Rylie Cruz 3 - How to Date a Demon (13 page)

This man always seemed to just appear
out of nowhere. I didn’t think he was paranormal though. Definitely
didn’t look like the go-to place for supernatural info. Apparently
he was just fascinated with the creatures. Hmm. I guessed I was one
of those creatures. I’d never thought of it that way. I didn’t
consider myself a creature.

The shop owner had popped up in the
aisle next to us. He looked like a smaller version of a very tan
Santa Claus. He couldn’t have been taller than my five foot two
height. His gray hair was combed over to the left side, probably
concealing a bald spot. Just like the first time I’d seen him, he
wore a black shirt and black pants with black shoes and a black
belt. He had a Johnny Cash thing going on… black, black, and more
black.

“
Oh, hello,” he said. “How
are you?”

“
Do you remember me?” I
asked.

Although it seemed like it had been
years since I’d been in asking about the vampires, it was actually
just days. Time dragged when you weren’t having fun. The man eyed
Cole suspiciously, then nodded. “I do remember you. How did the
vampire search turn out?” He cast a wary glance back to
Cole.

Cole watched our conversation in
silence as he leaned against a shelf. If he was going to tag along,
at least he could help me out a little. What did I have him hanging
around for anyway? Maybe the store owner thought Cole was a vampire
or a werewolf like me. I glanced over at Cole. I didn’t want to
give him too much information about what had happened previously
with the vampires.

“
Actually, it turned out
fine. I really appreciate the information.” I gave a half-hearted
smile.

“
Do remember to bring your
boyfriend in to meet me sometime.” He was a little too obsessed
with the vampires in my option. I didn’t get his
fascination.

He glanced at Cole again. “My name is
Marcus Barker.” He stuck out his hand toward Cole.

“
Nice to meet you. I’m Cole
Palmer.” Cole quickly shook the man’s hand.

Marcus glanced at me. Did he think I
was dating Cole as well as Jack? It was no wonder if he did, as
close as Cole was standing next to me. I wanted to give him a shove
and tell him to stand across the room if he insisted on following
me around.

“
What can I do for you
today?” Marcus asked.

I paused and cleared my throat. It
felt strange asking about demons. I knew it shouldn’t make me feel
strange because vampires weren’t exactly the most normal topic of
conversation and I’d asked him about them. Finally, I said, “I need
to find information about demons.” I searched his eyes for a
reaction.

His expression changed as the corners
of his mouth fell to a frown.

“
Do you have a book on the
subject like you did about the vampires?”

“
I don’t, but…” He looked
over his shoulder and back at us again.

But what? He was reluctant to share
with me and I didn’t know why. He’d been strange about the
vampires, but with the demon talk his demeanor had changed
drastically. He was practically shaking.

“
I know where you can see a
book and get more information.”

The brief glimpse of a compassion on
his face was the first glimmer of hope I’d seen since Jennifer
left.

“
Where can I see it?” I
asked.

He stepped over to a table in the
corner of the room and scribbled down something on a piece of
paper.

“
She lives close by and I
think she’ll be able to help you.”

I took the paper from his outstretched
hand.

Cole looked at me like I was crazy. I
could tell he wanted to say something snarky.

Finally, he said, “Don’t you think I
know a little bit about demons? I chase them and go after them.”
His eyes narrowed. “Give me a little credit, would you?”

Marcus stepped back. Obviously he
didn’t like the sound of a demon hunter being around
him.

I glared at Cole. “I don’t think you
know the information that we need to find Jennifer. You wrangle
demons up. That’s it, as far as I can tell. Maybe if you knew more
about them you’d be better at your job.” I smirked.

“
Oh, so now I’m not good at
what I do? Is that what you’re saying?” His posture
stiffened.

“
Yeah. As a matter of fact
that is what I’m saying.” I couldn’t believe I was having this
conversation with him in front of the store owner. I let out a deep
breath, trying to regain my composure. “Look, we need to track down
this book, talk to this woman.”

Marcus shifted his feet and looked
over his shoulder. “Well, I’d better get back to work.”

I didn’t blame him for wanting to get
rid of us.

“
Thank you for your help
again.” I held the paper up and headed toward the door.

Marcus nodded, but looked relieved
that we were leaving. With any luck, I’d never have a reason to
enter his store again.

When we stepped back onto the
sidewalk, I said, “I need to go back to my office and get a couple
things before I go to this address.” I flashed the paper in front
of Cole’s face. “If you insist on going with me, then you’d better
pick up the pace.”

He snorted. “I think I can handle your
pace just fine.”

“
I doubt it,” I
said.

Without another word, I kicked it into
high gear and left Cole in my dust. He never knew what hit
him.

By the time I reached my door, he was
just beginning to start to run. Sucker. He thought he was so
smooth. When I walked inside the building, Jack stood in the foyer
in front of my office door. It was as if the air had been sucked
out of me when I saw him. Why did I feel guilty all of a sudden? I
certainly hadn’t done anything wrong. Nor did I want to. I’d never
had this feeling before.

“
I didn’t expect you back so
soon,” I said, trying to hide the nervousness in my
voice.

Okay, that comment made me sound
guilty of something.

He quirked a brow and closed
the distance between us in two steps. Jack wrapped his arms around
my waist and was leaning down to kiss me when the main door opened
behind me. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Why
couldn’t he have waited outside? Jack looked over at Cole. The look
on Jack’s face said:
Are you still hanging
out with this guy?

“
Can I talk to you alone?”
Jack asked in a cool tone, glancing in Cole’s direction.

“
I’ll be right back.” I
motioned to Cole.

