Page 124 of Not Your Ex's Hexes
“I was thinking,” Rose said at the same time Damian started, “I can’t believe…”
“You go ahead.” She gestured for him to begin.
“After you.”
She paused, waiting for him to go first.
His mouth twitched knowingly. “I can’t believe you planned all this… and that you showed up. Miguel told you I was floundering, didn’t he?”
“He may have mentioned it, but I kept on planning the fair even when you told me to drop it. I wasn’t about to let it—”
“Fail?” Damian snorted. “That’s exactly what would’ve happened if it had been left in my hands. I have no idea how you keep everything running smoothly, have all the answers, and deal with… people. My head damn nearly exploded a few times.”
“I heard.” She tried—but failed—to withhold a small grin. She had also gotten earfuls from participants complaining about herrudeassistant. But it all worked out in the end. “I had it handled. Besides, quitting isn’t my style. Once I start something, I see it through to the end.”
His grin stiffened. “Was that a not-so-subtle jab at me, little witch?”
Yes.
“Why? Do you feel as if it applies to you, too?”
He sighed, shoving his hands deep into his jeans pockets. “Rose, you have to know I—”
“I want to show everyone Jasper, too,” she said, out of the blue. “He deserves to find his place as much as the others. If not more.”
Damian was already shaking his head. “No way. Not happening.”
His immediate refusal had her crossing her arms in front of her chest as she prepped for battle. “Yes way.”
“He’s not remotely ready to be adopted. He just about took my head off my shoulders two days ago.”
“Name someone who hasn’t wanted to do that recently.”
“It would be irresponsible of me to hand him off to someone else until his behavior improves.”
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe he just doesn’t like you?”
He didn’t look impressed with her comment, his eyes narrowing. “This isn’t a joke, little witch.”
“I wasn’t joking,Damian. And considering we no longer have an FBA, it would be more appropriate if you called me by my name, too. Or if you’d prefer to be more formal, Miss Maxwell.”
His eyes twitched with a faint wince. “You want me to call you Miss Maxwell…”
“Seems only right, don’t you think? We no longer have a familiar relationship, and that’s how you address people with whom you’re not familiar. I can always call you Dr. Adams.”
Damian clenched his jaw, obviously not happy with her words or her sarcasm.
She thought she’d won that round, but he stepped closer, his boots bumping into her Converse. One deep breath and their chests would touch, and damn if she wasn’t tempted.
“I won’t call you babe, or sweetheart.” Damian gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the touch tingling more than her skin. “I could probably avoid calling you Ro. But one thing I won’t call you—unless your bare ass is bent over my desk, or any other flat surface—is Miss Maxwell.”
Lust swept over her body like a caress.
Pretending her panties hadn’t gone instantly damp at his words, Rose forced her gaze to hold his. “Then I guess you won’t be calling me anything. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a fair to get underway and animals to get adopted. Oh, and for your information, Jasper wouldn’t be adopted outtoday. If someone fell in love with him enough to put in the effort to form a slow relationship with him, they could be part of his healing process. But you know better… Dr. Adams.”
She stalked away, not proud for losing her temper, but damn satisfied she hadn’t flung herself into Damian’s arms and refused to leave.
Damian watched Rose walk away for the second time in less than a week, and it wasn’t any easier than it had been the first time. Especially after she’d played starring roles in every one of his dreams each time he closed his eyes.
