Mad About You

stay here in Sacramento, United States of America."
    Ladden leaned on his counter. "What's her name?"
    Gene grinned. "You're a smart one, you. Angelique—she is most beautiful artist."
    "Does she know you're a genie?"
    "No. That is why I get apartment, wear suit, and try to find job."
    Ladden pursed his lips. "A job, did you say?"
    "Do you know someone who needs worker?"
    "Can you sell things?"
    Gene shrugged. "I can usually get humans to do what I want them to do."
    "I can’t pay a lot of money at first."
    The man scoffed. "I not need money—I need job. Will work for free."
    "You're hired," Ladden said, walking over to snatch the sign from the window.
    "But I cannot work today. I am having Thankful dinner with Angelique."
    Ladden smiled. "Then come back tomorrow morning. Oh, and Gene, I have the perfect housewarming gift for your apartment." He disappeared and came back carrying the rolled carpet.
    "My old friend!" Gene exclaimed.
    "Take him… please."
    "You do not want magic carpet?"
    Ladden smiled wryly. "I think he needs to be with someone who understands his need to move around."
    "Thank you! I will fly carpet home to my apartment!"
    Wincing, Ladden said, "Just try to be discreet, okay, Gene?"
    The man nodded. "I'm sorry you haven't found princess."
    Ladden waved off his concern, his heart twisting.
    "I go now. Be back tomorrow." And he was gone, along with the carpet.
    Looking around, Ladden shook his head. "So much for using the door."
    The bell clanged again and he turned around, then stopped breathing. "Jasmine?"
    "Hi," she said quietly.
    She looked young and slim in loose jeans and a long-sleeved white blouse. Her thick plait hung over her shoulder. She was stunning, and he was so glad to see her, he couldn't speak.
    "I, um, came to return this," she said with a nervous laugh.
    For the first time, he noticed she was carrying the small copper lamp.
    His heart dove, but he conjured up a polite smile. "No problem. Is something wrong with it?"
    "Yes—it's defective." She set it on the counter, then walked toward him. She stopped within arm's reach, then stepped closer and slowly raised her arms around his neck. Dazed, he allowed her to pull his head down for a heart-stopping kiss.
    When she released him, his mind was spinning. "D-Defective?"
    "Yes," she murmured. "I've been rubbing it... and rubbing it... and rubbing it... and my wish still hasn't come true."
    His body reeled with love and desire as he pulled her close. "Is that so?"
    Her lower lip came out in a pout and she nodded.
    He inhaled her floral scent and nuzzled her ear. "Maybe I can help. What did you wish for?"
    She pulled away to look into his eyes, and he felt humbled by the devotion so evident in her face. "For you to propose, my love."
    His chest expanded with happiness. Beaming, he picked her up and whirled her around, whooping with joy. They were both laughing and dizzy when he finally set her down.
    "Well," she prompted, "what do you say?"
    Ladden yanked off his hat and sank to one knee. Then he lifted her hand to his mouth and said, "Madam, your wish is my command."

    The End

A note from the author

    Thank you so very much for taking the time to read my boxed set of romances, MAD ABOUT YOU. I hope you enjoyed the variety of the romantic mystery in LICENSE TO THRILL, the heartwarming romance in ALMOST A FAMILY, and the romantic comedy in THREE WISHES! I loved writing all these romantic characters and their happy endings.
    If the collection of stories in MAD ABOUT YOU kept you entertained and you feel inclined to leave an Amazon review, I would appreciate it very much.
    And are you signed up to receive notices of my future book releases? If not, please click here to enter your email address . I promise not to flood you with emails and I will never share or sell your address. And you can unsubscribe at any time.
    Also, although I can’t count the times these books have been edited and proofed, I am human, so if you do spot a typo, please email me at [email protected] to let me know! Thanks again for your time and interest, and for telling your friends about my books. If you’d like to know more about some of my other books, please scroll ahead to the next section.

    Happy reading!
Stephanie Bond

Other works by Stephanie Bond

    If you enjoyed LICENSE TO THRILL and are looking for other mysteries by Stephanie Bond, you might like IN DEEP VOODOO, a laugh-out-loud romantic mystery about a woman who stabs a voodoo doll of her ex