Don't Hex and Drive (Stay a Spell #2) - Juliette Cross Page 0,31

a glance, I caught him watching me drink the tea, his gaze riveted. I frowned down into my cup. “You didn’t try to drug me or anything, did you?”

He belted out a laugh. “No, I would never do something like that.”

“Then why are you staring at me?”

“If I said it was because I find you extraordinarily beautiful, would you believe me?” His smile was teasing but his eyes were serious.

I huffed a laugh, trying not to roll my eyes at his sweet talk. The thing was, I wasn’t the prettiest or the edgiest or the most glamorous of my sisters. I liked my green eyes, but I had blond lashes, which meant, because I chose not to wear makeup most the time, I didn’t dazzle the menfolk much with them. I liked my body, too, though I had smaller breasts than even Clara and not many curves to speak of at all. As the tallest, I was more legs than anything else. And that was fine by me. I had some nice assets. And some flaws, some might say. But I didn’t care. I liked myself. Loved myself even. Just the way I was.

But extraordinarily beautiful?

I could get dolled up and make myself really pretty if I wanted to, but today with my hair that needed washing twisted in a tight bun, my baggiest mustard-yellow skirt that hit near my ankles and a plain white V-neck shirt that had a frayed hem, I was far from the ideal beauty.

I sipped my tea and narrowed my eyes on him, which only made his smile brighten. “I would think you want something from me.”

His grin widened. “Maybe I’m telling the truth and I want something.” He crossed an ankle over one knee and balanced the tea in the crook of the bent leg, staring intently as I tried to read behind that cryptic line. I was still musing when he asked, “So tell me, how did you become a hermit?”

I coughed on the sip of chai I was swallowing and set the cup in my lap. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“I asked around about the reclusive witch, Isadora Savoie,” he said with no shame at all.

“Why would you do that?”

“I was curious.”

“And what? Someone told you I’m a hermit?”

He shrugged one shoulder, resting his arm closest to me along the back of the bench, his fingers brushing awfully close to my shoulder. “Some didn’t even know who I was talking about. They knew all the sisters, but you. Until I mentioned you were the one who rode a bicycle.”

I would find this offensive if I actually cared what other people thought of me.

Angling to face him more, I said clearly and maybe a little defensively, “I’m not a damn hermit. Just an introvert.”

“There’s a difference?”

I licked my lips before continuing on. His gaze dropped to my mouth, which had my pulse tripping faster. And I didn’t like that feeling one bit.

“Introverts simply prefer to be alone and not to be annoyed by other…humans.”

“So do hermits.” He arched an accusing brow, tapping his forefinger with the wide silver band along the back of the wrought iron bench.

“Look.” I blew out an exasperated breath, not exactly thrilled about being so frank with a stranger. It was difficult for me to open up, especially to someone like him. Mr. Fancy Pants with fancy cars and a fancy life. “I just have a lower tolerance for people.”

His sudden laughter shook something loose inside me. “Low tolerance for people?”

“They annoy me,” I mumbled.

“Like I am?”

I pressed my lips tightly together, determined not to answer that question. But the smug expression on his face pulled it out of me.

“Exactly.” I drained my cup. “Even if you do make passable tea.”

It was better than passable, but Devraj didn’t need too many compliments. His ego was already oversize. His grin spread, merriment written in every line of his face and in his sparkling, dark gaze.

“Passable, eh?” He reached up with his hand that had been resting on the back of the bench and twirled then tugged a loose strand of hair that had fallen from my bun. “I’ll have to up my tea game next time.”

His nearness and flirtiness disturbed me. I stood and smoothed the lock of hair he’d touched then held out my empty cup and saucer. “Thank you for the tea. May I have what I came for now?”

Without hesitation, he took my cup and headed for the front door. Well, that was easy. He