Page 14 of Hex Appeal

He disappears before I can ask what that means. Whatever. I turn to help another customer.

Ten minutes later, a brown paper bag lands on the table in front of me. I look up. Welles sets down a bottle of water beside it.

I stare at both suspiciously. “What’s this?”

“Food.”

“I gathered that. But what is it doing here?”

“You should try eating some.”

I peer inside.

There’s a sandwich wrapped in paper. And a maple apple cider donut. Not just any maple apple cider donut. One from the bakery stand across the square that sold out before I got one earlier today.

I look up at him. “You got me a donut?”

“And a sandwich.”

“The donut is more important.”

“Obviously.” Something warm unfurls in my chest. Damn him. I was just getting to the point that I could maybe hate him. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know.”

Which somehow makes it worse.

I take a bite of the donut. My eyes flutter closed. “Oh my God.”

I open them to find him watching me. Not the donut. Me.

His gaze drops briefly to my mouth. Heat curls low in my belly.

“Want a bite?”

His eyes come back to mine. “No.”

“Your loss.” I take another, considerably less seductive bite and force myself to concentrate on chewing instead of wondering what that five o’clock shadow would feel like against my thighs.

Good Lord. I must be losing my mind. I really do need food. Clearly my blood sugar is affecting my judgment.

“Thank you,” I say after swallowing. “Seriously.”

“You’re welcome.”

I study him. “I’ve decided: You might not be a total pain in the ass.”

“High praise.”

“Don’t let it go to your head.”

His mouth finally curves into a real smile.

Oh. My heart hitches. That’s— No. No, absolutely not. I’m not going there with my thoughts.

I turn toward the candles.

“Here.” I grab one of my favorites and hold it out.