I take a step back. “She’s going to be here with food soon, and I’m not sharing any of it with you, so you have to go. I’ll summon you when she’s gone.”
His fangs flash as he grins. “Don’t think you’re getting away with this bossy behavior for long, Firecracker.”
He goes up in flames, and I shriek. But the fire winks out just as quickly as it came, and he’s gone with it.
Damn, he’s so cool.
Lacey returns with a big bag about twenty minutes later. I’ve finished washing all the brushes and tidying up so we can have a spot to sit. We feast on toasted rolls loaded with shredded lobster meat and sauced with butter, mayo, lemon, and chives. I’ve never eaten anything like it, and it’s breaking my brain. The salty, crispy chips offset every bite of sweet lobster meat and sour lemon, making it the perfect meal.
She chats avidly about the best places to eat around town, or within thirty miles of town, and all the other spritely, giggly things in her head. I want to pay better attention, but I can’t get Rhazan off my mind.
When the last chip is in my belly, Lacey gets up and grabs her things. “Well, I better head home.”
“Wait, you’re going?” I ask.
She smiles gently. “I’m sorry to ditch you, but I’m pretty tired.”
I blow out a huff. “Yeah, me too.”
“I could tell,” she says.
“Really?”
She laughs. “You wolfed in silence with distant eyes. Pretty clear indicator.”
“Sorry. There’s just a lot going on. Ace’s first day of school—gotta get him in a few hours—plus Nai Nai hasn’t called.”
“You’re fine, and so are they.” She pats my shoulder. “I had fun, and it was an excuse to get lobster. Jamie hates it.”
“Okay, well, thanks again for everything. I owe you like thirty coffees,” I say.
“Better get myself a punch card,” she says.
We laugh, but that sparks my brain. I want to get loyalty member punch cards. I walk her to the door and wave her off, then run to my notepad to write it down before the thought evaporates.
“Inspiration?” Rhazan’s voice almost makes me jump, but I hold it in.
“I said I would summon you,” I grouse.
“I said your bossiness wouldn’t go unpunished,” he retorts.
Heat blooms in my chest and scurries all the way down to my core. “If you think I’ll just bend over your leg whenever you demand, you’re very wrong.”
A predatory grin spreads over his face and he approaches me. My heart thuds loudly, body warming in all the best places. His hand falls close to mine on the bar. Strands of his black hair slip from his half bun as he looks down at me. His eyes dart from my forehead down to my lips, then up to my eyes.
“You’re cute,” he murmurs.
I scrunch up my face, making it very ugly.
“Now you’re cuter,” he laughs, a deep rumbling thing that rivals the thundering of my heart. The sound is like a hot cup of tea on a rainy day, wrapped in a blanket. I crave it. I want more of it.
My face relaxes and I drink him in. His fangs poke into his crimson lip pulled tight by the smile that comes all the way up to his eyes, making the menacing blackness of them sparkle with warmth.
His smile fades and he leans in, like I’ve become the center of gravity.
“Are you ready to work, or do you want to brat?”
“I do notbrat,” I declare, putting a hand on my hip.
