Page 29 of Spookily Yours

What kind of existence had he been living for the past almost three centuries? I hardly knew anything about him as a being, but I got the idea his years weren’t full of happiness, love, laughter—life.And for whatever reason, I wanted to show him what that was like. What it was like to grow up here in Pleasant Grove.

I let the quiet blanket over us, save for the leaves crunching under our feet and the wind blowing through the trees. At least I could appreciate the decorations this way. It was the reason I still enjoyed walking into town, even when the air was nippy. Most of the residents had decorated their houses, lights and fake cobwebs and carved pumpkins that sat on their stoops. I still needed to get my own—Luna and I normally went to the pumpkin patch the first day it opened, but we hadn’t yet this year.

Luna.I let loose a long sigh.

“Never mind,” I mumbled. “How we met doesn’t matter, anyway.”

“Why not?”

“Because my sister… She’s a seer. And isincrediblyperceptive. I can’t get anything past her.”

There really was no point in trying to hide who he was to her. Maybe for the rest of the town’s sake, I could pretend he was just a friend, but my sister wouldn’t buy that. My coven would know that I hadn’t met him at a bar—though I wasn’t sure I wanted the implication ofthat,anyway.

Even if he was handsome. I peeked at him again, catching a wistful look on his face.

I was trying to imagine what my life would have looked like if he’d always been here. A part of this town. If we’d spent the last few Halloweens carving pumpkins together and sipping hot apple cider as we walked through the corn maze.

My heart ached, and that was what startled me out of those thoughts. I had no business thinking about Damien like that.

Like he wasmine.

He wasn’t even my cat anymore, after all.

That left a sour taste in my mouth. I ran my arms over my shoulders.

“Willow.” His voice was low, soothing, as his hand wrapped around my wrist. “Where’d you go?”

“What?” I looked up into his eyes, full of concern. For me? Or for himself?

The warmth of his grip flowed through me, grounding me in the moment. I hated that I liked it so much. I wasn’t supposed to likehim.He was a demon, after all.

Every witch’s mortal enemy. What did I think was going to happen, bringing him into town?

“This is a mistake.” I pulled away, loosening his grip from my arm. “You should go. That way you don’t put yourself in danger again just to…”

I froze, looking up at him. All six and a half feet of him. He was looking at me with an emotion I couldn’t read in his eyes. And for the first time, I so badly wanted to hear his thoughts. To know what he was thinking.

Maybe it didn’t work that way, but I couldn’t help wanting more of him.

“No.” He moved startlingly fast, and then his hands were on my face. Cupping my cheeks. Holding me, so reverently. I wasn’t sure I’d ever been touched like that before. “I’m not leaving. Not yet.”

“Okay.” The breath I released was quiet, almost inconsequential. Except…

My lips parted as I stared up at Damien. There was no way I could stop my gaze from dropping to his lips. Full andpoutyand begging for attention. They looked soft, and I wondered what they’d feel like on mine.

Why was I lusting after this man who was practically a stranger to me? I moved to step back, and his hands slipped from my face, severing whatever connection we’d shared.

“Come on. Luna’s expecting me.” I’d been a shitty co-owner this week. I needed to make it up to her somehow.

And I needed to distance myself from the demon at my side before I got attached. Or worse.

Because he’d be leaving eventually.

* * *

The bell jingled as I pulled open the door to the shop, the scent of cookies baking instantly hitting my nose.

“Willow!” My little sister’s face lit up in a bright smile when she saw me, making me feel even guiltier for the past few days.

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