“In case you’ve forgotten, I am human. I need food.” She took a seat at the back of the café, out of the cold. Shopping bags settled on the floor next to her, she picked up the menu that was already on the table.
After a moment, Lore pulled out the chair opposite her and sat as she glanced through the breakfast items. She rested an elbow on the table, her fingers playing with the multiple studs on her ear. She lifted her gaze to find him watching her again.
Her breath caught.
“I’m sure you can keep an eye on me without actually gluing your eyeballs to me,” she muttered, feeling out of sorts at his unwavering attention.
A young waiter with friendly blue eyes approached. “Ready to order?”
“Yes.” She gave him a bright smile, trying to shake off whatever idiocy had her stupid heart doing a giddy spin. It must be the darn clean air in the village. “I’ll have your traditional breakfast.”
“Good choice,” he said, sporting a charming accent. He glanced at Lore. “You, sir?”
“Oh, he’s fasting,” Nia deadpanned, causing his metallic green eyes to narrow.
The waiter nodded and left with her order.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, stop with the peril you have wrapped around you like a grenade about to go off, or you’ll scare the locals into hiding before I even have my breakfast.”
“When were you going to tell me about the fire?”
Her fingers clenched as his words registered.
It took a moment before her brain tracked, and she clenched her fingers.
Thatwas why he watched her, not because he suddenly saw her as a person. He probably thought she’d burn down the village. Her hunger pangs waned.
She hunched over and could feel his stare as she repositioned the salt and pepper shakers on the checkered tablecloth, then drew them to the edge…aaandpushed them to the middle again.
There were only so many ways she could do that.
He continued watching her.
Damn, delaying wouldn’t change anything, and from his cool expression, he wasn’t relenting either. He probably knew every little mishap about her life, too.
Straightening her spine, she cut him a dirty look from beneath her lashes. “So? You going to report me to the psychic police for burning a pillow?”
A slight crease formed between his brows. “I feel the change in you. It’s a little different from yesterday. Stronger. Your powers, I mean.”
“Whoop-de-do,” she grumbled. “Well, I don’t feel any different.” No need to mention the rampant energy roiling through her like a dizzy swarm of bees or the rising heat. She grabbed the roll neck of her sweater and tugged it down.
Lore suddenly shot to his feet and stalked over to the waiter. He said something, and the waiter nodded before disappearing into the back. Lore glanced about the place, expression hard, eyes steely. Nothing new there.
Did he finally order food for himself?
She snorted. Consume inferior mortal offerings? She didn’t think so.
Those otherworldly, silvery-green eyes came back to her, as if he had heard her, and narrowed.
Oh, boy.Her belly dipped. Yes, he was gorgeous, with his chiseled features and rigid jaw, but deeper, the angel was like adarn ice block, devoid of any feelings unless his divine self was insulted.
With a mental eye-roll, Nia glanced out the window at the shrubs, most of which were bare of leaves.
A moment later, he appeared with a box in his hand. “Let’s go.”
“What?” She forced her gaze away from the mysterious white box and looked up at him. “I haven’t had my breakfast yet?—”
“Being outside for so long is not safe. Get your things.”
