His world shifted again, and everything fell into darkness. When he opened his eyes, he was back in the cozy park, sitting on that bench.
And he was alone. The mysterious woman was gone.
*****
A few hours later, Luke was back home at his house in Malibu. He still didn't understand what had occurred in the park. All he knew was that he must have fallen asleep on that bench, and had awakened from a very vivid dream. Damn, but what had happened to the dark-haired woman? Had she laughed at him because he’d fallen asleep, and simply left him?
More importantly, had she even existed, or was she entirely a creature of his own imagination, born from a dream? He had been to a brunch in his favorite restaurant this morning, with his agent and some friends. Was it possible that someone had slipped something into his drink, some kind of drug? He should get to his doctor and have his blood tested. On the other hand, he couldn't risk a scandal right now. If they actually found something in his blood, and word got out, no one would believe his story of being drugged by someone else.
But this didn't explain the white sand he'd found in his shoes when he had slipped them off at home, or the fact that this same fine substance was sticking to some parts of his toned body now as he showered. Almost as if he had rolled around in the sand with a desirable woman.
He was still scrubbing his skin when the doorbell rang. Muttering curses under his breath, Luke stepped out of the huge marble shower and wrapped his still-soapy body in a black bathing robe. Then he went to answer the front door. When he opened, it was not the woman he secretly had hoped for. He was still so hot for her that he'd have ripped off her clothes and ravished her right here on his expensive Persian carpet adorning the front hall. Instead, and to his utter disappointment, it was the FedEx driver. Today, he didn't deliver a large package full of fan mail as usual, but handed Luke a single letter. "Special urgent delivery for you, Sir," he said with his distinctive Hindi accent.
Luke thanked the man and gave him a tip before he quickly closed the door, curious to open the unexpected message. He looked at the envelope in his hands. It was made of fine silk paper, with his name and address written by hand. Briefly contemplating whether to get a letter opener, he decided to simply rip open the envelope. When he unfolded the message, he was amazed by the quality of the paper again. You didn't find anything like this very often in the age of e-mail. The handwriting on the single page was very elegant and unmistakably female. He shook off a shiver of excitement and began to read.
Dear Luke,
We met in the park today. Unfortunately, you dozed off before we had the chance to get to know each other better. If we meet again, it can be under my conditions only.
However, I'd be delighted to welcome you to tea to my home. It's a place where the usual rules of nature do not apply. If you are willing to embark on this adventure, follow these instructions: Simply lie down comfortably, close your eyes and relax. Try to think only of me. Then slowly count from 10 backwards.
Jane Eden
Luke turned the page over to see if there was anything written on the other side, a date and place maybe, but there was nothing. He didn't know what to make of this, and he didn't like the tone of the letter at all. Women used to throw themselves in front of his feet when he asked them for a date, but this one? "Under my conditions only," he murmured, disbelievingly. Well, he would tell her his own conditions soon enough! To do that, he would have to meet her, of course, but where?
Still, he couldn't deny that he was more intrigued than by any other woman before. This girl really knew how to make a date exciting. And he had never been a man to shy away from a challenge.
"This is ridiculous," he finally murmured, stuffing the letter into the pocket of his bathing robe and stomping upstairs to get dressed in his bedroom. It was the most luxurious room of the house. He loved to spend time here - with a variety of beautiful women, of course, but alone, too; reading books in front of his massive fireplace or just thinking.
This mysterious woman was just a crazy fan who wanted to make herself interesting to him, he decided. Maybe she had deliberately placed herself in that park, knowing he drove by every day on his way home. She surely knew how to look irresistible in that thin summer dress that showed off her lush body ...
Now you are ridiculous, Luke, he told himself. It was impossible to plan such a coincidental meeting. No, it was he who had spotted her and left his car to talk to her. Looking into the mirror, he stood for a while, not knowing what to do about this matter. Then, instead of turning to his dressing room to choose some clothes to wear, he walked up to the huge water bed and looked at it, contemplatively. He felt quite tired now. Maybe he should lie down for a while, just to take a little nap.
He sank comfortably into the black silken cushions and closed his eyes, sighing. Oh yes, he would forget all about her and sleep for a while. Surely he would feel better afterwards.
"Ten, nine, eight," he murmured suddenly. "What the hell am I doing?" he wondered, opening one eye to see if anything had happened, but his bedroom hadn't changed
