Don't Hex and Drive (Stay a Spell #2) - Juliette Cross Page 0,51

was the same guy who bought million-dollar cars and hung out with movie stars. Because he was one.

“Are you hungry?” he asked from right behind me as I checked out.

I shook my head. My traitorous stomach took that moment to let out a ridiculously loud rumble.

“Your stomach says otherwise. How about I take you and your stomach out for brunch?”

“Um…” I was trying to find a good excuse to say no, but I was seriously struggling for so many reasons.

Namely his ten-million-star review by Elmira, the reverent mention of his mother, and the sadness in his eyes when I practically accused him of being a hypocrite for drinking blood while trying to maintain the faith his mother had taught him.

“Just brunch, Isadora,” he urged as I swiped my credit card. “Then I’ll have sufficiently apologized, and I’ll stop bothering you.”

I glanced over my shoulder where he was standing far too close, his body heat rippling off him in waves. I lifted my bag and moved out of the way while the cashier started ringing up his produce.

“Seriously. You don’t owe me a thing. We’re way past that.” His face fell with disappointment because I’m sure it sounded like I was going to rebuff him again. I shocked even myself when I said, “But brunch sounds good. I could eat.”

His dazzling smile reappeared with gusto, and I couldn’t pretend it didn’t make my pulse quicken. Hell, after falling asleep thinking only of him, I couldn’t deny my attraction to him. One meal couldn’t hurt, right?

“Wonderful. There’s a place not far from here that I bet you’ll love.” He swiped his credit card. “Have you ever been to Gris Gris?”

“No. Afraid not.”

He ushered me toward the door, a light hand brushing my back. I pretended it had no effect on me, but even lying to myself was starting to get seriously difficult.

“I think you’ll love it.”

And that’s how I ended up finally capitulating to sharing a meal and my entire Saturday morning with Devraj Kumar.

Chapter 13

~DEVRAJ~

Rather than take my car since Isadora gave me the stink-eye when I offered her a ride, I joined her while she walked her bike the two short blocks to Gris Gris. We settled into a table on the upper balcony overlooking Magazine Street since it was such a beautiful day. The umbrella-style awning over the table blocked out the heat of the sun, and the breeze coming off the Mississippi River in the near distance made this the perfect spot for my first date with Isadora Savoie.

Make no mistake. Whether she knew it or not, this was a date.

Our waiter brought us two waters and took our drink order while we looked over the menu. Isadora stared at the brunch specials while I pretended to do the same but soaked in her lovely face across the table instead.

“So, how does a vegetarian eat from a menu like this?”

Setting the menu aside since I already knew what I wanted, I told her, “I said mostly vegetarian. I allow myself shellfish on occasion.”

Her lips quirked as she glanced up over the menu. “Well, that’s a relief. I was feeling really sorry for you. I’m not a huge meat-eater, but I love seafood.”

The waiter returned with two Bloody Marys. “Here you are. Are you ready to order?”

I gestured toward Isadora to go first. She blinked rapidly in that shy way she had, returning her eyes to the menu.

“Can I get the Gris Gris Shrimp and Grits? And also a house salad with extra arugula?”

“Great choice, ma’am.”

“There’s no iceberg in the salad, is there?”

“No, ma’am. None at all. And for you, sir?”

“I’ll have the Blueberry Bourbon Pain Perdu. And can you bring us the Oyster BLT, hold the bacon on half of the order.” I gazed over at her. “I thought we could share an appetizer.”

“Oh, you can hold the bacon on all of it,” she added.

“You don’t eat bacon?” I asked.

She shrugged a slender shoulder, the sun kissing her tan skin not covered by the awning. “If we’re sharing, I can do without since you don’t. I might not like it, and then it would go to waste.”

So considerate. It was a small kindness, but it only added to the thoughtfulness of the woman sitting across from me.

The waiter nodded. “An Oyster BLT, hold the B. Got it.”

I leaned back in my chair, napkin in my lap, hands clasped on the table, unable to not smile in her presence. “Extra arugula, huh? And what is it you have against