Page 56 of Just One Little Bargain

“Evie—”

“What would happen to mine?”

I want to deflect, soften it into something less horrifying. But I meant what I said about not wanting her hurt, which includes not protecting her from information she’s asked for.

“It becomes Hell’s property. No afterlife options. Eternal damnation and torture.”

Blood leaves her face. I’d give anything not to have said it.

“But you’d get something in exchange,” I add quickly, desperate to soften the blow. “A skill, protection, financial security for the inn—”

“How could anything be worth that?”

“It usually isn’t,” I admit.

“You’re absolutely winning me over.”

“I’m trying very hard to be honest. Which turns out to be the worst possible sales strategy, but it’s the only one I’ve got.”

Evie says nothing. Her finger traces a line along the window.

“Turn right up here,” she finally says.

The Foxglove Inn appears through the trees, sage green with cream trim and flower boxes beneath the windows overflowing with petunias and trailing ivy.

I pull into the gravel driveway and let the engine go quiet while I wait for her to say something.

“I have a lot of work to catch up on.” She unbuckles her seatbelt with a decisive click.

“What about what I said?”

Her eyes meet mine without flinching.

“I’m not giving my soul to you or anyone.” Her voice is matter-of-fact. “The answer’s no.”

Panic wipes out every careful response I might’ve made. “Evie—”

“Thank you for the ride.” She doesn’t look at me. “And the honesty.”

“I can’t leave. The summoning binds me to you until a deal is made or the deadline runs out.”

She turns back, one hand still on the door.

“So, what—you’re just going to sit in my driveway?”

“If that’s where you are, then yes.”

“You can’t hover around me, Milo.”

“At least let me help you inside.” I nod toward her ankle.

“I can walk fine.”

She shoves the car door open and swings her legs out. The second her right foot hits the gravel, she sucks in a breath and jerks the weight straight back off it.

“You can barely put weight on it.”

“I’m not making a deal with you.”