29. Presley
Presley
It has been insanely busy all morning in the bookstore.
I’m resupplying a popular author’s newest book on the shelves while we have a small lull. I finish and whirl around, the empty box in my hands, and nearly crash into someone.
No, not just someone.
Hades.
“Have you picked out my next book yet?”
He’s dressed in black jeans, a dark gray hoodie, and has the expression of a man who has absolutely no idea what the sight of him does to my nervous system.
My stomach performs an embarrassing little flip.
Traitor.
I glance over at the books I’ve just put on the shelf. “As a matter of fact, I have.”
I pull a copy out, holding it so he can see the roses and skulls on the cover.
His eyes drop to it. “Should I be concerned?”
“Probably.”
“Good.”
I snort.
Of course that's his response.
He takes the book from me. The second his fingers touch mine, a tingle runs through me. It’s like I was hit with a bolt of lightning.
He smirks, then looks down at the book, studying the cover before flipping it over to read the blurb.
“No kidnapping this time?”
“Not unless something takes a dramatic turn around chapter twenty.”
His smoky-gray eyes lift to mine. “You sound disappointed.”
“I like variety.”
His mouth curves.
And just like that, my brain helpfully supplies another voice. Good girl.
I immediately look away.
Nope. We're not doing that.
Not again.
It was two words.
Two extremely common words.
Words probably spoken by thousands of men every single day.
Granted, most of those men probably aren't fingering someone in a bookstore while wearing a terrifying mask, but still. It’s probably a coincidence.
It has to be.
Besides, Hades doesn't even know where I live.
The Masked Man obviously does.
Two different men.
End of story.
“So,” Hades says, following me to the counter.
Once I’m behind it, I look at him. “So?”
“What are you doing tonight?”
My heart skips. “Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Working.”
“Until when?”
“Eight.”
“Five,” Margaret calls from somewhere behind me.
My head snaps toward the back of the store. “What?”
She appears from between two shelves carrying a stack of books. “You're done at five.”
“I'm scheduled until eight.”
“Not anymore.”
I stare at her.
She places the books on the counter. “Anything else?”
“I feel like I should be asking you that.”
Margaret looks at Hades. “You were saying?”
I gape at her.
Hades looks entirely too amused. “I was asking Presley what she's doing tonight.”
“She gets off at five.”
“We've established that,” I mutter.
Margaret ignores me.
Hades's attention returns to me. “Go to the Halloween festival with me.”
Oh.
Oh.
That's—
That's a date.
Right?
That definitely sounds like a date.
I’m stunned. Unsure what to say.
Why do I feel guilty? I want to be with Hades.
Yet, I let a masked man finger me upstairs—
I close my eyes, willing the thought to disappear.
“Presley?”
I open them again. Hades is watching me.
“Sorry.”
His eyebrow lifts. “Do I want to know?”
“Absolutely not.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “So?”
I want to go with him.
But the brown blur that races past me and leaps against Hades is the reason why I’m going to have to say no.
He bends down and pets her, then lifts her, still stroking her fur.
And oh, my heart. I can’t handle the cuteness.
“I wish I could. But Penny—”
“What about Penny?”
I look over as Gracie steps beside Hades, a twinkle in her eyes. She has Walter tucked under one arm like a furry loaf of bread. Walter is wearing a pumpkin sweater.
“Such an adorable old man,” I say to him, reaching over and stroking his head.
“Why are we talking about Penny?” Gracie asks.
“We aren't.”
“Yes, we are.” Hades looks at me. “You were about to say something about her.”
“I was going to say I can’t go to the festival because of Penny.”
“I'll take her,” Gracie says immediately.
I blink.
“You don't even know why.”
“You're going on a date.”
I gape at her. “How do you know that?”
Gracie points at Hades. “He's here.” Then she points at me. “And you look like that. All blushing and bright-eyed.”
“Gracie.”
She laughs. “And look at you, trying to act like you’re not smiling.”
My cheeks are burning. “Would you stop?”
She pats Hades’s arm. “She needs to get out.”
“You’re a fine one to talk,” I murmur.
She blushes and looks away, like there’s something she’s not telling me. “We’re talking about your social life.” She shakes her head. “Or lack thereof.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Gracie, you’re the same age as me. And it’s not like you’re a social butterfly.”
She doesn’t meet my eyes.
There’s definitely something she’s not telling me.
Margaret walks past us. “Stop worrying about Gracie’s love life and worry about your own.”
“Thank you, Margaret.” My voice drips with sarcasm.
“You're welcome.”
“That was sarcasm.”
“I know.”
Gracie shifts Walter to her other arm. “So I'll take Penny.”
“You already have Walter.”
Walter stares at me.
“Exactly,” Gracie says. “He'll need a date, too.”
I blow out a breath. “Why is my dog getting a date on the same night I am?”
“So it’s a date?” Hades asks.
