Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl #2)(114)

I didn't move. Didn't speak.

Finally he wiped his mouth with his napkin and smiled sadly. "Stupid honesty. I could push, you know. I could use your doubts about your future against you."

"I know."

"But you don't care. Because you love him."

"Yes."

Another sad smile. "I had hoped...well, it doesn't matter now, I guess. You're sweet, funny and you have the sexiest laugh I've ever heard, but your attraction to another man is annoying as hell."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"That's why - that's why I have to - Damn this. I'm releasing you from our deal." For a moment, I couldn't react. All I could do was think how amazing this man was. A true diamond in a sea of zirconium. Then relief drifted through me. "I - Thank you, Jean-Luc." I wasn't going to give a token protest and hurt him further. "You are a wonderful man and one day some lucky woman is going to make you very happy. She's going to love you with her every breath." Would that woman be Lexis?

He scowled over at me. "Look. You don't want me, fine. I'll live. I don't like it, I wish it were different, but I'll live. You don't have to patronize me."

And that was the difference between us, what really showed me that I'd made the right choice. I couldn't live without Rome. Wouldn't give up, had to have him. He was my drug. My addiction. Not my newfound increased powers, but him. Maybe I needed therapy, but there it was. "I'm not patronizing you. I swear. I - "

Jean-Luc threw his napkin on the table and stood, his chair skidding behind him. "Have a nice life, Belle.

I won't be bothering you anymore. We'll both work at PSI, but I'll stay out of your way." Tanner and Elaine emerged from their love-cocoon long enough to throw us startled glances.

"Jean-Luc, wait! Lexis - " Was I really going to do this? Yes, yes, I was. It was the only solution I had right now, though granted, it was a sucky consolation prize. "Lexis wants you. She says the two of you are meant to be together."

He turned, suddenly stiff, giving me his back but not walking away. "What are you talking about?"

"All I know is what she told me earlier today. She sees the future and she has seen the two of you together. Romantically."

He snorted. "Impossible. I don't want her."

"And I don't blame you. I just wanted you to know."

A pause, a nod. And then, unconsciously taking a page from Rome's book, he strode briskly away.

"Wow," Tanner said. "I didn't see that one coming." He shrugged and turned back to Elaine, smiling.

"Is there anything we can do, Belle?" Elaine asked.

"No. The rest is up to me."

Armed agents hid in the shadows all around the outside of my house. I should have told them all to go away, that the threat of Dr. Roberts was over, but I didn't. I needed to have a conversation with John first, and I didn't want to do that tonight. I chucked my keys on the table in the foyer and strode toward my bedroom. Tanner and Elaine were close on my heels, though they branched off and entered Tanner's room. I paused, catching his eye as he closed the door.

He gave me a wicked smile before the cherry wood blocked him completely. I shook my head, sad and happy at the same time, and jumped back into motion. I had my powers under control, I'd been released from my deal with Jean-Luc, so I should be celebrating. Instead, I was going to cuddle my dogs, cry and come up with a plan. I'd broken a good man's heart, and I needed a strategy to win back another's.

The house was eerily quiet. Sherridan was probably asleep. Just like my puppies, I realized. They were snuggled together in their crate and snoring. Not wanting to wake them, I left the light off. No cuddling for me, it seemed. It'd just be me, my tears and my schemes.

I brushed my teeth and hair, washed my face clean of makeup, stripped to the skin and padded to my dresser to find a pair of panties and a nightgown. Wasn't sure I'd have one. Rome and I had always slept naked. Lately, since his memory loss, I'd been using his shirts. I couldn't do that tonight, since I hadn't done laundry in forever.

Strong arms suddenly banded around my waist and lifted me. Before I could react, I was soaring through the air. I landed on the bed with a thwack, sprawled on my back, arms and legs splayed.

Gasping, I jerked upright, raising my arm. Cold, cold, cold. I am cold.

The ice was already forming in my hand. The moment it solidified completely, I launched it. The intruder ducked and the ball slammed into the wall, the door, freezing them.

And locking me inside with the depraved man. Dr. Roberts again? "I'm armed and I'm dangerous, motherf*cker!"

"Good reflexes and good timing. You've already improved. The potty mouth needs to go, though." I blinked. Stilled. Gulped. "Rome?"

"The one and only."

"You bastard!" I summoned another ball of ice and tossed it, too. Once again he ducked. Wait. What was I doing? Way to win him back, I thought, willing the ice to leave me. "Don't scare me like that again! I thought you were a scrim."

He rose. He was standing at the end of the bed. Moonlight seeped from the window and illuminated his strong body. He was dressed in black, his hair damp as if he'd just taken a shower.

A knock sounded at my door. "Belle?" Tanner called.