“How long,” he repeated with exasperation, “must one wait before the wish comes true?”
“It depends on what you wished for.” She made it sound as though she had accumulated all the knowledge there was on the subject. “Certain wishes require a bit of manipulating by the forces that be. However, I’m only familiar with wishes made in American fountains. Things could be much different here. It could be that the wish fairies who guard this fountain are on a slower time scale than elsewhere.”
“I see.” It was clear from the frown that dented his brow that he didn’t.
“Maybe you should just tell me what you wished for,” Stephanie suggested next, “and I can give you an estimate of the approximate time you’ll have to wait for your wish.”
“It’s my understanding that one must never reveal one’s wish.”
“That’s not true anymore.” Stephanie laughed, enjoying their inane discussion. “Science has proved that theory to be inaccurate.’’
“Oh?”
“Yes, I’m surprised you didn’t read about it.”
“So am I.” He reached for her hand, and they resumed their walk. “But if that’s the case, then perhaps you’d be willing to share your wish with me.”
Color instantly flooded Stephanie’s cheeks. She should have known Jonas would turn the tables on her when she least expected it.
“Stephanie?”
It was completely absurd. With everything that was in her she’d wished that Jonas would take her in his arms and kiss her. It was silly and impractical, and as he’d pointed out earlier, a waste of good money.
When she didn’t respond immediately, Jonas stopped and turned, standing directly in front of her so that he could look into her eyes.
Stephanie felt the color mount in her face.
“I would think that one who was a self-proclaimed expert on the subject of fountains and wishes would have no qualms about revealing her own wish.” He placed his finger under her stubborn chin, elevating her gaze so that she couldn’t avoid his.
“I...”
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“I wasted the wish on something impractical,” she blurted out. The whole park seemed to have gone quiet. Wind ruffled the foliage around them and hissed through the branches, but even the trees seemed to have paused as though they too were interested in her reply. Stephanie swallowed uncomfortably, convinced that Jonas could read her thoughts and that he was silently laughing at her.
“I fear I wasted my wish as well,” he informed her softly.
“You did?” Her eyes sought his for the first time.
He placed his hands on each side of her neck at the gentle sloping of her shoulders. “I’m seldom impractical.”
“I... know.”
His mouth descended an inch closer to hers, so close that she could feel his warm breath fanning her face. An inch more and their lips would touch. Stephanie moistened her lips, realizing all at once how very much she wanted to taste his mouth on hers. Her breath froze in her lungs; even her heart stopped beating.
“Could your wish have been as impractical as mine?” There was an unmistakable quaver to his voice.
Stephanie levered her hands against his chest, flattening her palms over his heart. His pulse was strong and even. “Yes.” The lone word was breathless and weak, barely audible.
His arms went around her, anchoring her against him. Gently, he laid his cheek alongside hers, rubbing the side of his face over hers as though he feared her touch, yet craved it. Stephanie closed her eyes, savoring his nearness, his warmth and the vital feel of him. A thousand objections shot through her mind, but she refused to listen to even one. This was exactly what she’d wished for at the fountain, fool that she was.
Jonas turned his head and nuzzled her ear with his nose, and she noted his breathing was shallow. His arms tightened around her and he whispered her name, entreating her—for what, Stephanie didn’t know.
It was at the back of her mind that she should break free, but something much stronger than the force of her will kept her motionless. He was her employer; they argued constantly and battled with each other at the office. Jonas Lockwood was an arrogant, domineering chauvinist. But all her arguments were burned away like deadwood in a forest fire as his lips moved to her hair. He kissed the top of her head, her cheek, her ear, and then moved back to her hair. He paused, holding her to him as though it were the most natural thing in the world for them to be wrapped in each other’s arms.
“Tell me, Stephanie,” Jonas asked in a hoarse whisper. “Did you wish for the same thing I did?”
Their eyes met hungrily and locked. Stephanie nodded, unable to answer him with words.