I turn my attention to him and get hit with a smile that takes my breath away.
Damn, it’s beautiful.
Now what was he asking me?
Oh, right.
A date.
“Yes.”
“Yeah?” He’s still giving me that smile that makes me forget everything.
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
My stomach does another stupid flip. Heat rushes into my cheeks. I haven’t been out on a date in such a long time.
Gracie makes a noise suspiciously close to a squeal.
I give her a look. “Don't.”
She presses her lips together, but she looks like she’s seconds from combusting from happiness.
I turn back to Hades. Something changes in his expression. Butterflies dance in my stomach.
“We should wear costumes.”
My mouth drops open. “Costumes.”
Gracie and Margaret practically explode. They talk over each other, and I can’t make sense of a single word until they both say, “Couples costumes.”
“Umm... what?”
“Good idea.” Hades rubs Penny’s head, then reaches out and pets Walter before any of us can warn him. I expect him to get bitten by one of Walter’s three teeth. But Walter just closes his eyes, a look of pure contentment on his face.
What the hell is wrong with these dogs? Why do they like Hades so much?
“I’ll pick you up here at five and we can go look at costumes.”
I stare at the man whose default expression is resting murderous face.
Costumes? With him?
That seems... absurd.
And yet, as his eyes lock with mine, it somehow seems natural.
“Okay, then. Guess it’s settled.”
He lays the book down on the counter, and my face goes scarlet.
As he hands Penny to Gracie, he says, “What’s the total?”
I peek at Gracie, who looks like she’s about to burst into laughter at any second. Then to Margaret, who stares at the book, then at Hades with raised brows.
Clearing my throat, I ring him up and give him the total.
“That’ll give you some pointers if you need them,” Margaret says.
God. I’m going to die.
“I doubt someone like him needs them,” Gracie says, laughter in her voice. “Although, that might tell him exactly what Presley likes—”
“Okay.” I hold up my hand. “We’re not doing this.”
Hades smirks as he hands over the cash. He looks like he’s trying hard not to laugh.
I put the book and the receipt in the bag, avoiding eye contact.
But when I hand it to him, my eyes lock with his smoky ones.
“I’ll see you soon.” He winks, takes the bag, and then walks out of the bookstore like he didn’t just set my entire body on fire.
Panties included.
I look around, wide-eyed, as we enter Halloween Emporium.
I’ve never been here, so this is a new experience.
And I’ve certainly never been here with someone like Hades.
I look around the enormous temporary store. Fake cobwebs hang from the ceiling. Animatronic monsters twitch and scream from displays. Somewhere nearby, a child is crying.
Festive.
“Since it’s almost Halloween, I thought costumes seemed appropriate.”
“I know what day it is,” I murmur.
“Then you understand the costumes.”
“No, I understand that you have an ulterior motive.”
Hades looks down at me. “I don't like crowds.”
I pause.
I wasn't expecting him to say that.
“You're shy?”
“No.”
“Socially awkward?”
“No.”
“Wanted in three states?”
His mouth twitches. “Not currently.”
I stare at him. “That answer was suspiciously specific.”
He takes my hand.
My brain immediately forgets what we were discussing.
His fingers lace through mine like it's the most natural thing in the world.
Maybe it shouldn't feel this intimate, but it does.
“Come on.”
I let him pull me deeper into the store.
We make it approximately thirty feet before I hear—
“Oh my God.”
I close my eyes.
No.
Hades stops.
We both turn.
Gracie stands at the end of the aisle with Walter and Penny in the cart.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Shopping.”
I raise my brows. She knew damn well that Hades and I were coming here.
“For what?”
She gestures at Walter. “He needs a Halloween costume.”
“He's wearing one.”
“This is his pre-Halloween costume.”
I stare at her. “I'm not even going to ask.”
“Good.” Her eyes drop to our joined hands, then slowly raise.
Her smile becomes terrifying. “You two are so adorable. I can’t wait to see your costumes.”
Hades looks at me, then at her. “We’ll be the cutest couple at the festival.”
My head spins around like Linda Blair from The Exorcist.
He just said we’re a couple.
Are we?
She beams at Hades. “I agree.”
I point at her. “You followed us.”
“Don't be ridiculous,” Gracie says.
Walter barks.
“Walter says you're lying.”
“He can't talk.”
“He has expressive eyes.”
Hades is laughing now. Actually laughing.
And despite myself, I start laughing too.
“This is insane.”
“I vote for Morticia and Gomez,” Gracie says.
Hades looks at me.
“Stop trying to help,” I say to her.
“He has the height for it.”
“That isn't a Gomez requirement.”
“It should be.”
Hades leans closer to me. “I'll do it.”
I turn my head. “You will?”
“Sure.”
“Gomez worships Morticia.”
His gaze drops briefly to my mouth. “I know.”
My breath catches.
Gracie makes another noise.
I don't look at her.