Page 6 of The Bookseller and the Alpha (Witch Twins #1)

Calypso

After an awkwardly long silence, I found my voice, although it didn’t come out quite right. “I’m sorry,” I gasped, still breathless. “She doesn’t usually do that. You can put her down.”

“It’s fine,” Hot Guy said, his voice rumbling over the sound of Pompy’s desperate little grunts as she tried to reach his face. “I love dogs.”

“Um, okay. If you’re sure. I don’t know what’s come over her. Truly. She’s normally much better behaved.” My face, already hot from my wicked thoughts about this man and what he could do to me (with me, yes please ), burned more fiercely, this time with embarrassment at my dog’s bad manners.

“Calypso, I’m happy to hold her. Look, she’s settling down.” He was right. Pompy had nuzzled into his shoulder and looked like she was about to pass out from happiness.

Wait. What?

“How do you know my name?”

“Perhaps we could start again?”

By clenching my fingers into fists, until my nails pierced my skin, I could concentrate enough to listen to the words coming out of his mouth, rather than just the sound of his voice. Perhaps they could use his voice on Google Maps. No, bad idea. People would crash their cars.

I nodded vigorously. Too vigorously. The rest of my hair slithered out of the loose bun that had been precariously perched on the top of my head, and my curls fell around my shoulders, onto my chest and down my back.

I loved my hair. I kept it long, and it was shiny and healthy, but really.

This was too much. Just kill me now. He probably dated models who always looked perfectly groomed.

My stomach clenched at the thought of another woman by his side (in his bed).

Calypso get a grip. He’s not yours. He’ll never be yours.

Taking a deep breath, I stood tall and channelled Electra, cool and confident.

“Please come in,” I stepped back to keep some distance between us. A lot of distance. Who was I kidding. The Grand Canyon wouldn’t be enough. But I wasn’t going to let him know that. “As you already know, I’m Calypso Ferrera. You are?”

He smiled, and I had to lock my knees so they didn’t buckle. Dear gods . It just wasn’t fair for one man to look that hot. All the air in the room disappeared again as he stepped forward, still holding Pompy, the distance between us just disappearing. I wanted to pant. I would. Not. Pant.

“I’d shake your hand, if I had one free. I’m from the Council. Name’s Luc. My brother asked me to come over as a favour to your sister. She’s concerned you are in danger.”

“Your brother?” I didn’t know who his brother was or how he knew my sister.

“Yes. She works for him. Bastien.”

Oh my fucking gods. Luc wasn’t just from the Council. He was the President’s brother.