Sparks Fly

Chapter Twenty-Three: A Deal with the Devil and a Graveyard

"Have you let go of your past? Or isn't it true that you use your hookups as a way to cope with the darkness you can't completely escape from?" she asked.

The warmth of his hands disappeared as he crossed his arms defensively in front of himself. "I didn't know I was so obvious."

"Not to everyone, but like you said, people with demons can recognize the shadows in another person's eyes."

Teagan nodded, smirking slightly. "Well, I suppose you've seen more about me than anyone besides my old man. It's not like my life's story is going to ruin my stellar reputation." He spoke carelessly, a strategic effort to conceal just how important the secrets he carried were to the flirtatious man who saw too deeply to simply be considered a playboy. "How about we make a deal. I'll answer any questions you have, so long as you can give me something no one else knows about the Ice Queen of Granite Woods?"

Did he think she was stupid? There was absolutely no way she was going to agree to that. It was too risky. And who knew what he'd ask of her...

But he gave her that tiny smile, the genuine one that made it impossible not to find him exasperating and gorgeous all at once.

She shook the devil's hand and made a deal.

xXx

Teagan had the smoothest way of turning simple outings into much more. Or maybe he just lacked the finesse with which to ask females out on dates that took place outside of the bump and grind parties he frequented. Whatever the reason, Teagan never really came right out to call their meetings a date.

On the other hand, if he started using that word, Rain wouldn't be able to pretend she didn't see what was really happening.

She was beginning to lose her head over the one guy she had specifically chosen knowing he would be the last man on Earth to threaten her peace. Her heart.

She was no better than the countless other girls who had set their sights on the breathtaking Casanova only to want a part of him they could never have.

She wasn't stupid. Though Teagan was surprisingly very invested in whatever she had to say, Rain knew better than to fall for someone like him. But there were moments where her better judgement failed her, and all she wanted was to know he wasn't just playing her because he could.

Apparently, now was one of those moments.

He'd brought her to his mother's grave, which was something Rain appreciated more than she could say. Because it meant something that he trusted her enough to bring her with him.

Rain eyed the basket he'd pulled out of the back of his truck, feeling warm. "How did you know I would even agree to coming with you?" she asked him while he worked on getting his makeshift picnic out on the grassy patch he'd chosen.

The neatly cut ham and cheese sandwiches in his hands almost fell to the ground. He shrugged, catching the wrapped plate smoothly. "It takes a special kind of girl to be okay with having a picnic in a graveyard."

Was he complimenting her?

"You're special, Rainy."

Well. Heat burned her cheeks before she could think of a suitable reply. Thank you didn't seem like it would make the cut.

"And this isn't just any day to have a picnic in the only spot with decent grass on this side of the train tracks," he continued. There was an underlying gruff quality to his voice, almost as if he was trying to keep the sadness from resurfacing. "It's the anniversary of her death."