Page 34 of Did It Have To Be Gnomes?!
“Miles?” When he still didn’t look up, I added, “Miles, please look at me.”
I saw him take a deep breath before he steeled himself and lifted his head. His eyes were filled with pain, and I felt like an ass for putting it there.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… to hurt your feelings. I didn’t even mean it. I know you’re good at your job—I know it. You’re the best damn exterminator in the county, and I swear I’m not just saying that. The fact that you do a good job and you save all those faeries is… beyond impressive. I just… I’m… worried about you, worried you’ll get hurt.”
His jaw clenched, teeth grinding. “I’ll be fine.”
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair before I stepped forward and grabbed onto his upper arms, keeping his gaze on me. For a second, I thought Sola was going to peck my hands to make me back up, but she simply stared at me.
“Miles… I… today scared me, okay? I just… I don’t want to see you get hurt. It has nothing to do with how capable you are, I swear.”
He searched my eyes for a long moment before he sagged a little. “I can’t leave the job undone. I have to go back.”
I might not have known him very well—yet—but even I could tell I wasn’t going to change his mind. So after a few seconds, I gave him a nod. “Fine. Then I’m going back with you.”
Chapter Eleven
Miles
Iknew Winter thought I was being outrageous, but I couldn’t leave Martha Cohen out to dry. From the sounds of it, she’d already had a rough time with her family over the mansion to begin with. She didn’t need her exterminator flaking on her too.
Plus, after those little jerk gnomes attacked me, I wanted to be the one to get them out of that house.
They were dangerous, and I didn’t think any other exterminator would take my warning seriously since attacking gnomes was unheard of.
I took a breath. “You really don’t have to come, but… I really do appreciate your help.”
He gave me a tense nod. “I’ll help you. I’m guessing you want to go tomorrow morning?”
Running a hand through my hair, I stared at my new… friend. “If that’s okay with you, then yes.”
“It’s fine. But I have a request.”
“Um… okay?”
“Can I bring a friend with me to have an extra pair of hands? I think it’ll be helpful.”
I mentally calculated whether I could swing paying another person before giving him a nod. “Sure. I’ll pay them too.”
He waved that off and pulled out his phone. “Let me call them real quick and make sure they’re free.”
I gave him a nod, and when he walked into the kitchen to speak to this person, I purposefully ignored him so I didn’t eavesdrop. Sola was a good distraction.
Winter came back only a few minutes later and gave me a nod. “They’re in. What time tomorrow?”
“Eight?” If I got up extra early, I could run to the coffee shop and grab him—and his friend—some coffee and breakfast. “Do you drink coffee?”
“Yep. With cream and sugar.”
“Me too. When I get one at the shop, I sometimes have them add a mocha swirl.”
“I’ve never done that before, but I like mocha, so I’d probably like it.”
“What about your friend?”
“They like coffee with cream and a shit-load of sugar.”
“Got it.” I shot him a grin and absently petted Sola for a few seconds before I froze and stared at my hand. My bare hand that was touching my firebird.
