Page 42 of Bewitching Her Monsters

He reaches out to help me.

I check in with my douche-o-meter, and I sense he’s just trying to be helpful. But I pull back anyway. “I’m good.”

“Of course, sorry.” He takes a step back. “I’ll let you be. But could I have a pen and paper? I don’t have one on me. I can give you my number in case you want to check in about Beast or if he shows up again. My number is a landline, so don’t text it.”

“Uh, sure. Give me a sec.” I rush inside, put my groceries down in the kitchen, and check the backyard on the off chance Beast has returned. Nope.

I snatch a pen and slip of paper out of my office.

Once again, I’m struck by his gorgeous features as I return. He has the kind of face that sucks my breath away.

Why do I feel like I could sink my fingers into his dark brown hair and he’d let me?

Centering myself, I offer the pen and paper to Mr. Hunky, who is waiting patiently outside. I don’t know why he’s being so insistent about this. Maybe it’s because Beast might return. Or he’s being considerate that I took care of his pup.

When he hands me back the paper, I see that he’s written ‘Arran’ on it.

My world spins. I’m sure Maxum never mentioned his friend’s name. How is it that I guess his name?

I stumble back a step, my heel snags on a plank, and Arran catches me as I fall. A surge of electric heat travels from my back, where he’s touching me, to my heart, then immediately to my clit. Dammit. And that’s just from a hand on my back?

What pleasure could he bring me without clothes and time to explore?

Geeze, is this guy a walking radiator? Heat pours over my body. I’d like other things pouring all over my body…

Arran pulls me upright and hesitates before letting me go, but he doesn’t step back. Instead, he towers over me, with his amber eyes, much like his dogs.

That’s weird, right?

I’ve heard people often look like their pets, but this is next level shit.

Do men have amber eyes outside of romance novels? I’m pretty sure they don’t.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice soft, as if he’s worried he will spook me.

“Your name is Arran?”

“Do you hate the name? I can change it.” He jokes.

“I don’t hate it. It’s just… I don’t remember Maxum mentioning your name, but strangely enough, it’s the name I associated with you.” I shake my head. “I must be losing my marbles. I’m sure he said it, and I must have forgotten. I’m notthatpsychic.”

Arran still is all up in my personal zone. “Just a little psychic?” he asks, teasing, but also with interest.

“Nah. Intuitive at best.” Reluctantly, I step back, making sure not to trip again.

“What does your intuition say about me taking you out tonight for dinner? I want to thank you for taking care of my Beast… urm, my dog.” His voice is full of innuendo. That must be accidental, though. Right?

I remember how Maxum behaved. Do I want another Mr. Hyde situation?

“I don’t know if that’s a great idea. Your friend was…”

“Maxum screwed up my chances, didn’t he?” Arran steps back too, now realizing he’s not getting anywhere with me.

“It’s nothing personal. You seem cool enough, but I’ve been having other issues, on top of Maxum. You don’t need to risk having problems just for a thank you dinner.”

The eerie feeling of someone watching again crawls up my spine. I glance around the neighborhood to see if I can catch my voyeur.

Arran turns too. “Do you have someone bothering you? Because I’ve been getting the vibe I have eyes on me. I thought maybe it was only a nosey neighbor. But you appear unsettled.”

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