Page 6 of Wizard

She gave me a half smile and sat back down in her chair. “Do you want them made out to”—she glanced at the name stitched on my cut—“Wizard? Or just signed.”

“To Baylor,” I replied.

Her brow rose once more, and I chuckled, shaking my head. “Gets worse.”

“Oh?” Her green eyes sparked with amusement.

“Chadwick.”

“Pardon?”

I sighed. “Baylor Chadwick.”

Thea covered her mouth to hide her giggle.

“Can only assume that my parents were trying to give me thick skin.”

Smiling, she ducked her head and opened the first book. “To Baylor, it is.”

I watched her hand move gracefully over the page and thought about what it would feel like gliding over my skin. Or wrapped around my dick. Before I became noticeably aroused, I switched to a much more benign train of thought.

When Thea finished, she picked up a small tote bag with her logo on them and slipped the books inside before handing it to me.

“Thanks.”

She inclined her head and gave me a small smile. “You’re welcome. It was nice to meet you, Baylor.”

“Wouldn’t really call this a meeting, baby.”

Her brow puckered. “I don’t understand.”

“Meeting implies more than you signing my name.”

“Okay, I’ll bite.” It was my turn to raise my brow, but despite the pink in her cheeks, her sigh was clearly one of disappointment. “What is your idea of ‘meeting’ someone?”

“Well, to truly become acquainted, you’d have to let me take you out to dinner.”

Someone behind me sighed dreamily, and I fought the impulse to turn around and scare whoever it was away. To most people, I was very intimidating. My size and fierce scowl served me well in the right situations.

“I’m flattered,” Thea said softly, “but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

The corners of my mouth turned down. “Why not?”

“I just…um…I don’t date.”

Her expression was stoic, but the flash of sadness in her eyes disturbed me. A bad experience? I hated the idea of someone hurting her, and I quelled the instinct to demand their name or names so I could hunt them down and kill them.

I was about to push a little harder when something told me it was the wrong tactic. For now, I’d slowly wear her down, then when the time was right, I’d move in fast and hard.

“How about this?” I suggested with a lopsided smile. “I’ll go for now. But I reserve the right to try to change your mind.”

Thea giggled. “Just how do you intend to do that? You don’t even know me.”

“That’s the point, isn’t it?” I teased.

“I suppose you have a point, but I still don’t see how you can convince me when you don’t even know how to contact me.”

I winked. “I have my ways, baby. Gonna sweep you off your feet eventually.”