Dating for Demons (6 page)

“I’m still trying to work out what this was all about,” she said as she took Jedd’s arm and pointed him in the direction of the entrance to the nightclub.

Jedd paused, his forehead pleated in thought. “I just had a thought. You don’t think this has anything with Brel-ez spruiking his mouth off about you being a dating coach?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea, but you can bet your last dollar that I’m going to find out. Somehow, though, I don’t think Brel-ez is responsible for what happened here tonight. One of those bozos said someone wanted to speak to me. Hell, send me an email or text message. I’m more likely to respond to you that way. I never was into force.”

Straightening her shoulders, she paused at the entrance. “Okay, let’s get this show on the road.”

“You still want to go ahead with this? We can leave it until another night.”

“Nuh-uh, we’re here to do a job. I’m about to become your wing man.”

“Well, if you’re sure… By the way, you never did explain to me what a wing man—er, woman—does.”

She tossed him a grin. “Consider yourself lucky. There are women out there who charge the earth for what I’m about to do for you.”

“Ah, and that would be?”

“Help is at hand for chick-magnet lame ducks.” She burst out laughing at the scowl on Jedd’s face. Before he could comment, she rushed on, “I’m about to become your dating decoy. I’ll sweet-talk the women for you. Then you’ll come up to whatever group I’m with and I’ll introduce you. Basically, I’m your sidekick. I’ll break the ice for you. Then the rest is up to you.”

* * * *

Jedd signaled to the bartender to pour him another beer. Then he downed it in one long swallow as soon as the guy deposited it in front of him. Damn it, he couldn’t take much more of this. He was ready to go home, but Mina wouldn’t hear of it. For crying out loud, he already had a fistful of phone numbers and email addresses crammed in his pocket. Why the hell would he need any more?

Knowing he had to get with the program, he ran his gaze across the club until he spotted Mina. After slamming the beer glass down on the bar, he headed in her direction until he was close enough to hear what she was saying.

She approached a group of four women and gently tapped the arm of the most attractive of them. “Excuse me for butting in, but I just had to come and tell you how much I adore your shoes. They’re fantastic.”

Jedd looked down at the woman’s shoes. Well, yeah, guess they were all right, if you were into that kind of thing. Shiny black patent leather with bright red lipstick marks on the front. A talking point maybe, but that was all.

Nevertheless, the woman fell for it and started telling Mina where she’d purchased them. Then, before Jedd could draw breath, all four women introduced themselves and were talking as if they’d known Mina for ages.

Swallowing his sigh, Jedd prepared to do his part. He moved closer, resting one hand lightly on Mina’s shoulder. “Mina?”

She spun toward him. “Jedd! How lovely to see you.”

Reaching up on tiptoes, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Hey, ladies, this is my very good friend, Jedd.”

Mina introduced him around and slid over a little, dragging him into the gap between her and the woman with the lipstick shoes. Then she instigated a conversation with the remaining females, effectively leaving the two of them alone to converse.

There was no doubt the woman, Felicity by name, was interesting. An intern at the local hospital, she was a font of humorous stories designed to entertain. And there was no doubt Felicity was attractive. Just the type of woman he normally went for. Under different circumstances Jedd may well have been intrigued enough to take things to the next level.

Unfortunately, his mind and attention kept sliding away. He knew the exact moment Mina excused herself from the group and left him to do his thing. Problem was, his
thing
just happened to be the very determined Ms. Araminta Tempest.

Every woman he’d met paled into insignificance beside the flamboyant package that was Mina. At least,
this
Mina. It had been all he could do to keep his hands off her tonight.

He frowned as he caught sight of Mina over near the bar. A group of men surrounded her, had her backed up against the timber surface of the counter. A flash of what looked suspiciously like panic swept across her face, before she tightened her lips and slapped out at the hand that reached for her.

Damn it, this wasn’t the first time he’d watched some Neanderthal try to crack on to Mina tonight, but before now, it had been on a one-to-one basis and Mina had dealt with it without a problem. Even so, every encounter had left him grinding his teeth when jealousy had knifed through him. Jedd Madison, incubus extraordinaire, and he was eaten up with angst and frustration and the little green monster was riding his shoulder.

