NICO
The smell of Brooke’s perfume filled Nico’s head and made him want to groan. “If this astrology stuff works, can I delete my dating apps?” he asked, leaning back in his chair, trying to relax. Being this close to Brooke had him flustered.Does she have any idea I’ve been secretly fantasizing about her for months?
Brooke rested one slender hand on the leather book on her desk, a look of certainty flashing in her eyes. “All you need to do is lean into the process and leave the rest to me. My engagement and marriage numbers go up every day because astrology works.”
Nico smiled at the pride in her voice. Talk about taking a leap of faith. As Brooke typed on her keyboard, his gaze slid to her profile. She wore her blonde hair twisted up in a bun, with loose pieces falling over the slim column of her neck. His gaze moved lower to her pink dress. The color brought out the blue in her eyes, and the fabric dipped low in the front, showing a hint of cleavage. Long, toned legs peaked out from under the desk and sent his pulse jackhammering. He could barely string words together the first time they had met at Alex and Willow’s rehearsal dinner.
He’d been drawn in by her whimsical air. But after spending some time talking to her, he found her to be sweet, and self-deprecating, with a great laugh. He wanted to ask her out right then and there, but he heard she was seeing someone. He just hoped whoever he was, he treated her right. “This system has been used for centuries to connect couples and help them find love and fulfill their desires,” Brooke’s sultry voice interrupted his thoughts.
My desire’s sitting right in front of me.“So what you’re telling me is that my sun sign determines who I’ll be the most sexually compatible with?”
She exhaled a shaky breath. “In a nutshell…yes. Think of this as the science of destiny for those looking for a deeper, more cosmic connection.” He found the hitch in her voice mesmerizing.
Their gazes locked, and lit off a firestorm in his chest. He wanted her more than ever. Too bad she was already taken. He’d watched as a steady stream of guys from the wedding took turns hitting on her, not that he could blame them. Her body could stop traffic, and her smile exuded confidence. She seemed to have no idea of her allure, which made her even more attractive.
Glancing at her desk, a vase containing a single red rose caught his eye. He wondered if her boyfriend had given it to her. “How did you get into astrology?”
Darkness stole over her face, extinguishing the lightness in her eyes. “I inherited my gift from my mom, who inherited it from my grandmother.” The question seemed to bother her like a secret she kept buried deep. He wanted to ask why, but he didn’t want to put her on the spot.
She reached over and handed him a small book, titledThe Zodiac. “Here, this will give you a quick overview of astrology. Why don’t you take a look through this while I finish your chart?”
“Sure.” He caught another whiff of her perfume, and his groin tightened against the front panel of his jeans. He wanted to lick her neck and taste the sweetness of her skin. Flipping through the pages of the book, he tried to tamp down his arousal.
Nico imagined doing things with Brooke he hadn’t done with any other woman. Sex with her would be exhilarating and passionate. He’d bet they could steam up the sheets and rip them to shreds for days on end.
She’d captured his imagination with her fascination with the planets and stars. By the end of the wedding weekend, Nico wanted her with an intensity he’d never experienced before in his life. And no matter how many times he tried to push her out of his mind, thoughts of her came creeping back, always lurking in the background.
He had enjoyed his fair share of flings, but always became disappointed when they ended. Deep down, he wanted someone to share his life with for the long haul. Could he trust her to help him find happiness? His gut told him she was the real deal. Shaking off his lust-fueled thoughts, he tried to understand the differences between an aspect and a house as he flipped through the pages of the book. Crushing on her would only muddy the waters.
“All done,” she said, exhaling a breath and looking up from her screen. “I also offer free couple’s counseling once you sign up. I highly recommend a coaching meeting after your dates. Do you have any questions?”
“Yeah, how does astrology determine sexual chemistry?”
The pulse pounded at her throat, and a lovely blush spread across her pale skin. She folded her hands on her lap. “I...um, outline a physical aesthetic that you might find attractive for your ideal partner. I should probably ask what things turn you on.”
“Long, deep kisses that last for hours. A partner who’s funny and adventurous in bed, and not afraid to ask for what she wants.”
Her pupils dilated at the same time her chest rose and fell. Maybe this attraction wasn’t one-sided after all. Her hands shook as she resumed typing on her keyboard. “I appreciate your honesty and I’m sure your dates will find your answers extremely interesting.”
“What now?”
“I think I have everything I need, except for some photos of you. Once I put the finishing touches on your birth chart, I’ll email you a copy, along with the contract, and a link with my fee.” She smiled. “No pressure. Read it over first and if you decide you want to move forward, I’ll get started on matching you up and helping you fall in love.”
Irritation coursed through his veins. She seemed to have no trouble fixing him up with other women. What was he thinking flirting with her while she was trying to set him up?Way to go.
Nico surged to his feet before he made a bigger fool out of himself. “Thanks for everything, Brooke. I appreciate your help.” He pulled out his card from his wallet and placed it on her desk. “I’ll be in touch.”
CHAPTER3
BROOKE
Brooke spent the rest of the day doing readings for her clients and scheduling appointments, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Nico. Her mouth watered every time she thought about him and his turn-ons, which were now downloaded into her memory, along with his profile.
Once she finished his birth chart, she emailed it to him, along with a short overview of what it all meant with an option for him to call or do a facetime with her to get a more detailed explanation. She purposefully left out the part about the South Node on his chart showing a past life.
Her phone buzzed with a text. She lifted it off her desk and looked at the screen. It was from Nico. She’d put his digits into her contacts just in case.
Nico: I’ve attached the signed contract, along with your fee. You’re hired, matchmaker.