Page 1 of Dirty Fortune

Prologue

Julie

Iwake up on the verge of an orgasm. Stupid sex dream. I've been having it for nine long years, and it always leaves me wanting. If I could just reach down to sate myself, but I don't want the last vestiges of the dream to disappear. He made me feel that way, but that time, he didn't leave me wanting. He rocked my world. We're ten years apart, but it didn't matter back then. It matters to my brother, which is why I have been avoiding Keith Matthews ever since. But the dreams keep coming. In a way, they are a comfort because every time I wake up to one, I feel close to him.

I get up and go to the bathroom to wash my face with cold water. My sex is tingling between my legs, and I try to ignore it as best I can. One look in the mirror confirms that I am flushed, and I turn away. Walking back into the bedroom, I see the clock says 3:21 a.m., and I groan. It's the middle of the night.

How am I supposed to get myself back to sleep being this turned on? My go-to is a cold shower, so I go back into my bathroom and take my sexy nightie off. That's probably what triggered the dream. I should sleep in flannel pajamas or a muumuu. I step inside the stall and open the faucet. The cold water makes me jump, but I need it to bring me back to my senses.

After fifteen horrible minutes, I shut the shower off and dried up with a towel. I feel better and more in control, but just to make sure, I'm going to open a self-help book or some other boring topic and read that until I fall asleep. Keith is one of my best-kept secrets, and he's going to stay that way.

Chapter 1

Julie

Sitting in the back of the limo with Amber, I'm starting to feel guilty about everyone going their own way. We are supposed to be here in Las Vegas for Hailey on her birthday, not to go gallivanting on our own experiences.

"Do you think Hailey and the others will be alright?" I ask Amber.

"I don't think we need to be fused at the hip to enjoy this trip. Besides, Hailey and Alice looked plenty happy to go their own way."

"I guess."

"Why'd you want to go see a fortune teller, of all things?"

"I had my future read once, and it was fun, and it turned out to be true that time. I'm hoping to get some inspiration from what she says and live it up here in Vegas."

"We don't have that long here, Julie."

I look out the window, and the limo stops in front of a small storefront that looks really woo-woo with hanging beads, crystal balls, and fake gemstones all over the window display.

"Oh hey! It looks like we're here." I turn to her. "You go do your thing, Amber. I'll see you tomorrow."

Jumping out of the car, I step across the sidewalk and try to peer inside the window. There's a sign in the window saying to ring the bell, so I do just that. The sound is very new-age, and I see a shadow move forward after a few seconds. I step back and inspect the fortune teller. She looks somehow familiar, but I can't place her.

"Welcome, welcome. I am Madame Marishka Valentini. You need your future told. I can feel it in the air around you."

She takes my hand and drags me through her shop towards a back room. The shop has a witchy feel, and I wonder if Madame plays with the occult. Finally, we reach our destination—a curtained-off room that smells strongly of patchouli. I don't mind the scent, but the smoke from the incense stick makes my nose twitch. Madame signals a chair for me to sit on while she putters around the room with no apparent goal.

Once she puts on her thick glasses, I finally realize who she reminds me of. That crazy professor at that wizarding school movie. She was always giving dreadful and dark readings to her students. I hope that is not an omen for what will happen tonight.

Finally, she sits down in front of me, a huge crystal ball between us. I sit back in the chair and relax a little. She's just going to pretend to look into the crystal ball and spew some stuff about me meeting a tall, dark, and handsome stranger.

I realize the incense has managed to relax me quite a bit, and I wonder if there's something else burning in here. I look up from the crystal ball and find Madame Marishka with a placid smile on her face.

"I know why you are here." She declares. "He's looking for you, too."

I sit up at that. Here's the fun part of talking to a fortune teller. They make up weird stuff that they think you'll like and get excited about. I'm all in for that. She gets up, moves the incense and crystal ball to the side, and reaches for both my hands. I hesitate. I don't want to touch her, but I know it's part of the spiel. So I relent and put my hands in hers.

Her fingers grab me a little too tight for comfort, and she closes her eyes. "You know him, you've loved him, but now it's time to suffer for that love." A chill runs down my spine, and my hands grow clammy.

I try to pull my hands from hers, but this woman looks to be in a trance. "He'll become your world, and you might not like it, but if you hold on to your true self, you'll find a love that not many find during their lifetime."

What the heck is wrong with this woman?

"Beware because there will be pain before there is pleasure."

Finally, she releases me, and we both sit back in our respective chairs. Her look changes into one of surprise.

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