Chapter 24
After the session, I walked Zeke to the back door, manifesting a magical umbrella as we walked. I handed it to him with a smile. “It’s a sunny day.”
“Much obliged, Simone.” He took the umbrella, grabbing the handle unnecessarily close to my hand, letting one of his long fingers linger over my palm. Ugh. But considering what he’d just endured, I was willing to be civil for another five or so minutes.
“Well,” I said, taking a step back. “Safe travels.”
“And best wishes to you.” Zeke turned toward the door. When he hesitated and turned back to me, I held my breath. I was done with him and his shenanigans and, I didn’t want to have to shenan … again.
“You know, despite the reputation of my species, we are quite soulful creatures.”
“That’s actually the reputation you have,” I replied. “I’ve known Nate a while now. He’s clearly a very devoted and loving … man.”
Our experiment, thankfully, had been a success.
Both Nate’s and Zeke’s new arrows seemed to have counteracted the old ones.
Cupid was long gone, proud as a toddler using the potty for the first time.
Nate and Brianne were in my office having a meaningful discussion.
All that was left was to bid Zeke farewell.
And he was prolonging it.
“Indeed. That was the point I was nearing.” He extended his hand again, an offer to shake I had no desire to fulfill.
But he waited, one eyebrow lifted in amusement.
To my complete surprise, he didn’t try to steal my hand or kiss the back of it or linger.
It was a friendly handshake. Well. Knock me over with a string of garlic.
“I love Nathaniel, and his beautiful family, very much. While I overstayed my visit due to personal matters, it did this ancient heart of mine a world of good to see that they are protected by someone with as much power as you contain. Thank you for caring for them as if they are your own.”
“They are my own, Ezekiel.” I tried to extract my hand again, but he held on.
“One last thing before I go. While this arrow situation might have been the reason I was, as was said, skulking about”—he rubbed a hand over his backside with a chagrined smile—“I think you should know I was not the only one lurking around the Magnolia in the wee hours.”
“What do you mean?” I didn’t know why, but my stomach was doing a tumbling routine. Something about his tone, like he thought he was doing me a favor by sharing this information, made me nervous.
“Let’s just say your security detail does a very thorough job.
It’s been quite some time since I sampled men.
” He opened his umbrella. In the kitchen.
Cecelia shuddered like he’d stepped on a black cat’s tail.
“But I think, if I were in the unique position to control Cupid’s bow, I might direct it at a certain broody wolf shifter. ”
I stood stock-still as he stepped outside, my heart beating a thousand miles an hour to keep up with my suddenly short breath. Zeke shot me a wink, satisfied he’d inflicted the damage he intended. The bastard. I used my magic to slam the door in his face.
Cecelia’s relief was immediate. But I couldn’t meet her joy with my own.
My memories jumped back to the night I’d bumped into Ray at the side of the Magnolia.
And to an offhand tease Brianne had lobbed my way about seeing him darting away from the house.
He’d claimed he’d ramped up security, which hadn’t seemed necessary to me.
But I could admit to myself that his behavior had been odd since I returned. We’d had a few intense moments and a fast but one-sided kiss during the Trials, but we’d never settled into a friend lane or a romance lane.
Actually, since the night of Brianne’s party, he hadn’t said much of anything to me until our run-in. And the man on our date? That was someone I didn’t know.
But I wanted to. Boy, did I want to.
I was carrying those thoughts when I returned to the lobby, stopping short at the sight of Nina.
She was leaning far too casually for my tastes outside the Physical Therapy division’s door.
Cecelia sounded warning bells in my ears.
But I already had my guard up, and I wasn’t about to let her seduce me. Or whatever. “I know. I’ve got this.”
“Good morning,” I said. She didn’t respond, and that’s when I realized she wasn’t even looking in my direction.
She was staring at Brianne’s desk area, where Bri and Nate were giggling like schoolchildren.
There was envy on Nina’s face, so naked I felt her sadness even from this distance. What was going on with this woman?
Nate pointed at the opposite end of the lobby, whispering in Bri’s ear. She blushed, sending him a look that made me want to clutch my pearls. I walked over, prepared to give her the day off.
“Look.” Bri jerked her head toward the far end, where Nate had pointed. That was when I got my first glimpse of the mysterious contractor who was patiently helping Lydia and Lyra through their construction woes.
Everything about him was average. Average height and average build.
He had thinning blond-brown hair, a touch unkempt, and honey-brown eyes.
His skin was pale, like he spent entirely too much time inside.
He wore those baggy cargo jeans that seemed required for his profession.
Above them was a light flannel shirt, buttoned almost to the neck with the sleeves rolled up.
An assortment of pencils, pens, and some other quick tools jutted out of his many pockets.
He was by no means ugly, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t know that I would notice him on the street.
Lyra stood to one side of her sister, her back to me, apparently listening as the contractor explained something just out of my earshot. On the opposite side was Lydia, looking at him with an intense concentration.
And there was something interesting about Lydia’s expression.
The reason none of us could take our eyes off the situation.
She gazed at him with a sense of awe, as if this person held the answers to the universe.
The contractor said something, and Lydia dropped her head back to laugh, twirling her hair around one finger.
Her eyes lit up. She gnawed on her bottom lip.
Then, ever so subtly, she brushed her hand over his barely-there bicep.
