Page 8 of Heart Over Heels

I blinked then stepped back with both hands raised. “I’m not bothered. By any of it.”

The demon gave a snort. “Then you won’t mind me showing myself out.” His tail almost swiped across my knees as he whirled around and took off marching in the wrong direction.

When clearing my throat earned no response, I jogged the few steps to catch up. He still didn’t look at me, even when I gestured across the gaming floor.

“Door’s that way.”

He aimed a fiery glare at the way I’d pointed then growled again. “Ugh, it’s like a damn rat maze in here.”

With another spin and flick of his tail, he stalked off.

For a moment, I hesitated. So far, my first demon encounter had been… enlightening. This one, at least, was kind of cute. He sashayed across the casino floor with his hips swinging in a way that might’ve been seductive if you were into that sort of thing.

But I couldn’t help thinking of how vulnerable he’d looked strung up between my burly coworkers. And how quickly he was now vanishing into the midday crowd.

Pain shot through my leg as I rushed to rejoin him. He didn’t acknowledge me, eyes fixed straight ahead, expression unreadable.

“I can escort you, if you’d like,” I offered. “Technically, I’m supposed to?—”

“I canwalk.” He bit out the words. “And you can watch, if you’d like.”

Heat crept up my neck, and I scrubbed my hand along it. “I just want to make sure no one else gives you a hard time.”

He huffed. “Or to make sure I don’t leave a trail of sin across your hallowed ground.”

He didn’t break stride, and I kept pace. I wasn’t escorting exactly, but I wasn’t letting him walk alone either. He seemed eager to leave, and as long as he was heading in the right direction, I wasn’t going to push it.

When we reached the exit, I stepped ahead to catch one of the double doors and hold it open. He stopped short of the threshold, heels clicking to a halt on the tile.

Did he think I was trying to trick him?

Whatever doubts he’d had, he pushed past them and swept out the door and started down the steps. Sunlight caught him immediately, lighting his brown skin until it looked impossibly rich. I’d questioned the clothes, the shoes, the whole vibe really, but he was suddenly so vibrant that I couldn’t help but call out.

“Hey!”

He’d proven to be an expert at ignoring me, so I was surprised when he stopped and turned around.

“Don’t come back.” He rolled his eyes. “I know.”

My head shook before I could form the words. “No, I…”

People brushed past on either side, coming and going and splitting around me. Blocking the doorway made no sense, so I stepped out into the brightness that did my mousy brown hair and tan skin few favors. When I reached the demon on the sidewalk, I felt lackluster by comparison—like a background extra standing next to the star of the show.

“I’m sorry about that.” I motioned to the casino behind us. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”

He adjusted his shirt sleeves. “If that upset you, you may be in the wrong line of work. They were doing their jobs. I’m not sure whatyou’redoing.”

“Hassling customers isn’t their job,” I replied.

“And I’m not their customer.”

I frowned. “Then why were you?—”

“It was part of my tour.”

“Right,” I said.

The demon regarded me with one white brow raised. “You don’t think I look like a tourist?”