“Hardy-har-har.” He tweaked my nose. “It’s a common fact. For some reason, incubi are better looking than the general population. No ugly incubi have ever been caught and killed ... at least that I know of.”
“I didn’t look at the guy all that closely last night,” I admitted. “I was too busy trying to figure out what was going on.”
“Well, he’s not getting in tonight.” He held out his hand and gave me a long once-over. “You look pretty this evening.”
“Are you saying I don’t look pretty every evening?”
“You look beautiful every evening.” His delivery was smooth, flawless. “You look prettier than every other woman on this island combined tonight.”
“Oh, so sweet.” I sidled up to him, rocked to the balls of my feet and planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth. “That right there is only one of the reasons I love you.”
His smile broadened. “We could stay home,” he suggested. “It might be fun to celebrate our love in privacy.”
“We can do that later. I want to see the cupids in action.”
“I can tell you’re serious about this. Okay. Ground rules first.”
Ugh. There was nothing I hated more than ground rules. “What did you have in mind?”
“You need to stick close to me, Booker or Lilac. Before you get up a full head of steam, I’m not saying you can’t take care of yourself. I’m simply saying that there’s safety in numbers.”
“I believe I can agree to your terms.” I stuck out my hand. “Let’s shake on it.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me forward so he could kiss me. “I prefer sealing my deals with a kiss.”
My eyes rolled back in my head and I almost forgot I had a plan for the evening. By the time I remembered, Galen had me halfway down the stairs. “You’re really good at that,” I muttered as I smoothed the front of my shirt. “Did you have a lot of practice?”
“Who can remember?”
“You’re not fooling anybody.”
“I’m not trying to. I honestly can’t remember. My life before you has turned into a dark blur of despair.”
I snorted. “Are you going to keep saying stuff like that all night?”
“That depends. Do you like it?”
“Kind of.”
“Then I’ll keep doing it.”
LILAC’S BAR WAS PACKED. LUCKILY a group was vacating a booth when we entered and she inclined her head in its direction to let us know where to sit.
“I’ve never seen this place so busy,” I remarked as Galen led me to the booth. I slid in one side and expected him to slide in the other but he took me by surprise when he settled next to me.
“This looks weird,” I announced, giving him serious side eye. “You can’t sit next to me when the other side is empty. People will think we’re mentally deranged ... or feeling each other up under the table.”
“I don’t care.” He slid his arm over the back of the booth and smirked when Booker broke away from one of the clots of people and headed in our direction. “Besides, we won’t be alone for long.”
“I’m surprised you’re here,” Booker announced as he slid in across from us. “I thought you were spending the night at Wesley’s place.”
“He insisted on separate rooms, so Galen capitulated and we’re back at the lighthouse,” I replied, leaning forward to study his drink. “What is that?”
“It’s a grasshopper, my mother’s favorite drink.”
I wrinkled my nose. “It’s green. How does it taste?”
“Green.” He took a sip as if to prove it. “It’s the only way to keep her off my back. If I drink beer she won’t stop complaining about how I’m reinforcing toxic male stereotypes.”
Under different circumstances his hangdog expression might be funny. “Well ... let me try it.” I took the drink from him and almost gagged at the taste. “You’re a better son than she deserves.” My eyes watered as I choked. Thankfully Lilac picked that moment to deliver water.
“Are you guys eating or just drinking?” she asked.
“Both,” Galen replied pleasantly. “We’ll have an appetizer plate with the fried pickles, wings with extra hot sauce and those mushrooms Hadley loves. Give us two servings of those, if you don’t mind.”
Lilac arched an eyebrow. “Sure. What do you want to drink?”
“I’ll have whatever is on tap. I’m in the mood for a good beer.” He cast a smirk toward Booker, who only rolled his eyes. “What do you want, Hadley?”
“I don’t want that.” I made a dismissive gesture toward the grasshopper. “Can I have a piña colada with extra cherries?”
