Page 69 of Not Your Ex's Hexes
“So you do think it’s a good idea…”
“I think it’s a disaster waiting to happen, but not because I don’t think you’d be any good. As a matter of fact, I think you’d be fucking great at it, andthat’swhy I’m concerned.”
“That makes absolutely no sense.”
“It makes the world of sense, but the fact you don’t realize it proves my point.”
“You don’t get it.” She ignored the growing number of stares from nearby commuters. “You have no idea what it’s like to fail ateverythingyou do. To have no clue where your talent lies because you’ve never had a chance to figure it out. I finally found one of those talents—after thirty-three freakin’ years of life—and you’re saying I should ignore it. In the wise words of Vi, that’s a pretty dickish move, even for you.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Not to mention he should’ve known better than to approach her with a growling demand. If anything, he’d reinforced her desire to go through with Julius’s asinine plan.
Damian mentally shifted tactics and prayed he hadn’t already fucked it up. He met her gaze and cursed, scrubbing his hand over his face.
Prayer wouldn’t be enough.
“This isn’t about you or your abilities,” he admitted truthfully. “This is about Julius. I know you think a lot of him, but you have no idea what it’s like to work with him, Rose.Forhim. I do. It’ll be fine until you disagree on a case, and then the Mr. Nice Guy gloves come off.”
“I trained my entire life to become the next Prima. I can handle Supernaturals like Julius Kontos.”
“What happens the first time you’re told to bring in a frail grandfather whose only long-term goal is to see his grandchildren get married? Not all cases are like the Gryndors. A lot hover solidly in the gray area.”
“Why would the Council want a sweet old man hauled in to stand trial?”
“Maybe because that old man wasn’t always so sweet, and it took a long time for his past to catch up with him. Maybe he forgot to tip his waitress. I don’t know, and the point is that whether or not you agree with the reasoning for the haul-in, you’ll have no choice but to do it.”
“I can handle it.”
“You’re not taking any of this seriously. Let’s grab a coffee or something and talk about this more…please,” Damian added.
“Sure…”
“Yeah?”Well, damn… that was easy.
“We can talk about my job offer right after we talk about your little ex hex…”
Never mind. This was a train derailment waiting to happen.
Overhead lights blinked as the subway car approached the next station.
Rose gifted him a cocky, expectant look. “Well, this is my stop… unless you still want to have those conversations. No? Then we’ll talk later.”
Damian followed her onto the platform, pushing past an onslaught of new riders. “Rose…”
She turned, her gaze raking over the sight of him standing there in all his puppy-boxer glory.
When he couldn’t form any additional words, she winked. “You may want to put your pants back on before you head up to the street. It’s a bit chilly.”
She gifted him a little wave and disappeared up the steps.
Damian cursed. He’d seen that going so differently in his head. Hell, he’d seen a lot of things with Rose Maxwell going a lot differently, and that had him worrying about what he’d be blindsided with next.
“Hey, dude. I like your boxers. Can I ask where you got them?” A man, sporting a pair of briefs decorated with bicycle-riding kittens, gave him a slow once-over.
Without answering, Damian turned to hop on the next train back to his bike. He obviously wouldn’t get anywhere by talking to Rose. If anything, he’d only made her more determined to go through with it.
That left him only one other option.
