Hello.”

They say that words hold power, and living in the small town I did, they could also be very dangerous. Witches used them to invoke magic, shifting energy through the ether in order to do their bidding. One wrong syllable or nuance could cause an outbreak of aggression with the werewolf packs, and vampires . . . well, they were notorious for using their silken tones to bend others to their will.

But this one word—hello—it had the power to completely undo me. I’d heard it countless times throughout the day as customers came into Shelf Indulgence, but never was the greeting connected to the man that personified sexy goodness simply from uttering it.

I gulped.

Don’t you dare stammer and embarrass yourself, Sedona. Just take a deep breath and act as if it’s every day a gorgeous stranger stops by to say hi.

I gulped, again, my palms already beginning to sweat from nerves.

“How can I do you?” I blurted out, instantly cringing over the jumbled sentence falling out of my mouth. Inwardly, I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

HOW. CAN. I. DO. YOU?

What the heck!

If I thought him speaking melted my insides, his laughter was pure sin. The twinkle in his deep blue eyes set me at ease and, despite the heat blistering my cheeks, I knew his grin was a sign that he had a sense of humor.

“Is that how you greet all your customers?” He cocked his eyebrow as he asked, and my heartbeat thundered.

This man was going to be the death of me.

“Only the good-looking ones.” It came out all breathy. Then, as if the Fates needed proof I’d lost my ever-loving mind, I winked. Winked.

Awkward silence followed.

Even Maxwell showing up and scaring the bejeezus out of me would’ve been more welcome.

In the space between seconds, I automatically reached out with my empathic gift, searching for those telltale signs that he was one of us—supernatural. I hadn’t seen him before, and perhaps he was simply passing through. Something in the back of my mind whispered that I hoped that wasn’t the case.

Electric tingles brushed over my skin, setting those nerve endings aflame with magic. He was definitely supernatural, but what species? Each group had a certain flavor that belonged solely to their kind. It made it easy for people like me to uncover.

The Court of the Sun and the Moon often called on me with tasks to subtly dig into someone’s psyche to see whether or not their intentions were true and honorable. Havenwood Falls was fiercely protected from unwanted attention, and although I didn’t want to get involved with the town’s politics, I couldn’t resist my aunt’s requests.

Just my luck. She knew that it bothered me, but didn’t hesitate to remind me it was my duty as her niece and an empath to use my gifts for the common good.

Sometimes that line got pretty murky. I didn’t like invading people’s privacy and had spent years trying to master my own control.

After a hellacious childhood of blurting out people’s emotions, revealing their innermost feelings without permission, I’d retreated into the world of fiction, where it was safe.

Characters I understood.

People were just . . . complicated.

I pushed outward again, imagining tendrils of light reaching toward the quiet stranger, who was now eyeing me with curiosity. I couldn’t quite get a reading on what he was—my mind was fogging over and keeping the answer just out of reach.

Testing to see what feelings he was protecting turned up even more questions.

Nothing. He was the perfect balance of calmness, like a blank sheet of paper. If it weren’t for the fact I could read his facial expressions and body language, I would wonder whether he was actually there.

It was tempting to push harder. I was inquisitive in nature, and this was a puzzle I wanted to solve.

Again something whispered that he was someone I definitely wanted to know more about.

Just as my innate magic touched him, a sizzle of energy snapped out, causing me to take an actual step back.

His eyebrow rose again.

Did he know what I was doing?

Covering my tracks in case he did, I cleared my throat and offered a shaky smile. “What I meant to say was how can I help you?”

There was a quick wrinkling of his brow before it smoothed over and he nodded. “I’m needing a book for my niece. She’s studying history, in specific the Tudor era with King Henry the Eighth. There is a reference book she needs.” Digging into his pocket, he pulled out a folded piece of paper before continuing, “The Life and Loves of the Infamous King Henry Eighth.”

Excitement fizzled up inside me. This was one of my favorite subjects to read about.

“Not that I condone putting aside reading for watching television,” I started, making my way through the shelves to where I kept historical books, “but she may want to watch The Tudors.” It was on the tip of my tongue to gush about how incredibly swoony Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Henry Cavill were in the addictive series, but I didn’t think he’d appreciate the sudden surge in estrogen.

“I don’t think that would be a wise parental choice, considering she’s only fourteen.” He leaned in, and I caught a whiff of the most delicious scent. Whether it was him or his cologne, I didn’t know, but it took everything in me to move away.

“My name’s Sedona Mathews, by the way. I’m the owner of Shelf Indulgence.”

“I know,” he replied in that deep baritone voice that liquefied everything. This reaction was beyond strange, because the only time I’d ever felt such a strong reaction to a guy before was when I was reading one of my beloved novels.

They were safe, however. He was not.

What I meant to say was “You do?” but what erupted out next was nothing short than a ridiculous squeak. A huge part of me hoped against hope that Maxwell had retreated to wherever he goes when he’s not annoying the hell out of me.