“That sounds girlie and light.” Lilac’s gaze was shrewd as it bounced between Galen and me. “What’s up with you two? You’re acting extra ... what’s the word I’m looking for?”
“Annoying,” Booker volunteered.
“I was going to say glittery.” Lilac shot the morose cupid a dirty look. “Don’t rain on their parade just because your mother is the devil ... and make no mistake, your mother is the devil.”
Booker nodded and took another swig. “You’re preaching to the choir, sister.”
Galen’s hand moved to the back of my neck, where he started tracing light circles. The movement wasn’t lost on Lilac. She was scatterbrained at times — a trait I loved about her — but she picked up on emotions better than most.
“Seriously, what’s going on? If you hadn’t just ordered a drink, Hadley, I would’ve assumed you were pregnant from the way you’re looking at one another. I ... oh, I get it.” Realization dawned on her pretty features. “You guys finally dropped the L-bomb on each other, didn’t you?”
I ducked my head and focused on my water so as not to give it away. I didn’t want her squealing and making a scene. Galen, on the other hand, merely smiled.
“We might have,” he confirmed. “You can hear all about it when these cupids are out of town. Hadley can spend the entire afternoon in here reenacting the scene for you. Until then, it’s nobody else’s business.”
“Oh, you guys are adorable.”
Across from us, Booker’s face twisted as he tried to figure out what was happening. “What’s the L-bomb? Is that a sex game? I’ve never heard of it. It must be a Michigan thing ... but that wouldn’t explain how Lilac knows about it.”
Lilac flicked his ear hard enough to make him wince. “They told each other they loved each other, doofus. Don’t give them grief about it.” When she turned back to me she was beaming. “I’ll put your order in and get your drinks. As for the gossip session, I’m looking forward to it ... just as soon as the devil and her minions leave.” Her gaze was dark as she swept past Judy’s table.
“Lilac doesn’t seem to like your mother,” I noted to Booker once she was gone. “Maybe you should ask your mother to be nicer to her. Oh, and tip better. Apparently cupids are cheap.”
“Please. If my mother listened to me she never would’ve insisted on bringing the conference back to the island. I told her it was a bad idea, but would she listen? She just wanted to exert her power for the vote.”
“What vote?”
“Yeah, what vote?” Galen suddenly looked interested in the conversation. “She never mentioned anything about a vote to me.”
“You’re not part of her inner circle.” Now it was Booker’s turn to look smug. “She’s running for the presidency.”
“Not of the United States?” I asked.
“No, of the cupid council. It’s a big deal. The man who held the title for twenty-five years died a few months ago. All the other members of the council are jockeying for the position.”
“Does that mean she would have a lot of power?” Galen asked.
“That’s the most powerful position for a cupid. Once elected, you keep the job until you die. Back in the day, there was a lot of murder for gain when it came to becoming president. It doesn’t happen quite as much now, but my mother still threw a party when Hank died.”
“Nice.” I ha
ppily sipped the drink Lilac delivered and considered the new information as she settled next to Booker. She looked worn out, which made me feel guilty. “Is Booker’s mother running you ragged?”
Lilac shrugged. “They’ve been in here every day since they landed. It’s beyond annoying. She’s basically taken over. However, there was a bit of intrigue this afternoon when Darlene Metcalf — that would be the second devil on the other side of the bar — decided she was going to take up residence, too. Now I have two groups, and they’re constantly going at each other.”
I followed her gaze and frowned. I hadn’t even noticed Darlene upon entry. So much for my well-honed observation skills. “Have they been throwing punches or just sniping at one another?”
“Just sniping so far. Once they get really drunk in two hours, I figure that’s when the punches will start flying fast and furious.”
“I hope not.” Galen was grim. “I don’t want to spend the night arresting cupids. I have other plans.”
My cheeks burned at the gaze he leveled on me, and Booker mimed vomiting.
“I hope this phase doesn’t last long,” Booker complained. “You guys were barely tolerable before you dropped the L-bomb. That’s a weird way to put it, by the way, but I like it better than my other options.”
