Love in Fantasy (Skeleton Key) Read Online Free Page A

back to work. Fifteen minutes later, a throat clears and I look up to see Willow standing in the doorway. All of the St. Claire girls favor each other, though they have varying shades of dark hair and green eyes. However, Willow looks the least like Pippa, her dark hair short and straight, and her eyes a brighter green. Yet, if they were together, no one would have any doubt they were sisters. I wave her in and she removes her suit jacket before sitting in the chair James recently vacated.
    “I heard James Pierce is back,” she states without preamble.
    “Yes,” I confirm, curious what her reaction will be.
    “I’d um—I’d rather not work with him. If you don’t mind,” she says hesitantly. “I don’t want anything to do with him. He obviously hasn’t felt anything for me in a long time.”
    “Done.” I nod to accentuate my agreement. They will be in completely different departments of the company anyway. The last thing I need right now is drama from star-crossed lovers. Besides, it looks as though I’ll be helping her find her true love soon. I sound like a motherfucking fairy godmother.
    “Thanks,” she murmurs as she gets to her feet. “By the way,” she adds with a smirk. “My sisters and I are rooting for you. We think you’re good for Pippa and we’ve done our best to sway her.” Her smile turns rueful. “But she’s stubborn as an ox. Good luck, Oliver.” With a small wave, she leaves, turning left, back to the offices rather than the parking lot.
    I lean back in my chair, contemplating the circumstances of the day. My wandering eyes land on the empty chair and I realize she’s left her jacket hanging on the back. She appeared to be going back to her office, so I think I can catch her. I’m ready to head out for the day and grab my things. As I pick up her coat, I’m suddenly imagining myself dropping Wilhelm into her pocket. The thought sets the little bugger humming and I take it out and slip it into her jacket. Wait . . . Did that little fucker just Jedi mind trick me? I groan silently to myself. This is really getting out of hand.
    Tossing the piece of clothing over my arm, I set off for the back of the building where there are offices and labs. When I find her alone, I frown. “You left your coat.” I hold it up for emphasis. She smiles in thanks as I hang it on the hook beside the door. “Make sure somebody walks you to your car tonight, Willow. Royalty or not, it’s all the same to someone bent on doing harm.”
    “I’ll have a security guard escort me,” she agrees. I stare her down for a moment, trying to decide if she’s taking me seriously. When I’m satisfied that she is, I lift my chin in farewell and head out to my car. Once I’m inside and driving home, a question occurs to me—how will I get Wilhelm back? Shit.
    I get home and find myself spending the evening brooding in my library, sipping on scotch and staring at my fireplace. My vision is getting fuzzy, and I blink a few times to clear it, because what I think I’m seeing can’t possibly be what I’m really seeing. Images in the flames? For fuck’s sake, is this Harry Potter now? I had hoped we’d confined this lunacy to fairy tales.
    A glance at the clock above the mantle tells me it’s a few minutes after midnight. It’s not exactly shocking, at this point. I look back to the fire and the images—no—the movie has become clear, almost as though it’s being projected onto the flames. That’s when I realize, it’s my fantasy. Okay. This is more like it. I refill my drink and relax into my comfy chair, visions of my woman and our life together dancing in my head.
     
    Meanwhile. . .

Willow’s Fantasy
     
    W illow lifts her head from where it was cradled in her arms on her desk and looks around, confused at finding herself still in her office at work. She sighs, so desperate to avoid her empty, lonely home, she fell asleep at her desk, again. She can’t avoid it forever, so she stands and lifts