One Wish Read online

  "Are you scared?"

  Jillian paused a moment and searched her soul for the answer to that question. She thought about what it would be like to not have Luke in her life. Her heart constricted at the painful notion. She gasped for air, as though a hand suddenly seized her throat.

  "Jillian?” he asked, instantly alarmed. “What's wrong?"

  "I don't know,” she managed to squeak out. “I just thought...” She shook her head. “I've lost everyone, Luke. Everyone but Aunt Fae. I can't imagine losing you, too. I can't imagine what I would do if anything ever happened—"

  "Hey,” he said as his feet hit the floor and he reached for her. His arms slid around her waist and he pulled her to him. “Nothing's going to happen to me. Jesus, Jillian. I should have known that this is what you've been worried about all along.” One hand lifted to her hair and he smoothed it back, away from her face. “I know how hard it's been for you. I'm so sorry, Jillian. I'm so sorry you've lost people you've loved."

  "That's why I can't say it, Luke. To you."

  She felt him pull in a deep breath, let it out slowly. “I'm not going to force you and I sure as hell don't expect you to say it just because I did. I love you, Jillian. I always have. And last night, I was ready to tell you. When you're ready, you'll tell me."

  "No,” she said miserably as she shook her head. “I won't. I can't. I wish I could, Luke. I really do.” She stared up at him, and said, “I wish I could tell you exactly how I feel about you and we'd live happily ever after, but I don't be—"

  A sudden knock on her bedroom door interrupted Jillian from telling Luke she didn't believe in happily ever after. She wiggled out of his embrace and turned to open the door. Jillian frowned. There was no one there.

  "Sera?” she called out.

  No answer.

  "That's weird,” she said. Jillian turned back to Luke and the oddest feeling ribboned through her, wrapping around her heart, stealing her breath.

  Before her stood the man of her dreams. The man she'd loved since she was fifteen years old. The only man she would ever love. The only man she would ever want.

  And suddenly, the intense desire to tell Luke how she felt, to finally-finally-share her feelings with him swelled so fast and furious inside her that the words fell from her lips, unbidden, before she could stop them.

  "I love you."

  Luke moved toward her just as she stepped forward and they fell into each other's arms. He kissed her deeply, then said, “We're together now, Jillian. Forever."

  It was bliss.

  * * * *

  Sera sat on the granite counter in Jillian's spacious kitchen. All the food she'd made would go to waste because Luke and Jillian were making love again. But that was okay. As Sera plucked another quarter-sized, spiked pickle from the jar she'd discovered in Jillian's cupboard, the words she'd said to Jillian last night came back to her:

  If I can have more of these ... Wickles, you called them? ... then I'll grant you two wishes instead of one.

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  About the Author

  Calista Fox began her fiction-writing career in junior high, when she penned stories of adventure, intrigue and romance for her friends and wrote an ongoing soap opera (for seven years!) based in a fictitious seaside town. After graduating college, she worked as a public relations manager for the CEO of a Department of Defense contractor. In 2004, Calista shifted directions, leaving speech and congressional testimony writing behind to return to her first love, romantic fiction. Between Calista and her alter-ego, Ava McKnight, she has contracted nearly 20 stories, with publication dates scheduled into 2009. Her books have received rave reviews and she is also the recipient of a Reviewer's Choice award for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Novella.

  Calista lives in Arizona, but spends much of her time in San Diego, Mexico and Washington, DC. She loves to travel and always has her laptop in tow. Visit the author at calistafox.com or myspace.com/calistafox. Calista loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to drop her a line at [email protected].

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