Page 2 of Confused AF
He took my hand, his slender fingers firm but gentle, and I froze as a surge of warmth rushed up my arm from the contact. At the same time, Vaden’s nostrils flared, and the set of his jaw tightened, causing a subtle jut to his chin.
Pulling away, I chuckled to ease the awkwardness and motioned toward the chair across from mine. “Please, have a seat.” My gaze flickered to the register. “Unless you want to get a drink first?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Vaden unbuttoned his jacket at the waist and lowered himself into the seat.
Movement caught my attention as I started to turn away, and I couldn’t stop myself from glancing toward him again. As inky black as his horns, a long, slender tail curved around his hips and along his thigh before arching gracefully over the edge ofthe chair. A tuft of red hair adorned the very end, the strands swaying mere inches off the hardwood floor.
Of course, a lot of shadelings had tails, not just demons, but I had never seen one this close-up before. Though fascinated, I didn’t want to make things uncomfortable, so I pushed it to the back of my mind as I resumed my seat.
Sitting forward in my chair to rest my forearms on the table, I flashed him a smile. “Thank you for meeting me here.”
His gaze never wavered, his catlike eyes boring into mine, watchful…assessing. In turn, I struggled not to squirm under the scrutiny.
While he stood at least a head taller than me, I wouldn’t consider him physically imposing. He had a fairly narrow frame with a lean build, and his mop of curls gave him an almost boyish appearance.
His demeanor, however, I found intimidating as hell. He seemed to take up more space than was reasonable by doing nothing more than breathing, and every inch of him radiated with quiet confidence.
Nothing that leaned too close to smugness or arrogance. Just a natural, understated dominance that commanded attention.
Not exactly the kind of personality that lent itself to the service of others, and I wondered how he’d ended up working as a professional assistant.
“How do you know Deaton Horne?”
I had expected the question, or at least some version of it. The accusatory tone confused me, though.
“He’s mated to my best friend.”
Vaden nodded, and the rigid set of his shoulders visibly relaxed.
Odd. I had been under the impression that the two had a friendly relationship. Maybe I had misunderstood, but why else would the demon accept such a reduced rate for his services?
I mentally shrugged. For my purposes, the status of their relationship didn’t really matter. As long as Vaden agreed to accompany me to Vegas for a week, his feelings toward the werewolf were irrelevant.
“Tell me about the convention,” he said. Leaning back in his chair, he propped one ankle up on the opposite knee and steepled his fingers in front of him. “I don’t know anything about the beauty industry, but I gather this is important.”
Damn, he had a great voice. Smooth, baritone, with a steady, intentional cadence that both soothed and engaged. He could probably make a killing as a narrator.
I cleared my throat and fidgeted with the handle of my coffee mug as I gathered my thoughts. “The Spellbound Expo is an annual convention that highlights some of the top names in the industry. Cosmetic and skincare brands. Professional makeup artists. Haircare experts and stylists. About three years ago, they even introduced special effects artists.”
Vaden nodded, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “It sounds competitive.”
“Oh, it is. It took me six years to finally get my foot in the door.”
“And how does this convention benefit you?” He tilted his head, the gesture more measured than curious. “If the conference is in Las Vegas, I don’t see how that would expand your clientele here in Circle City.”
A fair appraisal, and I could understand why he would think that. I didn’t sell a product that appeared in stores around the country. Instead, I sold a service, with most of my current customer base being local.
“Nothing is guaranteed,” I clarified. “But thousands of people attend the expo every year, along with quite a few social media influencers.” I lifted my hands away from the mug, fingerssplayed. “Word spreads, and if I make a big enough splash, that’s more local traffic.”
While unlikely, it had the potential to turn into something even bigger. Like corporate sponsorships, collaboration opportunities, and even being sought out by the rich and famous. None of which I actively aspired to, but I wouldn’t hate it either.
Vaden bobbed his head again. “How can I help you accomplish this?”
“I’ll be hosting makeup demonstrations and tutorials at my booth, along with private consultations.” Basically, mini private classes that covered everything from application techniques to choosing the best products. “That’s going to require almost all of my focus.”
“I see.”
“So, I need someone to book appointments, keep me on schedule, and answer some basic questions,” I continued. “Oh, and maybe prevent me from having a meltdown by day two.”
