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this house that looked like something straight out of a horror movie. It even had a turret—a freaking turret. What was I supposed to do with that?
“It wouldn’t be begging. If you put on one of those pretty sundresses you wore in Florida instead of this.” She tugged on the hem of my shirt. “It would be flirting.” I glanced down. It said My Blog Is Better Than Your Vlog. There wasn’t a thing wrong with it. “How about I show up in my undies?” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “That would definitely make an impression.”
But mingling with kids I’d never met wasn’t my thing. I’d rather read a book and stalk my blog comments.
“I’d like to find a store where I can buy groceries and plants.” “You are aware this town has only one stoplight, right?”
“You know, all I wanted was directions. This is obviously a bad time.” One side of his lips curled up. “Anytime is a bad time for you to come knocking on my door, kid.”
“I’m not a kid. I’m seventeen.” “Is that so?” He blinked. “You look like you’re twelve. No. Maybe thirteen, but my sister has this doll that kinda reminds me of you. All big-eyed and vacant.”
“The Foodland is right in town. You can’t miss it. Well, maybe you could.
“You know, you’re right. How wrong of me to call you a douchebag. Because a douchebag is too nice of a word for you,” I said, smiling sweetly. “You’re a dickhead.” “A dickhead?” he repeated. “How charming.”
I’m sure you have a wild array of interesting names and gestures for me, but I’m not interested.”
I thought people in small towns were supposed to be nice, not act like the son of Satan.
“I’m Daemon’s sister. My name is Dee.” She placed the undamaged carton of eggs in my cart. “New eggs!” She smiled. “Daemon?” Dee gestured at a hot-pink purse in the front of her cart. A cell phone was lying on top of it. “You talked to him about thirty minutes ago. You stopped by…asking for directions?” So the dickhead had a name. Daemon—seemed fitting.
Welcome to West Virginia, the land of lost models. I was starting to doubt I was going to fit in here.
“Anyway, I saw you guys move in, and I’ve been meaning to stop by, and when he said you were here, well, I was so excited to meet you I ran over. He told me what you looked liked.” I could only imagine that description.
The day my Internet was hooked up was better than having a hot guy check out my butt and ask for my phone number.
She still looked gorgeous, even red-faced and tired. I’m sure I looked like a serial killer.
“Doesn’t he own a shirt?” I asked, grabbing a spade. “Unfortunately, I don’t think so. Not even in the winter. He’s always running around half-dressed.” She groaned. “It’s disturbing that I have to see so much of his…skin. Yuck.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of a hobby. What’s yours? Kicking puppies?” “I’m not sure I should say in front of my sister,”
Daemon glanced over at me, his lip curling. If I still held the spade, I might’ve chucked it at his head.
His lips twitched. “There are a lot more fun ways to get…dirty. Not that I’d ever show you.” I had a feeling he knew each way intimately. A flush spread over my cheeks, down my throat. “I’d rather roll around in manure than anything you might sleep in.”
he had a shirt on. I wasn’t sure if I should be grateful or disappointed.
I never thought washing a car would be so hard, but after watching you for the last fifteen minutes, I’m convinced it should be an Olympic sport.”
I folded my arms. “I’m sorry, though. I’m not accepting your not-so-sincere apology.” “Not even when I’m cleaning your car?” “Nope.”
I couldn’t stop staring at his mouth when he spoke. I bet he knew how to kiss. Perfect kisses too, ones that weren’t wet and gross, but the kind that curled toes. I needed to stop looking at him in general.
He was trouble. Maybe the fun kind of trouble, but he was also a jerk. And I didn’t do jerks. Not that I did anyone.
“Yeah, well, you can kiss your keys good-bye.” Surprise shone on his face. “Why?” “Because I’m not going anywhere with you,” I told him. “We don’t have a choice.” “No. You don’t have a choice, but I do.”
“You don’t want to hang out with me?” “Uh, no.” “Why not?” I rolled my eyes. “For starters, you’re a jerk.” He nodded. “I can be.”
