Crystal grabbed her sketchpad and began to draw, her pencil strokes swift as a brooch resembling a tree of branches took shape on the paper, the leaves studded with a myriad of gemstones - golden citrines, deep green emeralds and garnets. She smiled when she thought of how nice the brooch would look on Seth’s Aunt Clarice.
She flipped the page, intent on drawing a design for a matching bracelet when her strokes quickened, the pencil flying across the page, as if some unseen force guided her hand. A large bird took shape on Crystal’s sketch pad, its wings spread wide. She watched the bird take flight, soaring high into the air. Oh, how she wished she could follow it…to be free of her cursed crystal tears…to be free of the wretched headaches that plagued her of late.
Her pencil strokes changed, her swift movements fashioning the image of a man…a tall, dark, mysterious man…
“Your artistic talents are eclipsed by your ethereal beauty.”
Crystal looked up to see the subject of her drawing standing directly in front of her. She sucked in a breath as she took in the sight of him, dressed in black trousers that outlined his lean hips. Her face warmed at the direction of her thoughts, but she couldn’t stop her eyes from traveling up to his wide chest outlined by a snug black t-shirt.
“Or perhaps it’s the other way around. Perhaps,” he reached out to trail one long finger across her chin then dropped his hand. “Perhaps it’s your beauty that eclipses all else.”
Her stomach fluttered as though hundreds of tiny little butterflies beat their wings inside her belly. His words melted the icy recess of her heart, where she held her emotions in check. How she longed to cry a woman’s tears, to feel human emotion, bad or good. She held back, knowing that if she allowed herself to be taken in by his magnetism she left her heart wide open for hurt. But her heart swelled, his words filling her with warmth, her traitorous eyes stinging. How long had it been since she got close enough to a man to be both turned-on and…charmed?
Crystal had to divert her thoughts so she glanced at his upper right arm where a tattoo of a black hawk lay emblazoned against his skin. She managed to pull her eyes away from the large bird tattoo to view his muscular forearms, where a fine smattering of dark hair glistened against his olive, sun-kissed skin. Crystal felt hot all over. Her body, as well as the tips of her breasts, swelled with desire. The pencil she had sketched with slipped from her fingers. It tumbled to the floor, along with her pad. She bent to retrieve the pad and pencil, but Anthony beat her to it.
He gazed at her sketch of his ring. “I’m sorry Crystal, but you can’t have this design.” He placed the sketchpad on the counter in front of her. “The ring’s been in my family for generations.”
She blew out a shaky breath. “I-I have no intention of copying the design.”
He raised one dark silky brow and smiled as he viewed the sketch of himself. “And just what do you intend to do with that?”
Think, Crystal, think!
She set her chin at a defiant angle, hoping he didn’t catch the tremble she felt in her jaw. “It’s for a poster.”
He beetled his brows. “A poster?”
“Yes, I…” She grabbed the pad, placing it under the counter. “I’m designing a poster for the lobby to promote your performance.”
He leaned a hip against the counter and folded his arms across his chest, smiling a rakish grin. “I would have thought my publicist would have sent more than enough brochures and…posters.”
She shrugged. “Clarice asked me t-to sketch you.” Crystal hoped lightening wouldn’t strike her for the lie she had just told.
He raised a brow. “She’s a very talented lady, I’m surprised she didn’t sketch me herself.” He dropped his arms to his sides, snagging her hand in his. Crystal’s pulse skidded out of control when he ran his thumb across the back of her hand. “Perhaps you just wanted me all to yourself.”
She turned away, keeping her trembling hands busy by shuffling papers near the cash register. Crystal glanced at her charcoal pencil that lay on the glass countertop. In the next instant, it started to spin slowly then it picked up speed. It stopped abruptly, sliding across the glass to rest by her hand.
Her eyes flew to Anthony’s. Their small, red centers glowed.
