Page 19 of To Teleport, or Not to Teleport?
Reaching the diner, I sat at a two top in the middle of the dining room. “Hey, DeeDee,” I called, and the Shifter came toward me. “Heard y’all had a fire yesterday.”
DeeDee waved my words away. “Wanda said it was nothing. We’re so thankful Grayson noticed it before it could turn into more. That storm yesterday was a nuisance. Whoever conjured it needs a whooping; that’s for sure. Zelda and Mac asked everyone if they knew who was playing around, but really, I don’t know who’d create such a fuss. I mean, what is their end game? Burn down the only diner in town?” She scoffed and shook her head. “Did Cami manage to get her ovens fixed?”
I shrugged. “Last I heard, Grayson was trying to fix them. I planned on heading that way after grabbing some food.”
DeeDee took my order and flitted to a few tables before returning to the back. I pulled out my phone and opened my reading app. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been immersed in the story when snippets of a conversation a few feet ahead of me and to my right caught my attention.
“I’m starting to think he’s been cursed,” said a large man with broad shoulders whose face I couldn’t see as he hunched over a bowl of DeeDee’s chicken noodle soup.
“First spray paint, then that storm caused a leak, now the electrical. I’d probably take it as a sign and head back to Man,” said the man across from him, this one lean and toned, a long finger tapping the tabletop.
“Doubt it. He said he was setting down roots, and I’ve seen that look in his eyes before. He’s not changing his mind. I just wish it wasn’t taking so much work.”
The lean man lowered his voice, his pupils narrowed to slits. “Have you heard how some of them talk about him? Why would he want to come back here anyway?”
The larger man shrugged. “He clearly has his reasons.”
Grayson.I knew they had to be talking about him, which left me with more questions than answers.
The rest of my time at the diner went by smoothly and without incident. By the time I’d paid, the men I’d heard had left. I bit down on my lip in thought as I walked toward Cami’s shop.
Here was the thing… Sometimes witches told their bodies where to go, and other times, the body did whatever it wanted. “Dirty word!” I muttered when I found myself standing before Gray Designs.
The last time I’d stood inside this shop, Grayson had announced I was his mate, and I’d taken off. He’d been back to town for a second, and everything seemed to be on its axis. Or perhaps it was just Grayson’s larger-than-life essence wreaking havoc on my life. I needed to leave and go to Cami’s, but I couldn’t get my darn legs to cooperate.
Before I knew it, I was turning the doorknob, but it didn’t move. It was locked. “Of course it’s locked, doofus. He’s not open for business yet.”
“Lee?”
One syllable and every sexy image from my doggone dream flooded my senses. I cleared my throat and faced him. “Hey.”
His eyes darkened, a frown pulling down his lips. “What’s wrong, baby?”
I shook my head quickly, trying to ignore the way goose bumps formed along my skin. “Nothing. I—uh just wanted to check in, after hearing something.”
Grayson unlocked the door and waved me in. “Let’s talk inside. The guys are out for lunch.”
Guys… plural, which meant the two men I’d overheard were likely his “guys.”
Inside, I was hit once again with a musty scent. My nostrils flared in disgust as I searched for the origin of the smell.
“We uncovered a leak in the roof, thanks to the storm. We had to clear out a section of wall that was covered in black mold. I’ll be replacing those two-by-fours tonight, so Kaleb can lay fresh drywall.”
Spotting the exposed outlet, I tensed and met his gaze. “Is that a scorch mark?”
He nodded and ran a hand through his hair. “Small fire but the guys were here, so they were able to put it out before it got out of control.”
I chewed on my lower lip, processing his words. He’d confirmed the men’s stories. Needing a second longer, I peered around the room and spotted a wooden table pushed to the side. Its legs were stained or maybe painted gray, and the top white. On it was a beautiful lamp with thin metal that erupted outward and had little bulbs on the ends. I crossed the room, wanting to examine it closer, my chest filling with emotion I didn’t understand.
“I named that one Fireworks,” Grayson whispered from my side, his eyes lighting up with pride.
“It’s beautiful. You’re really talented.”
“Thank you,” he said and gently turned me to face him. His knuckles grazed my cheek, and I felt little sparks run along my skin. “Not that I’m complaining, but why did you come by?”
I watched his lips stretch and thin with each word, but all I could think about was pressing my mouth to them. Would they be soft? Would his kiss be sweet or hungry?
“Lee?”
