Page 43 of Bewitching Her Monsters

For some reason, I feel like I can confide in him. Like I know him already. “You shouldn’t take me to dinner because I think my ex has been watching. It’s nice of you to want to thank me for Beast, but I don’t need it. He was no trouble,” I confess instinctively.

I move toward the door to end the conversation and get out of sight. I don’t want to linger on the porch with Arran, fearful that whoever is watching might get angrier. Knowing that if it is Rob, he will just get crazier.

Arran moves with me—not blocking, but not letting me just dismiss him, either. He drops his voice low. “Are you in danger with your ex?”

How much do I tell a stranger? And does this random hot guy really care about my problems? “I appreciate the concern, but—”

“Call me if he shows up.” He grimaces. “I’m guessing the cops don’t do much to deter him if he’s still bothering you?”

“Not really. But I’m not going to drag you into the middle of it.”

He presses closer again. Not invading my space, but damn near. “It’s what I do. I’m a personal bodyguard… mostly on-call.”

“Oh.” I wave my hand toward his huge, muscular shoulders and arms. “That explains all this.”

Preening, he flexes ever so slightly. Guys are so cute when they get a compliment.

Not giving up, he asks, “Maybe you can meet me at the bar tonight at seven? We can casually run into each other. We could sit at the bar so it doesn’t look like a date?”

“Doyouthink it’s a date?” I ask, my eyes wide. “I thought it was a thank you.”

“It’s a ‘thank you slash I want to get to know you better’date?”

I never thought I would feel this drawn to someone. But maybe it’s a sign from the Universe that I’m meant to go out and have a bite with this guy. What are the odds that I would see him at the barandhis dog would follow me home? Also, that I would dream up his name?

“Fine.” I grin. “It’s entirely conceivable that I might drop into the bar for a drink tonight.”

His handsome face lights up with a smile. It does things to me. Specifically, my nether regions.

“Then I look forward tomayberunning into you.” Looking victorious, he skips away down the street in the bar's direction.

As I put my groceries away properly, I’m in a daze.

How is it that I’m going on a second date this week? I usually don’t leave the house that often.

Finally, I get to sniff my underarm. Nope. Same smell. No magical pheromones. I check my reflection in the chrome toaster. No, as per usual, I’m the same warmed-over mess.

I could write off Maxum’s interest that he was paranoid about me watching him and wanted to prove a point.

But Arran? It didn’t seem like the case. I sure hope that isn’t what this is.

Now that I’ve been around a couple of attractive guys, my crotch engine is idling hot, waiting for a spin around the block.

15

WITCHES GONE WILD

ARRAN

“What in all things unholy are you thinking?” Maxum growls.

The entire bar goes silent with Maxum’s commanding energy. When I laugh it off, everyone relaxes and returns to their drinks. I need this dickhead demon to take the hint and take a hike.

I hiss my answer. “I need to get closer to her.”

“Osen told you to back off,” he says, using my own report against me. I knew I shouldn’t have told the guys about that. They always blindly followed Osen’s orders. I sometimes did, but I knew he was fallible. I’m fairly certain his stubbornness and obsessive need to fight the Witch Council is what got him killed. He had tunnel-vision when it came to them, and they likely used it against him.

“Osen’s dead.” I lower my voice. “And if I can still talk to him, then maybe we can work this out. He was getting stronger. Maybe he’ll eventually remember something.”

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