He had?In the ten years I’d lived on Earth, I could count on one hand the number of men who’d asked me out.Mostly because I rarely gave them the chance.I avoided all romance, hesitant to form any lasting attachments.And for good reasons too.
See, I had a lot of baggage—and none of it came with a cute luggage tag.
My memory was…well, unreliable, to put it mildly.It wasn’t until I’d watched a few television shows that I realized the word for my condition was selective amnesia.I remembered the basics—my childhood, my upbringing, and the grueling years I’d spent training with my father’s people, who’d been obsessed with forging me into Lucifer’s perfect weapon.I even remembered uncovering a prophecy that claimed I was destined to destroy Hell and my father along with it.
Talk about awkward family dynamics.
Of course, I hadn’t told Lucifer I’d discovered the prophecy—because I wasn’t an idiot.I had, however, confided in my so-called best friend Deidre.Big mistake.She’d run straight to Lucifer and spilled all my secrets.Apparently, friendship meant diddly-squat to her.
Predictably, my father hadn’t taken the news well.He’d never intended for me to learn about the prophecy, and knowing his daughter was fated to kill him probably hadn’t done wonders for his ego.His reaction had been classic Lucifer: explosive anger, over-the-top theatrics, and an unhealthy dose of punishment served with a side of spite.
What I couldn’t remember washowI’d ended up here—orhowI’d lost my wings.All I knew was I now had two jagged scars stretching across my shoulder blades and down my back.Someone had clearly ripped them off, and given my father’s history of pettiness and violence, it seemed wise to assume he’d been the one responsible.I was no genius, but even I could do that kind of math.
But the icing on the hellish cake?Every time I tried to dig into those missing memories, I suffered pain so extreme, it felt like my skull might split open.After the dozenth migraine and zero progress, I’d told myself to stoptrying.
Why he’d sent me to Edmonton, of all places, I had no idea.Nor did I know if he ever planned to drag mebackto Hell.So, keeping a healthy distance from humans seemed the smartest—and safest—choice.
But Jack intrigued me.Something about his commanding nature and confident air stirred a pleasant, familiar feeling inside me.It reminded me of someone else, though I couldn’t quite remember who.Maybe it was time to stop worrying so much and take a chance?Get to know someone other than my coworkers.It’d been ten years, after all.Who knew what Lucifer had planned for me?I certainly didn’t.
“Lily?”
I blinked and forced my thoughts back to the present.My coworker Jazz stood next to me, a playful gleam in her eyes.
She nudged my shoulder and scooted me away from the computer.“I’ll take over here.Why don’t you take a break,” she said, offering me a wink before turning to the next customer.
I took a few steps down the counter, and Jack followed, allowing the line to finally start moving again as Jazz started taking the customers’ orders.
When we came to a stop at the far end of the counter, I met his gaze and sank into the warmth, excitement tickling my stomach.I had to admit, he definitely gave me “The Feels.”
“Well?”he asked when I didn’t respond.“Are you interested in going to dinner with me?”
Oh, I wasdefinitelyinterested.Which surprised the hell out of me, considering no one else had interested me in the past ten years.Maybe I was a sucker for romantic comedies too.
Finally, I nodded.“That sounds great.”
“Perfect!”He flashed me another smile.“Does Friday night work?”
I grinned, barely able to suppress the ridiculous flutter in my chest.I was an immortal celestial, not some human teenager with uncontrollable emotions, but apparently, that didn’t stop the anticipation bubbling up inside me.“Friday sounds wonderful.”
“Excellent.”Jack pulled out his phone.“Why don’t you give me your number, and I’ll text you the details.I presume you’d prefer to meet at the restaurant?”
Truthfully, it didn’t matter to me where we met.I didn’t have the same fears as other women, considering my background.If he tried anything untoward, he’d learn really quickly just how well I could defend myself.But I was used to playing the part, so I nodded.He pulled out his phone and I recited my digits.
After typing them in, he glanced up at me.“It’s not a fake number, is it?”
“No,” I said, laughing.Not that someone would admit it was, I supposed.“It’s mine.”
“Great!Watch for my text,” Jack said, grinning.He rapped his knuckles against the counter, then turned to leave.
After a few steps, I realized something and called out, “Wait!”
Jack turned back around.
“What about your coffee?”I asked.
His eyes widened, then he laughed, a deep, genuine sound that made me smile.“You’re right.How could I forget?Same as always, please.”
Smiling, I poured him a black coffee and handed it across the counter.“No charge.My treat, as a thanks for rescuing me.”