Quickly excusing himself from the group of women, despite not getting that golden phone number, he made his way across to Mina. As one of the men reached out to touch again, Jedd leaned over and grasped his hand, bending the thumb back until the fellow squealed like a girl.

Damn it to Hell, incubi, every one of them.

“Hands off, boys. The lady is taken. Touch her again and you’ll deal with me.” He pulled Mina from the group and tucked her into his side. “I suggest you all piss off before I
really
get angry.”

The men backed away. The one at the front of the pack raised his hands as if to ward Jedd off. “Sorry, man. Just delivering a message.”

“And that is?”

“Um, Neville wants to see her. We were just taking her to him.”

“You tell Neville if he wants to talk to me, give me a ring,” Mina said. Then she took Jedd’s hand and marched toward the exit. “I’ve had enough. Let’s go home.”

Jedd gave a heartfelt sigh. He was so ready to end this night. One thing though… “Ah, who’s Neville? Someone you know?”

“My cousin, of sorts.” Mina scowled. “Aunt Luce has a lot to answer for.”

“Ah, I can’t see your aunt setting you up for this type of harassment.”

“Wanna bet?” Mina snapped. “As soon as she decided I was to take over from her as Lord of Hell, she made me a target.”

Jedd’s jaw dropped. “She wants you to take over? But… But—”

Mina planted her fists on her hips. “What? You think I can’t do it?”

He held his hands up to placate her. “Hey, I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. I didn’t mean to. And of course you can do it.”

“No, I’m the one who’s sorry.” She sighed. “I don’t even know why I reacted that way. Running herd on a whole stack of horny demons, let alone the rest of the underworld population, is the last thing I want.”

Jedd whistled down a vacant taxi and joined Mina in the back seat. “So what does that have to do with this Neville wanting to talk to you? What’s his problem?”

“I have no idea, but what’s the bet it has something to do with the fact that
he’d
like to take on the position of head honcho of Hell?”

A deep growl escaped before Jedd could bite it back. “Yeah, well, he’d better stay away from you and if he sends that bunch of sex-starved, pushy incubi after you again, he’ll have me to deal with. I’ll knock his block off if he touches you.”

Mina grinned. “Why, Jedd, you almost sound jealous.”

Anger burned its way through his gut at the idea of anyone else touching his Mina. He clenched his hands and struggled to control his breathing.

Me? Jealous? Yeah, baby, freakin’ right I am!

Chapter Five

Jedd opened the door to his apartment and ushered Mina inside, before securing the lock behind him. While he did that, Mina headed into the living room without saying a word.

He grimaced, knowing that wouldn’t last much longer. He had no doubt he was about to get the third degree over how many phone numbers he’d managed to collect and what he was going to do about them.

Hellfire and damnation, he was sick to death of this subterfuge. Spending time with Mina had shown him he wanted so much more. The attraction he’d had to her when she was seventeen was nothing compared to what he felt now.

Was it just sex?

Hell, no.

Oh yeah, that was definitely a part of it, but it went so much further than that. The buttoned-up spinster intrigued him. Made him want to drag down her hair until it brushed against her breasts. He wanted to rumple her suit until she looked abandoned, wanton, ready to shed her inhibitions. She made him want to dig below the surface and expose the sensual woman inside.

Tonight’s persona? That vibrant, confident woman pushed every one of his buttons. He wanted to cast discretion to the wind and show her how much he wanted her. Not just sexually, but emotionally too. She called to something inside him, something he hadn’t known existed. He wanted to protect her. Love her. He wanted stability and permanence. And he wanted…

Holy crap, he had it bad. He suddenly realized he would do anything, be anything, just to be with Mina.

Pussy-whipped much? Oh yeah, bring it on.

Before he could speculate on how he could bring about his dearest wish, he heard a yelp from the kitchen.

“Jedd!”

Responding to the horror threading through Mina’s voice, he took off at a run. He was halfway across the room when he stopped. From here he could see into the kitchen as well as scope out the living area. His mouth dropped open and he gulped, not certain he could believe his eyes.

“Ah, Mina, there’s an imp screwing the hell out of the cushion on the couch. Crap, the very cushion I use when I relax on that very same couch.”