She swallowed as she gazed down at the pencil, which now lay still. Picking it up, she held the pencil in her fingers, feeling heat pour into their tips. “H-how did you do that?”
Anthony replied. “A magician’s trick.”
Crystal raised one brow. “That’s some trick.”
He smiled, revealing a mouth full of white, even teeth. “A simple trick of telekinesis. Usually, I make a pen jump out of wineglass, then shatter the glass, but…” he glanced around, his silver eyes settling on the broken, taped end of her jewelry counter. “I think we’ve had enough glass shattering around here.”
Crystal laughed, the sound hard and brittle as she recalled her encounter with the mysterious Lady in White. “Yes, quite enough.”
He grinned. “I’m renowned for my skill of using my mind to move inanimate objects.”
She shook her head, wondering at his skills at other things, too, her heart fluttering at the thought. “Did you have a reason for coming into my shop today?”
“Absolutely.” He walked over to the jewelry case the near the cash register. “I see you have some lovely pearls in there.” Anthony pointed at the cases containing Crystal’s pearl jewelry designs.
Crystal let go of a steadying breath and walked over to where Anthony stood. Just one look at his amazing silver eyes made her want to retreat back behind the counter as her body vibrated with the most delicious sensations. She needed to keep a great deal of distance between her and this dark, sensual sorcerer.
Crystal walked behind the counter containing the pearl displays. “What can I show you, Mr. Zodan?”
He leaned both elbows on the counter, cupping his sculpted chin in the palm of his hand. “There’s a lot you can show me, Crystal.” He glanced up and smiled. “But for now, I’m interested in that necklace.” Anthony pointed to a necklace fashioned of black, gray and white pearls, diamonds centered between each smooth stone.
Crystal was lost as she gazed into his eyes, seeing a vision of her and Anthony entwined together on a bed, his long, hard body covering hers. She felt a stirring inside her belly. Desire pooled low between her legs, making her clit throb, the pulsing beat vibrating throughout her entire body.
She removed the necklace from the satin lined display box. “It’s a lovely piece.” Crystal told him as she draped the pearl necklace across her palm, willing her hand to remain steady.
“Exquisite,” he agreed, his voice soft and deep. But he wasn’t looking at the pearls - he was gazing at her.
“I’m sure the lucky recipient will enjoy them very much,” Crystal’s heart beat wildly.
“I’m sure she will.” He took the necklace from her, laying it across his large palm.
She felt a small stab of envy as she thought about the woman Anthony Zodan would give the lovely necklace to – some starlet or hot female celebrity, she imagined.
“Pearls are fragile,” Crystal told him. “Whoever you’re giving them to…” His eyes locked with hers once more. “…shouldn’t use hairspray when wearing them and,” she tucked some hair behind one of her ears, her fingers trembling. “…they shouldn’t store them in any kind of plastic bag or container. Plastic emits a chemical that could erode them. I’ll give you a special ‘pearl folder’ – it’s satin-lined, made just to hold pearls.”
He continued to hold the pearls in his hand, his silver eyes softening to that dove-gray color she loved. “Eastern cultures believe pearls symbolize spirituality and…purity.”
“Well, then,” she schooled her features, hoping to mask the unsettling feel of the rapid beating of her pulse. “If you’re taking these…”
“The bracelet and earrings, too.”
He didn’t even ask the price! She did a swift, mental calculation…
Ten thousand dollars.
She blew out a breath. “All right. I’ll make sure to give you pearl envelopes to fit all three pieces.”
He raised a brow and grinned. “Aren’t you going to give me a deal like you gave that young man?”
Crystal frowned, thinking Anthony had seen and heard her entire conversation with Jamie …
Or did he?
She peeked at him beneath her lowered lashes, as she withdrew the pieces from the display boxes. There had been no one in the shop besides her and Jamie at the time…
Her heart started to pound.
The Amazing Zodan had simply…appeared. She hadn’t even heard the bell ring…
Just like when the Lady in White had paid her a visit.
