Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
For a week, Magnus tried to put that dinner at Hetty’s place out of his mind. For a moment outside, he’d connected to Mercedes. He had no idea that her family was so toxic and horrible to her. She may look like the ancestor who’d cursed him, but he was beginning to see that she wasn’t Yrsa.
Far from it.
Although, the explosions during spell casting had him a bit worried, and for the past week, anytime he heard a loud bang, he jumped a bit. He did keep his distance though, because he wanted her to feel comfortable, and her list to help them get ready for their official grand opening was long.
As was his.
He had to cater the entire event, which he was fine with, but for some reason he was having a hard time focusing on what to serve. It’s like he couldn’t think when she was around.
Because you’re attracted to her, because even though she looks like the woman you loathe, you really like her.
It didn’t help that every night he closed his eyes he saw her. Things he used to relax, like movies, just reminded him of her and all those late-night texts.
Magnus scrubbed a hand over his face and leaned over the kitchen counter where he was trying to focus on one of the many menu ideas he’d come up with over the years.
“We have our first reservation,” Sven announced, excitedly materializing through the wall before solidifying.
“We…what?” Magnus asked, stunned.
“A booking.” Sven grinned. “This is what we were working toward when we decided to buy this place and fix it up. It’s happening.”
“That’s great. Monsters or norms?”
“How would I know that from the booking?” Sven asked, frowning.
Magnus shrugged. “I was always curious about that. What kind of clientele we would attract. Harmony Glen is a fairly open monster town.”
“It’s for the grand opening. I mean, Room with a Tomb Dead and Breakfast. They’re hoping it’s haunted.”
Magnus grunted. “I suppose. We don’t even know if this place is haunted.”
He always suspected it was, given that it was an old funeral home, but he didn’t know if there were ghosts. It was a little weird being a ghoul and not being able to see them or communicate with the dead.
“Mercedes says we do.”
And then Magnus remembered what she had said at dinner a week ago, about being able to talk to ghosts and spectres. “She did say that.”
Sven cocked an eyebrow. “She told you that?”
Magnus shrugged. “We were at Hetty’s for dinner. She’s a witch…not a great one though.”
“How would you know that?” Sven asked. “I mean, that she’s not a great witch.”
“Again, she talked about it. Sort of ostracized by her family for causing too many explosions.”
If Sven could turn any paler, Magnus swore he was at this moment. “Explosions?”
“Only if she casts spells.” Magnus shut his binder full of menu ideas and gripped his twin by the shoulders. “Everything will be fine. You’re absolutely right, this is what we were working toward.”
Sven nodded. “She’s an excellent housekeeper.”
“Agreed.”
The moment the words came out of his mouth, there was a muffled boom and a shudder under their feet. Sven’s eyes widened, and Magnus tried to stifle a chuckle.
“How about I go downstairs and check on things,” Magnus offered. “You do what you have to do and try not to think about combustion.”
Sven frowned. “There’s probably a logical reason.”
There was another muffled rumble followed by another shudder.
“I’m sure there is,” Magnus said, mollifying his brother.
At least, he hoped there was.
He turned into his apparition form and glided slowly through the various levels until reaching the basement. There was a bit of white smoke billowing out from the old embalming room, which was now the laundry room. Quiet cursing was coming from the room too. Mercedes did not sound happy.
He walked slowly over to the door and opened it cautiously. “Mercedes?”
She spun around, her hair blown back out of its bun and smoking. Her dark eyes were frantic and there was soot on her cheeks. Sheets were erupting out of the big industrial washing machine and the dryer seemed to belch up big clumps of lint. “I swear, I don’t know what happened.”
Magnus smiled slightly because it was a comical sight. He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway. “I thought you said no explosions. I mean, you promised me that.”
Mercedes ran her hand over her hair, trying to smooth it back. “I wasn’t spell casting at all. I was doing laundry. Okay, I was talking to one of your spirits and I was pouring in homemade laundry detergent.”
“One you made?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Isn’t that sort of like potion making?”
Mercedes held up her hand to stop him. “I’ve used this concoction before. It’s never done this and why would it effect the dryer?”
The dryer, in response, belched up another cloud of lint which smelled like a fresh summer meadow.
Mercedes groaned and slid down the dryer, sitting on the tiled floor. “I don’t know what happened.”
