Promises and Pomegranates by Sav R. Miller

take those very seriously.”
Growing more irritated by the second, I put my hands on my hips and
cock an eyebrow at the two men. “Well, we’ve established that I belong here.
Can I go in now?”
“Unfortunately no, although it certainly has nothing to do with the way
you’re dressed.” Unlike his employee, Jonas doesn’t even look at my outfit,
instead focusing on a spot beyond my head, like he’s looking for someone.
“You’ve got bad luck written all over you.”
“I do not!”
He nods, ignoring me, and grabs my elbow, starting down the street away
from the bar. “You do. It’s this... purity within your presence; bad shit just
flocks to you, doesn’t it, love?”
“Stop calling me that.”
“You’re right, Anderson probably wouldn’t like that very much either.”
His long legs eat up the sidewalk, and even though I’m not short by most
standards, I’m having to practically sprint just to keep up. “He’s rather fond
of you, hm? It’s like you’ve finally managed to dislodge the stick up his
arse.”
My nose wrinkles up, my body rejecting the sentiment. “I haven’t done
anything.”
“Don’t suppose you’d have to. The lad’s been proper obsessed with you
for ages.” He glances down at me as we round the corner, a Dunkin’ Donuts
coming into view at the end of the street. “Well, not ages. It’s a rather recent
development, but boy oh boy, did it hit him hard.”
Jonas’s words make my face heat up, and when we stop just outside the
doors of the donut shop, he releases my arm, turning to face me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, shrugging, not wanting
to let him know how his claim draws my throat closed. I cross my arms over
my chest, in case my heart beats so hard he can see it.
“Technically speaking, he could’ve married anyone,” he says. “But he
chose you.”
“He was blackmailed into it. We both were.”
A look of dark amusement passes over Jonas’s face, and he smiles,
revealing two rows of bright, unnaturally white teeth. He reminds me of his
namesake, staring down at me like a wolf who’s just caught his dinner and
never learned not to play with his meals beforehand.
“Right. I forgot about that.” Clearing his throat, he shoves his hands into