The Billionaire Matchmaker Test (Billionaire Online Dating Service #5) - Elle James Page 0,66

fend for herself? Who’s going to make the run to the convenience store for your latest cravings of sardines and pickles?"

"He’s got orders to pick some up on the way home. How are you, Alex?"

"Great. I'm in the best shape I've been in a long time, I'm healthy, my business is booming and I've never been happier." Geez, she sounded like a broken record. A pathetic broken record, at that.

"Lonely, huh?"

That empty feeling gripped her belly and she automatically reached over the side of her bed to pat Sport's head. His wet nose nuzzled her hand. Was she lonely? Was that why she'd called Lucie in the first place? "Yeah, a little."

"Consider yourself hugged."

"Thanks." But a real hug would have been much warmer. From a real man—even better.

"Did Calliope give you the present?"

"Yeah. Actually, that's why I called." Alex lifted the pouch in her hand. "What is it?"

"A little Voodoo good luck for one of my best friends."

She grimaced. "Uh, gee thanks, Lucie. I can't tell you how happy it makes me."

"Relax, Alex." Lucie laughed into her ear. "You won't wake up as a frog or anything. My grandmother helped me with it, so don’t worry."

"I can't tell you how relieved I am." Only slightly. Madame LeBieu knew her stuff. As the well-renowned Voodoo queen of the bayou, her spells always worked the way she intended. Unlike Lucie’s.

“I can tell you’re not thrilled.” Lucie laughed. “Gran watched me every step of the way. She loves you like another granddaughter. Why would she propose something that would hurt you?”

“Let me remind you, she turned Craig Thibodeaux into a frog,” she said, her voice flat.

“Yeah, but it all worked out in the end, didn’t it?” Lucie sighed. “I love you, Alex. I just want you to be happy.”

“I’m happy.” Her hand tightened on the phone. “Why can’t everyone figure that out?”

“Maybe you protest too much?”

“I’m not protesting.” Alex realized, as she said it, she was doing just that. Her lips clamped shut.

“Is it a crime to want all my friends to be as happy as I am?” Lucie’s voice drifted off.

She could imagine Lucie patting her swelling belly, and a sudden surge of maternal longing struck her right between the breasts. Why was she mooning over having a baby? Hell, she’d helped raise all her younger brothers and sisters. “I’m happy. Really.” Even to her own ears, her voice wasn’t very convincing.

“Give the Voodoo charm a chance, Alex. That’s all I ask.”

Lucie’s voice cut through her ill temper and she relented. “Assuming I give it a chance, what is it supposed to do?”

A long pause met her question. Not a good sign. “I’m not exactly sure. Gran LeBieu said it would bring you good luck.”

“In terms of what?” A chill swept down Alex’s spine.

A whimpering sound rose from the floor beside her. Sport must have sensed her unease.

“It’s okay, really. Gran LeBieu wouldn’t give you anything that would hurt you.”

“I’m shaking in my sheets here.”

“Look, if you don’t want it, bring it back with you the next time you’re in Baton Rouge.”

“I will.”

“And when will that be?” Lucie demanded.

“As soon as I can break free from the gym.” She knew that was an excuse. The thought of visiting Lucie in all her happy, pregnant glory made her own life look boring, lackluster, and downright sad.

“You’re working too hard, Alex. Let Harry take over for a weekend. You need some down time.”

She straightened her shoulders, refusing to give into downheartedness. “No, I like being busy.”

“And you like going home alone?”

“Yes.”

"Alex, it’ll happen for you," Lucie said. "When you least expect it, love will knock you over."

"Like it happened with you?" She snorted. "I don't want to fall in love because of a Voodoo love potion. I want a man who loves me for me."

"Much as I'd like to take credit, my love spell never worked. Gran LeBieu confirmed, it had to be cast by a love bug, not a lady bug. If you remember, we couldn't find any love bugs, so we used a ladybug. She let me think it worked to teach me a lesson."

"What?" She shook her head. "You mean my dumb brother didn't need a kick in the pants to tell you he loved you?”

