Suddenly Sexy(47)

She snapped her hand out and turned away. "It's working. You must have noticed all the men looking at me at the market on Saturday."

"Maybe they were looking because you're a beautiful woman."

"They never used to look. Trust me, I've been in this body for thirty years, and I've never had as much attention as I had on Saturday. Pheramour makes people of the opposite sex attracted to the wearer." She turned back to him. "That's why you still think I look beautiful. It'll wear off after a few more showers."

He sat back and stared at her for a long time then he stared at the carpet again because looking at her hurt. It wasn't real. None of this was real.

He wasn't in love.

Most guys would have been relieved to discover that. Hell, he would've been relieved a week ago. Not now.

"Sam? Are you okay?"

He laughed but it sounded hollow. "Just great. My whole life has been turned upside down, so yeah, I feel wonderful. You?"

"I'm sorry—"

"So you said."

"I really am. I didn't think you'd take it this hard. I thought you'd be happy."

"I am happy, can't you tell?" His voice had risen a notch but he couldn't help it. He just wanted to yell and shout and tear out his heart because it hurt too much. "You must really hate me, Maddie."

"No! I don’t. Sam—"

"Yes, you do. Only someone who hates could make another person willingly feel this way. What did I ever do to deserve your hatred? Why the hell would you want to hurt me like this?"

She flinched and recoiled into the arm of the couch and he felt bad that he'd scared her with his raised voice. The damned Pheramour must still have a strong affect because as angry as he was, lashing out at Maddie didn't make him feel better. It just made him feel like crap, and that made him angrier because she was the one who'd done the wrong thing here, not him. He shouldn't feel guilty.

Damn it, he should have stayed in Sydney where the women used old fashioned methods to make a man fall in love like makeup, high heels and short skirts.

"I don't hate you, Sam, I—"

"Then why are you doing this to me? What have I ever done to you? I was always nice to you, even when we were kids and Pete used to tease you."

Her head snapped up. Finally, he'd got a reaction from the ice queen. Maybe now he'd get some answers.

"Nice to me!" She stood, fists clenched at her sides. "Your memory is very selective, Sam Hennessy. Typical man."

Now it was suddenly his fault. His and the entire male population. At least he wasn't alone.

"Maddie, what are you talking about?"

"You really don't remember?" She sneered. Her eyes flashed and brimmed with emotion.

He'd never seen her this angry and he racked his brain to remember what could possibly have happened to make her so mad at him. But he couldn't remember anything except that he liked her and wanted her. Hadn't it always been that way?

He shook his head slowly. "No, but I'm sure you'll tell me."

"You called me a nerd, Sam."





CHAPTER 16




"A nerd?" Sam frowned, trying to remember. "When?"

"I was in ninth grade." Maddie crossed her arms. "I was trying to help you and you shot me down."

He shook his head to clear it. This was totally surreal. He couldn't remember a damn thing about Maddie from high school except that she was smart. "Help me? Maddie." He reached for her but she shrugged him off and he let his hands drop to his sides. "I don't remember saying anything mean to you."

"That's because I was beneath your notice most of the time. Except when you deigned to remind me of my status." She stood and snatched her bag off the floor.

Oh hell, she was leaving. Not like this. "Wait, don't go." But she headed towards the door. He strode after her and caught her arm. "Maddie, wait." He spun her round but she wouldn't lift her eyes past his chest. "Are you saying you did this to me, used this Pheramour stuff on me, as revenge for calling you a nerd in high school?" If his heart wasn't aching he'd laugh at how ridiculous that sounded.

Maddie gritted her teeth. He'd got it all wrong. In fact, he didn't seem to get it at all. None of it. Not the nerd part and especially not the Pheramour. "No, of course not. You were convenient, that's all."

He rolled his eyes and laughed without humor. "Convenient. How fortunate."

Why was he so mad? What did he care? He should be relieved to be off the hook. He could get on with his normal life and pick up where he left off fifteen years ago when he left Melbourne. There didn't seem to be a shortage of his old high school girlfriends wanting to reminisce.

Pheramour must be lingering a lot longer than the preliminary tests had indicated. Or perhaps its effects were more potent on Sam than other men. She'd have to put that in her report tomorrow.