Demon Hunting with a Dixie Deb - Lexi George Page 0,59
not” list for fall.
More than a dozen pairs of new shoes. More than a tube of everlasting, never-drying, never-clumping mascara. More than hair that didn’t shed sparkles and resemble a bowl of curly noodles.
More than a mani-pedi and a shopping spree. More than a month off from the pickle factory.
She didn’t want to go home. She wanted to stay in Hannah.
Sassy jerked the steering wheel in shock. The car swerved across the yellow line and into the path of an oncoming truck.
The startled driver laid on his horn. Sassy jerked the car back into their lane.
“Hey.” Evan smacked the back of Sassy’s headrest. “What’s the big idea?”
“Sorry.” Sassy took a steadying breath. “There was something in the road.”
“Yeah, a big-ass truck,” Evan said. “I could count the freckles on that bubba’s schnoz.”
“Are you always so excitable?” Taryn asked. “You bleat like a goat at the slightest thing.”
Taryn’s comment went over like a stripper at a Mennonite church meeting. A heated discussion ensued—on Evan’s part, anyway. Sassy doubted a nuclear furnace could ignite Taryn. Folding her hands in her lap, the huntress listened to Evan fuss and fume, her lovely lips curved in the slightest of smiles. Jiminy, was there a sense of humor buried under those layers of ice?
Sassy glanced at Grim. His russet hair stirred in the breeze. He stared out at the woods, his sculpted profile impassive. Jeez Louise, he was a total babe.
A slight frown line belied his seeming calm. Poor little demon hunter; according to Dell, Grim had lived in seclusion for years—centuries. And now he was dealing with this.
Talk about shock therapy.
She punched a button. Music poured through the back speakers and muffled Evan’s yammering.
“Sorry about that,” Sassy said to Grim. “I know your nerves must be seriously worked.”
“Why do you apologize?” Grim did not turn his head. “My happiness or unhappiness is not your burden.”
“Of course it is,” Sassy said. “Making people happy is what I do.”
It was true. If she had a talent, it was affability. She was a people pleaser on crack, the cheerful cleric of conviviality.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sassy saw him turn his head. He was studying her in that serious, intent way of his. His gaze sent a wave of heat through her, like a physical touch.
She liked it. She liked it a lot, and she wanted more. Marshmallows, she was rapidly becoming a Grim junkie.
“And in order to do that, you must suppress your own desires,” Grim said, “subdue any less-than-ebullient emotion, else you have no value?”
Sassy kneaded the steering wheel. “When you put it like that, it sounds awful. Pathetic, even.”
He shrugged. “Change. The choice is yours.”
“It’s not that easy. People expect it of me. It’s why they like me.”
“Is the approval of others so important to you?”
“I like making people happy. I’m good at it.”
“You are a blithe spirit, Sassy Peterson, but your measure is far greater than your gift for cheer.”
“You’ve got a lot of room to talk. You’ve got worlds of potential. You can do magic, for Pete’s sake. But Dell says you’re obsessed with killing demons. Dell says you have sex to get rid of any pesky little feelings that might interfere with your precious hunt.”
“I do not know this Dell, nor does he know me.”
“Of course you know Dell. He’s the Provider.”
“What?” Grim’s voice rose. “You renamed the Provider? This time you go too far.”
“There’s no need to shout. I didn’t rename him. It was Dell’s idea, and I agreed. ‘Provider’ is a terrible name.”
“The Provider is an apt designation for an information source.”
“It’s cold and impersonal. People give more thought to naming their dogs.”
“I am not ‘people.’ And a dog is a living, breathing creature. The Provider is not.”
“Shame on you, Grim Dalvahni. I expected you to be more open-minded.”
“And I expected you to refrain from meddling in things you should not. It would seem we are both doomed to disappointment.”
“Mother-of-pearl. Sometimes you are so stuffy. We’ll continue this discussion over lunch.”
“Luncheon? I assumed you would be leaving as soon as you spoke to the lawyer.”
“A girl has to eat,” Sassy said. “I’ve always wanted to check out the Sweet Shop Café. They print the weekly menus in the paper. The food sounds Southern scrumptious.” She shook her finger at him. “But don’t think for a second that we’re finished with the subject of Dell. I’m not giving up on this.”
Grim heaved a sigh of resignation. “I never for a moment thought you would.”