Page 20 of Must Love Fallen Angels

She was going to combust if he didn’t touch her.

So she told him.As she pulled him toward the bedroom with her finger hooked in his belt loop, she said, “You’re mine, Venice.All mine.”

His laugh echoed in the hall.“You’re mine too, sweetheart.”

Wednesday after his shift, Venice picked up Tessa at the bookstore when she was done for the day.They’d both worked a later shift, so the sun had set, and he’d been looking forward to their evening ahead.He greeted Kinsley and scratched her cat familiar, Nysa, behind the ears as the cat sat on the counter.

“Where are you two headed?”Lyra asked as she scanned a book’s barcode for a customer, handing it to Kinsley to bag.

“Brody and Delaney’s for dinner,” he said.

“Have fun!And see you tomorrow, Tessa.”

“Sure thing,” she said.

They walked out of the bookstore, and Venice noticed she grabbed a paper sack and tucked it in the crook of her arm.

He opened the passenger door of his truck for her and said, “Is that an antique or something?”

“No,” she said.“I picked up something at lunch for Delaney.”

He got behind the wheel and started the engine.“That’s nice.”

“Well, I think it’s good manners to bring a hostess gift, but also I want your friends to like me.”

“They’ll love you, I promise.”

He pulled in behind the center and got out, coming around to open Tessa’s door.She took his hand, and they walked inside.

“Hello,” he called.

“We’re in the office, hold on, we’ll be right out,” Brody called.

“So this is where they keep the familiars available for adoption,” Venice said, gesturing to the row of large kennels.The doors of the kennels were open, and one of the cats was lounging on the chair at the desk, but the others, and Kenny the raccoon, weren’t visible.

“Familiars, huh?”Tessa asked.

Delaney strode from the office with Brody.“Yep!We have three cats, an owl who is hanging out in the trees right now since the sun has set, and a raccoon for adoption.But only witches and warlocks can adopt familiars, and the familiar has to choose the person who will become their master.”

“Oh wow, I didn’t realize the familiar got to choose,” Tessa said.

“Both the familiar and the witch or warlock recognize each other when they meet.It’s very cool to witness.I’m Delaney, one of the witches who own and operate the adoption center.”

She extended her hand, and Tessa shook it.“Nice to meet you.I’m Tessa.”

“How do you like living on the beach?That cottage is darling.”

“I love it.Falling asleep to the sound of the waves on the shore is so peaceful.”

“I agree,” Venice said, wiggling his brows at Tessa.

She grinned, her eyes dancing.

Brody introduced himself and shook Tessa’s hand.“We’ll have dinner in the house.Let’s head over.”

“Sounds good,” Venice said.

They followed the couple through the adoption center to the attached home that had been built after the couple had gotten together.