“Order up for Miss Daisy.”
I shoot out of my seat like I’m on fire, then immediately slip on the puddle under my bench and go sideways. I’m anticipating the hurt that will come when I hit the hard tiled floor and brace myself for impact, but the pain never comes. Instead, strong arms firmly wrap around me before straightening me upright.
Well. Fantasies do come true after all.
He tsks. “The floor’s wet. Watch yourself.”
He frowns like I’ve committed some offense just by existing, and I blink up at his ridiculously perfect face framed by white strands of hair.
Wait.
Wasn’t he behind the counter like—two seconds ago?
He reaches beside us, grabs the pizza box, and presses it into my chest.
I barely manage to grab it before he steps back.
“Hurry up home, Daisy Love. And don’t make any other stops.”
His voice is still smooth, but it sharpens—darkens—on the last part.
“There are big, bad things hiding in the shadows at night… and trust me, you don’t want them catching you unaware.”
A chill runs down my spine.
And this one hasnothingto do with being wet.
Bewildered, I stare at him, blinking like a deer in headlights, clutching my pizza with both hands.
He keeps flip-flopping between being charming and terrifyingly bossy.
And weirdly?
I think I’m into both. The whole hot and cold thing is working for him. It’s definitely working forme.
Something I didn’t know about myself.
Until now.
“Say you understand, Daisy.”
That commanding tone is back, and I nod rapidly like my life depends on it.
But he steps closer anyway, his voice lowering.
“I want to hear the words come from your lips, love.”
“I… understand,” I whisper.
He flashes me a grin that is all teeth. Sharp, glinting,definitely not normalteeth.
Then he nudges me toward the door, snapping me out of my trance.
Were those… fangs?
My stomach does a somersault, and I spin on my heel, not daring to look back as I head for the exit, his warning replaying in my mind.
Why did the threatening words sound like a promise?
