Devraj caught sight of me at the bar and froze, his expression blank, his gaze piercing. Slowly, he swiveled back to Evie who was straddling a chair backward, her chin resting on her hands on the back of the chair. He launched into some other story, captivating them with his wit and charm.
But I wandered over to the window overlooking the side street and tried to ignore the way he rattled my nerves. A cute couple walked and laughed arm-in-arm, their perky Collie tugging on the leash. I smiled, thinking of Archie back at Angel Paws.
Evie’s loud, infectious laugh caught my attention. Belinda giggled along with her.
Devraj shrugged one shoulder, glancing my way as I walked back toward the kitchen door, hoping Sam would hurry the hell up.
“That’s what happens when Big John joins the party.”
Then they all laughed, even him before he homed in on me, heat simmering in his dark eyes, his lips parted in such a sensual look that sweat broke out on my back.
It had been a hot minute since a man had looked at me like that, that’s all. I’d stopped dating a few years ago, immersing myself in happier pursuits. Like gardening. Men just didn’t compare to the joy of hyacinth in bloom, sorry to say. Not in my experience anyway.
Devraj added in that teasing rumble, “Got to love Big John. Always there to give a helping hand.”
Dawning realization shot through me like a thousand daggers hitting me at once. I suddenly stepped back, bumping my hip into the bar, my mouth going cotton-dry.
Big John? Big John. Big John!
No, no, no, no, no!
They all dispersed, but the he-devil just sat there grinning at me like the fiend he was. I had no idea what the hell the story was, but I knew without a single doubt his little tale was meant for me. To embarrass me. Even if he was the only one who knew what Big John was really a reference to. Heat raced under my skin, filling my cheeks.
No, Isadora. You will not allow him to get to you.
Tipping my chin higher and pretending to be far braver than I was, I cleared my throat and sashayed toward him.
“Hey, Isadora,” said Evie, her ponytail swinging as she stopped in front of me. “You need me for something?”
“I just need to talk to”—I pointed over her shoulder—“him.”
“You just missed the funniest stories I’ve ever heard.” She laughed as she strode toward a lone customer at one of the booths along the wall.
Violet was walking away, too, but she turned back to Devraj. “You’re coming for dinner Sunday, right?”
Violet! I was going to skin her alive, then bury her in the backyard in an ant bed, then resuscitate her with my magic so I could do it all over again. Why? Why were my sisters torturing me?
He was standing now. “Nothing would give me more pleasure.” His eyes were still on me as I approached.
“Mr. Kumar,” I said a little shakily, “might I have a word with you outside?”
“Absolutely.” He dipped his head in a slight nod, his long hair sliding forward over one shoulder before he said formally, “After you, Miss Savoie.”
I marched for the exit, not trusting my sisters who liked to eavesdrop. Pushing open the door with a little too much force, I exhaled a calming breath before I spun to face him. The amusement twinkling in his eyes and lifting the corner of his mouth made me want to punch something. Preferably his perfect face. He was lucky I wasn’t a violent person.
I crossed my arms, feeling defensive and angsty. He mirrored me.
“I believe you have something of mine,” I stated, low and with some bite.
“What might that be?” All innocence. Yeah, right.
“A certain package.”
He lifted a hand and smoothed the short beard of his chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Hmm. I’m not sure. Describe what’s in this package.”
Really? He was going to play it this way? Unbelievable!
“I am not going to describe it to you, pervert.”
He chuckled and then grinned openly.
“You are well aware of what I’m talking about.” I glanced back toward the door of the Cauldron, afraid one of my sisters might suddenly appear and overhear us. Then I whispered, “Big John.”
Those warm brown eyes trailed from my eyes down to my lips. “Big John, is it?” But his thoughts seemed miles away.
“You have it?” I demanded, clearing the breathiness out of my voice.
He nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing when he swallowed. “Have dinner with me.”
I blew out a sigh. “No. Give me back my package.”
“You seem kind of desperate for it.” The wickedness was back in his eyes. Ten-fold.
“You can’t keep it hostage.”
“Can’t I?”
Hands on both my hips, I argued, “I paid for it. Are you seriously going to steal my vibrator? I’d say you’re the desperate one if that’s the case.”
