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“Are you turning into a cougar? Is this some sort of midlife crisis I need to be concerned about?”
But mingling with kids I’d never met wasn’t my thing. I’d rather read a book and stalk my blog comments.
“Thanks,” I muttered and added under my breath, “douchebag.” He laughed, deep and throaty. “Now that’s not very ladylike, Kittycat.” I whipped around. “Don’t ever call me that,” I snapped. “It’s better than calling someone a douchebag, isn’t it?” He pushed out the door. “This has been a stimulating visit. I’ll cherish it for a long time to come.” Okay. That was it. “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 flipped him off.
“Very civilized, Kitten. I’m sure you have a wild array of interesting names and gestures for me, but I’m not interested.”
I’d always avoided confrontation in the past, but this guy was flipping my bitch switch like nothing else.
I thought people in small towns were supposed to be nice, not act like the son of Satan.
So the dickhead had a name. Daemon—seemed fitting. And of course his sister would be as attractive as him. Why not? Welcome to West Virginia, the land of lost models.
Sometimes being around children was the perfect abstinence program.
The day my Internet was hooked up was better than having a hot guy check out my butt and ask for my phone number.
“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.” Yuck for her. And hot damn for me.
Beautiful face. Beautiful body. Horrible attitude. It was the holy trinity of hot boys.
“What—are you deciding to talk to me now?” Smiling tightly, I grabbed a handful of mulch and dumped it. Rinse and repeat. “Yeah, it’s kind of a hobby. What’s yours? Kicking puppies?” “I’m not sure I should say in front of my sister,”
“You’re kind of dirty, Kitten.” I blinked. Deny. Deny. Deny. “What did you say?”
“You look like you got more of a bath than the car. 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.”
“Well, apologizing and not meaning it kind of defeats the purpose of apologizing.”
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.
“I’m not leaving, Kitten. You’re going to do this.” My mouth opened as did the door behind us. Stomach dropping, I turned to see Mom standing there in all her fuzzy-bunny pajama glory. Oh, for the love of God.
“You know what they say about boys next door…”
“You jerk.” Grinning, he backed down the steps. “I’ll see you at noon, Kitten.” “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.
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 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 liked him better when he’d lost the ability to speak.
“I’ve always found that the most beautiful people, truly beautiful inside and out, are the ones who are quietly unaware of their effect.” His eyes searched mine intently, and for a moment we stood there toe to toe. “The ones who throw their beauty around, waste what they have? Their beauty is only passing. It’s just a shell hiding nothing but shadows and emptiness.”
I didn’t want to spoil the mood. This was probably the longest Daemon and I had ever spoken without some statement earning him the finger.
“People tend to look on the beliefs of the past as being primitive and unintelligent, yet we are seeing more truth in the past every day.”
“I’m sure I look like a drowned cat.” “You look fine. The wet look works for you.” I scowled. “Now I know you’re lying.”
I was always able to lose myself in reading. Books were a necessary escape I always gladly jumped into headfirst.
“I bet you think things through, right? Accept candy from strangers and get into vans with a sign that reads free kittens?”
“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.”
I was feeling the height of bitchiness.
“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.
“There’s a McDonald’s down the street. We’ll get you a Happy Meal. Maybe that’ll make you happier.”
“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.”
swore to God if Daemon said anything ignorant, I was going to lay him out in class. My splint was heavy enough to do damage.
“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 important 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.”
Once I got home, though, and saw several packages on my front porch, all the crap from the day disappeared. A few had smiley faces on them. Squealing, I grabbed the boxes. Books were inside—new release books I’d preordered weeks ago.
I hurried upstairs and powered up my laptop. I checked on the review I’d posted last night. No comments. People sucked. But I did gain five new followers. People rocked.
There was no doubt in my mind that Daemon believed revenge was a dish best served in my face.
Holy Hawt Chemistry, Batman.
“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.”
Daemon stilled above me. “I won’t hurt you, Kat.” His tone was softer, but still laced with fury as he tried to control me without doing any real damage. “I could never hurt you.”
I don’t read too much. There’s no such thing as that.
“You don’t look like an alien!” It seemed important to point that out. He arched a brow. “And what do aliens look like?” “Not…not like you,” I sputtered. “They aren’t gorgeous—” “You think I’m gorgeous?” He smiled.
“Aliens—if they exist—are little green men with big eyes and spindly arms or…or giant insects or something like a lumpy little creature.” Daemon let out a loud laugh. “ET?” “Yes! Like ET, asshole. I’m so glad you find this funny.
Out of all the paranormal books I’d read and reviewed, no one glowed like this. Some glittered in the light. Others had wings. No one was a freaking giant sun.
“Not all of us have control over what we can do. Some struggle with their abilities.” “But you don’t?” “I’m just that awesome.”
“And this is why you don’t want me to be friends with Dee, because you were afraid that I’d find out the truth?” “That, and you’re a human. Humans are weak. They bring us nothing but trouble.” My eyes narrowed. “We aren’t weak. And you’re on our planet. How about a little respect, buddy.” Amusement flickered in his emerald eyes. “Point taken.”
“Well…” I started. “You sure aren’t normal.” She giggled. “Yes, but normal is so boring sometimes.”
