Blonde With a Wand

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “Risky business. Anyone could walk through that door.”

  As if to prove her point, the door opened and Edna Shoumatoff came in wearing her quilted coat and her Cossack hat. She carried a burger bag in one hand.

  She stiffened when she saw Anica. “I would ask if you’ve had that tomcat fixed, but I’m afraid to find out the answer.” She glanced sideways at Jasper. “She has a tomcat and refuses to neuter him. Irresponsible, if you ask me.”

  Jasper gazed at the woman who had nearly had him castrated. He didn’t think an operation so final would have been reversed when he changed back. This woman in the Cossack hat had almost ruined his life. His parents’ lives, too, for that matter. They hoped he’d eventually give them grandchildren.

  “I know about this cat,” Jasper said. “He has issues, and now would be a really bad time for him to go under the knife.”

  “There is no bad time for that to happen. If nothing’s been done, I hope the two of you are keeping watch over him day and night.”

  Anica cleared her throat. “Miss Shoumatoff, I can promise you that someone has an eye on him every minute.”

  “As long as he still has his balls, anything’s possible. But I can see you won’t be budged on the matter. You might introduce me to your friend, Anica.”

  “I’m sorry. This is Jasper Danes. Jasper, this is my neighbor Edna Shoumatoff.”

  “Jasper?” Shoumatoff narrowed her eyes. “Wasn’t that the name of your cat?”

  “One of life’s little coincidences,” Jasper said. “Nice meeting you, Miss Shoumatoff.”

  “Something fishy’s going on. I can smell it. I suppose you’ve heard the rumor that there’s a witch living in the building.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” Anica took hold of Jasper’s arm. “We’d better get going, Jasper. The cab just pulled up outside.”

  “You’re right. Let’s go.” Jasper was more than happy to get away from Shoumatoff, but when he stepped out onto the sidewalk he had the strangest thought. How many stray cats are out here, afraid and alone?

  He’d expected to be worried about himself and his reactions as he moved back into the stream of humanity bustling along the sidewalk outside Anica’s apartment. Instead he was worried about cats. He glanced around, as if expecting them to run out from their hiding places.

  None did, and he wasn’t sure what he would do if that ever happened. He held the cab door for Anica and climbed in after her with a sense of relief. No doubt about it. He might regain his human form, but he would never again be the same person.

  Chapter 24

  Anica held Jasper’s hand through the silent cab ride to Rush Street. She could feel the tension running through him, and he spent most of his time looking out the window as if seeing Chicago for the first time.

  When they were almost at the bar, he turned to her. “It’s like waking up from a dream.”

  “I’ll bet.” At least he hadn’t said waking up from a nightmare. She hoped that some of his experiences had been good ones. Some of hers certainly had been. “Are you doing okay?”

  “Yeah, but it’s very weird.” He returned his attention to the view out the window. “Before I used to notice the buildings. Now I notice the alleys and the spaces between the buildings, places a cat might hide.”

  “I know. I found Orion just wandering around one night. If you can believe it, he was skinny then. I’m sure I overfed him because I felt so sorry for him.”

  Jasper glanced at her and smiled. “Me, too. I’m a bad influence. Listen, I’ve been thinking he needs another cat around.”

  “You mean later, after you—”

  “Right. Obviously not now. Later. Orion could use the exercise. He loves it when I play chase with him.”

  “I’m sure he does. I’ll definitely think about getting another cat. You’re probably right that it would be a good thing.” The cab pulled up to the curb and Anica glanced out her window at the bar with the large neon cauldron over the door. She started to get money out of her wallet.

  Jasper put a hand over hers. “Nope. My treat. I’m the one who wanted the cab instead of the bus.” He handed money through the window separating the backseat and the front. “Keep the change.”

  “Appreciate it,” the driver said. “You folks have a nice night.”

  Anica hoped it would be. She could still feel a certain amount of tension in Jasper as they left the relative intimacy of the cab and stood on the sidewalk outside the bar.

  She turned to him. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  She didn’t think he was completely fine, but who would be if he’d spent most of the past few days as a cat? “I’ve never mentioned this,” she said, “but I like the fact that you’re a generous tipper.”

  “I remember what it’s like to depend on those tips. Now it’s even more important that I tip big. I’m on a mission to do a bunch of good deeds.”

  “That’s true.” Anica had a thought and it might make Jasper less nervous if he had a goal in mind. “I might have a good deed you could do.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Lily’s developed a crush on one of her customers, a guy named Griffin Taylor. But he doesn’t seem to notice her. I don’t know if he’ll be there or not, but he might be.”

