Jinxed!

Holding a steaming container of freshly brewed tea in one hand and an oversized frosted cookie in the other, Lacey Perkins walked toward the fortune-telling table. Bright afternoon sunshine warmed Lacey's skin and, unable to resist its alluring heat, she paused for several seconds to savor the sensation. Closing her eyes, she tipped back her head and drew in several deep, appreciative breaths of fresh air redolent with the delicious scents wafting from the various food tents set up around the courtyard. She'd been cooped up in Constant Cravings since early this morning, and as much as she loved her coffee shop, she welcomed this momentary respite. She opened her eyes, then blinked against the sun's glare. Based on the crowded courtyard and the nonstop stream of customers who had filed into Constant Cravings from the moment she'd opened the doors this morning, the Valentine's Day party celebrating Fairfax's renovations was a huge success. Certainly her sales thus far today had exceeded her expectations. Throughout the course of the hectic day she'd recognized the faces of many of her regular customers--Baxter Hills locals and workers whose offices were located in the complex. Everyone from executives to the landscapers who kept the courtyard in pristine condition had dropped into her shop. But she was even more encouraged by the number of newcomers, many of whom reached for one of the business cards she kept stacked by the cash register. Hopefully those first-timers would come back for more of her specialty coffees, teas andfresh-baked goods. Check out her Web site. Hire her to bake custom items for their next special occasion or party. She'd worked long and hard to make her dream of running her own store a reality, and all she'd accomplished with Constant Cravings--the personal touches she'd put into the decor and the menu items--filled her with pride. While you couldn't swing a stick and fail to hit one of the coffee-house franchises that occupied space in nearly every block in the Los Angeles area, she'd worked to make Constant Cravings different in every way, from setting up her store in Baxter Hills--an up-and-coming area on the outskirts of the city--to the decorations, to the desserts she served, to the colorful napkins she used. She hoped the exposure from today's party would lead not only to those new faces becoming regular customers but to them telling their friends about her shop. Which would lead to even better sales. Which might finally get Evan Sawyer off her back. As if the mere thought of Fairfax's building manager--who, by virtue of that title was unfortunately her landlord--could make him materialize, her gaze happened upon him standing across the courtyard. His features were set in their usual scowl, and she wasn't in the least bit surprised to note that despite the warm weather and the fact that it was a Saturdayandthis was a party, he wore one of his uptight business suits complete with a perfectly knotted maroon tie. Annoyance rippled through her. The manalwayslooked perfect, as if he'd just stepped from someGQphoto shoot--dark suit perfectly fitted, dress shirt without a wrinkle, shoes buffed to a glossy shine. Even though the breeze currently ruffled his dark hair, he somehow managed to lookperfectlywindblown. Yes, his was the sort of irritating perfection that always made her feel gauche, messy, wilted and somehow undone--like an unmade bed. Made her want to smooth her hands over her own wrinkled attire, wish she'd taken more time with her out-ofcontrol curly hair and surreptitiously check her teeth to make sure no remnants of her spinach salad remained. Which was completely ridiculous. What did she care if he found her physical appearance lacking? While she grudgingly admitted that he'd neversaidsuch a thing, hedidhave a way of looking at her thaShalvis, Jill is the author of 'Jinxed! ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373793075 and ISBN 0373793073.