Page 7 of Cooking Up a Demon
For one insane second, heat flashes through my body as I think of all the ways someone could serve me. And then I get control of myself because this is a demon we’re talking about here and under no circumstances could I be lusting after ademon. Even if he’s half naked, with abs for days, and leather pants showing off an almost alarming bulge.
Instead, I think about the store and the opening the next morning and all the ways I could fail. And just like that, the butterflies are back. I didn’t even realize they left.
I grab for the bottle of tequila and, since the orange juice is gone now, take a swig straight from the bottle.
“Bleh,” I say, sticking out my tongue and shudder at the burn of it as it goes down. It is a decent quality tequila, but I am not one to do straight shooters.
“It’s fine. Everything is fine. It’s all fine.” I chant, more to myself than Kallax. And then I take another swig because I’m fairly certain it is not all fine.
“Yes, you seem perfectly fine.” The sarcasm drips off every syllable. I point at him with the bottom of the bottle and scowl.
“I am fine. It’ll be great. It has to be.” I storm out of the back room and into the main section of the bookstore. The large, dark bookshelves that created all kinds of nooks and blind spots have been replaced with half-height shelves that give me a clear view from one end of the store to the other. Everything is light, airy, pastel, and makes me happy.
I’m happy. Perfectly happy.
Except, for these damn butterflies trying to batter their way out of my stomach.
“You seem stressed. I could help you with that.” The demon, Kallax, says. He’s following me out of the back room, and I can feel the heat radiating off of him at my back.
“I think I’ve had enough of your help. I can’t believe I’m losing days off my life every time I try to make a damn drink or cup of soup.”
I take another drink of my tequila and spin around to glare at the demon at my back. Unfortunately, I’ve done about four shotsof tequila in a matter of minutes on an empty stomach, and the room keeps spinning after I stop moving.
“Woah, there,” Kallax says, gripping my shoulders and holding me steady. After a moment he releases me and pries the bottle of tequila out of my hand. “I think you’ve had enough of this.”
Seeing as I’m swaying on my feet and the room is a little unsteady yet, he’s probably right. I want to argue with him. Just because I don’t want to agree with him.
“You’re not the boss of me. I can get drunk in my own store if I want to.” I don’t want to. I really, really don’t want to. Why am I arguing against my own best interest?
“Of course you can, love.” Kallax says as he herds me to the front of the store. “And after tomorrow, I’ll let you get as drunk as you like. But tonight, you need rest.”
I lean heavily against the counter as he moves around the store, making sure lights are off and doors are locked. When he wraps an arm around my waist the next time, I don’t fight him. I’m drunk and exhausted, and it feels nice to lean against him.
He’s warm and solid as he supports my weight. I can’t help myself, I run my hand down his side and across his abs. I expected him to feel like stone, but he doesn’t. Not really. And he’s almost unbearably warm.
Or maybe that’s the tequila talking. Either way, I give into the heavy pull of my eyelids for a moment and rest against him.
“Come on, time for bed.”
I blink my eyes open and nearly stumble as my bedroom comes into focus. “What? How?”
Kallax doesn’t answer my questions. He just nudges me toward the bed. When I don’t get in, he swoops me up and gently places me in the middle before moving down to take my boots off.
“Sleep.” He tugs the blanket out from under me and tucks me under it. It’s nice; to be cared for. I’ve forgotten.
“This doesn’t count,” I mumble, closing my eyes. “You can’t take my days.”
“As you wish.” There’s a warm brush against my forehead and then everything goes dark as I succumb to sleep.
Chapter Six
Six
Nothing could have prepared me for the first week in business. Not even in my wildest dreams, could I have anticipated the way Ghostlight Falls turned out and turned up.
The line went halfway through town when I opened my doors for the grand reopening and they just kept coming all day long. By the time I closed my doors that first day, my shelves were nearly bare.
And it didn’t slow down all weekend long.
