Max looked around as if a horde of former Alpha friends was about to descend from the sky and hurl mean looks as they ridiculed his very existence.
“Perhaps once we get back inside.”
Ruby pointed at a large brick building on the corner of the next block. “That’s where we’re going.”
“The mercantile building?”
“Yes.”
“That’s where the satellite office of Bubba’s Psychic Readings is located.”
“They are right across from my office.”
“Do you have a back way in so no one will see me go into your office?”
“Sure. We can go in the back. Don’t want anyone to see you and make you work?”
“Something like that.” He didn’t want anyone to see him at all now that he knew someone was looking for him. The urge to look over his shoulder every five seconds took up too much time, but was difficult to stop once he started.
They entered the mercantile building by way of a narrow ally and a half-filled parking lot.
As they turned the corner into the ally, Max glanced at the opposite side of the street. He saw a tall, skinny guy wearing a bright red T-shirt, dark gray sweatpants and a green baseball cap, walking alone. Max quickly turned his face away to keep from being seen, registering the strange outfit and rolling his eyes at himself. This was Nocturne Falls. Most people wore odd clothing. The guy had probably been at the Black and Orange Ball earlier.
Max was tired of being so paranoid. Perhaps he needed to relax and not worry about what people thought of him. If someone was looking for him to pester him about his past, he’d ignore whoever it was and fail to send a message back.
Ruby unlocked a door at the rear of the building and they entered a dark hallway. She flipped a switch and the light overhead came on.
She shut the door and led him from the hall to a single door, a small office. It was right next to a waiting room sporting a row of four connected chairs by the entry door. On the other side of the door against the wall was a two-person sofa next to a reception desk.
“This is where you work?”
“Yep. It’s small, but I like it and the rent is cheap.”
“Cheap?”
“Inexpensive. My aunt and brothers own the building. They gave me a really good deal on rent.”
Max was warmed by that. It sounded like Ruby had a nice family. He longed for a family like that. He stared into her eyes and she gazed back at him.
He didn’t mean to read her mind, but he was pretty sure she was thinking about kissing him. He’d been thinking about kissing her all night.
Max lowered his head and kissed her softly. Ruby kissed him back a little less softly. He was touched to his soul.I love you, Ruby. I really do want to marry you.
He wasn’t sure the spell was compelling him anymore.
Chapter Nine
Ruby kissed Max like she’d wanted to since they sat on the sofa in his apartment. He had been a gentleman, even though he kept telling her he loved her and wanted to marry her. As time went by, he seemed to get control of his compulsion to continually tell her of his love and reiterate his enduring marriage proposal.
Perhaps whatever spell he’d been under was wearing off. Ruby was a little sad at the prospect and decided she’d miss it. After several seconds, Max broke the kiss and stared at her with what looked like wonder in his eyes.
“Do you still love me and want to marry me?”
Nodding, he said, “Even more so now.”
“Huh. Interesting.” Ruby tried not to be overly affected by the kiss. It was very nice and truth be told she’d consider doing it again, but her workaholic ethic intruded to remind her why she was here. She cleared her throat, trying not to let him know how much a single kiss had impacted her. “Let me get the package.”
