That would require Meg to recognize what she was. He would have to tell her soon. He didn’t know yet how he was going to convince her. It wasn’t as if he had a wand to give her. If she didn’t believe she was a fairy, she couldn’t tap into those powers.
Even if she’d been tapping into them on the surface.
“You’re freaking me out here, Donal. Just spill it.”
He took a long draft of his beer. He would need all the courage he had to tell her the truth. She wouldn’t believe him. She might even walk away and refuse to see him. He needed time to think so he slid a card across the table. “Here’s my number. In case you need me. Any time of day. Okay?”
She blinked, but took the card. She tucked it into her purse. “You’re stalling.”
He smiled. He was. She wanted him to cut to the chase. Drumming her fingers on the table, she stared at him. That gaze stripped down his defenses.
That did it. He couldn’t resist her as she licked her lips.
“Okay. I’ll say it. You’re a fairy.”
***
Meg stared at Donal waiting for him to laugh. He didn’t. He stared at her with that stern and serious look on his face. Like he’d been chiseled out of stone. She started with a chuckle, but he didn’t respond.
“I’m a fairy?” she said.
“Aye.”
“Are you serious? You’re kidding me. There aren’t fairies.”
“There are. Not so many anymore, but there was a time when they ruled their part of the Earth.”
She leaned back in her seat, her gaze on him. He wasn’t giving up the joke. “Are you playing me?”
“You said you’ve wished for things and they’ve come true. Right?”
“Yes.”
“You have fairy powers. Even if you haven’t developed them. They were fair and honest unless they were angered. Do you have a temper?”
“Sort of. I guess it takes a lot for me to show it,” she said.
This was all fascinating and she suddenly wondered of he’d escaped from a mental institution. Was she in danger or was he just off his meds? “I assumed everyone had that. It is part of living.”
He shook his head. “No. It is only fairy power. You’ve lived a charmed life.”
“Other than my parents dying.”
“Well, that is a story for another day.”
She put her hands on the table. “What do you know about my parents dying?”
“I don’t know anything. Truly, Meg, I don’t. I just have a theory about what happened to them, but I can’t talk about that until you embrace being a fairy.”
Okay. She’d play his game. “What kinds of powers do I have? Do I have a wand?”
“No wand. The type of fairy you are can bring only good fortune, unless the fairy is crossed. Then you can do one bad thing, but only once a year. That’s why it is important that you approach getting rid of your boss in a good way. If you use bad tactics it will come back to harm you.”
She rubbed her chin. She’d never been underhanded, but the few times she had gotten revenge it had come back to bite her. She hadn’t made it this far being exceptionally nice, but she hadn’t done anything bad either. She would have to ponder this, but there was no way she would believe that she was some mythical creature that lived in the woods.
“I can prove it to you. Bring up Google maps on your phone.”
“Why?”
“Please?”
She sighed, but did it. “Okay.”
“Type in Leenane.”
“Why?”
“Just please do it, Meg,” he said.
Okay. She could amuse him for a little longer. She typed in the name of the town where she stayed in Ireland. “Done.”
“Now follow the road you took to the church,” he said. “Until you find the church.”
She swiped until the land ended. She swiped back the other way. “I can’t find it. Why isn’t it on here?”
“Because not everyone sees it.”
Something in her brain ignited. The people of Leenane had told her that there was no church there. She’d taken pictures, but they hadn’t believed her. She found where she thought it was on the map then switched it to Google Earth view. She swiped until she’d gone in a circle. She could see the wall she’d sat on, but it was only a field behind it.
“What?”
“The only people who can see that church are fairies,” Donal said.
She stared at her screen then looked up at Donal. “It really isn’t there?”
“It’s there, just not where humans can see it.”
She tapped her chin. “So how do you see it?”
“That is a story for another day.”
Chapter Eight
Donal held the door for Meg and her scent wafted into his nose as she walked by him. He wanted to get drunk on that scent. He shouldn’t be this attracted to her. It was against the gargoyle code.
His trouble had started when his father had fallen for a fairy.
Was he no better than his father?
He fell into step beside Meg as she remained silent. He hoped she was mulling over what he’d said. He’d never had to tell anyone they were a fairy. He’d figured the church would be the final point she couldn’t deny.
In his time, people knew what they were. Life was easier because the enemies looked like enemies and friends looked like friends.
“You’re quiet,” he said.
She sighed. “It is a lot to take in, but I’m not sure I believe you, but I don’t know why you would lie to me.”
He held the door open to her apartment building. She stopped just inside, spinning around to look at him. “Did you want to come up, Donal?”
“I don’t think that would be proper.”
She smiled as if what he said had amused her. “Proper?”
“Yes.”
She cocked her head. “I like you, Donal.”
He smiled down at her. “I like you, too, Meg.”
Not in the way she was thinking. What would she see in a gargoyle? Gargoyles were rough and always ready to fight. Meg was soft and innocent. His eyes went to her lips. Her tongue sneaked out and she licked her lips.
His body went hard. He needed to get away.
