Page 103 of Love & Heart Braking

Devereaux leaned over my shoulder.

“I’m keeping a record of everything he says. Thought I’d try to learn poltergeist.” I didn’t have any prior record of shove, bury, squeeze, or rip, so I’d send the memo to Speak Together for help. Eventually, Rodney may repeat words, and I could try to piece the meanings together over time.

Devereaux trailed kisses over my shoulder. “Have I mentioned that you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met?”

“And will meet,” I prompted.

“And will meet,” he dutifully echoed.

I turned in the cage of his arms, gripping the bench edge behind me. “A shame we’ve used up our three strikes.”

When did our three-consequences rule become a baseball term? I wasn’t sure, but it fit.

He trailed his nose up the bridge of mine before kissing me on the forehead. “Lucky thing we’ve got an entire tome to distract us then.”

Devereaux walked to the couch, and I trekked his every step, releasing my held breath. It’d take a lot more than a dusty book to ever distract me from this man.

“What was the question you wanted to ask? I earned it fair and square.”

He glanced back. “No biggie.”

I folded my arms. “Does this need to get ugly, Vincori?”

“Don’t tempt me, Concordia.”

Devereaux picked up the tome and settled back on the couch. “Just wanted to know if you’d be interested in moving in together. You know… to help loosen the curse full-time. My predator has been busting my ass for me to ask.”

My arms lowered of their own accord.

Ceres, claim me.

“Just some food for thought,” he said, winking.

23

I collected a stack of posters from the printer, and brought them to Soleil’s desk, not breaking in our conversation. “A lot of the ribbon information in the tome was faded, which sucks. Devereaux was saying that I should maybe make my own manual. Copy over what’s in there and fill in what I can of the lost text as I figure more out.”

“That man is more than just a long coat,” she said, banging her index finger down on the Enter key. “Marketing packages sent to our list. Newsletter scheduled. Posters down. The last details for Single Plus One set. We’re all ready for opening on Monday and Singles Plus One next Saturday.”

We’d stayed back late to get rid of the to-do list for Yearning Harmony. Soleil usually didn’t let things build up so much, but we’d both been busy.

After recovering from her hangover, my friend had become a whirlwind, and unlike her usual bursts of organization and planning for world domination, this whirlwind reeked of desperation. She was trying to force Bain from her mind. Which could only last so long.

I was just afraid of the eruption when she exhausted herself.

She pivoted on her chair. “So what did the book say about the ribbons?”

Perching on her desk, I said, “Apparently, I should be able to switch off the sight of the ribbons. I’ll need to practice that. We think there was also mention of me being able to affect the ribbons too. There weren’t many words to work with, so we were filling in a lot of gaps.”

“You realize that you’re the most powerful person in Venus’s line in the world, right? I feel like I should bow to you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Your spine doesn’t bend like that. Finding out that I am makes me think of something Niera said when she first came to be matched.”

“The maiden? What did she say?”

“She was telling me about a story her mother used to tell. She said the gods released their power while they reentered the womb to slumber. Centuries would pass as their power was diluted, but in the centuries after, their power would gather again within certain types for their rebirth.”

Soleil regarded me. “I’ve never heard that. You think there’s something to it?”

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