“I’m not leaving until you agree to go swimming with me.” Steam should be coming out of my ears. “Fine. You can sit there, because I’d rather eat glass than spend time with you.”
“Or are you too shy to go swimming with me? Does the idea of getting almost naked around me make you uncomfortable?” I grabbed the railing and yanked on my foot. The butthead was only lightly holding me, but my foot wouldn’t budge. “I’m from Florida, idiot. I’ve spent half my life in a bathing suit.”
“I hate you,” I hissed. “The feeling’s mutual.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Twenty bucks says you wear a one-piece swimsuit.” He was insufferable.
Daemon had been right. The idea of being half naked around him did make me want to spew my Tater Tots.
Even though I wouldn’t touch him for all the money in the world, I was big enough to admit there was a part of me that wanted him to want me.
“Okay, so where are you taking me?” “What fun would it be if you knew?” he asked. “You won’t be surprised then.” “I’m new to town, remember? Everywhere is going to be a surprise for me.” “Then why ask?” He cocked a smug eyebrow.
“Oh, I’m special then.” “You know what I think, Kat?” I peeked at him and caught him watching me with such serious intensity I flushed. “I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know.”
“Are you taking me out to the woods as a trick?” I asked, half serious. He glanced over his shoulder, lashes hiding his eyes. “And what would I do out here to you, Kitten?” I shivered. “The possibilities are endless.” “Aren’t they?”
To Daemon, my arrival was the beginning of the end. The apocalypse. Kat-mageddon.
Swimming was the last thing I wanted to do. Drowning him? Maybe.
I exhaled, realizing I’d been holding my breath. I needed to get a grip. Or a camera to memorialize this moment, because I bet I could make money from a video of him. I could make a fortune… As long as he never opened his mouth.
“I’m giving you one minute to get in here.” I resisted the urge to flip him off again and took a deep breath. It wasn’t as if I was getting naked, not really. “Or what?” He moved closer to the bank of the lake. “Or I come and get you.” I scowled at him. “I’d like to see you try that.”
“Happy?” Daemon lost his smile and stared. “I’m never happy around you.”
There was no way I was going near him. Not even if he dangled a cookie in his hand. Trust and his name didn’t go together.
“I’ve always found that the most beautiful people, truly beautiful inside and out, are the ones who are quietly unaware of their effect.”
“Did you know this land was once traveled by the Seneca Indians?” I winced. “Please tell me we aren’t walking on any burial grounds?”
“You’re such an ass. Has…anyone ever told you that?” He flashed a genuinely amused smile. “Oh, Kitten, every single day of my blessed life.”
“Oh, you’re an expert in crazy people now?” “A month with you and I feel I have a master’s degree in the subject,” I snapped.
“He doesn’t hate you,” she replied quietly. “I think he wants to, to be honest. But he doesn’t. That’s why he acts like that.”
“Ash is going to kick your ass, Daemon.” Daemon’s grin went up a notch. “Nah, she likes my ass too much for that.”
“Guess what?” “What?” “I checked out your blog.” Oh. Dear. Baby. Jesus. How did he find it? Wait. More importantly was the fact that he had found it. Was my blog now Googleable? That was awesomesauce with an extra heaping of sauce. “Stalking me again, I see. Do I need to get a restraining order?” “In your dreams, Kitten.” He smirked. “Oh wait, I’m already starring in those, aren’t I?” I rolled my eyes. “Nightmares, Daemon. Nightmares.”
I bet they were wondering if I was going to dump my backpack on his head. Depending on what he said, there was a good chance it could happen.
I didn’t like him. He was a jerk. Moody. But there had been brief moments that I’d spent with him—like a nanosecond—when I thought I might have seen the real Daemon. At least a better Daemon. And that part made me curious. And the other side, the jerky one, yeah, that part didn’t make me curious. It sort of excited me.
“You’re not going to take me out in the woods and leave me there, are you?” “Sounds like a fitting case of revenge, but I wouldn’t do that. I doubt you’d last very long without someone to rescue you.” “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
