Page 51 of Love & Heart Braking

I laughed again, snorting harder when he took a slice of pizza, then sent me another smoldering look.

I watched his throat muscles work. Hot. Seriously. I wasn’t lying. Everything he did was sexy. Especially when he did it to make me smile.

“You haven’t heard from the twelve about the daemon since?” he asked after I filled him in on the visit from the twelve.

I shook my head. “I have a feeling their summons will be as last minute as their first visit. I just hope the meeting doesn’t clash with Vera loosening the curse.” Knowing my luck, it would.

Devereaux looked at me. “She’s still doing that?”

“I didn’t tell you?”

“No, I’d just assumed everything was off with her selling the intellectual rights.”

“I can’t say I’m holding my breath she’ll come through,” I admitted, a ring of lingering disappointment clear in my voice. “She emailed the address through on the weekend though.”

If Vera did this, then even if the deal with the twelve went south, I’d be 20 to 30 percent less restricted by the curse. That was huge to me despite her shitty betrayal of our deal.

Devereaux wiped his hands on the napkins. “Want company at the full moon?”

A wrinkle formed between my brows. “I think I need to do this alone.” With my symbolic black heels along for the ride.

He dipped his head. “Sure. I understand.”

I smiled. “Thanks. Hey, listen. Something else happened last night.” I quickly told him about the sphinx’s odd comment.

Devereaux pulled a face. “Nothing leaps to mind off the top of my head. Got the contract with you?”

“Yeah, Bain emailed a copy through.”

I logged onto my computer again and clicked into the contract, scrolling. “One hundred… and two. There.”

In the event that any friend, family member, or acquaintance of the individual is harmed, taken hostage, or threatened, the individual will hereby be released from all obligations immediately and without any requirement to provide written notice to the employer.

“That wasn’t one of mine,” he said. “I can’t remember who suggested it.”

I checked the time. “We’ll know soon enough. Time to go.”

Doing my usual closing sweep of Yearning Hearts, I grabbed my tote, and walked to the door. Devereaux delivered me with a smoldering look, holding my attention as he dramatically flicked off the lights.

In the dark, every one of my sexual fantasies surged to the fore. I moaned, only part of the sound in response to his playfulness. “I told you. Everything you do is hot. I could watch you do mundane things all day.”

He flashed me a grin.

Locking up first, I walked ahead of Devereaux down the street, following the prompts of the gold token in my hand.

Fifteen minutes later, I was looking up at the flashing—partly flashing as some of the lights weren’t working—sign of Tumbler.

A strip joint.

Fenton, Fenton, Fenton. So sleazy.

I headed to the bar, and the barkeep leaned in.

“I’m here to meet a friend,” I told him.

“Back room.” He displayed his two remaining teeth in what might have been a smile.

Scantily clad women and men approached me, a question in their eyes. I winked at a few, continuing to the hall at the back.

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