I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Demi’s candor caught me off guard. And if I was honest, it scared me that she had felt some pull to come. I needed to know what Junie was dreaming about and why she’d run off to find Demi in the first place today.
Junie took Demi’s hand and dragged her in.
I was quick to shut the door, hoping no one saw Demi. While I hated that Cassie was abusing her powers, I prayed whatever hexes she’d cast did their job concealing Demi.
“Don’t worry, my daddy likes you. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
Demi laughed uncomfortably but not unkindly. “I don’t think your daddy would agree with you.”
I didn’t want to agree with my daughter, even though my Cupid side was wholeheartedly on board. Regardless, I needed to find out what had happened today while I was gone.
“Junie, will you please go help your grandma? I need to speak to Demi for a minute.”
“Okay.” She skipped off with no pushback.
As soon as she rounded the corner, I stepped closer to Demi.
Big mistake.
Her sandalwood scent hit me first—warm, familiar. Then her eyes—unconcealed, unguarded—stunned me into silence.
My divine side went haywire. It begged me to touch her. To try again. He wanted to know what was in her heart.
I shoved my hands deep into my jeans pockets, trying to cage the impulse. “I don’t know what happened today,” I said, voice low, “but thank you for keeping my daughter safe.”
“Honestly, I don’t know what happened either,” she replied. “But you’re welcome. She’s a special girl.”
“She is. But her goddess has a naughty streak.”
Demi laughed—really laughed.
And it caught me off guard. I hadn’t known she could laugh like that. It was melodic and superb. The kind of sound you want to bottle and play on repeat.
“My goddess and hers are kindred spirits,” she said.
And now I wanted to know just how naughty Demi’s divine self could be.
This was wrong.
So wrong.
I coughed. “Uh . . .” I lost my train of thought. “I just want to make sure you understand how important it is that no one knows about us. Not us,” I corrected inelegantly. “What I mean is—”
“I get what you mean,” she said, cutting me off. “And don’t worry, I don’t want anyone to know that I’m associated with you either.”
She smirked and walked off, cool and effortless.
I stared after her. My only thought—Was Junie right?Did I like Demi, and I just didn’t know it yet? Or did I just not want to admit it?
Chapter XIV
Demi
“Thissmellsdelicious.Thankyou again for inviting me.”
I focused nervously on Melissa Archer, Roman’s mom, sitting across the table full of an Italian feast. I still couldn’t believe I’d said yes. But when I’d met her that afternoon and she told me she’d been friends with my mother, curiosity got the better of me.
My mom had never mentioned her. Then again, she’d never mentioned who my father really was either. So there was that.
