Page 10 of Taking a Tumble (Ghostlight Falls #7)
TABI
“ S ooo, how are things going with you and your kinky demon?” My best friend teases me through the phone.
“I never should have given you so much detail,” I grumble.
Hannah gasps, “Don’t you dare threaten me, missy! Not all of us get to be double-dicked down by a dirty-talking demon, I have to live vicariously through you! My man only has one dick, and it isn’t even pierced !”
A chuckle escapes me at her mock outrage. She has a point, Kaz’ron is…everything. We’ve been inseparable since our second date—which really ended up just being a fuck-fest. Not that I’m complaining, the male is experienced , if you know what I’m saying.
I’ve taken to working from Ruff ‘N Tumble, the animals a nice distraction from my home office. Mochi, the foxkin, is my favorite—don’t tell Arlo.
I have a soft spot for her since her antics brought Kaz and I together, finally.
Plus, she’s a great cuddler. Arlo is adorable, but that hard teal shell isn’t exactly fluffy.
Anyway, he’s a daddy’s boy through and through.
The bell tinkles over the shop door, and I look up, expecting to see my handsome demon walking in. He ran out to grab us lunch and left me in charge of the store. Instead, Oliver, the postman, walks in and sets an envelope on the counter in front of me.
I stare down at the envelope in confusion, but by the time I glance back up, Oliver is gone.
“Hmm, that’s odd,” I mutter to myself, picking up the fancy mail. The envelope itself is a cream color, the paper reminiscent of old parchment. It’s addressed to me in fancy calligraphy, a red and gold wax seal along the closure.
Opening it, I pull out what turns out to be a folded map of Ghostlight Falls. I love this little town and all the quirky residents in it. This map, however, has a path drawn that leads to the park. A simple handwritten note at the bottom catches my eye.
Come find me, troublemaker. -K
Butterflies flutter in my chest. My demon is always romantic, but this is next level. What could he be planning? He obviously sent this note, so it stands to reason he’s ok with me closing up shop. It isn’t like we’ve had any customers since he left. I wonder if that’s by design.
Scooping up Mochi, I let her perch on my shoulder as I lock the door and begin following the path laid out on the map in my hands. It isn’t the most direct route to the park, considering it's basically right next door, and I have to imagine that’s on purpose.
The route takes me away from my destination at first, and as I pass by For the Plot, the local book shop, Bea smiles at me and hands me a stack of blind-wrapped books. I’m not sure what they are, until I pause on the sidewalk and read the note attached.
More research for you, I love each new experience you find for us to try. - K
Bea looks at me knowingly, and I thank her, blushing bright red as I keep walking. Just a bit later, Grim’s bakery comes into view. The green shopkeeper bustles out to hand me a cupcake, another handwritten note on the top of the box.
Dessert for you, but I want mine later. -K
Good gods, has Kaz let the whole town in on our insatiable sexual appetites? I’m not shy, but damn. Based on the awkward look Grim sends me before scurrying back inside, my hypothesis is correct.
I’m gonna strangle that male.
Sheet-y Stationary is next, but there isn’t a shopkeeper waiting for me this time. Instead, there is a basket full of sealed letters on a small round table in front of the shop. Each one has my name on it, and a different date.
I set my bounty down and open the first one. Tears sting my eyes when I see it’s a love letter from Kaz, from the week we started dating. Examining the rest, I realize he’s written me one nearly every other day since we first fell into each other’s arms. He’s been hiding these from me for months.
Placing the letter, books, and cupcake in the basket, I grab it and scurry to the park. Screw this scavenger hunt, I need to see my handsome, sweet, sexy demon right now. Luckily, the map leads me to the park next, anyway.
Anticipation grips me as I finally arrive and catch sight of Kaz. He’s dressed up nicely in a fitted suit, a bouquet of flowers in his hands that looks just like the one he brought me on our first date. On his left stands Arlo. I squint as I get closer. Is he wearing a tiny bow tie?
Of course he is. Gods the pair is so damn cute.
I nearly forgot the foxkin on my shoulders until she barks out a greeting and hops down to join the turtle on the ground.
“Hi,” I breathe out when I reach Kaz.
He smiles lovingly at me, handing me the flowers. “Hi.”
Once the flowers are in my grip, Kaz fidgets nervously, one hand in his pants pocket.
“What—” I start to ask but am cut off by the male in front of me dropping to one knee on the soft grass. “Oh!”
“Tabitha, I…I’m not good at grand gestures…” he starts, and I scoff.
“Really? Because all of this,” I say, waving at the basket, “seems to prove otherwise.”
He chuckles. “I just, uh, hold on.” Kaz fumbles something out of his pocket and I nearly pass out when I realize it’s a small, velvet box.
“I’m not good at grand gestures,” he starts again, “but you make me want to give you everything. You deserve so much more than I can offer, but I’m a selfish male, and I hope you’ll let me keep you.”
Arlo butts his horns into Kaz’s thigh and Mochi yips in protest. “Hah, sorry. We hope you’ll let us keep you. I love you, Tabi. Will you marry me?”
I launch myself at him, kissing him deeply. Kaz lets out a soft oomph as his back hits the ground. When I finally pull back, he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“So, is that a yes?” he asks.
“Of course it’s a yes, you dolt!” I laugh through the words as Arlo and Mochi join our cuddle pile on the ground. “There’s no one else I’d rather take a tumble with.”