Well, honk my horn and call me Nancy. Lydia had a crush.
On a very average looking contractor.
Who was very obviously human.
No wonder it was throwing her up in arms. This certified fae goddess was bonkers over a normal guy with no powers.
Fae men must stumble over themselves to get to Lydia.
Lyra had told me once that even within their community, Lydia was considered a beauty, conveniently forgetting that they looked nearly identical.
And here was the man who tied the mighty Lydia’s tongue. I had to meet him.
“I hope I’m not interrupting your meeting.” I strode across the lobby, hand already outstretched. “I’m just so glad for this opportunity to finally meet the most patient contractor in the world.”
Watching Lydia morph from enamored schoolgirl to embarrassed fairy gave me the most mischievous of joys. She went from full-on flirt mode to awkward businesswoman in the space of five seconds. I loved it. Sooo much.
“You must be Simone.” The contractor took my hand, blissfully unaware of the havoc he was wreaking. “Neil Diamond, at your service.”
“Neil … Diamond?”
“My mother was a huge fan.” He laughed heartily.
“She was a bit of a groupie in the late sixties and early seventies. Apparently, she followed him on tour so much that she became friendly with his roadies.” He leaned forward with a conspiratorial smile.
“Real friendly with the tour manager, if you know what I mean.”
He jabbed my side with his bony elbow. Holy cow, this guy was adorable. All charming and awkward and not at all what I would have expected for Lydia. I returned his smile. “Is your mom in the area?”
I admit, I was fishing. He lived in Treater’s Way. Human or not, he had to know about the supernatural. Not that it wasn’t obvious from the Twins. They’d been my first not-so-subtle clue that things were not what they seemed at the Magnolia.
“She worked in administration at the high school until she retired.” He winked. Again. “Fell in love with a dryad during a spontaneous visit to Illusion Square. They adopted me, and we settled here.”
“Well, we’re thrilled you’re here.”
“Oh, it’s an honor to be able to work on such a unique project.” He shook my hand. Again. “Thank you for giving me this exciting opportunity.”
“I had nothing to do with it, it was all the Twins. But I trust their judgment.” I smiled directly at Lydia. “Will we be breaking ground soon?”
“I hope so.” Neil patted his pocket, as if a special secret were stored in it. “I’ve got what we hope are the last round of notes here. I’ll draw up the new plans and send them later today.”
He said his goodbyes and left, though I didn’t miss the way he lingered on Lydia before he shut the front door. I’d expected her to bolt like lightning the moment he was gone. But she seemed rooted to the spot.
I’d seen Lyra blush dozens of times. The way it traveled under their fae skin was always fascinating to me. But Lydia’s sheen of red wasn’t subtle like Lyra’s. She turned the color of a dozen roses, from head to toe. Even her hair changed.
Aww, I couldn’t mock her after that. Much.
“Well.” I slapped my hands together and gave them a good rub. “He seemed nice.”
“He’s very nice.” Lyra held a barely contained grin in check by pressing her lips thin. “And very patient.”
“This will be the last one.” Lydia enunciated each word carefully, trying to control what was left of her shaky pride. “Cecelia approved.”
“That’s great news,” I said. No, I couldn't tease Lydia at all. Not when Cecelia’s motivation for not helping in the first place was now clear. She’d been playing matchmaker. And Lydia, bless, was visibly thrown by her new emotions.
So much so that I wondered if Cupid had played a part. I’d have to find out. But how do you ask a powerful fae with a chip on her shoulder to show you her ass?
I left them, retreating to my office for some downtime.
Cecelia had restored my desk. I settled into my chair, feet propped on the window seat, to watch the water move through the bay.
North Bridge glimmered under the midday sun.
Norbert swam past, briefly lifting his head to greet me.
My favorite park bench was in view, unattended.
I’d fallen in love there. On that bench. Thirty years ago. It felt like a lifetime, which I suppose it was. And while it was rare for me to go back to that moment and wish it had been different, I couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened if I hadn’t run away.
But I couldn’t be regretful. Not when it had given me a son I loved and life lessons that were making this next stage of my life even more grand. My divorce, though painful, taught me what I wanted out of a relationship. And what I didn’t.
I didn’t want fancy dinners at bougie restaurants. I knew that much. Nor did I want a possessive boyfriend who attacked any man who came near me. Not that I wanted someone casual or passive, either. There had to be fire. But did it have to burn so damn high?
If I could mush both of them together, I’d have the perfect man.
Maybe I was forcing something that wasn’t really there simply because they were so tightly linked to the past I’d left behind. Like I was creating an opportunity to make a new decision on the park bench. To stay instead of leave, as if I might somehow retrieve the life I’d lost.
But that was impossible, even for someone with my power.
I only had today. And today, the two men who were drawing me in for very different reasons couldn’t even get along.
Despite their penchant for violence, I was proud of the way I’d handled their tussle in the Reading Room. And the stance I’d taken.
For the sake of this small town, we had to find a way to resolve their animosity. Being with either of them, if it deliberately hurt the other, was not something I could do and still sleep at night. I could only straddle both roads for so long before one of them crumbled.
I closed my eyes, trying to picture a dozen alternate universes. Ones where I made a choice. Ones without Ethan. Ones without Ray. Without the hope, and yes, fear, of loving either of them.
Then I dozed off. When I awoke, the bench was no longer empty.