Page 27 of Blush Crush

“That’s my uncle,” he says.

She lets out an exaggerated sigh of relief, pressing a palm to her chest. “Oh, good. I was worried there for a second.”

She winks at him so he knows she’s joking, and the kid’s blush spreads from his cheeks to the rest of him.

Elyse and Layla finally notice where Ariana’s wandered off to and follow her over.

“Ari,” Elyse starts, eyes narrowed on me. “We don’t converse with the enemy.”

Her faux anger quickly dissolves into a laugh before she nods a greeting at me. Then her attention shifts to Danny. “Hey, Danny.”

“Hi!” he says, sitting up a little straighter.

Layla smiles at him too. “Your mom and dad in town with you?”

Danny nods proudly. “We came to visit.”

The town lore says our families don’t get along. Maybe that used to be true—things were definitely more contentious once—but these days it’s little more than a competitive game between us. It keeps things interesting, but that’s about the extent of our opposition.

“So what are the infamous Ledger sisters up to this evening? Coven meeting?”

Elyse throws me a flat smile. “How’d you know? Could you feel the pins we were poking into your voodoo doll?”

Ariana laughs, playfully rolling her eyes. “Don’t let that make you feel special. We have voodoo dolls for every man in town.”

Layla perks up slightly, her attention ping-ponging between me and Ariana, and I’m reminded of the conversation I overheard the other day—the one that made me drop an entire case of wine bottles because I briefly lost my grip on reality. That’ll happen when you find out the coffee shop owner next door is exactly as innocent as she seems.

Doesn’t have sex. Doesn’t masturbate. Has never orgasmed.

My brain still can’t wrap itself around that. It doesn’t seem right that someone as beautiful as Ariana has never been touched, not even by herself. And while it’s absolutely none of my business, I can’t help wondering why. I see the way men who come into the shop drool over her. The way that douchebag poet looked at her like his next meal.

There’s no way she doesn’t notice. Right?

Or maybe she’s just waiting for the right guy, which would make sense considering the stacks of historical romance novels littered around Novel. Regardless of her reasoning, it doesn’t stop my mind from going places it probably shouldn’t.

Like forbidden fruit, the temptation only makes me want it more, even knowing there would be consequences.

Which is all sorts of fucked up.

“I would never make the mistake of thinking you find me special, doll.” I give her my best charming smile and her face scrunches like she’s disgusted.

I’ve never encountered someone so immune to my charms. Makes things kind of fun if I’m being honest.

Fun and fucking dangerous.

“Elyse is picking up food for Dominic since he’s swamped with some case, so we decided to tag along,” Ariana explains before flicking her gaze to Layla, exchanging a silent conversation.

I’m curious to know what that was about, but I’m smart enough not to ask. Twins and their secrets.

Across the table Danny scrapes the last of his melted ice cream with his spoon, completely ignoring the adults as he concentrates on his bowl. When he finally looks up, there’s a rogue sprinkle stuck to his cheek.

“Ready to go, bud?” I ask. “Your dad’s going to worry if we stay out too late.”

Danny nods and slides out of his chair at the same time I stand.

At the counter, Elyse’s name gets called. She grabs the takeout bag and lifts it in a small wave toward us.

“See you around, Benton. Bye, Danny.”