Sinful Instincts (Woodland Creek) by J. D. Hollyfield, Woodland Creek Page B

ordering then do so. Otherwise, I need you to leave. There are paying customers waiting for this table.”
    Sin slowly turns around, scanning the deserted bar before his eyes are back on mine. God, those eyes—that face. My hand is practically twitching at my side to lift and caress my fingers down his tantalizing face. I ache to wrap my fists into his thick head of hair and pull his full lips against mine. I watch his eyes suddenly dilate, the signature glow returning. His hands form into fists, his knuckles turning pale white.
    “Wh—what now?” I ask, unsure of his swift mood change. He doesn’t speak, as if he’s trying to pull himself together first.
    Letting out a deep breath, he releases his visual hold on me. “Fine.”
    “Fine what?”
    “You can help me.” Registering that I just won, I smile and let out a small squeal of delight. “Yes! See, I knew this would be a good idea. We will make a great team.”
    He growls at my statement, dropping me back down a notch.
    “Let’s get one thing straight, Emma. We are not a team. You are going to stay with me, and do exactly as I say. Otherwise, I can’t be responsible for you getting yourself killed.”
    “Fine. No prob.”
    “Go change, we’re going out.”
    “Going out? On a Monday?”
    He leans into me, his closeness forcing me to hold my breath. “Do bad guys not kill because it’s a Monday?”
    Ehh, okay, good point.

Emma
    It’s close to ten o’clock when we sit down at Vider’s bar. After getting too excited about being back on the squad, I went to ask Mr. Ferry if I could take off early since the diner was dead. He told me no and to go stock the beer fridges. That’s when Sin stepped in and lured him into letting me off early and offering me more money an hour. We stopped by Melanie’s so I could change. Now dressed in a green mini dress, we’re sitting at Vider’s, waiting.
    “So, what exactly are we waiting for again?” I ask.
    “For a sign. This town has to have some sort of sorcerer.”
    “Like a witch?”
    “Not necessarily. More like a wizard or anyone who would be able to give me any insight of what Zander is looking for.”
    “Cool,” I mumble as I look around the bar. I try and picture any one of these people actually being a wizard, which causes me to giggle.
    “What’s so funny?” Sin questions as he turns in the direction of where I’m looking.
    “Oh, nothing. I’m trying to picture old man Wilson, the town drunk over there, as a wizard. Do you think he has a cape and crystal ball at home?” I end, smiling.
    Sin shakes his head and turns back to face the bar. He motions for the bartender and orders us two drinks. Forgetting we are on a mission, I gulp the first one down. “Hey, slow down. This isn’t a social visit. I’m not here to babysit you.”
    Waving at the bartender to get me a refill, I turn to Sin. “You don’t have to babysit me. I’m just playing the part. God, you can’t come to a bar and not drink. Now that looks suspicious.”
    He glares at me with his typical hard sexy mad face then picks up his drink and slams it.
    “There you go!” I smile back at him. Thankfully, the bartender is on his game and brings us two refills. As he places the drinks on the bar, Sin speaks up. “Hey, I’m looking for Magus. You know where I can find him?”
    Who? I thought we were looking for a wizard.
    “Who wants to know?” the bartender asks, void of confusion.
    “Ben Franklin does,” Sin states, sliding two hundred dollar bills across the bar.
    The bartender takes them and slides them into his front pocket. “I’ll see what I can do.” Then walks away.
    “What was that?” I ask, totally dumfounded.
    “I asked if he knew where I could find a wizard.”
    “Yeah, but you asked for Magus.”
    “If he was able to help me, he would know who I was talking about. Like I said, Emma, this town is full of the unnatural.”
    “Wow!” In amazement, I look around, wondering who else in this bar is not human.