Page 59 of Crazy Thing

With a satisfied grin, Ziggy leans in close, tilts my head to the side, and pours a few drops of oil into my sore ear. She’s so close right now, she wrecks my senses.

Pink hair and frilly lace and soft skin. She’s all I see.

Flowers and herbs and incense smoke. She’s all I smell.

God—I can’t help but think back to what she tastes like. What she feels like. What she sounds like chanting my name.

Her scent fills the air around me. I inhale, feeling a tiny bit better with each breath.

My eyes trace the lacy edge of her camisole. I’m achingto pull her into my lap. I just want to feel her writhing against me like she did on that rooftop the other night.

While I struggle to control myself, Ziggy’s been chatting away cluelessly. I haven’t caught a word of it so far. “Y’know, you always seem to be sick. What’s that about?”

I blink, forcing my eyes off her breasts. “Oh. Uh. That?”

She chuckles softly. “Yes. That.”

Embarrassment rises within me. But I think Ziggy might be one of the few people who’d understand. She might be one of the few people who might believe me.

“Can I be honest with you?”

“Of course,” she says softly, a grave look on her face as she eases back to inspect mine.

Here goes nothing.“I…I think I’ve been cursed…”

A shapely eyebrow shoots upward. “Huh?”

Because I’ve opened this can of worms, I carry on. “A few months ago, Ms. Holly from the antiques shop in town, was having financial difficulties with her business. I stepped in and negotiated with her, and I ended up loaning her the funds she needed to keep her doors open,” I tell Ziggy, even though this sounds incredibly stupid in my head.

“So what was the problem?” she asks with a crinkled forehead.

“Well, I gave the woman a pretty bad deal on the loan,” I admit with a cringe. “And when it was all over, she said, ‘I curse the very ground you walk on, Darius Brighton.’ I didn’t believe it at first. I knew how crazy it sounded. But ever since then, my health has been shit. She did it. She cursed me.”

Ziggy blinks hard then squeezes her eyes shut. “You’re not cursed, Darius.”

“I am, too. Look at me!” I gesture up and down my failing body.

“Cursed? Seriously?” Ziggy rolls her eyes at me again. “Your immune system is suppressed. You’ve been working like a stubborn, old race horse who doesn’t know when to stop. Plus, if I had to guess, I’d say you’re probably suffering from a guilty conscience, as well as sleep deprivation, judging from the bags under your eyes. Hell, and you probably have a mineral deficiency too, because all you eat are crappy sandwiches and processed bagels, right here, slumped over your desk.” She rants away with so much indignation.

“I’m supposed to be your boss,” I say, shaking my head. “You don’t get to be a smartass to me all the time.”

Ziggy smirks. “Can you provide me with a schedule for when I’m allowed to be a smartass? Just so there’s no confusion?”

This time, I can’t hold back, chuckling at her feisty attitude. I don’t even realize what I’m doing as my hand lifts to slap her ass.

But before my palm can connect with her mesmerizing curvy bottom, the door chimes loudly from the lobby. We hear footsteps entering the office suite and the receptionist pleasantly greets the newcomers.

Thank god—because I was seconds away from making a fool of myselfand thengetting my ass kicked by a girl.

Still smirking to herself, Ziggy rushes off to the reception area.

I rub a hand down my face. I don’t know what the hell I was just thinking. But I’ll say this much—I’ve never been more disappointed to see my lawyer or my private investigator.

24

DARIUS

“She found him?” My private investigator, whom I only know as Rivers, turns toward Ziggy. His eyes graze across her body a little too slowly. I don’t like it. “You found him?”

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