I inhaled sharply at the emotion thickening his voice. “Thanks, man.”
He gave me a squeeze before letting go, then waited for Carter to reach him. That was when he turned and added, “I’ve seen the way she lights up around you, too. You got this, Milo.”
Even as I stared out into the dark after them, that assurance glowed inside me, a physical warmth that spread slowly from the center of my chest outward until my limbs were lit with it. If Eden had been there, I’d have poured it into a kiss, watching for that light even my cynical oldest brother could see.
The reason for leaving the stores together each evening didn’t thrill me, but having that opportunity to reunite was definitely a sweet moment no matter how boring or hectic our days had been.
And when Addie and Monique walked Eden to my door that night, I saw it happen firsthand.
Eden hugged them both and bid them goodnight, then turned to me. Her expression grew soft, lips curving slightlyupward as she reached out to slip her arms around my waist. In the darkness, her eyes were almost black, but the street lamp in front of the building made them twinkle with golden sparks, just like Carter said.
“Hi,” she murmured.
I dipped my head to kiss one corner of her mouth, then the other. “Hi. How’d it go?”
“Good, I think. Everyone seems to be happy with the arrangement, so I think Addie will keep it going. Someone bought my last Valentine’s robe.” She practically purred as she snuggled into my chest. “You’re always so warm.”
“Let’s get out of the cold then,” I replied, bundling her away from the building to get to my car.
“What a great parking spot,” she murmured as she buckled her seatbelt.
I leveled a stern look in her direction. “Isn’t it?”
Her laughter rang out as we pulled away from the curb, and I soaked in the sound. Carter’s earnest reassurance echoed in my head, followed by Maverick’s sincere confirmation.
She lights up around you.
Hell, yes, she did.
Thursdaywasmoreofthe same, though Rafael came in for the afternoon to help with inventory. I stayed openan extra hour as a test run, a joint effort to keep myself busy during Eden’s event and to see if any after-work shoppers might take advantage, but the store stayed pretty empty after sunset.
Just as I crossed the store to lock up, though, a middle-aged woman waved frantically at me through the glass. She was wearing a long skirt and carrying one of those huge purses that made me think of Mary Poppins.
“Please, could you just give me five minutes? I need a gift for a birthday this weekend,” she begged when I opened the door for her.
“Sure, take your time. Is there anything I can help you find?”
“Oh, no, I’ll just take a look around. Please do whatever you need to do. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
I smiled at her and moved to the other side of the store to tidy the displays while she browsed. Eden’s self-defense seminar wouldn’t be over for another hour, so all I had waiting for me after this shopper finished up was the book I’d left on the counter.
“Pardon me,” the woman called, “would you take a look at this for me? I think there’s a scratch on his face.”
“Of course.” When I reached her side, I peered down at the action figures in front of her. “I think that’s part of the design, but I can look in back for another—”
Something heavy bashed against the side of my head and pain exploded outward until I felt myself falling behind the display of Star Wars characters she’d been looking at. My vision went hazy for a minute before the woman’s shoes came intofocus, and all I could think was that they looked like the kind of old lady sneakers my first grade teacher always wore.
A thunk sounded as she dropped the weapon she’d used to strike me, one of the pewter dragon statues Eden had admired the day of the window incident. It landed on the carpet close enough to my head to make me flinch, especially when I saw one of its folded wings smeared with blood.
“Why…” I whispered, blinking hard at the dragon beside me.
It fizzled in and out of focus. My limbs had turned heavy and uncoordinated, like lead weights were keeping me there on the floor. Even if I could get them to cooperate, I doubted I’d be able to sit up without dizziness overwhelming me.
“Because you’re peddling the Devil’s goods, Mr. Davies. This place must be purified.”
The words wormed their way through my fuzzy thoughts. “Purified.”
“Yes,” she said harshly, her feet moving out of sight for a moment before she returned with that enormous purse, which she set down beside me.
