Sex Symbol (19 page)

“Fair enough.”

Ozzy was wearing his usual, black slacks and a white dress shirt. He could have just come from a business meeting or he might be on his way out of town to kill someone. Who knew?

He went to the fridge and started taking out ingredients for breakfast.

“Why did you come to Peace?”

“You mean why did I move here or why was I here in the first place?”

He got down a bowl and started cracking eggs.

“Both.”

“I came here looking for a target. His name was Ronald. I wasn’t given a last name, just a description.”

Ozzy told me his description. When I realized who he was talking about I dropped the fork I had been about to hand him.

“You know him?”

“Yes. But the man you described, he’s in a wheelchair. At least, he was when I knew him. We went to school together. I haven’t seen him in years. Not since graduation.”

“What happened to him, was he always in a wheelchair?”

“Car accident. He’d been in the chair since he was twelve.”

Ozzy got another fork and went back to making scrambled eggs. “Anyway, I never found him. After sticking around here for about six months and meeting you, I decided to stay.”

He’d brought some ham slices with him and as he started to cook these he said, “On a different note, I hear James is back in town.”

“You hear from where?”

He laughed. “All right, I’m lying. I didn’t hear it. I saw him.”

“And?”

He shrugged and turned back to the stove. “And nothing. I just saw him.”

For the first time the thought of running into James made me angry instead of sad. I was doing really well. I didn’t need him to come around and fuck it all up.

“I wish he’d just take his new bitch and his new life and stay the fuck out of mine.”

Oz took a step back. “Wow. Where did that come from?”

“Sorry. I guess I’m just sick of hearing about James. How come people think that when a couple breaks up you still want to hear about each other? I mean, is that written somewhere and I just don’t know about it? I wouldn’t walk up to someone and start talking about their ex. Oh, yeah he looks really happy, probably wants a house full of kids and—”

“Lucy.” Ozzy put his hands on my shoulders and gave me a gentle shake. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I hugged him, enjoying the familiar smell of his cologne. “I’m sorry, Oz. I’m not mad at you. I’m not sure what I feel. I just think it’s time I stop thinking about James. I feel something for Eramus, something real. That deserves a chance, not a halfhearted effort because I can’t get over my ex.”

He smiled and nodded his agreement. “Good for you.”

*

I meant every word I said about James. But it’s damn hard to forget someone when they won’t go away. I’d just received our shipment of flowers when he came strolling through the front door of Passionate Petals.

I wanted to hate him. I bit my lip, waiting for anger to ignite. Hoping, praying that I could do something besides want him. I spent three years of my life loving him and one trying to forget how much I cared. How dare he show up now? He left. He wanted to be with someone else. Fine. I had accepted that. I had not accepted the way it hurt me to look at him now or how much the thought of him being with someone else cut through to my soul.

Damn his sexy smile and his gorgeous green eyes. And damn the way he looked at me, he had no right.

“Good morning.”

“It was.”

He winced and I threw in another curse for the cleft in his chin and his goddamned dimples.

“I suppose I deserve that.”

He set a cup of coffee onto the counter. The cup said “Morrison’s.” I knew then why he was here. He’d been gossiping with that old biddy. Damn her too, while I was at it. Couldn’t he just go easy on my heart and walk out now? Was that so much to ask?

“Why are you here, James?”

He smiled. “Can’t I bring you some coffee?”

I never turn down good coffee, even under the circumstances. “You remembered to put vanilla cream,” I said, taking a sip.

“I remember a lot of things.” His voice was soft and sad.

I wanted to slap him.

“You came all the way from Biloxi to bring me coffee?”

He propped against the counter. It was only a small move closer to me, but it was enough that I could smell his cologne. Memories flooded through my mind. The way he looked in the morning, the smell of his skin—so many things. A familiar ache settled into my chest. I could not let him do this to me.

