“Maybe I should take off,” Ben said.
“That’s a great idea,” Darrak agreed.
Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Eden, I’ll be in touch soon. Maybe we can continue from where we left off. When there are fewer people in the room.”
She walked with him to the door. “That sounds really good. And, I’m sorry about Darrak. He’s very protective of me.”
“I can see that.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
Ben was focused now only on Eden. “Count on it.” He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers again. “Bye.”
He left with another look over his shoulder at her before he got into his car.
The phone rang and Andy picked it up.
Eden turned and cast a very unfriendly glare in the demon’s direction. “Could you have been any less friendly to him?”
He shrugged. “I could have killed him. That would have been much less friendly.”
“Darrak—”
“I can’t help it.”
“Sure you can. You just don’t even try.”
He focused on her completely, his jaw tense, and then he blew out a long breath. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“And I appreciate that, but I’d prefer if you stay out of my business.”
“The cop’s intentions are not pure. He wants to have sex with you. I can tell.”
“I’m actually counting on that.”
“You like him?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Are you in love with him?”
“Love?” she repeated. “Let’s not go overboard. I like him a lot and I want to go out with him again to see if there might be something between us in the future.”
A couple of days ago she was practically picking out her and Ben’s china pattern and now, even though Ben seemed to like her in return, her feelings had cooled toward him a bit. Why was that?
Damn. It was Darrak, wasn’t it? He’d gotten under her skin — literally — even though she tried to fight it. And he was totally ruining her mental wedding registry with Ben.
Darrak looked at Andy when he hung up the phone. “What do you think about the cop?”
“Me?” Andy pointed at himself. “I don’t know. He seems nice enough. I have to agree with your sister, sport. You’re overreacting. Ben seems like a perfectly nice guy with a good job and I’d be willing to bet he doesn’t have three wives and a dozen kids hiding somewhere. Eden will be fine. And when you go back to your normal home I promise to keep an eye on her for you, okay?”
Darrak closed his eyes for a moment. “I am overreacting. What the hell is wrong with me? I don’t normally get this way. Like, ever.”
“You’re not taking your medication. It’s rough sometimes, kiddo.”
His eyes snapped open. “Let’s get something straight. I’m not slow. I don’t live in a special home. And if you call me sport, buddy, chum, or kiddo one more time you’re going to have to retrieve your Porsche from the bottom of Lake Ontario.”
Andy shot Eden a surprised look.
She gulped. A glance out the glass door showed that the sun was getting very low on the horizon. “Uh… we need to leave now. I have some things to take care of.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Andy said. “Uh… bye Darrak. Sorry for any, um, misunderstandings. If I don’t see you again, it was very nice to have met you.”
Darrak’s face was tight but he managed a smile. “Likewise.”
Eden grabbed her purse, and the demon, and they left the office. She was furious with him so she didn’t say anything as they got into her car and she pulled away from the parking lot.
“I’m sorry,” Darrak said after a few minutes had passed.
“No, you’re not.”
“I actually am. I don’t mean to hurt you. I can’t help the fact that I’m an asshole sometimes.”
“You’re not an asshole,” she said.
“I’m not?”
She sighed. “I know on some level you’re just trying to be helpful. I think your heart is in the right place.” She eyed him sideways. “You do have a heart, right? I felt it beating earlier.”
He hesitated. “Demon anatomy is a bit complicated.”
That was not the answer she’d hoped for. “Can I ask what’s the deal with the fire eyes?”
He frowned at her. “What?”
“Sometimes your eyes look as though they’re filled with flames. Usually when you’re mad or upset.”
“They do?”
“Yes. It’s kind of freaky.”
He blinked a couple of times. “It has to do with what I am, of course, and where I’m from. I’m not human and never was. My eyes — and every other part of me — were created in the Netherworld. Sometimes when I lose my concentration, it shows. Luckily I don’t lose all of my concentration when I get pissed off.”
“What would happen then?” She chewed her bottom lip as she waited for his response.
“It’s probably best you don’t think about it at all. Seriously.”