Page 8 of A Highland Gargoyle's Lucky Star
When I exit the back room and return to the main store, I do feel a little bad for taking advantage of a free reading, so I decide to buy a black tourmaline beaded bracelet for protection against negative energies. Mom would be so proud!
He rings up my purchase and I pay him with some of the cash Jared gave me as my severance, then thank him again and leave the shop. It’s only when I get home that I realize I never learned the man’s name.
Hmm, I’ll have to ask him the next time I stop by there.
Back in my studio apartment, I hop in the bathroom’s cramped shower stall to wash off the grime from my last night working at the bar and change into a T-shirt and a comfy pair of sweats.
I’m still a bit amped up after my tarot card reading, so I decide to indulge in one of my secret pleasures—namely, rewatching some of my favorite episodes ofOutlanderso I can ogle the ultra-sexy Jamie Fraser.
In a kilt.
That man is hot like fire, with a body and voice that make me weak in the knees—and tingly in my ball sac.
Fictional men are often so much better than the ones I’ve dated.
My love life has been about as successful as my employment history. My tendency to attract problems has always ended up foiling any attempts at more serious, long-term relationships. The most I’ve ever managed was two months, and that was years ago.
These days, I haven’t had a lot of time for dating, hence my casual arrangement with Matt. Working night shifts at a bar also makes it hard to even meet someone considering most people have more conventional day jobs.
“Wear that kilt, you sexy bastard,” I murmur to the screen as Jamie and his compatriots stand against the stunning backdrop of the Highlands.
I sigh longingly.
And that’s when it hits me. I totally fucking know one of my heart’s desires!
I sit up straight, heart racing.
My cell phone rings suddenly, and I startle at the sight of my mom’s name flashing across the screen.
I hurry to answer her call. “Mom, are you okay?” I look at the clock. “It’s after one in the morning.”
Her light, airy voice has a faint chiding tone to it. “I think the question is, are you all right? Something woke me up and told me I needed to call you.”
My mom’s always been like this. I don’t know if I would call her psychic exactly, but she has some kind of extrasensory abilities. She always seems to know when I need help. Or maybe that’s just heightened maternal instincts I’ll never fully understand?
Whatever the case, I smile warmly and lean back on the couch as I regale her with the latest tale of woe. She listens attentively, murmuring words of support and encouragement along the way. But when I get to The Magic Shop’s owner and my tarot card reading, she gasps. “It’s a sign! You have to listen to it, Noah.”
“Yeah, weirdly enough, I kind of think so too. It was a little eerie, but what I experienced was so intense and unusual, I can’t dismiss it.” I rub a hand over my stomach. “My gut’s telling me I need to do what he told me.”
There’s a long pause before she asks, “Do you finally know the answer to your heart’s desire?”
I swallow. “I think so.” I muster up my nerve.This plan isn’t crazy, right?“I’m going on my bucket list trip… to Scotland.”
She inhales sharply and gives a dreamy sigh. “How perfect! You’ve wanted to go there ever since you were young. I remember how you liked to sneak-read my Highland warrior romances.”
It’s my turn to gasp. “You knew about that?”
She chortles. “Ha! You weren’t exactly stealthy about it, my dear.”
“Those books were lots of fun.” I sigh. “Although, I do wish there were more of the gay variety to be found.”
“I’ll look for some for you for Christmas,” she says, a familiar note of determination in her voice that I know all too well.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Hmmm. Now that I think about it, most of your formative crushes were Scottish actors too.”
“Mom,” I whine, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
