AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nathaniel moved closer at a leisurely pace, like he had all the time in the world. He didn’t stop until he was close enough that I had to look up to see his face. “You’re in over your head, baby girl. You may have gotten lucky once, but that streak won’t last when Hell seeks revenge. I’m the only chance you’ve got.”
I took a step back, trying to put some distance between not just his body but his words as well. “You’re not making any sense. Demons don’t exist.”
“And people don’t collapse into smoke when you stab them, but that’s what you saw, isn’t it?”
I shook my head, not so much an answer to his question as it was an attempt to clear my thoughts. “I don’t need your help or whatever it is you’re offering. Please leave me alone.”
“I can’t.”
“Because Ineedyou?” I let out a laugh that was getting dangerously close to hysterical.
His answering smile was bitter. “Because I don’t have a choice.”
I squared my shoulders. I needed to take control of this situation. He couldn’t know how much he was unnerving me—it was a recipe for trouble. I couldn’t afford to show any kind of weakness. “You’re right, you don’t have a choice. Leave me alone or I’m calling the police. I don’t know where the hell you’re from, but stalking is illegal in New Hampshire.”
I spun around and walked away from him, straining to hear the sound of footsteps or any other indication that he was going to follow me. A couple of years ago, I never would have said those things to a complete stranger. But a couple of years ago, Kylie had yet to date the asshole who taught me what some men are capable of if you let them think they can get away with it. A couple of years ago, I had never taken out a restraining order.
Nathaniel didn’t make any move toward me as I left the cemetery. I locked my car doors and leaned back against the seat, letting out a breath. Hopefully he’d respect my demand that he back off and I’d never have to see him again.
* * *
Coffee must bewhat Heaven smells like. That was what went through my head when I entered Fountain of Youth Saturday at noon. It was hardly the crack of dawn, but it might as well have been. Sleep eluded me most of the night, and when I did manage it, I dreamed of glowing eyes, gold blood, and unfairly beautiful men.
“You look like crap,” Merida commented as I took my spot behind the register for the afternoon shift.
“Didn’t sleep well last night,” I mumbled. “It’s nothing some coffee won’t fix.”
In the end, it took two and a half coffees before I felt like my normal, awake self. It was a typical Saturday, and the routine calmed my nerves. There was a steady stream of customers through lunch that slowed to the occasional customer after a couple of hours.
My phone dinged in my back pocket, and after looking around to make sure there were no customers who needed anything, I pulled it out to find a Snapchat from Kylie. It was a video of a boy who couldn’t have been more than two jumping on a mini trampoline. My heart squeezed as I watched his little smiles when he laughed at the camera.
I took a quick picture of the café floor and typed back,I’m totally low-key jealous of you right now. How is it going?
Her response was a picture of a guy, presumably her date.Awesome. We’re going out to dinner and dancing after babysitting is over. *excited face emoji*
This time I took a picture of the pastries in the glass case.That’s great! Have fun and be safe. *heart emoji*
I tucked the phone back into my pocket and looked up just in time to see Nathaniel approaching the counter. My heart stuttered in my chest and then started pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.
He was wearing a jean jacket over a plain black V-neck today. I refused to look low enough to see if he was wearing leather pants again. The fact that I couldn’t see half his chest today was a blessing I was going to take and not push my luck.
He stopped right in front of me, his green eyes boring into mine with an intensity that buying a coffee normally didn’t warrant.
I swallowed back the ball of anxiety that lodged in my throat. There was no reason to panic yet. Maybe he was just here for the same reason as all our other customers. Maybe it was a random coincidence and had nothing to do with the fact that I was working the counter.
“What can I get for you?” I asked, summoning a bright, cheerful smile.
He glanced behind me to where screens displayed the menu on the back wall. “A green monster,” he answered flatly.
“Anything else?”
His eyes traveled from the menu to me, and I had to fight the urge to shrink back from his gaze.
God, what was wrong with me? I didn’t shy away from guys no matter how they looked at me. I was the kind of girl who demanded respect and got what I expected.
But Iwasrunning off a grand total of three hours of sleep.
“Just the smoothie.”