He nodded. “I’ll wait
outside.”

Why couldn’t he have done that in the
first place?

Jack and I stepped inside my office.
My stomach hurt just thinking about what Jack might be thinking.
After all that we’d been through, I didn’t want him to think I
would just toss him to the side for some weird guy who wandered
into my office.

Surely he knew me better than that. At
least I liked to think he did. But whatever the situation, I had
something far more important to worry about: Jennifer. Finding her
safe was my number one priority. If that meant hanging out with
some random demon hunter, then so be it. What choice did I have? I
leaned against my desk and watched as Jack moved closer to me. He
looked as handsome as ever.

“
So what’s going on with
that guy?” Jack asked, clearly concerned by the tone in his
voice.

He stood in front of me, but didn’t
wrap his arms around me this time.

I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

That was the truth, but I wondered if
Jack would believe me.

“
What do you mean, you don’t
know? I thought he left. What is he doing hanging around? Is he
harassing you?” His jaw tightened.

“
No, he’s not.” I paused.
“It’s just that I can’t turn him away if he really has information
that may lead me to Jennifer. If I don’t find her…”

He pressed his finger to my lips.
“Don’t say that. You’re just freaking out. She’ll show up. We’ll
find her.”

A loud thud sounded against the
window, breaking up our conversation. I whipped around. Had
Jennifer come back? I ran over to the window.

How to Date a Demon, Rule
#14

The devil isn’t a
gentleman.

“
What is it?” Jack asked as
he hurried over beside me.

“
I thought it might be
Jennifer,” I said breathlessly, as if the air had been deflated
from my lungs. But again it was another disappointment. Lily was
tossing rocks at the window. I shoved open the window and
ducked.

“
What the hell do you want?”
I yelled, as I eased my head up from cover. “You’re really pushing
your luck with me.”

“
Look, you werewolf wannabe.
I told you I need help with the wedding cake.” Lily shook her fist
in my direction.

“
Lily, if you don’t leave me
alone I’m going to kill you. I mean, literally kill you. Now beat
it.”

She stuck her middle finger up. I
shoved the window down before listening to any of her
rant.

A smile twisted at Jack’s
lips.

“
What?” I asked.

“
I like the way you handle
her.” He studied my face.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Well, it’s
the only thing she understands.” I paused, then said, “So, do you
believe me when I say I can take care of myself?”

He nodded. “I believe you. But you
can’t blame a guy for wanting to protect the woman he
loves.”

My stomach flipped and the room spun.
Did he just say that he loved me? Had I finally lost my mind and
now I was hearing things?

“
What did you just say?” I
asked.

The tapping against the window
continued and normally this would have sent my werewolf senses
flaring, but at the moment, I didn’t care what Lily did. I was
thinking of only one thing. Jack had just told me he loved me.
Me.

He pulled me into an embrace and
placed his lips on mine. His touch was soft and made me melt every
single time.

When Jack finally pulled away, I let
out a little groan.

“
So, tell me what is going
on with this guy?” His gaze searched mine. “What has he told
you?”

“
He says he can help me find
Jennifer and I have to at least let him try. What other choice do I
have?”

“
I guess you have no other
choice.” He sighed. “I just get a weird vibe from him, that’s all.
He makes me uneasy.”

“
It’s just your
imagination.”

“
I guess,” he
said.

“
Hey, what are you doing
back here anyway?” I asked.

He blushed. “I forgot my orientation
book.”

I’d blush too if I had to admit that.
How lame was that? Would they give him a quiz at the end to make
sure he passed?

“
And this book is
needed?”

He nodded. “Quinton says I have to go
to this vampire conference. There are no excuses to get out of it.
But I don’t want to leave you now. I have to help you find
Jennifer. She’s become like a sister to me.” His blue eyes widened
with concern.

“
I know she has, but if
Quinton says you have to go, then you need to go. I’ll be fine.
Jennifer will be fine.” I hoped my voice was convincing.

“
I know,” he said softly,
then kissed me again.

Someone cleared his throat from over
Jack’s shoulder. We glanced around and saw Cole standing in the
doorway.

Cole glanced at his watch. “We need to
get going. Time really is important if we want to find
Jennifer.”

Jack shot daggers with his eyes at
Cole, then looked at me. “I’m just picking up a few things. You
call me if you need anything.”

I nodded. “I promise I
will.”

Jack moved over to Cole and leaned in
close. “If you do anything to hurt her, I’ll rip your heart
out.”

Cole didn’t say anything, but he
didn’t flinch either. I liked this bad-boy side of Jack. It was
sexy as hell. Too bad I wouldn’t get to see him for
days.

“
Nice guy,” Cole said with a
devilish smile.

Could I trust this Cole Palmer guy?
The priestess had warned me to stay away and I was doing the exact
opposite.

“
Jack doesn’t want anyone
messing with me, that’s all. And he will rip your heart out if you
mess with me.” I folded my arms in front of my chest.

Okay, that sounded a wee bit violent,
but better to try the tough girl approach from the start, in my
opinion.

A curl pulled at the corners of his
mouth. “Duly noted. I’ll remember not to mess with you or your
vampire boyfriend.”

“
Now you’re just being a
smart-ass,” I said as I locked the door to my office.

“
What?” He grinned. “I can’t
win with you. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”

I scoffed and stomped down the front
steps of the building. “Never mind. Let’s get going. I want to talk
with this woman about the demons and take a look at that book. We
have to find out which demon has Jennifer. Which you’d think
wouldn’t be a problem for a demon hunter to find out, but I
digress.”