Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout

the comforter. “You don’t?”
    “I don’t what?”
    “Give your phone number out a lot?” And boy was that a nice way to start off the conversation. Yeesh.
    “Ah, no, I don’t.” Bedsprings groaned, and her entire body went haywire at the sudden vision of him in bed. She so needed to get off the phone, but he continued. “Actually, I can’t remember the last time I gave a girl my digits.”
    Part of her wanted to believe him, but she wasn’t that stupid. “Um, I’m going to be honest here.”
    “Good. I want you to be honest.”
    She closed her eyes. “I have a hard time believing you don’t give your number to girls.”
    “I don’t.” More creaking, like he was settling down. “But that doesn’t mean I haven’t gotten their numbers.”
    Something like a red-hot poker went through her eyes. It. Could. Not. Be. Jealousy. “Is there a difference?”
    “Most def,” he said. “Giving someone my number means she can get in touch with me whenever she wants. For the most part, I’m not down with that. Having someone else’s number is totally different. Get what I’m saying?”
    A second passed. Yep, she did. Meaning he only gave his number to people he really wanted to call him. Not just anyone. And somehow she’d fallen into this privileged group. “Oh, okay. Um, thanks?”
    Dawson laughed. “Anyway, I’m really glad you called. I wasn’t expecting this.”
    Neither was she.
    “I thought after everything with Andrew…”
    “Your friend’s weirdness has nothing to do with you.” Deciding to be honest, she took a deep breath. “Actually, I still wanted to go grab something to eat with you after school today.” Because I’m an idiot . “And I was sort of disappointed when you walked off.” Because I’m really an idiot . “So, yep, that’s all I have to say.”
    Silence stretched out between them, and Bethany was immediately regretting opening her big mouth. “Okay. Maybe I misread—”
    “No. No!” he said quickly. “I’m just surprised. I thought… It doesn’t matter. You still want to grab something to eat Sunday?”
    “Yes.” Her voice came out a breathless whisper, as if she’d just run up a flight of stairs…or worked as a sex phone operator. How embarrassing.
    “What about tomorrow?”
    Bethany laughed. “You…you can’t wait until Sunday?”
    “Hell no. It’s hard to get to know you when we only have a few minutes before class to talk.” He stopped and man, oh man, his voice dropped low enough to send a shiver through her. “And I really want to get to know you.”
    The back of her head hit the heavy down pillows at the top of her bed. She had a decision to make. Operate off what Kimmy said and her own old fears, or go with the flow, wherever it may take her.
    Eyes on the ceiling, she fought a big, goofy smile. “We can get to know each other now, right?”
    Another deep laugh had her feeling fuzzy. “I’m liking where this is heading.”
    So was she.
    …
     
    Daemon stalked the woods surrounding his family’s home. Brutal winds whipped down from the looming mountains and rolled right into him. Dammit, it was cold outside. Cold enough he wished he’d picked up a jacket for once in his life.
    Shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans, he stared over the frozen lake he visited more times than he could count. Moonlight reflected off the ice, casting a silvery light that reminded him of a well-polished blade.
    Being that he was out on patrol, the last thing he should be doing was standing here, thinking about his brother’s love life like a freaking nosy girl. There was another Arum close by. He hadn’t seen one since he yanked the other off his brother and disposed of him, but he knew it in his bones. Well, in his human bones. Whatever.
    But instead of focusing on combing the county like he should, he was worrying …while his brother rested up in his toasty bedroom. Up there having no idea that Daemon knew what he was doing.
    Talking on the phone