Denial (Goblin's Kiss Series Book One) by Cyndi Goodgame

had this many coincidences.
    A quick
assessment told me she wasn ’ t unintelligent though
I ’ d
already seen as much. She tapped her pencil then stopped.
I ’ d
already decided that I would try to give her some peace one day for
that coping mechanism.
    She sang her
words out thinking she ’ d evaded me once more to the
teacher’s seating arrangement. No can do, babe.
    She folded her arms and pouted
when he told her it would stay as is. I liked that look on her.
Especially since she was upset by the outcome, but really just the
opposite. I could feel how she really felt and that made me all the
more curious.
    Her friend said something to her
and she huffed again.
    Ring!
    Class ended and
out they went. Well, everyone went with me last. I confirmed lunch
with Scott in the hall and headed to the bathroom for a quick pit
stop. All the way, I couldn ’ t help but think her friends
weren ’ t the most honorable, loyal bunch but is the only way to see
her at the moment.
    I ’ d heard Scott telling a dude in a football jersey to come get
him early from lunch so they could roadblock the freshmen trying
out for this year ’ s team. He said this with a
bottle of cheese whiz in his hand.
    Her friend Tonya
told the girl behind her in class that she would meet her at the
mall. When the other girl gave a crazed looked in
Emma ’ s direction and asked if she would be there, Tonya evaded the question with
her not liking the mall. I distinctly remember finding out that
Emma worked at the mall.
    I saw and felt her through the
outside door before we came through it. She bit through the Fuji
and found me in front of her. Boy, she was not easy to surprise
with this emotional magic crap. At least I have confirmation she
feels it too. Her pupils were dilated and glittery.
    Let ’ s see what else I can conjure out of her.
    “Hi Emma,” I said smoothly.
“Tonya.”
    I nodded to Emma
and explained my invasion of their lunch. The Fuji was sweet. Ripe.
Reminded me of her mother ’ s repetitious apple baskets when
I was very young. I don ’ t remember her, just the
apples.
    Stunned, she
looked to Scott for help on evading me, but got none. She smoothed
out her tightened forehead and brought up a great fake smile and
told her friend some silky girl answer to make me squirm. She
didn ’ t know me to well. She batted her pretty eyes and told me
lots more than that she ’ d just made up what she
said.
    Some guy came up
beside Emma during this masquerade. I had the sudden feeling to
throw my hands around her and protect with an iron grip but that
would not be considered normal and that ’ s what she was going for.
The Christina slut popped a bubble with her gum and kissed the
guy ’ s cheek before heading off to the table with the others like
her.
    I saw that Emma watched me watch
this and saw the jealousy spike inside for something she had very
wrongly interpreted. The vile creature called Christina had bad
vibes centered all the way around her and I wanted her far from
Emma. Emma did however sense my emotions, which was still very odd
for me. I could tell she was reading me on purpose. My own heart
rate spiked aligned with hers.
    The boy, not a
man by any means, whom Emma detested openly left a bittersweet
glare for me but I couldn ’ t hold the glare when my eyes
went back to check on her. She was better, calmer, if my eyes were
on her. And that was way more interesting to me.
    When I checked for danger or
anything that might hurt this girl, I found none and settled back
on my food.
    Scott introduced Rick to me and
all was great when I did the generic guy things and stuck out my
fist in his direction. One good fake smile later, this moron was
sitting and staring at Emma. A lot. She seemed to notice this very
little so I concluded what it could be construed as and left it
alone. They had a history. He was an idiot. She had moved
on.
    Scott told
several stories but I stayed focused on any bit of news involving
Emma Steele. She blushed