Page 10 of Hooked
And it was a game. She knew it was a game. He thought he was luring her into his world. He thought if he played everything right, she’d fall for him.
Ha!
She fell for no one. She was in charge of her life and her hormones. His tempting, small-town-hunk charm was not irresistible.
This wasn’t a Hallmark movie, dammit.
She was in Metlin as long as she wanted to be there, but it wasn’t going to be forever. She wasn’t a forever kind of girl.
Tayla and Emmie walked into Top Shelf, following a family with two small rainbow-colored unicorns holding hooves. Jeremy’s eyes caught Tayla’s outfit and bugged out for a second before he turned his attention toward the kids.
“Welcome, unicorn maidens!” he said. “You will be relieved to know that we have put a protective ward around the shop tonight so you don’t have to worry about any evil wizards drinking your blood.”
The girls giggled. “Thanks, Mr. Jeremy.”
“But I’m guessing you have magic that would probably turn them into glitter dust or something if they tried being evil, right?”
No! It should not be legal for anyone to be that cute with children!
“Yep,” the littlest unicorn said very seriously. “There would be glitter everywhere. And guts.” She giggled. “It would be really gross.”
“I understand.” Jeremy put his hand on his chest. “Please try to control your unicorn magic so we don’t have a horrible mess we have to explain to the store elves later.”
“Okay!” The two unicorns skipped back to the short table where a game of Candy Land was going while Jeremy said hi to the parents.
Tayla finally got a chance to take in his costume. It was almost as if they’d planned it. He was wearing a sweeping black robe with silver threads in it over a pair of dark grey pants and a white shirt. With a bow tie.
How did he make bow ties hot?
Now she was imagining doing dirty things to Jeremy while he wore a bow tie.
Dammit.
“Hey.” His smile was just a little crooked. “Is there a delinquent student witch on the premises?”
“I beg your pardon, Professor.” Tayla pulled her wand from the messy bun on her head and put it to her pursed lips. “I’m a naughty librarian witch.”
Emmie shook her head. “Is the book club here? You know, themiddle school studentswho are the guests of honor tonight?”
Jeremy nodded toward the back room, never taking his eyes off Tayla. “They’re in the back tournament room. My pop is teaching them chess, and he even agreed to call it wizard chess for the night.”
Tayla grinned. “Is Gus wearing his overalls?”
“Yes, but he put on a black shirt and a bowler hat for the occasion.”
“I love him so much.”
“You’re trying to kill me with that outfit, aren’t you?”
“Is it working?”
“So very much.”
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Chapter Three
Tayla surveyed the crowded shop.“So this looks really fun. The book club tie-in was brilliant.”