Oh…this was crazy!
She gave her mind a mental shake to clear it of her insane thoughts.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t haggle with customers.”
He shrugged. “That’s fine with me. I didn’t come here to haggle.”
Crystal made quick work of gift-wrapping everything as Anthony wrote her a check for the full amount.
Her hands shook as she handed him the gift bags, her palms growing moist as she reached for the check. He placed his hand over hers. “The purpose of my visit to Crystal Jewelers this morning is two-fold.”
“Really?” Crystal tried to put a casual note in her voice. “What’s the other reason?” She opened the cash register and placed his check in the bottom of the drawer. Then she closed it, ripping the receipt from the top, placing it in one of the gift bags. “I’ve also given you a certificate of authenticity. It’s in the bag with the necklace.”
“Thanks.” He angled his head. “And to answer your question…I came to see how you were feeling and to ask you to lunch. We had a very rocky start, you and I. Maybe we can begin again.”
Her heart thumped against her breastbone. Crystal swore anyone, including him, could see it beat through her chest.
“That was very kind of you,” she replied in a steady voice, feeling anything but. “I’m quite all right.”
He shook his head and frowned. “You seemed quite ill the other day.”
“I’m fine now,” she snapped. Gentling her voice, she said, “Thank you for your concern.”
He raised one dark brow. “Well?”
“What?” She frowned.
“How about dining with me this afternoon? We could take a drive. Visit our childhood haunts, talk about old times.”
“Why don’t you take the lucky recipient of the pearls?” Was that her voice that sounded so…waspish?
“She already has a date.”
“Uh huh.” She replied, feeling mulish. “I’m sure it’s…”
“My father.” He pulled out a billfold from his trouser pocket, withdrawing a photograph. “As a matter of fact, she’s had the same date with him for the last forty years. This is a picture taken at their fortieth wedding anniversary.”
Crystal took the picture from his outstretched hand.
“That’s my mother and father in the center.”
She nodded as she gazed at his mother…he looked like her, both possessing those amazing silver-colored eyes and dark hair…
There was so much she never bothered to learn about Anthony when they were in school. She usually avoided him for a lot of the kids labeled him a freak, just like her, a mirror image of herself.
Crystal didn’t want or need to be reminded of her uniqueness.
She glanced at the picture again. His father’s dark, wavy hair and dark eyes greeted her.
The happy couple sat surrounded by Anthony and a young, dark-haired woman and man, each holding a young child. Three other men, all resembling Anthony, flanked them on either side.
“My sister and her family,” he pointed at the young, dark-haired woman, the man standing next to her, and the children. “The other three bruisers are my younger brothers. They were a few years behind us in school.”
She felt a pang in her chest…he had a family. A very happy-looking family.
“So, as you can see, I can’t very well ask the recipient of these lovely pearl creations to join me.” He placed the picture back in the billfold then placed the billfold back in his trouser pocket.
“No,” she murmured, feeling small and stupid about her earlier comment. “I guess you can’t.”
“My father, Anthony Cavalli Senior, is a hot-blooded, jealous kind of guy.” He grinned. “He wouldn’t stand for anyone taking his woman from him.”
“Wait a minute,” Crystal frowned. “How come you always used the name ‘Zodan’?”
“It’s actually my mother’s maiden name. I always liked it.” He smiled. “And it pissed off my dad no end to use it. You know how that is when you’re a teenager, you always want to annoy the hell out of your parents.”
She felt another pang in her chest as she thought about her own parents. Crystal wished they were around now, so that she could piss them off royally on a daily basis.
But then again, she was sort of glad that they weren’t around to see that her damned headaches grew steadily worse, until there were times, nothing helped…
She really had to get into town and see Dr. Crawford.
“Zodan is fitting to use as a stage name because my mother comes from a long-line of witches.”
The sound of Anthony’s deep voice snapped her out of her reverie. Crystal’s eyes widened. “Your mother is a witch?”
