Page 7 of My Demon Assistant

I'd tuned out at some point as I firmly lectured myself on not lusting after this young man, but I tuned back into the conversation when Eshim said, "I take to new things like a fish to air, I promise."

I couldn't help it. I snorted.

Eshim blinked at me with his big blue eyes, his head tilted in confusion, and that just made me crack up. I covered my mouth with a fist as I laughed, bending forward as I desperately tried to get back under control. It hadn't even been that funny, but his confused puppy look? Adorable.

When I'd finally gotten myself under control, I glanced up to find Eshim and Carol both watching me with small smiles on their faces.

"Sorry about that," I said between gasps, and he grinned.

"No problem! You have a nice laugh."

Well, that was a compliment I'd never received before.

Before I could respond, Carol straightened in her chair. "Eshim," she said with a smile, "I think you'd be a great fit for this company. Do you have any questions?"

Eshim shook his head, and Carol smiled. "Then the job is yours. Welcome to the team."

Wait, what? I eyed Carol, surprised she'd made a decision without interviewing the remaining candidates, especially since we hadn't yet met the other two in her 'top three' list. That wasn't like her. But Ihadgiven her full control over the hiring process—she knew better than me what kind of assistance I needed—so I respected her decision.

I turned to Eshim, and held my hand out. "Welcome aboard, Eshim."

Eshim grinned widely, giving his face a boyish look as he took my hand in his. Ignoring the spark that raced up my arm, I shook his hand.

Once he'd left, Carol went out to tell the other candidates that they could leave, and also apologized for keeping them waiting because she was a nice woman. When she returned, I asked the question burning on my tongue. "Why him?"

Carol smiled, and then, as if it explained everything—it most certainly didn't—said, "Because he made you laugh."

Eshim

I was damn near skipping as I left the building, and my phone was pressed to my ear the next minute as I started walking down the street.

"I got the job!" I shouted as soon as Lux picked up, and since we were both demons...

"Eshim! How many times do I have to tell you not to shout into the phone? Seriously," Lux grumbled, then brightened. "Did you say you got the job?"

"I did. I also made Jerry laugh, though I'm not quite sure how."

Lux snorted, then hummed teasingly. "It was probably one of your wild idioms."

I squinted, trying to remember what I'd said. "I did use the fish one."

"Repeat it for me?"

"Well, I told them I take to things like a fish to ai—oh," I mumbled as I remembered fish swam. Fish didn't fly. Those were birds. "Oh fuck, how did I get the job?"

Lux cracked up laughing, and while Jerry's laughter had made me happy, Lux's mildly annoyed me.

"Focus, Lux!"

"Okay, okay. So Jerry hired you?"

"No, it was his current assistant, Carol."

"Ah, she's a wise woman. She must've thought you'll be good for Jerry."

"Oh, I plan to be," I said, determined, and I could almost hear Lux's smile in his voice.

"I bet you do. When do you start?" Lux asked, and I grinned, even though he couldn't see me.

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