Page 141 of Monsters in Love: Lost in the Underworld

“Dr. Daemon,” the clinic’s fox shifter receptionist says, poking her russet-and-blonde ponytailed head around the wall that leads to the outer office area. “Your next appointment is here. They’re waiting in exam two.”

“Thank you, Holly,” Daemon says, tilting his horned head toward the closed door on our side of the exam rooms. “Let us go see what ails Mr. Jenkin’s teacup chihuahua this morning. Perhaps it will distract you from pining for the hot baker for a short time.”

The comment startles me where I stand. I know my boss’s heightened senses make him intuitive, but he’s not a mind reader. Right? “Why would you describe him as hot?”

“Because he is. As am I, and Razbunare, Hellmuth, and the other hell-born demons inhabiting this realm. The hellfire from which we originated gives us a higher physiological temperature than most creatures. Not hotter than all creatures, of course, but most.” Before I can assemble a response, Daemon rumbleswith laughter. “Is that the compliment you inadvertently and unclearly gave? That Amazra is hot?”

“We have a client waiting,” is my nonanswer, which I’m aware is totally an affirmation.

“You will have to be far more direct than that when flirting with a demon,” Daemon says, making no attempt to hide his amusement. “Amazra would have taken such a comment as a matter of fact regarding his temperature, not as an indication that you find him sexually appealing.”

Maybe he’s right, but I’m not going to admit it. Nor do I need to because he just did his take-a-whiff thing again, so he already knows. If only Amazra would sniff me like that, he’d know how I feel. Wanting to be sniffed by the demon baker. My life has become a romcom. I can live with that, but it’d sure be nice to increase theromaspect. Oh, and make it spicy. Red-hot demon spicy.

LILAH

Since it’s a slow day, I cashed in some of the “personal time” Dr. Daemon gives all of his staff as part of our generous compensation package. I don’t know how he can afford to pay us as well as he does with a limited clientele base and very reasonable fees, but I make significantly more money here than I did as a veterinary assistant in a hopping-busy clinic back in North Vancouver.

Never in a million years would I have guessed that my post-crappy-divorce, get-in-touch-with-myself-again solo camping trip in the mountains would’ve led me to a whole new life in a magically protected secret monster town. It’s said that fate brings people—human and nonhuman alike—to Fate’s Falls. I don’t know how true that is, but I’ve never been happier than the two and a half years I’ve lived here. The only thing that could make my life better would be having a tall, dark, and handsome demon in it on a daily basis—other than to sell me baked goods.

The demon I strategically avoided contact with earlier by altering the timing of my morning scone run. My multiple daily visits toJust Bakedare nearly to the minute, but not today. I got there early this morning. Intentionally, and I didn’t go in when I arrived. I waited across the divided street, in the town square, watching the bakery’s storefront like a stalker, swooping in to get my breakfast scone when I saw Amazra was busy with another customer. Since I arranged to take the afternoon off, I skipped lunch at work, swinging by the bakery for my midday muffin an hour later than usual, and once again waiting until I was sure to avoid direct interaction with my favorite stoic baker.

He must know I’m avoiding him. And why. Or maybe none of it even pings on his radar, because A, demons don’t get wrapped up in emotions, and B, I haven’t directly told him I’m interested in tasting more than his baked goodies.

Direct is out of the question, and unfortunately, I have more than enough swirling emotions for both of us. So, it’s time for some three-level self-care. One: buy some pretty new undies nobody but me will ever see. Two: treat myself to a thick new dildo I hope nobody sees me buying at Lexi’s sex-toy shop. Three: pull the shades, cue up the authentic monster porn, and pretend item number two is Amazra.

Downtown is its usual moderately busy when I enter one of my favorite shops,Perfect Fit. Terra, the owner, waves from the changeroom area, where she’s passing things into two occupied dressing rooms. “Be right with you, Lilah, hon!”

“No hurry here,” I return. “I took the afternoon off.”

“Ooh, sounds like someone’s free to join us for spa treatments,” a familiar voice calls from inside one of the changerooms. Then the curtain slides open and one of Fate’s Falls’ other human residents emerges. Yes,emerges. Rosetta isn’t someone who actively tries to get noticed, but it inevitably happens. The petite redhead is as outgoing as she is sassy, and that level is at the max.

The other dressing room door opens and a woman I haven’t met steps out, holding whatever she just tried on behind her back. “I don’t think these are for me,” she says to Terra, attempting to subtly pass the items off.

But Ro’s not having it, snagging the pieces from her shopping partner’s hand. Lingerie. The skimpy variety, based on how little fabric is hanging from Rosetta’s fingers. “Did they fit?”

The brunette’s face was already soft pink when she exited the changeroom. Now it’s fuchsia. “Yes, but?—”

“And did you look sexy as hell in them?” Ro points a finger at her. “No lying. No being modest, either.”

Her friend gives a pained sigh. “They’re…flattering.”

Rosetta snorts, handing the items to Terra. “She’ll take them. And I’ll take these,” she says, having zero fucks that I can see the risqué panties and bra—if they can even be labeled that when there’s little more to them than some black ribbon.

Apparently, it’s my turn next, because she waves me over. It’d be rude not to go. Plus, hanging with Ro is always a good time. I could use a dash of her conquer-all-the-things spirit.

“So, what do you think?” she asks when I reach them. “Join us for spa stuff after you’re done shopping?” Before I can answer, she wiggles and jiggles on the spot, her wild, red curls bouncing. “Oh, but first, introductions! Natalie, this is Lilah, one of your future best friends. Lilah, this is my cousin and lifelong, number-one bestie, Natalie. Nat’s here for my wedding, but never going back to Toronto, if Constantine and I have anything to say about it.”

A renewed blush floods Natalie’s face as Rosetta elbows her playfully. “Very nice to meet you,” she says, ignoring her cousin’s comment and extending her hand.

“Same.” Smiling at both of them, I shake Natalie’s hand. Gossiping has never been my thing, but girl talk—I could never get enough of that, and I don’t get nearly enough of it. And since Natalie didn’t deny or shut Ro down… “So, Cupid got you and everybody’s favorite Minotaur?”

Natalie’s hazel eyes nearly pop out of her head. “Oh my god, Cupids are real, too?”

Rosetta snorts another laugh, rubbing her cousin’s back while looking at me. “Nat’s only been here a few days, and I didn’t warn her that monsters are real before she got here. She’s still adjusting to the new normal.”

“You could’ve told me, Ro,” Natalie says, shooting her the side-eye.

“And risk you not coming? No way. Besides, look how perfectly everything’s working out.” Rosetta tilts her head towardthe sales counter where Terra took their future purchases. “You wouldn’t be out shopping for skimpies to be ripped off later if you’d stayed holed-up in your Toronto shoebox of an apartment, working around the clock and having no life. Ooh, and speaking of shoes, we should stop atSole Mateand get you some of those sexy bedroom sandals with the clear heels and feathery poofs. Not that you need any extras to drive Constantine wild. He’s been waiting fifteen years for you, after all.”

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