Page 20 of Hooked on a Demon
Lola nods along and thinks about it for a moment before saying, “Okay. I may need some help figuring out something that will work with my littles, but I’m willing to give it a try.”
June claps her hands excitedly. “Wonderful!” Eliana raises her hand again. “Yes, Ellie?”
“What kind of budget are we looking at for decorations and costumes?”
“That’s a great question. There are obviously some funds set aside from the annual budget, but if we can arrange a sponsor or two to help boost that, it would be great. Sponsors could also help make the event larger in general and potentially help draw in some new students.”
“Do you have potential sponsors in mind that you’d like us to reach out to?” Bellamy asks.
“I do not. I am open to any collaboration, as long as it’s a suitable match. Family-friendly, of course, and they need to be a favorable business in the community.”
Elliana gazes around the room, noting the small side conversations and people trying to figure out who they could approach, but there’s only one person she has in mind. A certain sandy-haired demon whose number is practically burning a hole into her kitchen counter.
June calls for their attention again. “Reach out to who you think would be a good fit. Ideally, we’d like to have two or three sponsors for the event, but we’ll gladly take more. I trust your judgment. If you make an agreement, please ensure that you notify me of the details and how they wish to be included. If there are no other questions or concerns, we can call this meeting to a close, and you all can go home!”
June comes to her as she is packing up her belongings before heading out. “Eliana, I would like you to be the overseer for all of this. I’ve seen your growth as a leader over the many years I’ve known you. I’ve seen you grow from student to instructor, and even though you’ve only been back with us a short time, I think your experience working with larger shows would be a great asset. I also think you have a great ability to connect with people and are well-loved by our families, and I would love for you to have a more active role in the process.”
Words appear to be escaping Eliana. She never thought something like this would be an option, let alone that she’d even been considered for the role. But this is one of the other reasons she came back to Strike a Pose—trust. June has known Eliana most of her life, and that history is hard to replace. “I don’t know what to say.”Other than this is exactly the opportunity I was hoping for when I had my last appointment with Colson.
“Thank you is always a good start,” June teases.
“Yes, absolutely, thank you. So what would my role entail?”
“I’ll still handle the big details, but I think you would be a good point of contact. Think of yourself as a liaison. I would also have you on site to help manage or oversee the construction of the set pieces and overall design.”
She still doesn’t know what to say, but June trusting her like this feels like a big deal. “I would love to.”
“Excellent. We can chat more tomorrow.”
She nods and thanks her again because what else can she do when she’s been handed a great opportunity?
Eliana looks around the room and sees side conversations continuing, overhearing wonderful suggestions for sponsors, such as the Bittersweet Acorn, The Dandelion Inn, and Taster’s Delight. But the more she thinks about it, the more she believes Hellbent Motors would be a perfect fit. It’s family-oriented with a focus on keeping families safe, well-known in the community, and tangentially connected to the supernatural council, which is never a bad thing. So what better partnership than with a dance studio that caters to a mix of humans and magical creatures and that teaches the power of dance to connect?
Yes, it’s a perfect pairing.
Now, if only she could build up the courage to call him.
CHAPTER12
Declan
“Why are we going out again?” Declan asks, knowing full well why Everest wants to go out tonight. Personally, Declan would rather stay at home with Buckley. Usually, he’s down for the bar nights and the game of cat and mouse. The will she, won’t she. But ever since Eliana walked into his shop, he’s wanted nothing to do with any other woman. Of course, he can’t tell Everest that. Instead, he plugs along playing up the fact that it’s been a long week, and he’s tired, all the while hoping that Everest will get distracted by some woman and Declan can go home.
Declan slides onto a stool along the bar at the Bittersweet Acorn, which happens to be owned by his older brother, Lachlan. He signals to Daisy, his sister-in-law’s best friend and bartender, that he’d like a beer and settles in for the night while Everest starts making the rounds.
It doesn’t take long for Declan to finish his drink, and as he tips the glass back to get the last drops, Everest emerges from the crowded dance floor with two women hooked onto his arms. One for each of them.
Turning to face them, he leans back, placing an elbow on the bar top, and spreads his legs, trying to make himself look bigger and, with any luck, uninterested. Unfortunately for him, one of the women, a vampire he’s pretty sure, steps forward and slides herself between his legs before leaning forward, putting a hand around the outside of her mouth, speaking into his ear.
“Hi. I’m Becky.”
He turns his head to speak into her ear. “I’m Declan.”
“Nice to meet you, Declan. Your friend there,” she says, turning and pointing behind her before facing him again, “said you were cute, but I think he underplayed you a bit.”
“Really? Why’s that?”
“Because you are gorgeous. I swear all the other women’s eyes have been on you since the moment you stepped foot in here.”