Before he could, she rose up on her toes and planted a sweet kiss on his lips. He left his hands at his sides. If he touched her now, they’d be in her bed for the next week.
That wouldn’t do. He couldn’t lay with her. He mustn’t.
She dug her hands into his hair, deepening the kiss. His body came alive and if she pressed her body against his, she’d know exactly how he felt.
When he thought he’d lost it, she ended the kiss. Her lips looked as if he’d marauded through them. Her eyes blinked open, a clear smile in them.
Oh. What had he done?
She snagged his arms. “You look like you’re going to run away.”
He wanted to, but his duty would bring him back. “I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
“I kissed you. You just responded.” She wiped a hand over her lips. “It was just something to remember me by.”
She spun around then pushed open the door to the stairwell. She said over her shoulder, “Good night Donal.”
She disappeared, but he knew it wouldn’t be a good night. That kiss would haunt him.
***
Donal had told her to wish for good things for others to test out her powers. Meg took his idea to heart. The next day she was in her office as her assistant, Lila, talked about her ex-husband. The kiss with Donal was not far from her mind. She’d never been kissed like that.
Ever.
“I’ve been taking him to court and his employer is supposed to garnish his wages,” Lila said. “Nothing has been done. The court hasn’t compelled his employer to do it. He’s a banker. He has the money and I have to put a deposit on summer camp.”
“Yikes. Men can be idiots.”
At that moment, Meg thought of Donal. In her head she said, “I h
ope the money comes through for Lila.”
“They are. I am never marrying again. This is too much grief for me and my kids.”
“I can understand that.”
“You were smart not to marry,” Lila said.
“Well, there’s still time for me to make that mistake.”
Lila laughed. “You are never going to be stupid. Even if you do it, you’ll have the guy’s balls in a jar on your nightstand.”
“On the mantle for everyone to see.”
Lila covered her mouth, but couldn’t stifle the chuckle. “So what’s going on with you? I mean here in the company?”
“Not sure yet, but scoping out all of my options.”
And figuring out how to get rid of her boss by doing good things. That one was a little harder. Lila’s phone rang.
“Let me take this.”
Meg motioned with her hand and Lila answered. Meg looked at her computer, but couldn’t help listening in on the conversation. She tried not to, but it was clearly Lila’s lawyer.
Lila’s hand covered her heart. “He what?”
What did Lila’s ex do now? Meg rolled her eyes, but Lila gave her a thumbs up.
“Thanks for the good news. It was needed. Thanks.”
Lila disconnected. “That was my lawyer.”
“I figured that. What happened?”
“My ex paid me all of the money he owed me and he’s set up payments from his paycheck to make sure I get the money regularly.”
“Wow.”
Did she do that? Just by wishing that Lila’s situation would get sorted out? That was a lot of power. Donal said she should only use it for good. Too bad she wanted to use it against her boss.
“Yeah. I wonder what change of heart he had.”
“Who knows? Now you can pay for camp and everything else you need,” Meg said.
“They both need new shoes.”
“Problem solved.”
***
The man came by with the coffee cart halfway through the afternoon. Meg had been flagging for the last hour. Scott, the coffee guy, poked his head into her office. “Your usual?”
“Yes, please.”
“I’m glad I caught you. This is my last day,” he said.
“Oh?” Meg walked around her desk with the money for the coffee. “Something better I hope?”
“Well, no it’s not,” Scott said, a frown on his face. “This is my coffee business and it was doing well until I had a few clients not pay their bills. I owe some of my suppliers and they won’t extend me any more credit.”
“If those people paid, would you be okay?”
He poured coffee into a paper cup then put a lid on it. “Probably. I could pay off all of my suppliers and they’d give me stuff again.”
“What will you do if not this business?”
“I don’t know. I have a cousin who can get me a job in construction.”
Meg wrinkled her brow. “You always seemed like you enjoyed what you did.”
He nodded. “I did and working here at the Navy Yard has been profitable, but my truck was repossessed. I borrowed a friend’s truck for this week.”
“Yikes, Scott. Well, I hope all of your people pay their bills.”
Would it work again? Lila’s situation might have been a coincidence. Anyway if she could do something good for Scott, she would try.
“Thanks, Meg. If I don’t see you after today, you’ll know why.”
She patted his arm before he moved onto the next office. She settled behind her desk, but a phone ringing interrupted her train of thought. Scott was still in the hallway. She couldn’t hear his words, but his tone was excited.
Before she could get up from her desk, Scott appeared in her doorway. “They paid.”
“Someone called you?”
“My wife was checking the balance in the accounts and the money has been paid,” Scott said.
His smile spanned his face and he did a little dance in the hallway.
“I’m so happy for you, Scott.”
He did a fist pump. “My business is saved.”
He bounced away. Meg sat there blinking for a moment. Did she do that? She was two for two if she did. Staring at her phone, she wanted to call Donal, but she didn’t completely believe it herself.
Then she had a thought. She could take care of her problem with her boss easily.
“I wish she got a better job offer somewhere else.”
Meg had no idea if it would work, but if her wish did come true, then she’d have to believe what Donal had said.
