“ACHOO!” She gave up on her embroidered handkerchief and blew her nose with the paper tissues. “These trees.” She leaned over and kissed Emmie’s cheek quickly. “You’re the best. Thank you.”
“It’s kind of chilly.” Emmie looked down at her feet. “Have I been barefoot this whole time?”
“Yes. Go back inside before Ox comes and yells at me for making your precious little feet cold.” She turned Emmie by the shoulders and shoved her toward the door. “See you at lunch. Don’t forget to post on the blog today. With pictures! Don’t forget the pictures.”
“Okay.” Emmie waved over her shoulder. “See you.”
Ethan walked back to his shop and propped the rake against the front of his display windows. “What about me? Do I get a kiss, too?”
Tayla sashayed over to his doorway and crooked her finger at him. “Better believe it, handsome.”
Tayla kissed Ethan’s bearded cheek when he leaned down. Then she pulled away just as another sneeze exploded from her nose. “I think I’m allergic to you, too.”
“Nah.” He grinned. “But I bet Jeremy would like it if you were.”
“Hush.” She shooed him away with a smile and a flip of her manicured hand. “Don’t start trouble.”
Ethan was an adorable bear of a man. Tall, broad shoulders, and a belly that said he enjoyed a pint at the ice house after work. He loved live music, dancing, and binging the latest sci-fi or fantasy series on the weekend. He drove a big pick-up truck and liked his women with more than a handful of ass.
In short, he was exactly Tayla’s type.
And yet… no chemistry. None.
“Bye!” She walked down Main Street and turned right at the crosswalk. On the corner of Main and Ash was the dark windows of No Cape Comics where the man who was definitely not Tayla’s type would be opening his door in about an hour.
Jeremy Allen was sweet, geeky, clever, and handsome as sin. In addition to loving comics and games, he loved everything about the outdoors. He climbed mountains in his spare time. He camped. He fished. He rode down mountains on his bike.
Tayla was a yoga enthusiast and loved to dance. She had a bike, but she wasn’t crazy enough to take it down mountains. Hiking and fishing? Not her scene. So much dirt. So many bugs. She liked nature… through the pristine window of a well-furnished hotel.
Jeremy was also loyal, family-oriented, and had “long term romantic partner” written all over his gorgeous face.
Tayla wasn’t interested in long term anything. She liked variety. In fashion, in work, and in men. Who could handle one person for the rest of your life? She’d be bored to tears.
And yet…
Even walking by his shop gave her goosebumps.
So. Inconvenient.
Tayla glanced at Jeremy’s store and kept walking. She had a lot to do that day. The last thing she should be thinking about was a man who shouldn’t move past the flirting stage.
Tayla McKinnon had a life and a plan. Jeremy Allen wasn’t part of it.
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Acknowledgments
To my family, American and Ethiopian, who supported me during the holidays when I was writing this book, thank you. It was a hard season for me, and all of you gave me the strength, prayers, space, and encouragement to finish. I love you all so very much.
To all my readers who begged me for more Gavin and Chloe, I want to send a sincere thanks. I hope you enjoyed The Devil and the Dancer. I absolutely loved writing it, and I’m sure I’ll end up writing more.
A special thanks goes to Danielle Aretz, who lent me her dancing expertise for this story. I am not a dancer, I just write one on the internets. Any mistakes are unintentional and wholly my own.
To Cat Bowen, my Scottish Profanity Beta. Your talents are multitude. Your slang incomprehensible. I could not write Gavin without you.
To all my whiskey drinkers out there, cheers! Hope you enjoyed a nice glass of your favorite whiskey with Gavin. Upon release, I will be enjoying a glass of Oban in his honor.
To my Jenn and my Gen. You’re the two best assistants ever. I cannot make life happen without you.
Thanks to my amazing editing team, Amy Cissell, and Anne and Linda at Victory Editing.
Thanks to Alisha and all the folks at Damonza for this AMAZINGLY GORGEOUS book cover! I love it. So much. So very much.
Thanks to my PR team at Social Butterfly PR. Emily, you are the best!
And to Abay and all the staff at Bethel Hotel in Ziway, thanks for delivering food and drinks to the crazy American writer in residence. Thanks for being our home away from home in Ethiopia.
About the Author
ELIZABETH HUNTER is a USA Today and international best-selling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in Central California, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family. She has published over thirty works of fiction and sold over a million books worldwide. She is the author of Love Stories on 7th and Main, the Elemental Legacy series, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
Also by Elizabeth Hunter
The Elemental Legacy
Shadows and Gold
Imitation and Alchemy
Omens and Artifacts
Midnight Labyrinth
Blood Apprentice
The Devil and the Dancer
The Elemental Mysteries
A Hidden Fire
This Same Earth
The Force of Wind
A Fall of Water
The Stars Afire
* * *
The Elemental World
Building From Ashes
Waterlocked
Blood and Sand
The Bronze Blade
The Scarlet Deep
A Very Proper Monster
A Stone-Kissed Sea
* * *
The Irin Chronicles
The Scribe
The Singer
The Secret
The Staff and the Blade
The Silent
The Seeker
* * *
The Cambio Springs Series
Long Ride Home
Shifting Dreams
Five Mornings
Desert Bound
Waking Hearts
* * *
Contemporary Romance
The Genius and the Muse
7th and Main
INK
HOOKED (Spring 2019)
* * *
Linx & Bogie Mysteries
A Ghost in the Glamour
A Bogie in the Boat