EJB: It feels good to talk with someone who understands. Who can see the things I need, what's inside.

CHARLEY: We all need that.

EJB: True, but I feel like we have a...connection. You have somehow managed to see things about me that even my closest friends don't know.

Charlotte sat back, looking warily at the words EJB typed in, unsure how to respond. It seemed like he was reading her mind, mirroring her thoughts. She'd been purposely trying to keep things less s.e.xual tonight, concentrating on his deeper needs, his emotional situation, but even so, she still had this in credible feeling of electricity just talking to him. And apparently he felt it, too.

She knew it was breaking her own set of professional rules, but she followed her heart.

CHARLEY: I know. I've felt it, too. But it's not right for me to get personally involved with a client...

EJB: How could this not be personal? Everything we've shared has been personal. Intimate.

CHARLEY: I've just never had this happen before. It's very powerful.

Yeah, right. EJ rolled his eyes, ignoring his own increased heartbeat, telling himself it was just excitement at setting the trap while he tapped at the keys, playing out the conversation.

EJB: Me, either. But I feel like the change that the cards say is coming into my life is...you. Maybe the risk I'm supposed to take involves you.

CHARLEY: You really think so?

Charlotte's heart beat furiously, and her palms were actually sweating. On some level she'd known this was going to happen-there had just been something about their previous conversation that suggested it-but still, she couldn't believe it was really happening. It was so...romantic. She and this man she'd never met had a genuine, spiritual bond, and it was the most romantic thing she'd ever experienced. He wasn't like other men who were condescending about her spirituality or her tarot reading, or who approached s.e.x as if it were a sport. EJB was sensitive, expressive and open. She and this man she'd never met had a genuine, spiritual bond, and it was the most romantic thing she'd ever experienced. He wasn't like other men who were condescending about her spirituality or her tarot reading, or who approached s.e.x as if it were a sport. EJB was sensitive, expressive and open.

EJB: What do the cards say?

She picked up her deck, and shuffled carefully, holding the deck close by her heart, feeling the cool breeze from the window against her overly warm skin as she cut the deck and took the card from the top, flipping it over slowly, hoping...The Lovers.

3.

CHARLOTTE'S HEART leapt as she looked down at the nude figures intertwined in a pa.s.sionate embrace even though she knew the cards were not literal-seeing the leapt as she looked down at the nude figures intertwined in a pa.s.sionate embrace even though she knew the cards were not literal-seeing the Death Death card didn't mean you were going to die, and seeing card didn't mean you were going to die, and seeing The Lovers The Lovers didn't necessarily mean you were going to become romantically involved. But it didn't mean you weren't, either. It all depended on free will, and what she decided to do at this very critical moment. She could walk away, or she could take a chance. didn't necessarily mean you were going to become romantically involved. But it didn't mean you weren't, either. It all depended on free will, and what she decided to do at this very critical moment. She could walk away, or she could take a chance.

She clicked the image so it appeared on the screen for EJB to see, too, not typing a word.

EJB: That's amazing.

CHARLEY: It can be about difficult situations, and making good choices. It's not always about romance.

EJB: Maybe we should choose to make it about romance.

CHARLEY: (smiling) I was kind of hoping you'd say that.

She let out a happy little squeak after she'd typed the words, bopping up and down and nearly knocking the laptop from its perch on her thighs. She was excited as all get out. Could this really be happening to her?

Thoughts raced through her mind. What did EJB look like? What was his voice like? What color were his eyes? He had to be handsome, with the active s.e.x life he'd mentioned. She thought about that for a second, and shrugged. So what if he was a bit of a playboy? If she was going to try to have a romance, it might as well be with a man who knew what he was doing.

She wondered what his real name was. She had seen his credit card payment, but it just said his last name-Beaumont-and the first two initials. She wanted to know his first name, so she could see how it felt moving past her lips for the very first time.

EJB: Can we set the tarot cards aside for a few minutes and get to know each other a little bit?

CHARLEY: Okay. I was just thinking I wanted to know what your real first name was.

EJB: (smiling) I guess that's a good place to start. Actually, I usually go by my initials, EJ, since my dad, and my grandad, had the same first and middle names. But my full name is Ethan Jared Beaumont.

Charlotte pressed a hand to her heart, inhaling and then whispering the name on the breath she released. He even had a romantic name, for goodness sake. She said it over a few times, and then answered.

CHARLEY: May I call you Ethan?

EJB: I kind of prefer EJ, only because my dad was Ethan, and I'd rather hear my name than his off your beautiful lips. And I a.s.sume your real name is not Charley?

CHARLEY: No, but it's a shortened form of my real name, Charlotte.

EJB: That's beautiful-it's incredibly s.e.xy. I've never known a woman with that name. Until you.

Charlotte felt herself blush, and rolled her eyes at herself. Oh, my.

CHARLEY: Thank you. What else would you like to talk about? I asked about names, so I guess it's your turn.

EJB: Personally, I'm wondering what you like in bed. What your favorite spot to be touched is, what makes you cry out.

CHARLEY: I haven't had all that much experience finding out, I'm afraid to say. Does that bother you?

EJ scowled at the screen. What game was she playing now? He was supposed to be playing the dupe, letting himself appear to be reeled in, so he played along.