  “I’m not sure how I could help that situation along.”

  “I’m not sure, either. I wanted you to be aware of it, though, in case something occurs to you.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. If the opportunity presents itself, say something nice about Lily, see what sort of reaction you get.” She could tell he wasn’t keen on this. “Or not. We’ll see how it goes.”

  “If I screw it up, that would make me pretty unpopular with your sister. I don’t want to be unpopular with your sister. I already have to worry about being unpopular with your parents.”

  She was encouraged by the fact he was worried about his standing with her family. That boded well for the future. “You know, we probably shouldn’t meddle in this deal with Griffin.” She started toward the door. “If it’s meant to be it’ll happen organically.”

  “Unless she casts a spell on him.”

  Anica whipped around to face him, her whole body quivering with anxiety. “She wouldn’t do that, not after seeing—”

  “Just kidding.”

  He didn’t look as if he’d been kidding. She’d bet he still wasn’t totally at ease with the magic issue. And she wasn’t totally convinced her sister wouldn’t consider trying out her magic on Griffin, either.

  “Come on,” Jasper said. “Let’s go see how your sister handles a martini shaker.”

  “Okay.”

  “And thanks.”

  “For what?”

  “Taking my mind off the possibility that I might suddenly turn into a cat again.”

  The inside of the Bubbling Cauldron was dark and filled with noise and laughter. What light there was had a red tinge to it. Jasper could see how a witch, especially one with Lily’s personality, would be happy working here.

  He missed his cat vision, which would have made the search for a vacant table a hundred times easier. As he scanned the room, he noted where the bathrooms were. If his calculations were wrong and he felt the change coming, he’d head for the john. He hoped to hell his calculations weren’t wrong.

  “I see a table.” Anica tugged him toward a far corner where a round table with two chairs sat empty.

  “Perfect.” Jasper had hoped for a spot out of the main flow of traffic. The noise seemed deafening after the relative quiet of Anica’s apartment. Had bars always been this loud?

  They’d barely had time to sit down before Lily came rushing over. “Hey!”

  “Hey, Lily!” Anica hopped up and hugged her sister.

  Jasper stood, too, and watched them. The hug seemed real, and not some loose, perfunctory embrace. The Revere sisters seemed to like each other better than Jasper remembered, and he wondered if the transformation
problem had brought them closer together.

  “So, this is Jasper,” Anica said.

  Lily thrust out a manicured hand. “It’s good to meet you. I mean, really meet you. I realize we’ve met before, but . . .”

  “I wasn’t myself at the time.” He shook her hand.

  She laughed. “Well put.” Her gaze swept over him. “How does it feel?”

  “Temporary,” Jasper said. “I think I have from six to six, but if I don’t, then—” He shrugged.

  “You’ve always had equal amounts of time on either side of midnight,” Lily said. “This shouldn’t be any different.”

  “Logically, you’re right. I suppose you have a policy about bringing animals in here, though. I’d hate to violate that.”

  Lily waved a dismissive hand. “It’s not gonna happen, but even if it did, we’d bill you as a new street act we invited in. Give people a few drinks, and they’ll believe most anything. Speaking of drinks, I need to get back. Why don’t you two sit at the bar, so we can talk?”

  Anica glanced over at Jasper. He decided to let her make the call.

  “I think we’re better off over here for now,” Anica said. “Jasper’s still getting his bearings.”

  “Oh. Well, that makes sense. What’ll you have? I’ll send a waitress over with your drinks.”

  “Sam Adams for me,” Jasper said. It hadn’t been his brand before, but now that it was associated with Anica and sex, it was his favorite.

  “Make that two,” Anica said.

  “Anything to eat? We have some simple pub grub.”

  “Onion rings?” Jasper suddenly had a taste for something fried within an inch of its life.

  “Sure.” Lily glanced at Anica. “Anything for you, toots?”

  “I’ll share his onion rings.” Anica leaned closer to Lily. “Is Griffin here tonight?”

  Lily blushed. Jasper hadn’t been around Lily much, but he was positive blushing wasn’t something she did very often.

  “He’s at the table closest to the bar,” Lily said. “That’s the spot he and his friends always take. He’s the one in the navy suit.”

