Page 45 of Hexed
I’ve never experienced anything even close to that.
“Scotty, I hear there areverycute servers inside who you can flirt with.” I smile at him. “Use that ‘lady’ line on them. They’ll eat it up.”
Enzo’s still standingsoclose, and I need to get away for a second, if only so I can take a breath.
“You better go with him,” I say. “Make sure he stays out of trouble.”
“Yeah, E. Let’s go look at theladies.” Scotty wags his brows when Enzo walks toward him, reaching out and patting him on the back of the shoulder as they finally disappear inside.
I let out a wavering breath and stare down at my hands, realizing I’ve curled them so tightly into fists, my nails are cutting crescent moons into my palms. Shaking them out, I roll my neck and make my way inside too.
Twenty minutes later, my attempts at recentering myself have all been for naught because I’m standing in front of my vanity, rubbing my loose black tourmaline crystal for protection until my fingers feel raw, working up the motivation to go back downstairs.
I’ve reapplied my makeup, making the lipstick extra red like a coat of arms, and slid into my favorite slinky silk dress. Every step of putting myself together feels like a puzzle piece clicking into place, but I’m still off my game, and I know it has everything to do with the dark, dangerous, and completely off-limits man downstairs in my restaurant.
The one who belongs to my cousin.
I texted Fisher to meet me up here, and he’s leaning against the doorframe of my studio, watching me as I continue to pet my crystal in front of my full-length mirror like it will solve all my problems.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
I glance at him through the reflection. “What makes you think something’s wrong?”
He straightens and moves into the room until he’s standing just behind me, looking over my shoulder with a pinched brow and a slight frown on his face. He reaches out and takes the crystal from my hand before placing it on top of my dresser. “Your energy is off.”
“My energy’s fine.” I grab my quartz ring while I say it, though, and slip it on my finger.Just in case.
Fisher chuckles, and his arms wrap around my waist, hugging me to him while he trails his hand down my side until he’s holding my palm in his, his gaze falling on my jewelry. “Whatever you say, Short Stack.”
I lean into his chest before smirking at him in our reflection. “You can never be too careful.”
“Well, that’s good, because we’ve got a situation,” he says.
Relief pours through me at finding a reason to put off going back and being in Enzo’s presence. I nod and push away from him, leaning forward to fluff out my hair. “Good.”
Fisher moves and plops down on the edge of my bed, resting back on his elbows. “What do you mean, ‘good’?”
“I’ve been Lover Boy’s lapdog all day long, and I need something else to do for a while. So, ‘good’ because now I get to play.” I spin around and face him, running my hands down my sides. “What do you think?”
He whistles. “I’d do you.”
“You’d do anyone.”
“What can I say?” He grins. “I’m an equal opportunist.”
I brush my hair from my face and sit down next to him. “So, what’s up?”
“There’s some idiot downstairs counting cards in the game room. He’s pissing people off.”
“Is he good at it?”
Fisher’s brow quirks. “At cheating us out of money? Yeah, he’s not bad. Not from around here, I think.”
My mind immediately goes to Enzo. “Yeah, that seems to be a theme right now.”
Fisher’s face drops into something more serious, and he tilts his head. “You want me to get rid of E? He doesn’t have to be here right now.”
I give him a sharp look. “Don’t be ridiculous. Just…keep an eye on him while I go handle things, okay?”