Mina stood beside the breakfast bar in the kitchen. “You think that’s bad? What about the one on the bench who’s humping your juicer?”

Jedd didn’t need it pointed out to him. He’d seen it himself.

“Oh, don’t worry about Horrid,” Brel-ez said as he wandered out of the bedroom. “He’s into inanimate objects and he just loves red. That red juicer of yours attracted him the moment we arrived.”

We?
Jedd did a quick count and found at least another half dozen imps cluttering up his little abode. Holy crap, they’d invaded.

Brel-ez spotted Mina and rushed up to her, wrapping his claws about her leg. “Ahh, Mina. My beautiful Mina,” he crooned.

Mina tried to shake her leg, but the miniature demon clung like a horny barnacle. Jedd didn’t know whether to laugh or kick his arse to get him to let go of her. He figured Mina had about thirty seconds before Brel-ez started to hump her leg.

“Brel-ez,” Mina warned. “You move those hips and start on my leg and I’m going to put the toe of my very expensive shoe right where your mama has never kissed you before, you hear me?”

“But, Mistress—”

“Don’t you ‘but mistress’ me. Now back those hips away from my shin.”

Brel-ez looked crestfallen, although Jedd caught a glimpse of a grin on his face before he lowered his head and shuffled off Mina’s leg. He didn’t move far, just to her side, close enough he could hook one arm about her knee.

Jedd wanted to pound the hell out of Brel-ez, but first he’d rip that arm out of its socket. Even now, he could see those spiky claws inching up her thigh, closer to the hem of Mina’s short dress. He growled, low in his throat, certain Brel-ez had heard when the imp gave him a cautious look from the corner of his eyes.

Enough already!
Standing in the middle of the living room, he planted his hands on his hips and bellowed, “All you pesky bloody imps, front and center.”

He glared at Brel-ez. “Right now! Line up in front of me.”

Brel-ez led the way, the rest of the imps falling into line. Jedd arched his eyebrows until they just about disappeared into his hairline when he saw how many of the little beggars scampered out of his bedroom.

Mina joined him in the living room. “Kind of like the seven dwarves, isn’t it?”

“Except there’s double the number. And they’re more like overgrown kids on hormones.” He stared at Brel-ez. “You seem to be the ringleader. Want to tell me why my place has suddenly become the go-to hangout for horny little devils?”

The imp shrugged. “The boys and I like it here. Much more interesting than Hell, and way less stinky as well.”

“He’s got you there,” Mina retorted.

She squatted down in front of Brel-ez and looked him in the eye. “Did you say anything to anyone else about what I shared with you in the bathroom?”

Jedd frowned. Just when had that bloody imp accosted Mina?

Brel-ez shook his head. “No, no, Mistress, not me, but the other boys told me they’d heard Neville say he was gonna fix you up ’cause he reckons he should be… You know what.”

So this Neville was going to fix her up, was he? Like hell. He’d thrash the bastard if he came anywhere near Mina.

“Okay, so now we have the answer to the hordes of incubi hanging about you.” Jedd helped Mina to her feet before turning a steely eye on the row of imps. “You lot, get out of here. And if you want to visit, stand at the front door and knock like normal people. Then I’ll decide if you can come in. Understand?”

With a collective nod, the imps disappeared in a choking cloud of sulfur-laden smoke. Jedd immediately turned on the exhaust fan in the kitchen to try to drag some of it out of the apartment. When he returned to the living room, Mina was seated on the sofa, although she’d thrown the abused cushion on the floor.

She patted the seat beside her. “Come sit, Jedd. Now we’ve sorted that out, we need to address your problem.”

“I don’t…” Ah, crap, he’d almost spilled the beans.

“Sit,” she reiterated, a scowl on her face.

“So how did you go tonight?” she asked once he’d complied.

“Lots of phone numbers.” He kept his answer as brief as possible. He so did not want to get into this whole fiasco.

“Hmm, you definitely didn’t have any problems that I could see once I’d introduced you to the women. Makes me wonder why this became such an issue.”

She stood and walked across to the opposite side of the room, propping herself up against the sideboard. “So what happened? There must have been something. What changed, and don’t tell me you don’t know. You must have some idea.”