"Maybe he needed that kick in the pants, but he didn't need the love spell."

"I knew that," Alex said. She didn't know whether Lucie's news was good or bad. If the love spell didn't work, what were her chances at love? She fingered the velvet bag. "So, Lucie, what is this bag, really?"

"Gran LeBieu said it would help make your wishes come true."

Alex shuddered. "Kinda like my genie in a bottle?"

"I'm not entirely sure. I just thought you needed a little push, a boost to get you started."

"Look, Lucie, just because you're in love and that makes you happy, doesn't mean I have to be in love to be happy." But she had been pretty lonely since Lucie left. And she hadn't had a decent date in...When her visual memories started dating back to high school and she couldn't name a single unforgettable—happily they’d been forgettable—date, she grimaced. "Okay, I'll keep your gift for now, but I'm still not convinced I need it."

"Which makes me all the more convinced you do."

"I have my own business, my own home and a wonderful, if a little meddling, family. I don't need a love interest."

"Oh, Alex. You're my best friend in the world and I only wish you could feel how I feel."

"That's you, honey. And I'm happy for you." She didn't add, and I miss you like crazy. Why mar Lucie's happiness?

"Oh, Ben just walked in," Lucie said. "Hey, mon cher, anything you want to say to your baby sister?"

The distinct sound of smacking noises carried across the line and Lucie giggled. "Beeennn, I'm on the phone with your sister." Another giggle.

A pang of longing twisted in her gut. Again. What the hell was going on?

"Alex? That you?" Ben's voice blasted into Alex's ear.

"Yeah, bro."

"Lucie's gotta go now."

More giggling erupted in the background and an indignant, "Ben! What about the baby?"

"Look, I have some ironing to do," she said. Suddenly, she couldn't stand listening to their playful antics on the phone.

"Yeah, okay," Ben said, obviously distracted.

"Tell Lucie I'll call tomorrow."

"Gotcha—damn..." A loud clunk was followed by dead air of being disconnected.

Alex plugged the phone into the charger on the nightstand and turned off the light.

She fought the strange pressure in her chest. What was wrong with her? She was happy. She sniffed. Was she coming down with a cold? Were her glands swelling in her throat, choking off her air?

A tear slid down her cheek. Oh hell. She didn't need this. Self-pity was for weenies, not for black belts in karate or really kick-ass business owners.

She flung her hand out, bouncing it off the empty pillow beside her. The velvet pouch bumped against her fingers.

"Sport?"

After a brief pause, a cold, wet nose poked up over the side of the bed.

"I'm so lucky to have you." She ran her hand over his velvety snout. A long tongue snaked out and licked her fingers.

Sport was always there for her without being annoying or obsessive. Alex shivered. She'd had her share of boyfriends and stalkers. She'd rather remain celibate than go through that again.

But deep down, she ached for that closeness. And hell, she hadn't had sex in so long she wondered if she remembered how. Was she going to die one of those frigid old maids destined to read erotic romance novels to get her jollies?

I'm Pathetic.

And her mother would drive her stark-raving mad if she didn't quit shoving fresh meat at her every chance she got.

"Oh Sport, I wish you were a man. That would solve all my problems.” She settled against her pillow and closed her eyes. "It would take a lot of magic to get my mother to back off. I’m not even sure having my own choice of a boyfriend will satisfy the woman." She yawned and snuggled in, pulling the comforter up to her chin to ward off the chill of the air conditioner.

As she drifted into a half-awake, half-asleep state, the bed sank down on the far side. Sport had leapt up beside her.

Too tired to tell him to get down, she gave up and let go.

A thrumming sound filled her dreams, building into a full bass echo of drums. Somewhere in the back of her sleep-numbed mind, she recognized the drums as those played at the Voodoo ceremonies Madame LeBieu conducted on those rare occasions when a little extra umph was needed to initiate one of her spells.

Just as she succumbed to oblivion, an eerie chant echoed through her head, "Wishes come true. Wishes come true. Wishes come true."

Alex sighed and gave in to the magic.

If only wishes really came true.