Page 15 of My Demon Manny

"I'll get it," I said, and Archer smiled gratefully, a smear of flour on his chin.

Ignoring the way my belly flipped at the sight of him all messy and not put-together for once, I made my way to the front door as Gunner started babbling in my arms.

As I opened the door and got a good look at Jeremiah, my first thought was—is everyone in Archer's circle just absolutely stunning?

With long golden-brown locks that he had tied up in a high ponytail, green eyes that lit up the moment he saw Gunner, and a chiseled jawline covered in dark stubble, Jeremiah looked like he wouldn't be out of place on a magazine cover.

"Please, come on in." I remembered my manners, opening the door wider to let him in.

"Hey, you must be Calux. I'm Jeremiah, but call me Jerry."

"Lux, please."

I closed the door after us, and his gaze slid to Gunner again.

"Can I hold the little guy?" he asked eagerly, and I grinned as I handed Gunner over. I'd already checked with Archer that it was okay, and Archer had been pleased when I'd asked. Did he really think I'd let anyone even touch Gunner without his express permission?

"Hey, little man. It's been a while, huh? You're so big!" Jerry tapped Gunner's nose, making his eyes go big and round. Then Jerry hefted him a little higher, and I realized what Gunner was going to do a moment before his little hand tangled in Jerry's ponytail.

"Aw, you like my hair?" Jerry asked as I tried to figure out the best way to offer him help before Gunner ripped his hair out.

I'd just opened my mouth to say something when Archer appeared in the living room doorway.

"Are we spending the night in the hallway?" He raised a brow at his friend, then glanced at Gunner's hand. "Oh, you wouldnotlook good with a bald spot."

Archer disappeared without saying anything else as Jerry's head snapped toward me.

"What did he mean by that?"

It was then that Gunner decided to employ his new powers to get Jerry to focus on him again, tugging at his ponytail. Gunner might be a baby, but he had a strong grip. He was so strong that I'd tried to determine if he had some supernatural blood in him, but no. He was a 100 percent human, and freakishly strong.

"Ow, ow, ow," Jerry gasped as Gunner tugged at his hair, and I stepped closer, my hand hovering inches from his hair.

"Can I?"

"Please!"

Carefully, I untangled Gunner's fingers from Jerry's hair, then took the little hellion from him.

Gunner gazed up at me with a pleased smile, and I just knew he was going to grow up to be a brat.

"Are you okay?"

Jerry nodded as he rubbed at his head, and I started leading the way into the living room before Archer came back to investigate further.

"Would you like something to drink?" I asked as I waved him over to the couch, and he shook his head.

"Nah, I'm good." Removing the elastic from his hair, he wound it around in a bun before putting it back, then held his arms out. "There, now I'm Gunner-proof. May I have him back?"

"Of course."

Gunner looked mighty pleased to be back in Jerry's hold, though he started whining when he realized there was no more hair to tug. Walking over to his toys, I grabbed one that was basically a thick rope—I'd seen something like it in the dog toys section and magicked up a kid-safe version—and brought it over, offering it to the baby.

He cheered right up as he took it, and I finally settled on one of the two armchairs.

Jerry didn't waste a moment. "So, Lux. How's the job been? I hope Archer isn't working you too hard."

Smiling brightly, I shook my head. "Not at all. I love working here. Taking care of Gunner is always fun."

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