As impossible as it might be, she was a fairy.
***
The next morning, Harriet was waiting for her in Meg’s office. Was this good news? The fact that her boss was sitting behind the desk didn’t bode well for the meeting.
Meg stopped in the doorway to observe her boss’s body language. Her boss didn’t lounge in the chair. She sat straight up, her fingers drumming on Meg’s desk as she stared down at her phone. A frown creased her cheeks and her brow. Meg wasn’t feeling positive vibes from her at all.
She took a breath then strode into her office. Might as well get this over with.
Harriet looked up. “Meg.”
The tone of that one syllable spoke volumes, stopping Meg just short of her desk. “Harriet?”
Harriet crossed her arms on the desk. “I know what you’re up to.”
Meg blinked. What was she up to? “What do you think I am up to?”
“You’re pissed that I got this job and you didn’t.”
Meg put down her bags, choosing her words carefully. She sat on the chair reserved for guests to her office. “I was certainly disappointed when I found out the job didn’t go to me.”
Where was this discussion headed? Harriet was coming pretty close to an HR violation with her accusations. Meg doubted that Harriet would be that stupid. She’d gotten the job over Meg so she must have some smarts. Or some leverage. Even with the best of leverages, Harriet could still cross a line and get fired.
“You think you can find dirt on me.” Before Meg could defend herself. “It’s what I would do so I’m sure you’re thinking it.”
Meg shook her head. She had chosen not to go that route as Donal had suggested. Instead she was doing good things. In fact, she wished that Harriet had found a better job. That hadn’t happened yet which had Meg doubting what Donal had tried to convince her of. She wasn’t a fairy and she didn’t know why she’d even entertained the idea.
Probably Donal’s Irish charm. None of that mattered in the present situation.
“I truly don’t know what you’re talking about, Harriet.”
Harriet’s eyes flashed with anger and if Meg hadn’t been watching she would have missed it. The woman schooled her face quickly. “I’m watching you. And if I see you step out of line I will fire you.”
“You do realize it isn’t that simple.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. There are procedures for firing someone. You can’t just decide that you don’t like me and let me go. There needs to be documentation of issues,” Meg said. She knew her rights.
An eyebrow went up on Harriet’s face. “We’ll see about that.”
The woman rose, her gaze never leaving Meg’s. She had to admit that this meeting had unnerved her. She held Harriet’s gaze as the woman walked to the door. At the last moment, Harriet turned. “I’m keeping an eye on you.”
The woman left Meg wondering what had happened. What did the woman eat for breakfast that had her threatening Meg today?
Meg blew out a breath then shook off the encounter. She had work to do.
***
Donal waited until he saw Meg get on the bus before he flew off the roof of the building. He was in human form before he reached the ground in the alley.
Meg had called him that morning after her encounter with her boss.
Armed with the details of Meg’s confrontation, Donal knew it was time to take the fight to the goblin instead of wait
ing for it to make a move. She’d threatened Meg and as much as Donal thought it was a trap, he knew he had to engage her.
His mission was to protect Meg. That he had feelings for her was secondary. He’d asked Tex to keep an eye on Meg when she arrived home. Donal doubted that the goblin would have anyone watching her. At least he hoped that was true.
Since he was helping with the company security, he possessed all the keys for the building. Harriet’s car was still parked in the lot so he figured she was still in the office. He passed very few people on his way to the stairwell. If she left before he arrived at her office, he’d just have to follow her. He wasn’t taking a chance with Meg’s safety.
When he arrived at Harriet’s work space she was sitting behind her desk as if waiting for him. She had her arms crossed and her long legs resting on the desk.
“Took you long enough,” she said, pulling her legs off the desk.
“Huh?” He stood in the doorway. “You were expecting me?”
“I smelled you. I knew it was only a matter of time.”
He cracked his neck in preparation for a fight. “I’m not letting you win.”
Harriet threw her head back and let out a loud guffaw. “You can’t beat me without her.”
She spoke the truth, but he wasn’t here to defeat her today. “We will stop you together.”
“You expect Meg to realize she’s a fairy? Oh, that’s even funnier than your puny attempt to intimidate me right now. I know you are powerless without her. She’ll never believe she has magical powers. Meg is too practical.”
“You don’t know her as well as you think you do,” he said.
He knew this had been a mistake. He couldn’t do anything to her without Meg. Their combined powers would take out Harriet, but without Meg, Donal could do nothing. In fact, he might have made himself vulnerable enough to be killed. If that happened, who would protect Meg?
No one. And he’d been stupid. He’d been drawn out by Harriet. On purpose. She knew his weakness and today it had been pride. Feck.
He wished he could wipe the smirk off of her face. She knew that he wasn’t at full power without Meg. Confronting her had been a tactical error on his part.
“I think you have miscalculated my power. And my determination to get rid of Meg.”
“Why Meg?”
Harriet shrugged. “I guess I can indulge you.” She motioned to the seat across from her. He shook his head, wanting to have an easy escape route.
When Garogyles Love Trilogy Page 6
