Free Miss Frost Ices The Imp: A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost Book 2) by Kristen Painter

me, his blue eyes as stormy as I’d ever seen them. “And for the record, you are not vanilla. I know Imari’s beautiful, but so are you. And you’re every bit as classy and amazing as she is. Plus, you’re freaking royalty. Give yourself some credit, Jay.”
    I raised my brows and stared at him. I appreciated his kind words, but he was being driven by emotion right now. Summer elves were prone to that, being so hot-blooded and all. “Are you done?”
    He stared right back, peering into me in a way that made me a little squirmy. “I don’t know. Am I?”
    Are we? That’s what he’d meant. “No.”
    He held my gaze a moment longer. “Okay.”
    He started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. We rode in silence until we turned onto Main Street, which was when he spoke again. “Sorry about all that back at the Excelsior. Imari dredged some stuff up in me. But that’s out of my system now.”
    “Don’t ever apologize for being real about what you’re feeling.” His genuineness had always been part of his charm. “That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about you. Still do. There’s no guessing where you stand with Cooper Sullivan.”
    His mouth bent in a little half smile. “I am who I am.” He parked in front of the warehouse door and turned to me. “Anything else I can do to help with this box thing?”
    I thought a moment. “Let me know if you hear or see any more weird happenings?”
    “Will do. I’ll get your door.” He hopped out and came around to open it for me.
    It was sweet and old-fashioned and utterly Cooper. I grabbed my bag and got out, then leaned up and kissed his cheek. “See you soon.”
    “You know it. Thanks for dinner.”
    “You’re welcome. Night.” I headed for the door.
    “Night,” he called back.
    I unlocked the warehouse door, then looked at him right before I went inside. He was leaning on his truck, arms crossed, watching me and smiling this little smile like a kid who’d just gotten away with eating dessert first. His position made the muscles in his shoulders, biceps and forearms pop. The man was very, very pretty.
    My insides did a little flippy, fluttery thing. Stupid insides.
    I shook my head and went in, smiling anyway because I couldn’t help it. Cooper was cocky and sensitive, and that uncommon mix got to me every time. I wanted him around. In my life. As a friend. Or whatever we were that also involved kissing but no firm commitment.
    I rode up the elevator and walked to my door. Across the way, I could just make out Juniper’s TV playing, and from Buttercup’s apartment came the soft thump of an explosion—the soundtrack of one of her video games.
    Happiness bubbled up in me, the result of my interesting evening with Coop, my new life here in Nocturne Falls and the friendships I’d made. Just knowing Juniper and Buttercup were across the hall from me was comforting. Sure, I missed my family, but I was making a new one. I pushed the door open and went inside.
    And of course, there was Spider. He was curled up on the couch, a tight little ball of black fur with his tail draped over his nose. I went and sat beside him, bending down to kiss his head. “Mama’s home, Spidercat.”
    He yawned and stretched, then curled back up and blinked at me, his green-gold eyes filled with sleepiness. One paw came up to touch my cheek. “Mama,” he said. “Spider loves Mama.”
    Then he tightened into a knot and drifted back to sleep.
    I sniffed at the sweetness of his words. “Mama loves you, too, baby.”
    Maybe having a cat that could talk wasn’t so bad after all. I yawned and my bed beckoned, so I gave him another kiss on the head then got to my feet. I left the bag with the box and lid in it on the coffee table. I’d figure out what to do with that in the morning.
    I flipped on the bathroom light and went to work scrubbing my face and teeth. Cleaned up and ready for bed, I changed into the new shorty pajamas I’d bought at a boutique in town.