“I think they’re cute.” Lilac leaned back in her seat and briefly shut her eyes. “When is this conference over again?”
“Several more days,” Booker replied. He looked equally exhausted. “The vote for council president isn’t until the last day. These two are just getting wound up.” He craned his neck so he could see Darlene better. “When did her son show up?”
I followed his gaze. “Which one is her son?”
“The guy in his thirties with the receding hairline.”
I picked him out right away. “He looks ... kind of boring.”
“Not everyone can be as exciting as me, honey,” Galen teased.
“Don’t verbally copulate in front of me,” Booker complained. “I can take only so much, and I’m at my limit.”
Galen ignored him. “You know, now that you mention it, the son wasn’t with her the night she arrived. How else would he have gotten here?”
“He could’ve been on the plane that landed earlier today,” Booker noted.
“What plane?” I was out of the loop. “I thought nothing was landing or taking off so the incubus couldn’t get away.”
“A plane landed.” Galen was thoughtful. “It was unscheduled. It’s not leaving again until after the conference. I checked to be sure. I should probably give it a good search, just to make sure nobody is hiding. That can wait until tomorrow.”
“Is there something wrong with Darlene’s son?” I asked. “Other than the obvious, I mean.”
Booker made a derisive sound in the back of his throat. “Darlene has six sons. Byron over there is the youngest. We were pitted against each other quite often in competitions when we were growing up.”
“Did you beat him?” Galen asked.
“Most of the time.”
“You should’ve beat him all of the time. I mean ... look at that guy.”
I swatted Galen’s knee under the table. “Don’t be mean to him. It’s not his fault that his mother is the devil. Do you have any brothers, Booker? From the way it sounds, cupids have large families.”
“I have no full brothers or sisters. My mother had two daughters with her second husband and another daughter with her third husband. She was bitterly disappointed I was the only boy.”
I couldn’t imagine anyone being disappointed to have Booker as a son. “Are you sure you’re not exaggerating? Mothers are difficult. At least, that’s what I’ve heard. Maybe she doesn’t mean to drive you crazy the way she does.”
“Oh, she knows exactly what she’s doing.” Booker grimaced as he downed the rest of the grasshopper. “As for Byron, he’s a pain in the rear end but basically harmless. At least that’s the way I remember him.”
“I’m still checking that plane.” Galen was determined. “I’m not letting that incubus off this island.”
“I’ll help you look again tomorrow,” Booker offered. “He can’t hide forever.”
TWO HOURS LATER I WAS ready to call it a night. I had three drinks — instead of my promised one — and was having a good time. That didn’t mean I wanted to get sloppy and stay out until morning.
I was exiting the bathroom, every intention of collecting Galen and returning home for some romance prodding me to move faster, when I careened into a man who was trying to skirt around me to enter the men’s room.
“I’m so sorry.” He stumbled over his words as he grabbed my arms to make sure I didn’t go pinballing into the wall. “I didn’t see you there. I apologize.”
As I straightened I recognized the man who had managed to almost knock me to the floor. “You’re Byron Metcalf.” The words were out of my mouth before I could think better of them.
“I am.” He straightened and smoothed his shirt as he looked me up and down. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of making your acquaintance.”
“Hadley Hunter.” I stuck out my hand because it was the right thing to do.
He broke out in a wide smile as he took it. “Oh, I’ve heard about you. You’re the witch who is immune to our powers. You’re at the top of the gossip heap, my dear.”
The declaration made me uncomfortable. “Oh, well ... .” I didn’t know what to say.
“Don’t be shy.” His grin broadened. “You’re much prettier than the women are reporting. The men pegged you right, though.”
That was a weird thing to say “Um ... thanks?”
“You’re quite lovely.” His gaze lingered over my legs, which were bare thanks to the skirt. “I think it’s fate that we’ve met this way. I was hoping to track you down tomorrow. I’ve only just arrived, but meeting you was at the top of my to-do list. I guess I can put a big check next to it.”
