Page 150 of Love & Heart Braking

Trenley slapped the side of the carriage. “I’ll let you get on with your date. Remember, I’m always here if you get sick of this guy, Cerys.”

Devereaux’s growl filled the carriage. The werewolf’s grin was lost as the carriage rolled on—now his pack had retreated from surrounding the vehicle.

There were no fewer than four more ambushes in the next ten minutes that turned into social exchanges once they realized who was inside.

“Can we grab one of those crepes after the meeting?” I asked as my stomach rumbled.

Devereaux tilted his head. “We’ll go now. You’re hungry.”

“I don’t want to keep everyone waiting.”

“They can wait.”

Blue eyes flashed, and I pursed my lips against a smile. “All right. You can feed me. This time.”

A growl filled the carriage.

“A few times?” I asked his predator.

The growl nipped off into a dissatisfied rumble. Cool gray returned and Devereaux and I shared a wide smile.

He knocked on the wall and ordered the reroute, and soon we were pulling up at the chained-off street I remembered from our predate date. We left the carriage behind, slipping under the chain. The low stools occupying the middle of the lane were as full of locals as I recalled, but this time I wasn’t taken off guard by the jeering calls.

“Second date at last, huh? We all thought she’d done a runner.”

“She’s pretty, but she’s gotta be crazy to date your ass.”

Devereaux was better prepared too. “I had to save up to take her out to dinner again, Teny. You know I’m broke.” Then, “I’ve got the moves, Grenla. She couldn’t resist all this.”

I helped out by linking my arm with his and pressing against his side. Woos and laughter broke out and kept up until we reached the crepe stand.

“Hey, Yen.” I beamed at the sweaty ghoul in the steaming, tiny kitchen.

“Why haven’t you been back before now?” she demanded. “You don’t like my crepes?” She smacked her spatula down on a bowl of crepe mixture, sending droplets flying.

“I’ve dreamed about your crepes,” I said truthfully.

She glared at me. “What’re you having?”

I slid a glance at Devereaux. “Four?”

“Five,” he admitted.

“Five coming up when I damn-well feel like it,” the ghoul roared, nevertheless immediately pouring the mixture onto the sizzling hot plate.

I bit my lip and nudged Devereaux. “I can’t believe you only had one crepe that night.”

He rubbed a hand through his hair, chuckling. “I was starving. Didn’t want to scare you off.”

I was still teasing him about that when Yen shoved five boxes and two beers our way. “Get out of here. You have a week to return, little cupid, or else don’t bother.”

“Bye, Yen.” I blew her a kiss.

We walked down the lane, and Devereaux led us between sorry-looking apartment buildings. His place wasn’t as far as I’d thought. We climbed the stairs of his building, and I knocked on the door to his apartment.

I could practically feel Gug spying at me through the peephole. We listened as a chair scraped back.

The door opened a crack.

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