“Something’s wrong with me.”
“I’ll say.”
“No.” He grabbed her arm, his expression pleading. “I am compelled to tell you the truth. I don’t know why, but I must.”
“Huh.” He was forced to tell her the truth? And his truth was that he loved her and wanted to marry her? Was this some sort of joke?
“What’s your name?”
His mouth opened and he started to say something, but then closed his lips and stared at her in mute dismay. What was up with this guy?
“What, is that a tough one for you?” There was something wrong with him all right.
He cleared his throat and said, “Max. My name is Max.”
“Max what?”
“Vander—” He closed his eyes and slapped a hand over his own mouth.
“Max Vander?”
He nodded, although he’d paled and a visible shudder went through him.
“So, you’re a truthteller, are you?”
He nodded again, his gaze searching their immediate area. He looked decidedly uncomfortable.
“Let’s do a test. Do you like my costume?”
Max’s focus came back to her. He swallowed hard and nodded. The hand lowered from his face and he even smiled. The color came back to his cheeks.
“I like it very much. The red color of the hooded cape suits you very well. What are you dressed as?”
“Little Red Riding Hood.”Couldn’t he tell?
He stared at her intently and a few beads of sweat popped out on his forehead. He looked like Bianca did when she tried to read Ruby’s mind. Apparently, it was difficult for her Alpha sister-in-law to read the thoughts of witches.
Ruby broke his stare when she turned around in a circle right in front of him, letting him see her form from all sides. “So, do you think this short black skirt makes my butt look too big?”
His eyes widened as he went ghost white pale again. This time when his hand slapped over his mouth it made a sound that carried a few feet away. His torso, arms and head trembled. Several folks glanced in their direction. He looked like he was about to burst into a thousand pieces.
After five seconds or so, Max seemed to get over his palsy. “I need to leave, right now,” he whispered and bolted away from her.
Did that mean her buttdidlook too big in this costume? Huh.
Ruby watched him move toward a couple she recognized. Bubba Thorne and his wife Astrid. They owned Bubba’s Psychic Readings, the satellite office of which was located across from her office in the mercantile building downtown.
Was Mr. Tall Blond and Gorgeous employed there? Was he an alien? Interesting.
Had he tried to read her mind?
“Who was that guy?” Viktor said in her ear.
Ruby jumped half a foot into the air.
“Stop doing that!”
“Doing what?” He gave her his best innocent look that fooled no one.