Byron was hardly the first socially awkward person I’d ever met. I mostly felt sorry for these individuals and worked overtime to take up the conversational slack. Now I wanted to put as much distance between him and me as possible.
“I guess it’s lucky for both of us.” I attempted to edge around him. “I should get back to my party. It was nice meeting you.”
He cut me off before I could escape. “Oh, now, don’t be like that. We’re just getting to know one another.” He tried to slide his arm through mine, but I evaded the effort. “You should come with me to the other side of the bar. I’m sure my mother would love to meet you.”
“I’ve already met your mother ... and she’s not very fond of me.” That was an understatement. “Besides, I’m here with someone. I should probably get back to him.”
“I’m sure he can wait.”
“Not really.”
“Well, he’ll survive.” Byron was nothing if not persistent. “Now, come along. I insist we find a quiet table and get to know one another. What fun is destiny if you don’t embrace it?”
“Listen, I’m here with someone.” I was done being polite. “I don’t want to get to know anyone else. If you’ll excuse me, I must be going.” This time I was more forceful when I broke away from him. That didn’t stop him from giving chase.
“I’m not done with you yet.” He grabbed my arm to whip me around, but his grip on me released in an instant when Galen intercepted him. “What the ... ?”
“I believe she told you she was with someone,” Galen growled. “How would you like to talk over your destiny with me?”
Byron didn’t look like the idea appealed to him. I couldn’t blame him.
21
Twenty-One
Fury was etched into the lines of Galen’s face and, for a moment, I thought he might actually kill Byron Metcalf purely for the fun of it. An image of him twisting the man’s head off his body and tossing it across the room invaded my mind. I was pretty sure I didn’t come up with the image. That meant Galen did, and in an unguarded
moment he let me see his imagination at play.
Worried, I took a step forward and placed my hand on his wrist. “We should go.”
His eyes never left Byron’s face. “I’m not ready to leave yet.”
I pitched a terrified look in Booker’s direction and noted he was already trying to muscle between the two men. “Let him go,” he ordered, prying Galen’s hands from the front of Byron’s shirt. “He’s not worth it. Trust me.”
“I’m definitely not worth it.” Byron visibly swallowed, allowing a breath to escape when Galen reluctantly released him and stepped back. After a few seconds, Byron recovered enough to remember he was a haughty jerkwad of the highest order. He puffed out his chest and glared at Galen imperiously. “I’ll have you locked up for this. You can’t just put your hands on another person. That’s against the law.”
Galen reached out to grab him a second time, but Booker muscled him back. I got the distinct impression that Galen allowed it to happen, that if he and Booker were really going to go at one another it wouldn’t be this easy.
“He’s a prat,” Booker snapped. “He wants you to get worked up. Don’t feed into his nonsense.” He pinned Galen with a long look and then carefully released him to see what he would do.
For his part, Galen appeared calm. I felt the annoyance roiling under his skin, though, and it made me uneasy.
“I shouldn’t have suggested we come here,” I lamented. “It was a bad idea. I ruined everything tonight.”
Galen flicked his eyes to me and the anger instantly dissipated. “You didn’t ruin anything. This guy temporarily knocked us off track, but it’s going to be fine.” His fingers were gentle when they brushed my cheek. “It’s fine,” he repeated after a beat, probably more for himself than me. “Are you ready to get out of here?”
I was more than ready. I took a step in his direction, but the sound of Byron clearing his throat caused me to turn my eyes to him. “Don’t make things worse. You have no idea how lucky you already are.”
Apparently he was as dumb as he looked, because he didn’t heed my warning … and I felt something prodding my brain. It was like an annoying nudge, which made me realize he was trying to exert his cupid powers … and failing miserably. “I believe you and I were about to get to know one another, privately.” His eyes were heavy-lidded when they landed on Galen. “We don’t need a chaperone, so you can go.”
To Spell With It Page 19
