offend you. You look beautiful, as always," his work voice said before it mellowed a moment, "In fact, today you look exceptionally stunning, if you don't mind me saying so. After a slight hint of a smile turned up the corners of his mouth, it brightened his dark eyes only a second before his demeanor went back to work mode. "Please, don't tell my boss I admitted that. I don't think he'd take kindly to me complimenting his girl in such a fashion. I've stepped beyond the bro code for sure, and should probably just stop talking now."

  "I promise to keep your secret," she got out. "I am fine. Just a lot of drama in there. Lots of people. Us witch's can be susceptible to other's emotions."

  Not a lie, she stood up a little straighter having come up with the line. She'd been a victim of her own emotions in there. Shit, not emotions though, rather hormones, hell...lust. She wanted this guy for a nice romp in the hay. That had to be all it was. Given the chance to get him out of her system, she could prove that to her trembling heart that kept skipping beats when he stood close, dared to talk, to her or anyone else. Maybe she couldn't risk the sexcapades either. Never had lust affected her heart. She just didn't work that way. She wouldn't work that way, end up a victim of love like her mother. Plus, growing up her size, magic or not, even with the threat of turning a guy into a toad or worse, nothing protected her from some of the cruelty of boys, later men, who only wanted twigs to date. So, she'd hardened herself.

  "Are you sure you are okay?"

  "Yes, I'm fine. Just being stupid. I think I let all the drama in there get to me too much. I started reliving old wounds at the hands of love, well, not love, dating, existing. Anyway, I'm fine. Thank you for caring. You are very good at your job."

  "If you are insinuating I am being nice to you out of duty, because Ian asked me to watch over you, then you are mistaken. I am offering more here than small talk, I think, though I am not known for my conversational skills. I apologize."

  "No apologies, and I am sorry that I insinuated such a thing. Maybe I am more out of sorts than I thought. I'm usually better at reading people, and on the other end, usually better at not reading large crowds. So, I thank you for caring, and for saying that I look stunning."

  Yes, she thought, that all sounded good. Blame the party drama rather than her own for her state of mind, or lack of it. Currently the sensations, the random tingles, the few jitters in his presence, along with the increasing heartbeat, and all, were all due to him, standing too close, as in the same room, apparently. What the hell Sam?

  "You do look stunning. I meant that, and please don't tell Ian, especially now that I have said it twice."

  "Well, thank you," she said, looking down at his shoes.

  "You don't believe me, do you?"

  "What?"

  "I gave you a compliment, and you thank my shoes. You don't believe me. Why is that? Sorry, maybe it isn't my place to ask. No, I'm sure it isn't my place to ask. Please, forgive me, I rarely talk this much, maybe because I screw it up so much."

  "So, why are you?"

  "So, why am I what?"

 
"Talking so much. To me?"

  "I don't know. Something about you puts me at ease. But then, you are a witch. Must be a spell. I don't think I've talked this much to a woman in a long time."

  "And, why would that be?"

  "Let's go with blaming the parents. Mom ran out when I was young. No female role models in my life. An arrogant father that I cut ties with years ago raised me. Well, on my end anyway. He's part of the same pride so I have to see him, but inside I broke that bond, or he did, long ago. Wow, listen to me go on. My sincere apologies for dumping that on you. Please tell me you have cast a spell that makes everyone around you spill their guts." He chuckled, trying to cover up the obvious nervousness he felt.

  Ignoring his joke, she cut to what she wanted to know.

  "But, you don't seem arrogant at all, in fact... Well, you just don't."

  "I'm not. I made a promise to myself long ago that I would not be that bastard."

  "Oh. I see. I'm sorry."

  "Don't be. I've always had the pride, and in it Ian and his family. So, what old wounds were you talking about. I shared mine."

  "Old wounds?"

  "Yes, old wounds, the ones you said were at the hands of dating, existing, I think."

  "Oh, that. Well, just the way I look. Never having been a twig, haven't had the best experiences with men is all. Maybe that's why my mother has made it her mission to set me up with as many guys as she can. Is that enough for you? Sharing, I mean."

  "Then those guys were idiots," he said, spitting the words out through clenched teeth. She noticed his hands were clenched into fists now, a flush spreading up his neck. "You are so beautiful, so much so, that I would go with the word magical, as if you can cast a spell...and I should stop talking. I have so crossed some lines here to the point of hitting on my best friend and boss's date, I believe. Honestly, I'm not that guy. Really I'm not." He looked at his shoes now, his embarrassment evident.