I had to look away, but I tried not to be obvious about it. Looking James in the eye was still too painful. A tall flower arrangement was standing beside him and it was my saving grace. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling when I remembered Eramus helping me put it there. Remembering Eramus also brought to mind the way he smelled. My smile grew wider. Perhaps my reasoning was juvenile, but I took pleasure in noticing how far the arrangement reached above James’ head. Eramus was taller and he smelled better. I suppressed the urge to laugh. Could something so simple really make me feel this much better?

James returned my smile, apparently thinking it was meant for him.

“I’m moving back.”

Well, that was a shock. I tried to conjure up the image of Eramus and his sexy smile to calm my nerves. I didn’t want James to see that his comment had unsettled me.

“And what does Rachel think about that?”

He hesitated, glancing at the floor before he answered, “Rachel isn’t coming with me.”

I tried to pretend I wasn’t surprised. So, he came back to tell me that? Bastard. Did he think he could just come back like nothing had happened?

“I came in earlier to ask how you were.” He paused and his smile looked awkward. “Mandy, wasn’t it?” he asked her as she walked behind me.

The petite blond smiled. “That’s right.”

James focused his attention back on me. “Mandy tells me you have a boyfriend. Now, I know I don’t have the right to ask about—”

“You’re right, you don’t.”

Before I could say more, Eramus walked in. The bell above the door wasn’t necessary to alert me to his presence. I could feel him. He moved toward us with purpose, as if he knew I was in trouble and needed his help. Maybe he did. He was wearing long sleeves, which was unusual for him. But it was a cold day even for a hot-blooded werewolf. His black jeans matched the shirt, creating a striking image made all the more imposing by his height. I don’t think he’d ever looked better. Black really was his color. It made his eyes look darker and picked up the red undertones in his hair.

James turned in his direction, but didn’t seem to understand what was going on until he noticed the way I was looking at him. Eramus came behind the counter and when he smiled down at me the ache in my chest went away. I reached for him, not for James’ benefit, but because I simply couldn’t help myself. I put my palm against his stomach, enjoying the way his heat seeped through the material of his shirt and warmed my hand.

“I brought you lunch,” he said, putting a bag down on the counter.

He seemed to notice James for the first time, but I knew different. Nothing like that would have gotten past him. Eramus turned to him and to anyone else his smile might have looked friendly.

“You must be James.”

At first James looked taken aback by the fact that Eramus knew his name. Then he smiled and I hated the smugness in his expression.

“And you are?”

“Eramus.” He introduced himself, but he didn’t offer to shake hands. That was probably just as well for James.

Eramus hadn’t bothered to cut his hair, which I now knew grew at an accelerated rate when he transformed. He left it at shoulder length and I absolutely loved it. I also had such a desire to touch it that I had to put my hands behind my back. Eramus had the ability to make my mind lose control over my body just by showing up.

“So, Lucy told you about me?” James asked.

“No, Justina.”

“Oh.”

James’ tone said he understood just how unflattering Justina’s description of him probably was. And the look on his face said how upset he was at being recognized by such a description.

“You must be the boyfriend?”

The way he said that really pissed me off. But to his credit Eramus remained cool.

“You could say that.”

James’ grin was evil. “I was expecting someone else.”

At that moment I would’ve had no trouble strangling him if I could have gotten my hands around his neck. Obviously what Ozzy said to him before about making me breakfast had really pissed him off. The fact that he would bring it up here just made it easier to be mad at him. In a way, I was grateful.

“If you mean Ozzy, they’re not dating.”

It was hard to tell who was more shocked by Eramus’ reply, me or James.

“And even if they were,” he continued, “I don’t think it’s any of your business.” Without hesitation he smiled down at me. His complete dismissal of James was both comical and smooth. “Are we still on for tonight?”

“Absolutely.”

“I’ll see you then.” He nodded as he walked past James who was still standing there with his mouth open. “James.”

He didn’t reply to Eramus, but he did close his mouth. “Ooo,” Mandy said. “Not to get in your business or anything, but that man’s hotter than shit on a sidewalk.”

I think James turned three shades of purple.

