Page 58 of Touch Of Fate
I’m warm. Satisfied. Safe.
Rome won’t let anything hurt me.
Rome was reluctant to leave me, but I insisted that he see his parents. They had been calling his phone and getting more impatient by the minute. He didn’t tell them what happenedafter we left the restaurant, and I knew they needed to see him to be assured that he was fine. Lace was already at the store by the time we woke up, which wasn’t surprising since it was nearing noon. Rome wanted to stay in the rest of the day and didn’t think I needed to go to work. I need some normalcy after the events of the night and morning. I’m still reeling from killing Ryan and the mind-blowing experience with Rome.
I keep my hands busy, stacking books in the order I need to put them away. Why am I still stalling to bond with him? He makes me feel good. I know he is a good man, sexy, and trustworthy. Maybe it is the fear of the unknown. I don’t know exactly how completing the soul bond will work. From what I do know, it won’t hurt. Being tied to someone forever is a big commitment. We can’t sever our ties once it happens. I frown. Perhaps I don’t want him to have any regrets.
I stand quickly when I hear the bell over the door ding. We don’t have continuous business, so when we are slow, there are books to sort. With our small staff, the bell was the best way to alert us to customers. A man is hovering around the checkout counter as I come out of the shelves. He’s wearing a suit, and his gaze is narrowed, looking behind the register.
“Can I help you?” I ask, and his head snaps my way. I glance at the door to the back room. Lace is with a client, so I know I’m not alone, but his presence makes my skin crawl. There is nothing about him, except the curious way he studies me, that should make me leery.
“Is this your store?” he asks as I go behind the counter.
“I’m part owner,” I say.
“I have a question,” he starts, and my stomach churns.
“About?” I ask sharply, unable to help the tension that comes over me.
“My friend is missing.” I try to keep my face from showing my alarm. “I can’t find him. I went to his house, and the onlything I could find was a receipt.” He pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket. “He came to this bookstore the last day I saw him. I wondered if you remembered him.” He holds it out, expecting me to take it. I didn’t wear my gloves. Rome isn’t here, and I haven’t tested out my touch without him. I lean over and read the name. Jerry’s name is clearly on it, as I assumed it would be.
“Sorry, I don’t remember him.” I drop back and try not to fidget under his intense stare.
“Do you have cameras here? I could describe him.” He steps forward, and I don’t move. Do not show any fear.
“Unfortunately, we don’t.” I smile, but I know he can see it’s forced.
“That’s a shame. We’re good friends, and I would hate for him to be hurt.” He slaps the receipt against his palm, looking around. “I didn’t think he was a book kind of guy.” I bite my tongue. My eyes flare as a black film appears around the man; my spells are warning me. He makes me feel yucky; I don’t need to touch him to know something is off with him.
“I’m sorry, I wish I could help,” I lie, and he focuses on my face.
“Jerry was great with women. I’m sure he would have flirted with you.” He grins sickly, and I swallow.
“I would remember a man who flirted.” If I have to spell him in some way, I will. He is more defenseless than I am. Rome is going to be pissed that he left me alone. He takes my safety seriously, and this man is definitely a threat.
“Do others work here? Maybe they saw him.” No way will I let him question Lace.
“There are, but we keep a small staff. No one else was working that day,” I say firmly.
“I didn’t tell you what day it was,” he says, glaring.
“The date is on the receipt.” I lift my eyebrows, trying to look innocent. We don’t need trouble from him, but he’s determined.
“Of course,” he mumbles, looking at it. When he looks up, his body relaxes, and he leans closer. He’s trying a different tactic. “What’s your name?” I don’t want to answer him, but it would look more suspicious if I don’t.
“Mara.” My tight smile is back, and I slide my hands in my pockets. I get the feeling that if he touched me, I would throw up.
“Beautiful name,” he hums, looking down my body. I shiver, and not in the good way Rome makes me. This is a prime example of the shit women, whether human or not, deal with every time they leave their house. Luckily, I am not human. My magic is growing, and I’m tempted to test out my fire skills on him and deal with the repercussions later.
“Thank you,” I say stiffly. We don’t need to draw attention to our business or ourselves. I have to play nice. Witches live in the shadows for a reason.
“Yeah,” he breathes, staring at my chest. “Jerry would have loved you. He was between girlfriends, so there is no way he would have passed up the opportunity.” He touches the tip of his tongue to the corner of his mouth and drags his eyes up to mine. “He liked blondes, though. Me, I love long black hair.” I grind my teeth. Fuck. I want to kill him. My body is filling with pent-up magic, ready and willing to set him ablaze. “His neighbors saw him come home. His car is still in the garage.” He tilts his head. What the fuck is this guy? He won’t let it go.
“It’s sad. Did you report his disappearance?” I don’t want him to, but I need to say all the right things.
“He hasn’t been gone long enough.” He taps his fingers on the surface, and my gaze flicks down. “We miss him at the office. He was one of our best.”
“Sorry, I wish I could help.” Shit, didn’t I already say that? I try to remember who Lace is inking, and if it’s a man. I don’t want him to see my sister. He lifts his hand.
