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believed. He didn’t want to risk losing her through arrogance. If thinking she could kill him was what robbed her of any fear he’d be happy to perpetuate that belief.
    Jeremy kicked off his jeans, curled up on top of the bed and buried his nose into the sheets where Lee had been. He fell asleep thinking about how marvelous his witch looked when her green eyes lit with angry fire and her lips pushed out in a pout.
    * * * * *
    Lee was fumbling for her keys, the helmet hanging from one hand, when the door down the hallway opened. She tried to hurry and ended up dropping the keys. Damn. She was scrambling on the floor, cursing quietly under her breath, when she heard her neighbor’s cheerful greeting.
    “Hi, Lee! Oh my God, what on earth are you wearing? Really, girl, you have to be more aware of how you dress, even while riding that dratted bike of yours. You never know who you might run into.”
    Lee’s eyes focused on delicate gold sandals and moved up over cream-colored cropped pants and a pale pink t-shirt. Well-groomed, that described Alicia. She had a cap of sleek blonde hair, artfully streaked with copper, and a way of dressing that showed off her tall, leggy looks without ever being overdone. Lee almost snarled. She alternated between considering Alicia her friend and seeing her as a particularly nosy neighbor. Today the woman definitely fell in the nosy neighbor category.
    Alicia had been ragging on her recently to dress better. Lee had made the mistake of complaining about the dearth of men in her life and that had resulted in a critical analysis of her wardrobe and personal style—or lack thereof. Apparently now that she was thirty she could no longer rely on her “natural pretty face” to catch a man. To which Lee had replied that any man who wanted a painted Barbie doll in designer clothing wasn’t her type. Alicia’s snide comment that she was too old for university boys and had better learn to fish in different waters still stung.
    Lee stood and deliberately tugged on Jeremy’s oversized t-shirt. “Oh this? I borrowed it from a friend.” She thoroughly enjoyed the way Alicia’s eyes widened.
    “A tall friend,” Alicia said in a voice ripe with curiosity.
    “Very tall. You’d like him. Which is why I have no intention of introducing you.”
    The blonde woman laughed. “Since when have I ever poached on your turf? I know how to play safe. Besides, he’s probably one of those rugged outdoorsy types.”
    “Definitely outdoorsy.” Lee smirked. Having sex in the woods was not on Alicia’s to-do list. But then guys had been known to change their preferences to be with a stunning blonde. She’d meet Jeremy down in the lobby tonight, just in case her door was being staked out. “I really need a nap. Chat later.”
    “Oh, come on, Lee. Don’t leave me hanging. Who is this guy? And where have you been? I called twice to see if you wanted to work out.” They sometimes went down to the local gym and did the weight room together. Alicia worked as a manager at a fancy hotel and had odd shifts as well.
    Lee grinned. “Sorry. Been busy.” With that she slipped into her apartment and shut the door.
    Damn, that felt good, getting one up on Ms. Perfect Blonde. Piquing Alicia’s interest might not have been a good idea but it was true that she had never moved in on any of her interests. Unlike Barb, the so-called best friend. She would not think about Barb…or Ryan. That was a year and a half ago and she was so over it.
    Lee kicked off her boots and tossed her riding stuff into the entryway closet. She striped off her jeans as she hopped to the bedroom. Those pants were disgusting and the quicker she got out of them the better. She fell into bed and stared at the ceiling. The faces of two men floated in front of her. One was angular and feral, the other boyish but lit up with a wicked smile.
    She had been stupid enough to tell Ryan about her psychic abilities—not the other magics she could do, just