Page 94 of The Biting Bargain

The online shop of Poppy Panties is doing great, but I never actually thought of getting a real store.

Vincent smiles wider. "Do you like it?"

I look up at him. "Yes, I love it. But there’s no way…"

"Ah, don’t worry about the costs. There’s been an arrangement with the owner of this building, who happens to be an old friend of mine."

"So, my rich boyfriend has been pulling some strings?" I raise an eyebrow.

"If you’re not comfortable with this, we can of course rearrange." He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. "But I have no doubt your business will be a great success and you will be able to sustain this on your own. Without my help."

I take his hand.

"Thanks for believing in me," I say quietly.

He leans down, presses a gentle kiss on my lips.

"Always, dove," he whispers.

Thank you for reading!

I hope you enjoyed Polly’s and Vincent’s story.

Wanna know how our two nocturnal lovebirds are figuring out their little immortality problem? Find out in the bonus epilogue I’ll send out in my newsletter.

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So,while things are looking peachy in Twin Pines, Polly’s friend Mae is facing a problem of her own — a rather rocky problem.

You can read the first few pages ofThe Gargoyle Catchright now, just keep turning the pages.

XOXO,

Emily

Sneak Peek - The Gargoyle Catch

Mae

Looking back,I should have seen it coming much earlier.

But not even when my glam started to fade a week ago, forcing me to wear a thick woolen cap in the freaking middle of summer, I would have never expectedSILVANUSto send an Incubus after me that fast.

Yet, there he is, loitering next to the stack of crappy thriller novels in the entryway, hands in the pockets of his Italian suit.

Cursing inwardly, I duck behind the cash register. Futile, of course. Jonathan has already spotted me. My cousin gives me a twirling wave along with his trademark salesman grin. He might look totally harmless and not like a Daemon of Euphoria, the incarnation of lust and desire that he actually is. But hey, I don't look like that either — and I of all people should know how to hide in plain sight, shouldn’t I?

"Can you gift wrap this for me, dear?"

I force a smile and nod. "Of course."

Get a grip,I chide myself. The two customers waiting in front of the counter have to be served. A spontaneous escape out the window is not an option.

And Mrs. Cooper is my favorite customer. Every other day she purchases a book for one of her numerous grandchildren, and on every other day I love listening to her chattering while I griftwrap "Counting to Hundred with Vampires" or "Kaspode the Wonderdog" and telling me everything about her cats. But right now my fingers are trembling as I start wrapping her book into pink paper and suppress the urge to grab my stuff, jump the counter and run for the freakin’ hills.

But it’s not because of the Incubus.

Because, believe it or not, the Sex-Daemon just leafing through the latest true-crime novel is the least of my problems right now.

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