Magnus was slightly worried that his curse when he was consulting the runes out on the hallowed grounds might’ve had something to do with it, but he couldn’t be sure about that.
She was absolutely flustered, like him.
“You need a coffee break,” he stated.
“I can’t take a coffee break. I have so much work to do to help you guys get ready for your grand opening in a week. This place has to be spotless.”
“Who is the boss?”
She grinned. “Sven.”
He rolled his eyes. “I am co-owner. Sven just has a sensible head on his shoulders, that’s all.”
Mercedes chuckled softly.
He liked the way she laughed. It was better to hear her laugh rather than argue with her, which is how their in-person friendship started. Though, he couldn’t call her a friend either, because she worked for them.
“I suppose you’re also my boss. Does it make you happy that I said it out loud?”
“It does.”
She shook her head. “You’re such a pain.”
“Look, I’m a pain that is offering you a break from this enchanted laundry room. It’s a gorgeous day, let’s take a walk downtown and have a coffee. Maybe a scone or something.”
“Sure.” She held out her hand and he took it, reveling in the softness of her skin as he helped her to her feet. When she got her bearings, he didn’t let go of her hand. It was nice to hold her.
Pink flooded her cheeks and she pulled her hand back.
“Sorry, we should get going.”
“Right. Do you mind if I wash my face before we go?”
“As long as you don’t explode the sink, then sure.”
She winced and then punched his arm. “Thanks.”
Magnus explained to Sven that the dryer was acting up, but everything was okay.
It was basically the truth, but he didn’t want to worry his brother about some minor witchcraft problem that might be a fluke.
Then he told Sven he was doing a coffee run and taking Mercedes along.
Sven was shocked, but didn’t complain either.
Magnus knew Sven wanted them to get along.
He waited in the main lobby until she appeared from the small room under the stairs behind the check-in counter, which was the cloakroom when this had been a funeral home.
She’d slipped on her leather biker jacket and had her purse slung over her shoulder.
Her jeans were a big baggy on her, but he could still make out her luscious curves.
The cuffs were rolled up and she had on Converse sneakers.
Fashion hadn’t been something he paid attention to in the years he’d been around. He’d seen enough change and had his favorite items of clothing through the years. Her outfit sort of reminded him of the fifties, but rockabilly, and he had to admit on her, it looked damn good.
She’s so sexy.
“Feeling refreshed?” he asked, ignoring his lustful thoughts.
“Yes. Did you tell Sven what happened?” she asked nervously.
“I did, but not the details. I didn’t want him to worry.”
Relief washed across her face. “I must’ve put too much detergent in the wash.”
“That doesn’t explain the dryer though.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “No. It doesn’t, does it? It was acting like it was possessed or something. I’ve never had problems with appliances before.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get Phineas down here to tinker with it. They were old appliances to begin with, from The Clothes Spin. It’s run by a witch, by the way.”
“Oh, it is? Never heard of a witch running a laundromat.”
“She offers other services. I swear, nothing dark. No one practices dark magic in Harmony Glen. Not that I’m aware of anyways. This town is a fairly happy place, even with a haunted dead-and-breakfast.” Magnus winked at her and she smiled.
After leaving together, he opened doors for her and totally forgot about their horrible first meeting in Tallowfield.
When he was laughing and joking with her like this, he didn’t think of her nasty ancestor who cursed him and Sven.
He was seeing Mercedes for Mercedes, the woman who shared a lot in common with him.
Going on the MONZTR dating app had been a huge step for him, but one he’d wanted to make.
Especially when he saw how happy Finn was with Margaid, and there were a few others in town who had made matches over the last few months.
Connecting with Mercedes had given him hope for something more, until he saw who she really was.
Except he’d been wrong about the whole thing.
As they walked along Pleasant Street toward Main Street, he waved at a few townies he knew, like Asher and Jane, and Thaddeaus and Sloane.
“You know a lot of people in Harmony Glen.”
Magnus shrugged. “Well, when you’ve lived in a place for about ten centuries, you get to know people.”
“I keep forgetting that.” A blush tinged her cheeks. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. I don’t know everyone well and there are more new people moving in. And it wasn’t always like this. I couldn’t always move so freely through town.”
“You mean before the great revelation?”