Amber: July: Mystic Zodiac, Book 7 by Brandy Walker Page B

just a weekend fling. That’s it. Nothing else. Just a fun way to experience some personal fireworks over the holiday weekend.
    “Amber, I think that spot is as clean as it’s going to get.” Frost’s amused voice broke her reverie.
    Chucking the rag in the bin, she grabbed her purse out of the safe and headed for the door. “Night,” she called out, walking away. She’d been caught mooning over a guy. Frost didn’t say it, but she could read it in his eyes. Could see the humor that danced in his light orbs.
    “Don’t think you’re getting away from me that easy.” Andreas strolled up next to her.
    “Well, you were so busy with Frost, I figured you had a different date for the night.”
    “Not likely, glykó mou.” He draped an arm around her shoulders, tugging her in close.
    She damn near melted into his side. His warmth and spicy scent washed over her, easing the tension that built during work. The longer she stood in the shelter of his arm, the quicker that tension turned into something more sensual. Her mind assaulted her with thoughts of how it felt to be filled by him. How he thrust into her like she was his only safe haven.
    As they reached her SUV, she pulled the keys out. As quickly as she had them in her hand, they were gone. Andreas plucked them from her fingers and guided her to the passenger seat.
    Getting her up into the seat, he leaned across her body and buckled her in. He paused, their faces in alignment. Pressing a swift kiss on her lips, he shifted back marginally. “You relax. I’ll take care of you.”
    The door closed, and he was in the driver’s seat before she registered how much she loved hearing those words. The internal battle of resisting and reminding herself not to fall for him dissipated, and she allowed herself to relax.

Chapter 12
    July 6th – Monday 1400
    A mber puttered around the kitchen in an attempt to keep her mind and hands busy. She straightened the towel hanging on the oven handle. Adjusted the mugs sitting next to the coffee maker. She wiped down the counters. Looked through the fridge, tossing out any expired or old food.
    Andreas had called his friend Theo over ten minutes ago to come and get him. She didn’t know where the man was coming from, so she had no idea when to expect him.
    With her lover back in the bedroom getting dressed after pulling his clothes from the dryer, she felt aimless and adrift. Her heart worked over time, beating out of control as nerves attacked her.
    Their weekend together was over, and for the love of Demeter, she didn’t know what to do. Her life felt as if it were careening out of control. Feelings and emotions welled in her chest. Things she had never dealt with before. Nervousness. Discontent. Uncertainty. Her stomach tumbled uncomfortably. Those damn butterflies threatening to escape at any minute.
    She fixed herself a cup of coffee. Breathing in the normally soothing scent of a fresh brew. Yet this time, it made the butterflies dance harder and nausea churn.
    Moving into the dining room, she walked over to the bay window and stared out, checking to see if her neighbors were up to anything even remotely interesting. Marge plucked weeds from her flower garden. Mr. Henderson, Marge’s next-door neighbor, pretended not to ogle her, while sitting on his front porch. The two retirees were usually a hoot to watch, but today Amber couldn’t fall into their antics.
    A huge black truck pulled up into her driveway. The rumbling of the engine vibrated the ground enough to feel it inside the house. The door popped open and out stepped Theo, the shaggy-haired wolf. He slammed the door and looked around. Marge, the sweet dear and nosy neighbor she was, practically flew across the street to intercept him, and no doubt interrogate him.
    Not a single person could come into their cul-de-sac without her knowing who they were and why they were there. She protected them all in her own quirky way. Amber was sure she caught the older woman casting