The Demon in Me

you.”

Eden grimaced. “It wasn’t what it looked like.”

“Then what was it?”

“A misunderstanding, that’s all,” Rosa said evenly.

Ben’s gun wavered. “Eden? Explain this.”

She nodded. “It was a misunderstanding. No harm done.” She glanced at the broken door. “Well, almost no harm done.”

“But, I saw him hit you—”

She moved toward him and put a hand on his hard-muscled arm so he’d lower his weapon completely. “Seriously, Ben. Just let it go. Please. Let them leave.”

It was obvious that Ben was torn about this decision. He searched her face for whatever answer he was looking for. Finally and reluctantly he holstered his gun. “Fine. Have it your way.” There was no humor to the words.

Eden breathed out a sigh of relief and then looked at the exorcists. “You can leave now,” she said firmly. “We’re done here.”

“You heard the lady,” Ben growled. “Get out of here. Now. Before I change my mind.”

Rosa quickly gathered her cane and the rest of her exorcism paraphernalia. “As I said earlier, Ms. Riley, the full price for this service stands. Thank you for your business and have a lovely day.”

Malcolm moved toward Ben. “Do you have any idea what you’ve interrupted here?”

Ben glowered at him. “A piece of shit abusing a friend of mine?”

“Just the opposite, actually. Your friend is very dangerous right now and must be dealt with.”

The cop clenched his fists at his sides. “You have no idea how dangerous I can be.”

Malcolm nodded at the chain that held a small gold cross pendant Ben wore around his neck. “I see you’re a believer in the difference between good and evil.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed. “It’s how I live my life. What I’ve chosen to do as a career.”

Malcolm cast a dark look back at Eden before returning his attention to the cop. “I’ll remember that. Come, Mother.”

He and Rosa left, their shoes crunching against the shards of glass from the broken door.

Eden got up and moved across the office toward the coffee machine. She poured a cup, black, and brought it shakily to her lips. She could have used a much stiffer drink, but it would have to do.

“Thanks for that,” she said after a moment.

He just looked at her. “You want to tell me what that was all about?”

How must it have looked to Ben? She had no idea what to tell him. All she knew was that the truth was not an option. “Like I said before, a misunderstanding.”

“So you know them?”

“Sort of.”

“Who are they?” he pressed. “And what did that woman mean when she thanked you for your business?”

“Avon reps are really aggressive these days.”

“Eden—”

She shook her head. “Just drop it. Please.”

“Drop it?” His expression tensed. “I broke your door getting in here to save you and you won’t even fill me in on what I saved you from?”

Despite what had happened, she couldn’t help smiling at that. “My hero.”

“I thought it was just the serial killer earlier, but you’re obviously a magnet for trouble. Or maybe this is just your lucky day?”

“I forgot to check my horoscope. It probably said for me not to leave the house this morning. Or possibly ever again.” She tried to make it sound light and almost succeeded.

He eyed her skeptically. “You’re not going to tell me who they were, are you?”

“It really doesn’t matter anymore. They’re gone and they’re not coming back.” She took another sip of the strong, bitter liquid.

“How do you know that?”

She didn’t. She looked at the door again. “Looks like I’m going to have to call a repairman.”

“You’re trying to change the subject.” He rubbed his temples. “I should have arrested them.”

“If I say pretty please let it go, will you?”

“I’ve always had a hard time letting things go. Even when I probably should.” He actually laughed a little at that, then closed the distance between them, taking her face in his hands. He rubbed his thumb gently along her cheek. “He didn’t even leave a mark when he hit you. That’s one good thing.”

“Like I said, it wasn’t a big deal.” She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him, feeling awkward at being this close to the gorgeous cop, especially after what he’d witnessed. “Uh… not that I’m complaining, of course, but why did you come back?”

His expression was still tense from having his questions unanswered. It probably wasn’t something he was accustomed to. “I forgot my sunglasses.” He nodded toward the table next to them that held the now unappetizing-looking donuts from earlier. Sure enough, his dark wraparound sunglasses were still there.

“You drove all the way back to get these?” Eden asked, surprised. “I could have dropped them in the mail for you.”

“I know.” He shrugged and a small grin twitched at his lips. “I guess I also had an urge to break a door. And here I am.”

“Eden,” Darrak said weakly from inside her head. “He’s come back because he likes you.”

She chewed on her bottom lip. “I’m glad you came back.”

At the moment, she meant both of them. For a moment, she’d thought Malcolm had been successful in exorcising Darrak. An unexpected swell of relief filled her to hear her inner demon’s voice again.

Ben’s grin widened, finally breaking completely through the tense look he’d worn. “Oh, yeah?”

She nodded but found it difficult to speak again. What was it about the cop that made her tongue-tied? Especially when she thought he might actually be interested in her.

“Look, I probably shouldn’t have come back here, but I’m glad I did.” Ben moved toward her to inspect her face again. “Did that bastard hurt you?”

She shook her head. “It — it stung a bit, but I think I’m okay now. Why? I thought you said there’s no mark.”

“There isn’t.” His warm touch moved along her jawline. “Looks perfectly fine to me.”

“Oh. Uh… well, that’s good.” She cleared her throat and stepped back from him, then cursed herself for being a total, awkward wimp-girl.

“You like him,” Darrak stated. “But you’re shy, aren’t you?”

She didn’t reply. She wasn’t shy. She was just… reserved. Yeah, that was a good word. Reserved.

“I have an idea,” the demon said. “A good one. If you promise to help me find the witch who cursed me, I’ll help you with the cop.”

She really wanted to ask him how he intended to do that. In fact, she was curious enough to venture a “How?”

Ben frowned. “What?”

“Nothing.” Just talking to herself, as usual. Nothing strange or remotely bizarre about that, was there?

“How will I help you?” Darrak replied. “I can tell you what to say and what to do to make yourself completely irresistible to this or any other man. It’s obvious he likes you already, so that will definitely help. You just need to get over your fear. A little inner prodding will do the trick. I think it’s a fair trade for what I want from you in return. What do you say?”

Darrak was offering to act as her Cyrano de Bergerac?