Page 15 of All My Hexes (Pine Gulch Ever After)

Shadow

Dain takes my bags and slings them over his shoulder. “I’ve got some things for you, let me just grab them.”

Surprise and joy flood through me. I’m so fucking grateful and excited that he showed up. Smiling, I follow him toward the bench in front of the office. A backpack, a box and a potted plant sit there.

I gasp. “Is that a variegated orchid? Ahhhh!!!!! I’m obsessed!

” I grab the plant before he can even answer, admiring its incredible leaves.

They’re every shade of the rainbow, and the flower itself—when it blooms—will be the same.

Letting out a happy squeal, I hug the planter to my chest and beam at Dain.

His pleasure is obvious in the way he smiles down at me, both beautiful white fangs on display. Heat curls through me seeing them. Gargoyles love to bite. It’s part of their vibe and even more than that, it’s how they cement their mating bond.

We danced around a discussion about what we are to each other. But I think I probably know why that is. There’s a reason he couldn’t stay away any longer.

He’s mine.

Irrevocably. Fated by his gods.

When I consider that, it feels right. Even more than that, I desperately, desperately want to be his for good. No matter what that takes. No matter how short of a time we’ve known one another.

“Let’s get home,” he says with a growl, lifting the box. “Desserts. Plant. A smile on your face. That’s what I needed to take care of you with. But you need more, don’t you, sweet witch?”

I slide a hand up his shirt, careful to cradle the orchid in my right arm. “You know I do, my big predatorial male.”

His nostrils flare, amethyst eyes flashing. “You sure you have to go to your office, Shadow?”

That reminds me of the paperwork, which I absolutely have to file today.

Handing him the plant, I grab the papers from inside my bag.

“The deadline is today. I just needed to grab some pics of the property I want to buy to put another park on. It’s gonna be so great, but this one was a harder sell to management.

It’s got enough space to do something like the Gulch’s pumpkin maze, though, and we could even have gourds there for pixies.

Since it can double as a pixie community, I really do think I’ll get it approved.

I have you to thank for that, actually.” I smile up at him.

“That great tour through the Pine Gulch maze really had my wheels spinning.”

“Let’s get it submitted then.” He offers me his hand.

When I thread my fingers through his three, it’s a stark reminder of how big and different he is from me.

And I love that. Dain makes me feel safe and secure.

He holds my hand until we get to the office door, then lets go of me to grab the door.

I sail through with all my junk in tow. When we pass the front desk admin, her pale eyes drift to Dain and she flushes slightly pink.

I want to shout that he’s mine, but there’s no point because Dain gives her a friendly nod but ignores her otherwise. He follows me through the small entryway garden—my first project when I joined the department—and through double doors into the main office.

A few folks look up when we come in. Dain gets lots of curious stares as I weave my way to my desk. I drop my bag off and wave around. “Hang out here for a sec, if you don’t mind. I’m just going to give my boss the report and we can be outta here in five.”

Except that twenty minutes later, my boss is grilling me about the report and I’m desperate to know if Dain is doing alright at my desk. Oh my gods this is taking forever. I glance surreptitiously at the clock. It’s almost five-thirty.

“Got somewhere to be, Shadow?” My boss runs a hand through his wavy locks, fluttering his wings at his back.

“I do, in fact.” I lift my chin and smile. “This was my last order of business for the day, but my boyfriend is in town and we’ve got reservations.” That part’s a lie, but I’m banking on my boss being willing to stop the question and answer session. Still, this project is important.

I point at the open planner on his desk. “To be honest, there’s a lot I’d love to cover with you about this project. Can we find time tomorrow for an hour? I made a lot of last minute changes and they’re worth going over before you make your final determination.”

He grins, pink lips pulling into an understanding smile. “Ahhh, young love is really something. Tell me, is this the male you met in Pine Gulch?”

I resist the urge to bite my lip as I nod.

My boss waves at the door. “Fine, get out of here. But let’s talk tomorrow morning when you get in. I’ll read your proposal in the meantime, alright?”

Excitement thrums through me, my fingers itching to touch Dain.

“Sounds great!” I head for the door and sail through it before my boss can think of any other dire questions.

Back at my desk, Dain is surrounded by a half dozen of my beloved coworkers, delivering the punch line of some joke or another. They burst out laughing but he’s only got eyes for me, smiling as my teammates double over with laughter.

Could he be any more perfect?