Page 62 of Not Your Ex's Hexes
She waited for the punch line, and when it didn’t come, she chuckled. “You’re not serious.”
“And why not?” he challenged.
She glanced around the table, making sure no one was focused on their conversation. Luckily her mother was preoccupied talking to Mr. Gingham about her parents’ newest labor of love, Supernatural Spirits Winery, which they were about to open a few miles outside of town.
Rose dropped her voice. “Because I can’t even say that I barely made it out of that Gryndor situation without a scratch, because Iwasscratched. The only reason I’m not sporting my very own pair of bat wings is because of Damian’s stinky salve.”
His gaze flickered to her arm. “You hardly struck me as the type to give up on something after one unfortunate incident. But I suppose my brother’s wariness was expected to rub off on you sooner or later. I had hoped to intervene before it did.”
Rose’s defenses lifted, but not for herself. “I don’t think it’s fair of you to dismiss Damian for doing what’s best for himself. If he doesn’t enjoy the Hunt, he shouldn’t do it.”
Julius’s brow rose. “He told you why he gave it up? Maybe there’s hope for my little brother after all. I’m not sure he’s divulged that to anyone outside of his one-person immediate circle.”
The thought that Damian had shared something important with her sent her insides into an unexpected tingle.
“Next, you’ll knock me off this chair by informing me you know of the hex.”
Rose’s gaze lifted to Julius’s. “The hex?”
“The one placed on him by a witchy ex-girlfriend.”
Rose stared blankly, not knowing what to say.
“The threat of losing his soul—and his humanity—upon finding love only compounded his decision to leave Hunting behind. My badass, bounty-seeking brother gave up something at which he excelled to live a life that’s a lie.” Julius smiled wanly. “I’d hate for that to happen to you, too, Rose. I’veneverseen anyone incapacitate three upper-level demons as quickly and efficiently as you did the Gryndors, and I’ve witnessed a lot of takedowns through the years. Tell me you’ll at least think about my offer.”
Rose didn’t know what to think… about the unexpected job offer or about Damian.
He’d been hexed? By a witch? And not with a case of shifter-fleas or a pimple that wouldn’t give up despite prescription meds. Someone hexed him so hard it put his freaking soul in jeopardy?
That wasThe Craft–type Magic, and it gave witches a bad name.
There were a million things to do and a fence to repair and yet Damian couldn’t tear his gaze away from the back of the barn, where Rose excitedly groomed Butternut while standing in front of a small tripod setup and talking to the camera that she and Terrance had dragged everywhere during their daily routine.
Mucking out stalls?
Video.
Filling the feed troughs?
Video.
He didn’t know what people found so fascinating about deworming puppies, but they’d even watched him do that earlier that morning, asking him a million questions about canine health. When you saw the cruelty people inflicted on animals daily, it was nice to know there were those out there who desired the opposite.
And thanks to accumulating donations, in addition to the money from the Gryndor debacle, Damian had made an early run to the supply store to pick up much-needed meds and fencing supplies, along with other odds and ends necessary to turn the sanctuary into a hazard-free zone. Especially the far barn closer to Miguel’s place that lay empty, too run-down to be of much use in the condition it was in now.
It was a single check off on a massive to-do list, but when you’d been unable to check off anything for months due to insufficient funds, that one check was a like a damn badge of victory. Even he couldn’t help but think it was turning out to be a pretty good day.
“Oh, my Goddess.” Rose’s sexy rasp had him looking up from where he pounded a new fence post into the ground. “Did I see a smile? Was Damian Adams smiling, or did I get hay in my eye again?”
“No, but you have it in your hair. Come here.” Grinning wider, he tugged off his gloves and plucked the stray hay strand from her ponytail, letting his fingers linger over her cheeks.
“I’m sure that’s the least disgusting thing on my body right now.” Rose glanced at her dirty jeans and mud-covered boots.
He couldn’t help but look her over, too, and hell…
Instantly semi-hard, his erection pushed against his zipper. Days had passed since the night at his place, and while he’d had reservations about a sexual relationship before, he couldn’t find one now.
Evidently, she couldn’t, either.
