Page 28 of Secrets

“Very good.” She places a hand on my shoulder, causing me to open my eyes. “So we water.”

“But there are no plants here,” I say, fighting the urge to scratch at my neck. I don’t want her to think the sun is burning me, when really it’s the sunscreen that bothers me. She takes such special care to put it on, I don’t want her to think I hate it.

“Even barren land holds potential, sweetheart. We must feed it, water it, and tend to it the same as if it were overflowing with flowers.”

“But why?” My eyes trace over her face to find the answer while trying not to notice the tint of blue on one of her cheeks. I saw her try to cover the bruises with makeup, but it wasn’t enough.

“Because we must nourish the soul if we expect our dreams to flourish.”

As a child, the metaphor was lost to me, and as an adult, it’s been the greatest lie I was ever told.

“Is the place too much?” A voice steals my attention from the building I was gazing at, and for the first time in my existence, words and all other thoughts completely elude me.

A vibrant sunset kisses the horizon and casts an unearthly glow around an incoming Jessica. Her golden hair shimmers in the light, her soft waves cascading over a dress from another era. It’s soft pink, a delicate choice in comparison to her brashness, with a lace overlay, and bows tying the fabric at her shoulders. It cinches tight around her waist, and flares out at her hips, drawing my eyes to curves I only imagined before. And it’s the low V of the neckline that does me in.

I’ve always held a certain reverence for the female form, particularly the breasts. Soft skin, pert nipples, their reactivity and ability to send the entire body into euphoria. And Jessica’s delectable cleavage causes my heart to thunder, the sudden desire to sink my teeth into her flesh so great, I almost groan.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” The agent’s face falls, her lips turning down in the corners. But as I start to speak, she suddenly perks up. “Orrrr, is your face all screwed up because of how hot I look?”

She closes the last few steps needed to reach me and does a quick twirl. The fabric at her knees billows out, sending her scent to swirl around us. Warm vanilla, jasmine, and the subtle hint of spice invade my airways.

I know long after this woman is gone, I’ll remember that smell, and the notion causes my throat to tighten.

“I don’t believe the human face is capable ofscrewing up,” I tell her coolly, though my skin is heated with her proximity. “Also, this location is fine. A much better choice than your bar.”

Jessica releases a laugh. “Your face can definitely screw up no matter how hard you try to be serious.”

“Is that so?” A true tinge of curiosity stains my words.

She nods. “Yep. It drives me fucking crazy, if I’m being honest.”

My brows lift as I watch her grab the long golden handle of the door. I shouldn’t care nor be interested in what she thinks of me or if anything I do drives her crazy. But for some obscure and frustrating reason, I do. Even if only a small amount. That in itself should be my first warning sign, an alarm bell telling me I need to reevaluate where my head-space is.

But when she yanks the door open and loops her arm with mine, the idea disintegrates.

“I haven’t been here since I was a kid on my fourth-grade field trip, but I checked and there have been lots of upgrades since then.”

My eyes flash to where we’re connected.Her skin is so soft. So delicate.

“They have a huge library wall here.”

To her animated face.Her eyes. I don’t believe I have ever seen such a color.

“Over there are interactive computers that go more in-depth on certain topics.”

To the slender column of her neck.I wonder if she tastes as sweet as she smells.

“In the back, is the viewing area. Oh, and they have a planetarium this way as well.”

As Jessica leads us toward where her gaze is focused, I finally manage to tear my eyes away from the woman still attached to my arm and glance at the surrounding space. It’s what one would expect from an expansive observatory, but I must admit, it’s rather stunning.

Books line the walls on the right, reaching from floor to ceiling, along with two black spiral staircases—one marked ascending and the other the opposite. On the left is a small counter to purchase tickets to special exhibits along with a row of the interactive computers. The floor is a slate marble, while the ceiling is glass, adorned by an elaborate, bus-sized model of the solar system.

Being a Wednesday night and only two hours from closing, it’s relatively empty, making it intimate, and not at all as claustrophobic as I would have imagined. Granted, I have no problem with small spaces, but an abundance of people makes me…itchy.

“Are you a fan of astrology?” I ask, bringing my eyes slowly back to her. The glow from outside somehow hasn’t left her.

“No, not really.” She shakes her head, unhooking her arm from mine as she leads me to the first monitor. “But I figured it would be the closest I could get you to the moon.”

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