“Because I remembered last night.” She peeked up at him from beneath wet lashes as she grabbed a hand towel and wiped the table dry. “With a little help.”
One eyebrow went up. “A certain bartender, perhaps?”
“I went back to the club during the day yesterday. It was like my subconscious knew something had happened there, but there was just this big blank spot in my memory. And I knew I’d had nowhere near enough vodka to black out. So, I went back. The back door was unlocked and I went in. I just wanted to look around, see if anything jogged my memory. It’s disconcerting not to remember hours of your life.”
“For you, maybe,” he said, slapping a pickle on his peanut butter sandwich. “I actually prefer it that way.”
Devon laughed. She couldn’t help it. All of the horror and stress and longing that had been fighting for the top spot in her emotional wheel for the past sixteen hours finally broke. She laughed until tears ran down her face and she could barely breathe.
While she had her second breakdown of the day, Frank calmly ate his disgusting sandwich, completely ignoring her.
And that made her laugh even harder.
But, eventually, the laughter lightened to the occasional giggle, which then disintegrated into soft sobs. God, she was a mess. Even Frank put down his sandwich and came over to hold her again.
“I’m sorry,” she told him. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“You’ve probably been in shock, that’s what’s wrong with you.” He patted her back. “It’s okay, my love. Just get it all out. You’ve been through a traumatizing experience. Anyone would be a little wacky right now. And then you come home to find out someone’s been in your apartment—because I know damn good and well you didn’t leave the door open. You’re worse than my mother when it comes to locking doors.”
Embarrassment took the place of her hysterics. Devon wasn’t a girl who cracked easily. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “I’m okay now.”
Frank pulled away and studied her for a few seconds. “Annnd, she’s back. Good. Unlike a lot of gay men I know, I’m not good with girls and their emotions. I try to avoid them whenever possible.”
Devon grabbed a tissue off the counter and wiped at her face. “Girls or emotions?”
“Both.”
“As your one night stand record proves.”
Picking up his sandwich, he took a bite and made a face. “This is really gross, yet strangely satisfying.” Then he took another bite.
It wasn’t until she’d chased him back to his own side of the hallway and got in the shower that she remembered she’d promised Kohl she’d call him if anything happened.
Well, there’s nothing he could’ve done anyway. It’s the middle of the day. And no one was here.
Chapter 9
Kohl checked his phone for the nine-hundredth and sixty-fourth time since he’d woken up. There was nothing from Devon. No calls. No messages. But that was good, right? It meant she was fine. He’d asked her to call him if anything happened, and she would.
But he was still worried about her. In his limited experience, humans were easily traumatized, and although she’d appeared okay when he’d dropped her off, he now wished he’d stayed with her a while longer. Just to make sure she was all right.
He’d been avoiding the rest of the coven since he’d returned last night, not wanting to give anyone a reason to question his whereabouts and take the chance the Master would hear he’d already seen Devon. Kohl wasn’t ready to tell him everything, yet. Because he knew once he did, he’d have no reason to keep seeing her. And even though that was what needed to happen, it wasn’t what he wanted. And also because he had a bad feeling that once the Master had the information he needed from her, she would no longer be necessary to him. And not being necessary meant you were just taking up space and air that could be used for someone who was necessary.
Kohl rubbed away the heat rising in the back of his neck, then went back to work on the drink order he’d been working on. He’d volunteered to cover for Andrew for a few hours while his friend went to see his favorite meal. Working kept his hands busy, and he’d hoped it would keep his mind busy, too.
But, yeah. Not so much.
This was insane, these…feelings he had for this woman he barely even knew. But no, that wasn’t right. He did know her. Maybe not all the little details of her life, but he knew the kind of woman she was. He knew her heart. He knew her mind. And she was one of the good ones. She was worth all he could give and do for her.
Even if she never knew what those things were.
Unable to stand it anymore, he pulled out his phone and texted her.
Everything good? I’m running the bar, but I can get out of here in about an hour. I hope it’s not too late.
She responded almost immediately.
Ready when you are. I’m starving.
