“Right. So you’re still in denial about it, are you?”
“I’m not in denial. I’m…” Jacob swallowed. “I…I just don’t know what’s real anymore. She’s the most stubborn and frustrating woman I’ve ever met, but all I want is to be with her. It’s driving me insane, actually.”
“It’ll get better.”
Jacob laughed at that. “Promise?”
“Actually, no. I was just trying to be helpful.”
“Great.”
“Maybe she’ll change her mind and stay in Mystic Ridge.”
Jacob shook his head. “She won’t. She’s leaving and nothing I can say will make a damn bit of difference. She’s focused on her new, normal life with her boyfriend.”
“Nothing you can say will make a difference? Have you said anything?”
“Some. I told her she was making a mistake by turning her back on her talents.”
“Did you tell her you’re in love with her?”
Jacob blanched again. “I thought I already told you—”
“That you’re not. Lust only, thanks to the spell. I almost forgot. Do you want my unsolicited advice?” Patrick didn’t wait for a reply. “If you discover it isn’t just lust, tell her how you feel. Tell her you don’t think it’s just the curse that makes you feel that way. Put the ball in her court. At least then, if she still chooses to leave, she’ll be making an informed decision.”
Jacob was quiet for a long moment. “I don’t think it’s just lust.”
The corner of Patrick’s mouth twitched with amusement. “No shit.”
“But what if we break the curse and I stop feeling this way about her?”
“Do you think you will?”
Another pause. “No.”
“Then go talk to her. Her going-away party’s tomorrow night. It’s not like you have a lot of time to make this work.”
“I’m going to look like a damn fool.”
“That’s very possible.” Patrick shrugged.
“I think I hate you.”
Patrick smirked at him. “You’re fired.”
Jacob grinned and let out a long shaky sigh. “You know, I had a chance to hook up with a random babe last night and I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t get excited. I thought for a moment that it was another side effect of the curse, but now I’m thinking that I’m just not attracted to anyone else.”
“Maybe you’re in more trouble than I originally thought.”
“Comforting. Thanks.” He looked over his shoulder at the closed door. “Can I go now?”
“Be my guest.”
Jacob moved toward the door and opened it up.
“One more thing, Jacob,” Patrick said. Jacob turned to look at him. “I hope it all works out.”
“Me, too.” With that, Jacob left his office.
Patrick wished he had the ability to see into the future. It would be very handy right now.
CHAPTER 10
Amanda could barely concentrate on the computer screen in front of her. She was finding nothing helpful in her research and it was driving her crazy. She knew not everything under the sun was documented and neatly organized, but it would be nice if it was.
There was a knock at her door and she tensed, thinking it was Jacob. After their sexy shared dream last night, it was safer if she didn’t see him alone. She was embarrassed at how easily she’d accepted the opportunity to do things to and with Jacob that she resisted in her waking hours. He’d seen how much she wanted him, despite her many protests. And he’d just made her admit that sex with him had been the best of her life.
Well, it had been. But that didn’t make it okay.
Destroying the clock had been a solution she’d already thought of but she’d hoped that Patrick, with his ultimate knowledge of the supernatural world, would have a better and quicker solution.
Her original decision to simply ignore the curse until she moved away wasn’t feasible anymore. If they could find each other in their dreams, then no distance would make a difference. She felt bound to Jacob, body and soul, at the moment, unable to think about anyone else or even concentrate on the last two days of her job at PARA.
She rubbed her temples. “Come in,” she said when the knocking persisted despite her best attempts to ignore it.
The door opened and in walked her best friend Vicky, who held two cups of coffee in her hands, one of which she gave to Amanda. Vicky was a few inches taller than Amanda, very attractive, with medium-length dark-blond hair, and she liked to dress in low-cut tops and short skirts. Usually her clothes were some shade of purple. Today was no exception. She was also clairvoyant, although it took her a little bit more effort to see ghosts than it did Amanda.
“Good morning,” she said with a smile.
Amanda smiled back and took a sip of the strong brew. “’Morning.”
“You forgot the good.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Vicky laughed at that. “How’s it going?”
“Fine,” Amanda lied.
Vicky studied her for a moment. “Well?”
“Well what?”
“Are you going to share or do I have to beat it out of you?”
Amanda blinked with confusion. “I don’t think I know what you’re talking about.”