Page 42 of Dreaming of the Demon

“You should be!” She wagged a finger at me, only half joking. “Do you know that I had locked up early because I wanted to take a walk? When the lust spell or whatever it was hit me, I was nowhere near home!”

“Oh my God—so what did you do?” I asked blankly.

“Well, there was this hunting lodge in the woods. I knocked but there was no one home. The door was open though.” She shrugged. “So I went in.”

“You went into a strange house?” I asked.

“Uh-huh, but I was getting desperate! Being overcome by lust in the middle of the forest at night isn’t safe—the scent draws the wrong kind of Creatures. Luckily there were some beds upstairs so I was able to get comfortable and, er, take care of business.”

“Really?” I still couldn’t believe it, but she nodded coolly, as though breaking into a strange house to masturbate was no big deal.

“I stayed there in the cottage until the tarts wore off and then I was finally able to go home,” she added.

“And nobody ever came home and caught you?” I asked.

“Nope.” She shook her head. “I was really lucky. How can you explain that kind of thing if someone walks in on you? ‘Oh sorry, I just broke into your house to touch myself because I didn’t want to take my underwear off in the forest?’”

I couldn’t help laughing at her words.

“Goldie, you’re too much! Do you even know who lives there?”

She shook her head.

“Nope. But there were several beds and the place looked like it could use a woman’s touch. It’s probably owned by a couple of guys who just use it when they want to hunt.”

“Well, I’m sorry again that you wound up in that situation because of my tarts,” I apologized.

“Don’t be.” Goldie grinned and then sighed. “It was honestly the best sex I’ve had in ages—too bad it was all by myself.”

“You should have taken a walk through town instead of the forest and tried to find a friendly Minotaur or Kraken,” I said. “Almost everyone in Hidden Hollow ate one of my ‘horny pear tarts’ I’m sure you could have found a willing partner.”

“Yeah, I wish I would have.” Goldie shook her head. “Guess I’m just going to be single for life.”

“No, you’re not. If I can find someone, anyone can,” I told her.

Her eyebrows shot up.

“You found someone? You mean it?”

“Yes—the Incubus that came out of the picture my Great Aunt left me. His name is Malik and it turns out we’re Heartmates.” I beamed at her. “It was my deepest fantasy to have someone to love forever and he fulfilled it.”

“Aww, honey! I’m so happy for you.” Goldie stood on tiptoes and reached across the counter to hug me. I hugged her back and smiled as we parted.

“Thank you. But like I said, don’t give up—I’m sure there’s someone out there for you.”

She sighed again.

“From your lips to the Goddess’s ear. This Goldie just wants to find her bears—or bear—or whatever. Just somebody wholooks cute in an apron and will help at the diner during the day and screw my brains out at night.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“Whilehe’s wearing an apron?”

“Sure—that sounds like fun.” She gave me a naughty smile. “Okay, well I’d better get back to the diner but first I need a dozen cinnamon rolls and some blueberry muffins.”

I got her order ready and wished her a good day. But as she left the bakery, I couldn’t help wondering if Goldie might find what she was looking for next. I certainly hoped so for her sake and I felt confident that someday soon it would happen.

Because in Hidden Hollow, anything is possible.