With all the grace I could muster, I answered the only way I knew how.

“Did you know that King Henry was well known for how incredible his legs were? That’s how men’s beauty was described back in the 1500s. Apparently he had attractive calves.”

Facts were my life. They brought me comfort in stressful moments because they didn’t ever change. I’d heard some say the same about mathematics, which I thought was completely bonkers, but facts were like a lodestone I could touch and ground myself with. I kept them all filed away in my head on the off chance there would be a situation I could share them.

Like with this stranger.

And the king who had six wives, two of whom he beheaded.

I rested my hand lightly on the shelf containing the books about the English monarchy.

“Well, it would be ironic if he was known for having a beautiful neck, wouldn’t it?” He placed his finger on one of the spines, mouthing the title silently. “My name’s Micah, in case you were wondering.”

I blinked. I seriously felt like some starry-eyed teenager in the presence of her idol. Shaking my head, I berated myself for not being more professional.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Micah.” Turning to face the shelves again, I scanned the section briefly and let out a disappointed sigh. “Looks like I don’t have it in stock. When does she need it by?”

Micah was still studying the books, slipping a few out before returning them to their place. “Why?”

There was a flicker of emotion—suspicion.

“Because if you don’t mind waiting, I can order it in for you. Shouldn’t take more than three to four days.” Thank goodness for Amazon shipping.

He seemed to ponder that for a moment before nodding. “I’m sure she’ll make do with what she has until then. I’ve never seen anyone read as much as she does. Every time I turn around, she either has her nose stuck in a book or she’s sharing what she’s learning.”

So she was a kindred spirit and fellow bookworm.

“How is she liking Havenwood Falls High?” I asked, guiding him back to the front of the store, where my computer was. He followed behind quietly, and it wasn’t until I was typing in the web address that I realized he hadn’t answered.

He was studying me with the same intensity he gave the books back there. It was almost like he was an empath too and was trying to push beyond the barriers I kept raised for protection.

But I hadn’t detected that gift.

“Sorry.” I offered an apologetic smile, and my hands paused above the keyboard. “I forget that not everyone is as nosey as I am. My mother told me that one particular trait would get me into trouble one day.”

Micah’s features softened. “You’re fine. I’m just not used to meeting someone who doesn’t seem to have an agenda.” Before I could ask him what he meant, he pulled out his wallet. “Did you want me to pay for the book now or later when it comes in?”

“You can pay now.” Accepting his card, I began entering the information into the computer.

“Do you need to see my I.D. as well? To make sure I am who I say I am?” He extended his driver’s license out between his two fingers.

One look at his earnest expression and I shook my head. “I trust you. Besides, I know where you live.” Smirking, I pointed to the screen where his order was still displayed.

“You shouldn’t be so willing to trust strangers, Miss Mathews. Not everyone is so easy to read.”

Damn, was that him saying he knew I was empathic? The hair on the back of my neck rose.

I decided to take a page out of his book and change the subject. “Is there a number where I can reach you when the book arrives?”

“How about I stop by at the end of week and check in with you? That might be best.” Micah was already at the door. “Until then.” And with a slight head nod, the most intriguing man I’d ever met was gone.

My fingers flew over the keyboard, the book for his niece ordered within moments. I let out a weary breath as I sat back on the stool I kept at the front counter and stared out at the town square outside. Micah had already disappeared from view.

“Well, that was interesting!” Maxwell boomed, his smile all teeth. “I must say I’ve seen you flustered before, Sedona, but that was something else.”

“How much did you see?” I asked, knowing the answer already. The ghost had witnessed the entire thing.

“Enough to wonder what people would’ve thought about my fine legs.”

A groan escaped my lips, and it was tempting to bang my head against the countertop. Why couldn’t I be like everyone else and not embarrass myself at every turn?

“Cheer up, my dear. There is a ray of sunshine peeking out from behind those clouds of gloom.” He gestured above my head like he could actually see them.

“And what’s that?”

“You’ve got the next couple of days to rehearse what you can say to him when he comes back for the book. Perhaps you could study up on some American history facts to dazzle him with.”

“Have I told you how much I hate you?” I retorted halfheartedly. The truth of the matter was he was right—my head was already ticking over what to say next. There was no way I would be caught off guard again.

“Maxwell,” I asked, taking one last glance out the window, “have you ever met someone who you couldn’t read, or heard of someone an empath felt little emotion from?”

“Usually they’re people with secrets to hide. Why?”

I shrugged and put on another smile. “No reason. Just curious.”

The rest of the evening passed quickly, but Micah was never far from my thoughts. While I usually honored people’s privacy, there was something about him that I couldn’t put my finger on, and I was determined to figure it out.

There was one thing I did know—when it came to my gifts, when I focused all my intent, there would be nowhere to hide.