My heart gave a sudden, violent skip at his words, but I forced myself to snap out of it. I glared at him, lowering my voice even more. "Listen to me carefully, Malachi. My mother absolutely cannot know who you really are."
Malachi leaned forward slightly, a deeply teasing smile breaking across his handsome face as his golden eyes locked onto mine. "Why, Amara? Are you just scared she'll find out about your true feelings for me?"
"I don't have any feelings for you!" I whispered back angrily, reaching up to push his face away by his cheek. "There are no feelings. None."
I froze and quickly dropped my hand when I heard the kitchen door open. My mom walked back into the shop, carrying a tray with a hot pot of herbal tea and a plate of fresh cinnamon buns.