He laughed; his chuckle deep. “No. But her ancestors were. I enjoy the reaction I get when I tell people that.” His face turned serious. “Some of her ancestors died during the witch hunts here on Long Island.”
Crystal drew her brows together. “Nothing like that happened here on Long Island.”
“They burned quite a few people here as witches back in the seventeenth century. You can read all about it on my website.”
The thought of a human burning alive made Crystal shudder.
Anthony reached out and grabbed her shoulders, rubbing his hands up and down her bare arms. “I’m sorry,” he murmured close to her ear. “I scared you, didn’t I? I shouldn’t have said anything.” He continued to gently rub her icy arms, trailing his fingers across her skin.
Heat washed over her body at his touch. She stepped out of his grasp, thinking she’d go up in flames, like one of his ancestors, if he continued.
Anthony dropped his hands to his sides, placing them in his pockets. “Are you free for lunch? Can you spare an afternoon?” A hopeful look crossed his features.
Maybe she was seeing things again, but for just an instant, it seemed as though her answer was very important to him…
Okay, yeah, well, she could dream, couldn’t she?
“Well?” he raised one brow. “Think you’d like that?”
Like it?
Oh, no, she had lots to do, she had…
She gazed at Anthony’s handsome face, at his lush, full upper lip. Those lips had caressed hers, made her burn for more…
Okay, so maybe she could get Serena to work in the shop…she said she’d help if Crystal was ever in a bind…
Like now. She wanted to be with this dark sorcerer…
More than she cared to admit.
Crystal raised one brow. “Are you sure you want to go to lunch with a woman who claims to see ghosts?”
He nodded, his silvery eyes intense. “Yes, and believe it or not, I’d like to hear more of your…experience.”
For some reason, she got the distinct impression he wasn’t talking about her experience with the Lady in White. Her traitorous body wanted more than just lunch and a tour of Long Island’s gold coast and their familiar teenage hangouts with Anthony Zodan…
She wanted much more.
“And we can discuss that trick you do with your eyes.”
“It’s not a trick,” she snapped. “I-I’ve had that problem since I was little.” Her lips trembled. She felt the start of tears. Damn him, anyway! “Don’t think for one second that I conjure up those crystal tears like you conjure rabbits out of a hat.”
He shook his head, giving her a small smile. “I don’t pull rabbits out of hats. That’s an old, played-out trick.”
She stacked some boxes, willing her hands to remain steady. His larger, warm palm covered the top of one of her hands. “I’m sorry, angel,” he said quietly. “The last thing I want to do is argue.” He raised her chin with the tip of his index finger. “Please, have lunch with me. No matter what else you might think of me, I might as well be a stranger to Long Island, for I’ve been away so long, from it…and you.”
Her eyes flew to his.
“I want to feel home again and,” he hesitated for just a second. “…and I’d like to get to know you better.”
She swallowed around a lump in her throat when he mentioned home and her in the same breath. “I’ll see if someone can cover for me.”
He grabbed the bags from the counter. In the next instant, her lips buzzed, her mouth softening as Anthony’s fused with hers. She hadn’t seen him move, wasn’t aware of anything but the feel of his mouth as it melded with her lips.
“Sweet,” he murmured. “So sweet.”
She swayed, her body humming, her lips tingling. She shut her eyes, as the most delicious sensations pulsed through her…
When she opened them a few seconds later, the Amazing Zodan had disappeared.
She hadn’t heard him leave - just like she hadn’t heard him enter.
A sweet odor drifted by her nose…
Roses.
She glanced down at the counter.
One dozen white roses lay there, the stems completely devoid of thorns, their perfect petals gleaming under the light.
***
copyright 2007 by Catherine Chernow
This excerpt is subject to final edit and may differ slightly from the final version.
MAGIC MAN...available January 24, 2008 from www.ResplendencePublishing.com