He let out a bark of laughter, his white teeth gleaming. Still no canines. That was a relief at least.
“Why won’t you share a meal with me?” he asked, his voice softening. The velvety-dark timbre was unfair for any man to possess. But then, he wasn’t just a man, now was he?
“Because I don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
Exasperating! I didn’t like to hurt people’s feelings, but if he was going to push me, then it was his fault. “If you must know, I don’t particularly like you.”
“Everybody likes me.”
“Well, I don’t.”
He arched a brow, smiling wider. “You don’t even know me.”
“And I don’t care to. Why is it so important that I eat dinner or lunch or whatever with you? Because I keep refusing you?”
“Maybe.”
It was my turn to tilt my head back and laugh. “You are something else.”
“So I’m told.”
“I don’t mean that in a good way.”
“But maybe you really do?” He inched closer, the size and breadth of him suddenly filling up my personal space.
“You can’t sweet-talk me, Devraj. I’m immune.”
“You’re sure?”
“Ughhh. I just want my package back. That’s it.”
He recognized the obvious frustration in my voice and posture. He measured me for several more seconds before his teasing expression morphed into sincerity. “Fine then. Swing by and pick it up this afternoon.”
I frowned, not exactly keen on the idea of going to his house. Like walking into the dragon’s lair.
“Or,” he said slowly, “I could drop it by later, though I’m sure your sisters might get a good kick out of the fact that I accidentally opened it and found quite a surprise inside.”
Flames licked up my cheeks. My sisters and I didn’t hide things from each other. Or, at least, not those kinds of things. I was sure Violet and Jules were hiding a shit-ton from the rest of us. But I did not want to be the butt of the joke for them for the next month. Violet could be merciless with embarrassing things like our neighbor vamp receiving my vibrator by mistake.
“No,” I said quickly. “I’ll come by after work and pick it up.”
“What time do you get off?”
“I’ll finish about four o’clock today. Clara usually closes unless she needs me to.”
“Good. Four o’clock.” He smiled. “It’s a date.”
“Devraj.” I snorted a laugh, unable to suppress it. “Me knocking on your door and standing on your porch is not a date.”
He backed away, holding my gaze. “I look forward to seeing you soon.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“I think you mean marvelous.”
“Oh. I have plenty of other names for you.”
“I look forward to hearing all of them this afternoon.” He winked, flashing his charming smile. “Four o’clock.” Then he turned and strode down Magazine.
“What’s going on there?”
I jumped and gasped at the same time. Violet held the door to the Cauldron open, watching me watch Devraj walk away. Why was I watching him?
“Nothing,” I said, squeezing past her and zipping through the bar to get mine and Clara’s lunch so I could get the hell out of there and away from him as fast as possible.
Chapter 7
~ISADORA~
The rest of the day crawled by. I didn’t like my new precious in the hands of that freaking vampire. I mean, I didn’t think he was actually playing with it or anything, but his attempts to get under my skin were working. I didn’t embarrass all that easily, but remembering his complete amusement at my expense had my cheeks flushing with heat yet again.
I spent the afternoon working on the books, but that didn’t take long enough. I finished with too much time on my hands. So I started on payroll, even though payday wasn’t until Monday. After that, I strolled back to the inventory closet and decided that the organization needed readjusting.
I mean, honestly, how can we mix the Tarot cards on the same shelf as the Oracle? They’re two entirely different things. Well, not entirely, but it’s best not to get them confused. And the new shipment of geodes were stacked in boxes next to the crystals. If for some reason Livvy decided to fill shelf space in Clara’s absence, she’d more than likely just toss anything out there without thinking. Don’t get me wrong. Livvy was brilliant—at marketing, promotion, and anything techy that we needed. But don’t let her get near the products she sells so well.
By the time I finished, it was still only three o’clock. I decided to dust the shelves, much to Z’s disgust. He found a table to hide under while Clara cozied up to an elderly woman in need of some pain healing. Clara brought her over to the packets of teas, the ones I’d made specifically to help with muscle and arthritic pain.
At five minutes to four, I opened the cabinet under the register, getting ready to tear out of there when the shop door swung open and in stepped three boisterous young women.