Page 53 of Sparks Flying

“We’re not just diving into this on a superstition.”

“Starting now, you’re officially on quarantine. Make the most of it. I would recommend your family home, Dean. I believe you are the only one living on the second floor, plus you won’t have to worry about anything there.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“This is crazy,” I protested.

Dean shrugged and gave me that heart-melting smile that made me want to say yes to anything he asked.

“It is, but I guess sometimes life is just crazy, Bailey. This is an opportunity for us to get to know each other better and figure things out without dealing with all the distractions.”

“But I’ll be letting my team down.”

“Will you?” Doc asked. “If the Collectors come and you two are the omen we need to defeat them, then I think that’s a worthy cause for your team.”

I sighed. There was no way I was getting out of this, and I couldn’t even pretend that spending the rest of the week cooped up with Dean wasn’t intriguing.

“Fine,” I conceded. “But you guys are explaining this to Patrick.”

Dean

Chapter 13

I was actually nervous about this arrangement.

I’d never brought a woman home with me before. It was one of those unspoken cardinal rules. But if I were ever going to make an exception, it would be for Bailey.

Doc recommended we drop everything, do not return to the office, and go straight home. He was already on the phone with Patrick and by now would be selling the story to my dad. He’d even given us quarantine gear of a mask, hat, gloves, and gown to wear until we were home as a way to further sell the story.

I felt ridiculous walking two blocks back to the office to get into my car and drive home. If it weren’t for Bailey, I’d have just flown, but I wasn’t sure if Ravenden was quite ready to see a wolf running through town.

When we got into the car, she pulled down her mask and looked at me.

“Do you think there’s any validity to Doc’s superstition?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then why agree to this?”

I cringed guiltily. “Selfish reasons?”

She laughed. “That’s why you agreed so quickly?”

“The rest of the week alone with you? Hell yes.”

“Dean!”

“I know. I know. It really is selfish. But we can have Patrick email us everything we need to know, and we can work remote as necessary.”

“I’m not arguing about it. If this morning was any indication, I’m pretty worthless to the team right now anyway. Maybe this will help save face. But it’s still crazy.”

I pulled up to the house, wondering what Bailey was thinking. She’d pulled her mask back over her face, so I couldn’t tell.

A lot of people were quite intimidated by the Davenport Estate. I’d lived here my entire life, so to me it was just home.

Bailey didn’t say anything as we exited the vehicle and walked inside. She hadn’t been allowed to return to her hotel for her things or anything. I would ask Gia to go by and pack up her stuff to drop off later.

Dad was waiting at the far end of the hall when we arrived.

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