Hot Spot. Debbi Rawlins

laughed. “Madison, don’t be such a wet blanket. Who knows, maybe she’s going to see a tall, handsome stranger in your future.”

      “Yeah, right.”

      “Okay, so she won’t. But do it, anyway. Please?”

      “Fine.”

      “Okay, then.”

      Madison caught a passing waiter and exchanged her empty glass for another martini.

      “You’re really not nervous about this?”

      “Of course not. It’s all nonsense.”

      Karrie grinned. “Good. Because I put our names down an hour ago. We’re next.”

      Madison glared at her, but quickly switched her attention to the opening door and Camilla, who’d hosted the candle party last month, her face flushed, the sparkle in her eyes an odd mixture of fear and excitement. Scary. The woman was pretty savvy and not the type to fall for this twaddle.

      Karrie made an odd, throaty noise and Madison glanced over at her. She looked as if she might be having second thoughts. Good. Madison didn’t want to be a wienie about this, but she didn’t want to hear some horrible prediction that her life was about to take a dive or, worse, her career.

      Even if it was all nonsense.

      “Hey, Madison, Karrie.” Sonya waved them toward her bedroom. “Madam Zora is waiting for you.”

      HER FRIEND LED THE WAY into the dimly lit room, and Madison followed, her pulse accelerating. Silly, since she didn’t believe in this stuff. Not even a smidgen. But she had to admit, Sonya had done a good job of setting the mood. She’d put up curtains to hide her bed, and made the area for the reading intimate and exotic, the only light coming from the soft glow of a pair of candles.

      “Do not be nervous, now. Come sit.” Madam Zora motioned them to the two chairs opposite her, her smile displaying the flash of a gold tooth. She had to be in her forties, or maybe even fifties. Her unlined skin hid her age well, but she had old eyes.

      Kind eyes that, amazingly, seemed to put them both at ease.

      They were dark, her hair short and as black as the caftan she wore over her large, languid form as she lounged on a burgundy velvet love seat. If not for the giant gold hoops gleaming from her ears, she nearly blended into the black-draped walls.

      Karrie sat first, and then gave Madison the eye as if she thought Madison might bolt. Which wasn’t a bad idea. Instead she didn’t even try to hide her reluctance as she sank into the other chair.

      Madam Zora laughed softly. “Tell me why you’ve come to see Madam Zora,” the woman said, looking directly at Karrie.

      She shrugged and said bluntly, “This isn’t something I’d normally do. I don’t really believe in this stuff, but I figured that since you’re here and I’m not paying for it…”

      Madam Zora laughed again. “You needn’t fear me. You have a very bright future….”

      Karrie leaned forward with interest.

      Madison sighed to herself and listened with half an ear while Karrie continued to get her reading. Mostly general stuff that could apply to anyone. Except halfway through, Madam Z. said some things that caught Madison’s full attention. Things the hokey psychic shouldn’t have known about Karrie or her brother.

      Madison’s gaze went to Karrie, and suddenly it wasn’t so amusing. She could see from her friend’s expression that she was buying every prognostication as gospel. Which wasn’t like Karrie at all. This had to be a trick, that’s all. Or someone had tipped Madam Zora off about Karrie’s brother. It was stupid to even consider…

      The second they were finished, Madison stood. Karrie didn’t budge, and Madison touched her shoulder. “Come on, kiddo.”

      Karrie hesitated, but then finally stood, and gave Madam Z. the perfunctory thanks. Madison headed straight for the door.

      “You needn’t be afraid.”

      The psychic’s voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned back to face the woman, who, come on, could have come up with something more original than the damn gypsy garb. “I’m not. I realize this is only entertainment.” At least she didn’t call it schlock but she almost reconsidered at the hint of condescension in the older woman’s smile. “You have a waiting list. I’ll give someone else a turn.”

      “Ah, but don’t you want to hear about the career opportunity on your horizon?”

      That got Madison’s attention.

      “Let’s hear her out.” Karrie started to go back to her seat.

      Madison tugged on her sleeve. “Nah, go ahead. I’ll be right behind you.”

      Karrie gave her a funny look and left. Madison hesitated. Career opportunity was a broad statement. Still, she’d gotten some startling news today…

      Ah, hell.

      Even as she headed back to take the hot seat, she knew she was being an idiot. “Go on.”

      Madam Zora nodded. “You have a bright future. Your work will soon become well-known.”

      Damn it, but Madison suddenly wanted to believe. “Do you know what kind of work I do?”

      The woman briefly closed her eyes. “You tell stories,” she said, and Madison smirked. So much for that. “With pictures,” Madam Zora added.

      Madison gaped. How in the hell…Sonya could have told her. Probably gave Zora a heads-up on all the guests. Made for better entertainment.

      The psychic smiled, almost as if she knew what Madison was thinking. Ridiculous.

      “There is adventure awaiting you. Places and things you have never seen, experiences far out of your imagination.”

      “I see.”

      “You will share this with a man.”

      “Ah.”

      The psychic briefly closed her eyes. The effect was lost on Madison. “He is someone who works with you.”

      Madison sighed. She freelanced, for heaven’s sake. Why had she bothered wasting her time? Even if she didn’t have anything better to do.

      “But you don’t know him.” Madam Z. frowned. “Yet.”

      “Right.”

      One of the woman’s brows went up. “It’s up to you whether you believe or not.”

      “That’s right.”

      “So choose to believe this.” Madam Zora leaned slightly forward. “There are things you hold dear that you must let go. Nothing will bring you the satisfaction you seek until you open your mind. A broken heart need not be.”

      Madison sighed. “Thank you,” she said, rising from her seat, ready to get back to her martini. She knew now that the so-called psychic was just blowing smoke. She’d known about Madison’s profession because she’d done her homework, not because she had supernatural gifts. “You’re good,” she said, meaning it. It must have taken her quite some time to research all the guests.

      Madam Zora laughed. “Yes, and so are you,” she said. “But that skill won’t be enough to get you what you want.” She paused until Madison got to the door. “There’s more.”

      Madison smiled, then got the hell out of the room.

      Karrie waited impatiently outside. “Hey, hey. What was that about ‘I’ll be right behind you’?”

      “Okay, I was an idiot. I stayed an extra minute. It was garbage, Karrie.”

      “Garbage? Did you hear what she said about my brother?”

      “She did her homework, I’ll give