Justina walked out of the back. With everything that had just happened, I’d forgotten she was there. The look on her face was enough to make me lose it. We both started laughing.

James turned even redder.

“I’m sorry, James, but surely you can see the humor in this?”

“Sure.” But his lips had formed a tight frustrated line. He was not happy and I didn’t really care. He’d come here to start trouble and deserved what he got.

“Well,” I said, regaining my composure, “since you’re back in town I guess I’ll be seeing you around. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a lot to finish before we close up.”

His smile was as forced as any I’d ever seen. “See you later then.”

Once he was gone Justina burst out laughing again. “I know,” she panted, “it’s awful, but I can’t stop. He, he, had that coming. Motherfucker. Ha. Ha.”

Mandy was not only used to the language around the shop, but she fit in perfectly.

“So, besides being her ex, what makes him such a motherfucker?”

“Come here, sweetheart, and I will fill you in,” Stina said, still laughing softly.

*

It was hard to believe that James had moved back. However, by the end of the day some of the shock had worn off. The shock of having him meet Eramus right off the bat was another thing entirely. In a way it was a relief. Now I didn’t have to worry about them eventually coming into contact or having to introduce them at some other time. I never thought I would feel this way, but I wished that James had stayed in Biloxi.

It should not have been so hard to focus on Eramus and our date, but it was. Having your ex show up and meet your new boyfriend is upsetting, no matter how it goes. And all things considered, I think it went as well as it could.

I had no idea where we were going tonight. All Eramus had told me was that we were going to “a club”.

“That means you should wear something sexy, but not slutty,” Justina informed me.

On the drive home I mentally went through my closet with her advice in mind. It had been a while since I’d been to a club of any kind. I’d been to a few bars, but that’s not the same thing. I wasn’t much for crowds. They always made me feel nervous. But the thought of being in a crowd with Eramus was kind of exciting. I wanted to be seen with him. I wanted people to know that he was the one I was with.

I still couldn’t believe James had come to the shop. A few weeks ago I might have been glad to hear he was back and that his relationship with Rachel was over. But now it didn’t really concern me. I just wanted him to leave me alone. I wanted Eramus. No matter how much it might still hurt me to look at James, I did not want to be with him.

By the time I got ready, it was almost time for Eramus to pick me up. I’d finally decided on a pair of tight black slacks and a dark purple top. It made my eyes look more brown than green and I thought it went well with my hair. The top was clingy and reached to mid-thigh. Since Eramus liked my hair down, I left it that way, hanging in curls that I didn’t bother trying to tame. I went heavier on the eyeliner than usual, making my eyes look smoky and somehow wild. Normally I didn’t stand around admiring myself, but I was having a hard time looking away from my reflection. Not because I thought I was “all that”, but because there was something different in my eyes. My skin glowed in a way it never had and my eyes seemed to sparkle. I looked more alive than I think I ever had.

As I applied lip gloss I smiled, remembering that my underwear matched the purple top. A thrill ran through me when I remembered that Eramus hadn’t seen my tattoo yet. Since he liked roses so much and it was, in a way, roses that had brought us together, I was saving it. I had no doubt that we would eventually end up in bed together. I wanted to wait until we made love to show it to him.

I lifted my shirt, about to inspect the tattoo just for fun, and the lights went out.

“Shit.”

I looked out the window. There were no storm clouds in sight. Night had settled over the landscape like a pale gray cloak. Stars were beginning to sparkle. It was beautiful. And the moon was nearly full. Some idiot must have hit a transformer. That happens out in the country more often than you might think.

Oh well, at least I was already finished getting ready. The power would probably be back on by the time I got home and putting on my shoes in the dark was no problem. I stood in the beams of moonlight coming through the window and lifted my shirt. As soon as I did so, I laughed.

“I must have used the stupid glitter soap,” I said to myself.

Justina got me glittery soap for my birthday and I must have picked it up by accident when I was in the shower, because my rose tattoo practically glowed in the moonlight. It was beautiful. It looked almost surreal, but before I had time to examine it further, someone knocked on the door.