But the mortal in me? He just stood there, stunned. Speechless.
“What do you want?” Demi narrowed her eyes at the pebbles in my hand. “And you realize I have a door, right? Maybe try knocking on it? Do you need a tutorial on how that’s done?”
I let the pebbles slip from my hand and scatter on the ground like they were embarrassed on my behalf.
“Uh, I’m a Cupid,” I stuttered. “This is kind of our thing. Romantic gestures.”
What the hell was I saying? Romantic gestures?
She lifted her brow, skeptical yet seemingly amused. “You’re trying to be romantic?”
“Yes. I mean, no. Maybe. Hell, I don’t know.”
She cracked a small smile. “Well, if this is your idea of a possible romantic gesture, I’m terrified to see what an actual one would look like. A wrecking ball to the cabin to get my attention?”
I let out a heavy breath and dragged a hand through my hair. “Honestly, I would probably do that and more to get your attention.” I paused, hardly believing I’d just confessed that to her. If she only knew every song and poem I’d scripted for her. “But that’s not why I came here.”
“Oh.” Her voice dropped. She was clearly disappointed and confused. Any hint of a smile vanished.
She wasn’t the only one confused.
I braved stepping closer. Close enough to catch the greens and blues swirling in her eyes like the beginnings of a storm.
“Demi, you’re wrecking my show.”Wrecking me.
She folded her arms in front of her. “How precisely am I doing that?”
“You know exactly what you’re doing. I thought we agreed you would leave the matchmaking to me.”
“I’m not making any matches,” she defended herself. “But I’m not going to lead these men on. That’s just mean, and I’ve already done enough damage. Besides, being in the mortal world has turned me into an emotion barometer, and the only way to turn it off and stop sensing everyone’s feelings is to get them to talk about it. It’s not like I love being able to read people. It feels intrusive.”
It was a reminder that she could read me. I tried to calm my emotions, but it was impossible not to admire her. Not to want her. But her heart and my show were at stake. Both were important to me.
“With time and practice, you’ll be able to control your gifts more. And speaking of gifts. What are you doing to the men?”
The tip of her button nose pinked. “What do you mean?”
I tilted my head. “You know exactly what I mean. You’re stopping them from being romantically attracted to you.”
She shrugged. “Maybe,” she sang guiltily.
“Don’t deny it,” I growled. “You promised me that you would play along until we could figure out how to help your situation.”
She leaned out the window. “You haven’t been very helpful, now, have you? You’re not living up to your end of the bargain.”
I marched up to her. Until we were almost face-to-face. It wasn’t the brightest move. Her intoxicating scent hit me. Filled me with a relentless desire that refused to be quenched. I had to close my eyes and steady myself before I did something we couldn’t come back from.
“I’ve been busy with work, and your situation is complicated. It’s going to take some time to figure out.”
“I don’t have time, Roman,” she whispered.
My name so gentle on her lips opened my eyes.
She stood there, so vulnerable, so scared. I foolishly stepped closer and dared to take a damp strand of her silky hair, letting it slip between my fingers.
She bit her lip, her eyes searching mine.
“Please don’t try to read me,” I begged her.
