Page 146 of Love & Heart Braking

“How much do you eat?”

Devereaux hesitated.

“Spill,” I ordered. “And don’t lie. How much?”

“Half a dozen eggs, half a loaf of bread, and three avocados should be fine.”

Should be? “You make the drinks and I’ll make breakfast?”

We fell into rhythm beside each other in the kitchen, and I hummed a song by The Raving Vulcans, peeking at Devereaux every so often to catch his smile. This simplicity was a balm to my heart. After sipping at my smoothie as he ate breakfast, I felt better than I had all week.

I showered and pulled on a purple leather mini and a white blouse with puffy sleeves and an open back. Hot. I pulled my hair into a neat bun then halved it using the tail of my hair. I smiled at the bow I’d formed. I used to wear my hair this way when Soleil and I first started out in the dating industry.

Drawing over my heart tattoo, I hooked in small silver hoops and slipped on my white sneakers.

Devereaux barred my exit from the wardrobe. Leaning down, he kissed me. “What’s happening tonight?”

I licked my lips. “The Cinereses took Soleil, and that was in breach of their contract with me. I’ll refuse to go until they release her. I’ve got a letter ready. They’ll respond with threats, and I can back down at that point. If I don’t bite back now, they’ll get suspicious.”

And I couldn’t deny that I was super relieved not to go to the Cinereses’ estate tonight.

“I’m meeting with Mantel before my shift. I’m hoping she’ll agree to do some digging for us. If she does, then maybe going back to the estate isn’t necessary.”

His predator must be calling him all sorts of names right now. My heart squeezed at how hard Devereaux was working to give me a choice in this—to suggest rather than demand. “It would be a risk to return there for sure,” I answered. “Perhaps too risky. Let’s see what Mantel says, and then what the Cinereses come back with to my letter.”

His eyes flashed blue, but Devereux blinked them to gray and nodded. “I’ll walk you to work this morning. And I’d like to walk you home, too, if that’s okay?”

“I’d love the company, but the twelve will find out we’re together.” I trailed off at his pointed look. Okay… I’d be super surprised if they didn’t have one million pictures of us together already. Smolder Cineres had hinted about their knowledge of my relationship with Devereaux.

Instead of taking a hire carriage, we walked through Juno Park, and I inhaled deeply. “It feels so good to walk to work. That’s right up there on the list of things I miss.”

“What else do you miss?”

“Soleil. A gossip o’clock not filled with life-threatening stuff. Enjoying every second of my job without worrying who might die or disappear or who may come at me and the people I love next. Just normal-life stuff, I guess. Anything you miss?”

“For the most part, my life has improved,” he said wryly. “I’d like for you to be safe. I’d like my predator to settle. He’s pushing harder lately. This situation is difficult for him.”

I bet it was.

I reached for his hand, and we walked like that all the way to Yearning Hearts with the curse only toppling a newspaper stand and knocking the coffee out of someone’s hands and onto Devereaux’s boots.

Win.

He joined me inside as I blasted the computers with my magic and lifted the blinds, turning our neon Open sign on.

“Hey, Cerys. Hey, Detective,” Enzo said as he and Annya arrived.

“Hi, guys!” I beamed.

Devereaux’s gaze landed on me, and he smiled a little before glancing at the cupids. “Morning.”

We slipped outside as the pair got ready for their first clients.

He kissed me again. “Have a good day.”

I looped my arms around his neck, hoping the Yearning Hearts sign didn’t fall on us. “Thanks, handsome. You too. Remember to call, okay?”

“My predator won’t let me forget. He hasn’t stopped insulting me for the oversight yesterday.”

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