Page 45 of Bad Witch

“Thank you again for being so kind.” She turned and rushed off, heading for home.

I was breathing hard, not sure what the hell to do. Fuck, as much as I hated everything about what just happened, I was glad he wasn’t a dick to her or I would’ve been forced to snap his neck.

I followed her bus, making sure she got home safe. Her sadness was thick as she got on. Did she really like that guy? Was she heartbroken? Fuck, had she been in love with him?

No. Impossible. She told him she didn’t want a relationship. Tempest was only after casual. It didn’t mean she hadn’t really liked that male, though. I shook my head in disgust. What the fuck was wrong with me? I hated that she wanted someone else. Hated it. But I also wanted to comfort her, soothe her after some guy broke her fucking heart. Explain that one. Because I didn’t understand it.

I waited twenty minutes, then called her again.

“Hello?” she said, more question than greeting.

Jesus, I didn’t even rate enough to add my name to her contacts. “It’s Fender.”

“Oh, hey, Fender. I’m uh, a little busy, the clinic’s slammed tonight.” She sniffed. “I need to go help Mags with a patient.”

She was lying to me. Fucking hell. This female had no interest in me. None. It felt like she’d buried a knife in my chest. “Okay, peaches, I won’t hold you up.”

She sniffed again.

Was she crying? Was she alone in there, fucking crying? “You okay?”

“Yep,” she said, lying again.

“Hey, Temp?”

“Yeah?”

“Just a reminder that if you ever need anything, I’m here, yeah? You just need to ask.”

“I remember,” she said. “And I appreciate it.”

I was an idiot. The female didn’t want me, but still I pushed. “There’s nothing you need, Temp? Nothing you want?”

There was a beat of silence. “Um…no.”

I was close to grinding my teeth. “You sure?”

There was a beat of silence. “I can’t think of anything.”

Fucking ouch. “So nothing at all?”

“Ah, no.”

I nodded though she couldn’t see me. I felt like an asshole. I was all but begging her to ask me to be her lover, and she just wasn’t interested.

“Actually, there is one thing,” she said quietly.

I straightened. “Anything, peaches, just name it.”

“If you need help with Brigid’s books and papers, I’d still love to help. I could use a distraction.”

I shoved my fingers through my hair and held in my growl. It was better than nothing, I guessed. At least I’d have her close. “That’d be really good. When are you free?”

“I have an early morning shift, but I’ll be free just after three unless there’s an emergency.”

“Sounds good,” I said.

“Excellent.” She let out a shaky breath. “Night, Fender.”