by K E O'Connor
“Get over here and take a look.” Rhett had done an incredible job of capturing the slightly cocky, slightly surprised look Wiggles had on his face when he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t. His head was tilted, and he had one paw raised.
“I always see him doing that when he wants whatever you’re eating.” Rhett came to stand beside me. “Is it a good likeness?”
“It’s incredible.”
“You’ve captured my best features.” Wiggles stood by the sculpture and raised a paw. “What do you think?”
Rhett laughed. “It’s like you posed for me.”
“Why would you make a sculpture of Wiggles?” I asked.
“When I see him trotting around the village, it reminds me of you.” Rhett bent and brushed a speck of dust from the sculpture.
I glanced at him. “That’s a good thing?”
“It could be. After all, I owe you one. You did save my life.”
“I was helping the angels.” I moved away from the sculpture, suddenly aware of how close Rhett was to me.
Rhett petted the head of the sculpture and then Wiggles. “How about some coffee?”
“And cookies?” Wiggles asked. “And a bowl of milk.”
Rhett spent a few minutes brewing coffee and placed a bowl of milk down for Wiggles alongside a couple of cookies.
I sat at his counter not sure what to say. I couldn’t deny I had feelings for Rhett, but they were complicated, and I’d been the one to walk away. But having experienced the gut wrenching fear of what it would be like to lose Rhett, it had made me pause. I wasn’t ready to let him go. Maybe I should never have let him go.
Rhett placed a plate with cookies on in front of me. “You’re quiet. Is there something on your mind?”
I grabbed a cookie and stuffed it in my mouth. “No, it’s nothing.”
Rhett twirled a strand of my hair around a finger. “There has been something playing on my mind.”
“What’s that?” I said around the cookie.
“I spoke to the guys after I got out of the forest. They filled me in on what happened. The fight with Kroni, the near miss in the shallow grave. All of it.”
I nodded. “It was quite some fight.”
“Not the fight. The fact that you got to me first.” Rhett’s gaze turned intense.
“I had to make a choice. It’s not a big deal.” I was such a liar.
“You chose me.” He set his mug down and stared into my eyes. “You picked me over Axel.”
I looked away and studied the sculpture of Wiggles. “I had a Plan B to save Axel.”
“Oh, yeah. I heard about your Plan B. Kroni took out half the forest.”
“Axel’s dad is something else,” I said. “But we’ve come to an agreement. He won’t be a problem.”
Rhett’s shoulders stiffened. “He didn’t mess with you?”
“He might have played a little, and he stole the cookies, but for a crazed demon, he was surprisingly reasonable.”
“You have a dangerous job, Tempest.”
“I’m used to it,” I said. “I’m not going to change what I am or what I do, not for anybody.” I raised my mug to my mouth.
Rhett eased the mug out of my grip before I could take a sip. “I didn’t ask you to. But I still want to know why you picked me first.”
I couldn’t meet his gaze, knowing I’d give in if I did. “Maybe you were closer.”
“No, it’s not that. I’ve been back to the forest with the guys and taken a look around. Admit it. You wanted to save me.”
“Of course! I didn’t want to see you die.”
Rhett chuckled. “That’s about the best compliment I’m ever going to get from you.”
I shrugged. “You have nice eyes.” Rhett knew how gorgeous he was and how tempting he was to me. He didn’t have to throw it in my face.
“So do you, when you look at me.” He tapped a finger against the back of my hand. “What can we do about this situation we’re in?”
I took a breath and stared at him. Nice eyes! I could lose myself for hours in those sexy, dark pools. “You know it’s complicated.”
“I know you’re complicated. And I know you come with a hell of a lot of baggage. Who doesn’t? I’ve got a past, and my future isn’t going to follow the straightest of paths. We both have issues.”
“We should go into therapy, not start dating.”
“There’s no fun if you don’t have a few issues.” A smile spread across Rhett’s face. “Is that what you want, to start dating again?”
I blushed and looked away. “My main issue lives inside me. How do you feel about dating a demon?”
“If he comes attached to the gorgeous, headstrong, clever witch sitting in front of me, I don’t have a problem.” Rhett stepped closer. “I never have. You’ve always been the one to hold back.”
“I never held back.” I swallowed. He smelled so good, like a forest with a hint of engine oil. It was a perfect combination. “I just want everybody to stay safe.”
Rhett tilted my chin up. “I can keep myself safe.”
Wiggles cleared his throat. “Do I need to leave the room? If so, I’m taking some cookies to go.”
Rhett laughed. “No, you stay where you are. You’re going to have to get used to seeing this.” He leaned forward and kissed me.
I should have resisted. I shouldn’t have let myself sink into that kiss and forget how tricky a relationship with Rhett would be, but I didn’t. Instead, I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him closer.
Wiggles groaned. “I’m out of here. You two are embarrassing.”
I finally let go of Rhett when I became dizzy from lack of air and grinned up at him.
“Wow! That was quite a kiss.” He traced a finger down my cheek. “What am I going to do with you, Tempest?”
“Accept me, demon and all.”
“I always have. I want you in my life. I know it’s never easy with you, and I know you’ll always focus on your demons and keeping your sister safe above all else, but that’s enough. Admit it. We’re great together. You have to stop resisting me.”
My gaze ran over Rhett. “It’s not been easy. You do look great on your bike.”
“There’s room on the back if you ever want to ride with me.” He pulled me in for another heart melting kiss.
I couldn’t hold back any more. I liked Rhett. I liked him a lot. If this was going to work, I’d have to figure out how to date without Frank getting in the way.
I could do it. I could handle my demon, keep Aurora safe, and have Rhett in my life.
Rhett pulled back from the kiss and rested his forehead against mine. “So, Tempest Crypt, what next?”
I grinned up at him. “That’s for us to decide together.”
If you enjoyed this book, you might enjoy other books written by K.E. O’Connor:
Crypt Witch series (cozy witch mystery)
Luck of the Witch
Hell of a Witch
Zee Town series (cozy paranormal mystery)
Zombie Tails
Zombie Daze
Hearts & Zombies
Zombie Fling
Candyfloss & Zombies
Old Sarum (cozy witch mystery)
Witch Kissed
Witch Rose
Witch Guy
Lorna Shadow series (cozy ghost mystery)
Ghostly Manners
Ghostly Secrets
Ghostly Games
Ghostly Affairs
Ghostly Business
Ghostly Rules
Ghostly Waves
Ghostly Play
Ghostly Proposal
Ghostly Vows
Ghostly Fright
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