Page 53 of Insidious Monsters
He sat frowning at his phone screen, mug of coffee to hand, the picture of a brooding hero.
He looked up, sensing my approach. I caught a soft groan from the table of women and bit back a smile. They obviously thought I was his date.
“August, how did it go?” he asked.
“Not how I expected.” I took the seat opposite him. “But we have an audience.”
“What?”
I tipped my head toward the women at the table next to us.
Quentin looked over with a frown.
One of the women winced. “Busted. Sorry, love, we didn’t mean to ogle,” she said to Quentin. Then to me, “You’re a lucky woman.”
Quentin looked at me in confusion.
I simpered. “Thank you so much.”
The women wrapped up their lunch and left.
“What was that about?” Quentin asked.
“They thought you were hot. They were checking you out.”
His frown cleared. “Oh…Wait, they thought you were my girlfriend?”
“That’s right.”
Color stained his cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
“What for? I’m flattered.”
He blinked in surprise. “You are?”
“Quentin, you’re a good-looking guy.” He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off. “And if you sayI am?I’ll deck you.”
He ducked his head with a small smile. “Fine. Fine. Let’s get down to business.”
I spent the next few minutes filling him in on the raid on Margie’s place.
“Damn,” he said. “The Holy could be anywhere.”
“I know. It’s worrying, but the guild is on it. Devyn will figure this out. In the meantime, we’ll keep Nandi safe.”
“Good, you’ll need to be able to compartmentalize to do this job. Keswick will be here any minute and then we’ll start our search.”
This wasn’t the first time he’d come on a hunt with me, but this was the first time without Nandi and Archie.
Quentin looked out the window, smile dipping. “They’re here.”
I followed his gaze to see a short, stocky man with thinning hair striding toward us, followed by a tall, dark-haired dude with a five-o’clock shadow.
No.
No fucking way.
“August, are you okay?” Quentin asked.