  Jasper glanced over. The guy looked way too conservative for someone like Lily. His hair was cut very short—not quite a buzz cut, but close—and the designer suit was all business. Then the guy laughed, and Jasper could see how maybe Lily was attracted. Griffin had the kind of contagious laugh that said Let’s get this party started.

  Anica nodded. “He’s cute, Lil.”

  Jasper felt a pang of jealousy. He had no real claim on Anica, and yet he sure hated hearing her call some other guy cute. Maybe he needed to think about staking that claim if her comment mattered so much to him. Yes, maybe he should.

  Lily rolled her eyes. “Duh. You think I’d notice somebody who wasn’t? Anyway, trouble over there. Some woman from the law firm has decided to join their little happy hour gathering. I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit. Anyway, I have to get back. I’ll send someone over with your beer and onion rings.” With a wave Lily walked away.

  Jasper noticed she chose to walk past the table where Griffin was sitting. He glanced up and glanced quickly down again. Interesting.

  “He doesn’t want to look at her.” Anica sat down but she kept her attention on Griffin.

  “Oh, I think he wants to.” Jasper settled into his chair. “But he’s afraid to.”

  “Huh?” Anica stared at him. “Since when is a guy afraid to check out a woman? I thought it was the national pastime.”

  “It is, unless you’re worried about the consequences.”

  Anica’s eyes narrowed. “You think he’s married? Or engaged?”

  “Could be. Or he thinks Lily’s too hot to handle. I might have thought from that reaction that he’s shy, but nothing else about him comes across that way. What does she know about him?”

  “Other than that he floats her boat? Not much.”

  Jasper pushed back his chair. “Wish me luck. I’m going in.”

  “You are? I thought you didn’t want—”

  “I’m curious about the way he deliberately didn’t look at her. And for purposes of this maneuver, we’re going to be engaged, so Lily’s my future sister-in-law. That okay with you?”

  Anica’s jaw dropped. “I . . . um . . . sure.”

  He left her looking stunned but not horrified. Good. She wasn’t grossed out by the idea of an engagement.

  He was making this up as he went along, but if he was being honest, the idea of marriage had been hovering in the back of his mind ever since . . . ever since he’d met her. Maybe her remark that Griffin was cute had prompted him to concoct this particular cover story, but he thought the impulse went much deeper than that.

  Walking over to the table he cleared his throat. “Griffin? Griffin Taylor, is that you?”

  Griffin glanced up in surprise. “Yeah, I’m Griffin.” He peered more closely at Jasper. “But I don’t think—”

  “Jasper Danes. You probably don’t remember me. We worked out at the same gym for a while, but then I left and tried somewhere else.”

  “Mario’s?”

  Bingo. Jasper had pegged him for a guy who worked out and the gamble had paid off. “That’s the place. Anyway, I just wanted to say hello.”

  Griffin stood and held out his hand. “Good to see you, Jasper. Want to sit down and have a drink with us?”

  “Thanks, but I’m over there with my fiancée, Anica Revere.” He gestured toward the corner. On cue Anica waved.

  “Then go get her,” Griffin said with a grin. “Veterans of Mario’s torture chamber have to stick together. I left that hellhole, too. I’m over at Fit and Flexible now, just off Michigan Avenue. You should try it. Anyway, go get Anica. We’ll make room.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Jasper couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he made his way back to where Anica sat. “Come on. We’re invited to hang out with Griffin Taylor and friends.”

  “How did you do that?”

  Jasper started to tell her but then thought better of it. “I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me.”

  “What did you tell him besides the fiancée part?”

  “I implied that he and I had worked out at the same gym.” It wasn’t quite like the girlfriend-breakup story, but once again he’d played around with the truth. He waited for the ax to fall.

  “You’re a smooth operator, Jasper Danes.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck, not sure if she’d complimented him or condemned him with that remark.

  “Then again, I’m not in a position to point fingers.” Anica grimaced. “A really honest person would have immediately told her parents she’d turned her date into a cat.” She gazed up at him. “I’m hoping it all gets fixed before they come home, so I never have to tell them.”

  “I can understand that,” he said cautiously, not sure if he was out of the woods or not. “So . . . do you want to go over and meet Griffin Taylor?”

  She stood and picked up her coat and purse. “I’d love to. I’m sure finding out about Griffin counts as a good deed, even if you had to fib a little to set it up.”

  Relief flooded through him. “I have to admit the good-deed thing has me worried. I gave away all that money and only got seven hours for it. What will it take to get the other twelve?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe you have to do acts of service instead of just giving away money.”

  “Seems like it would have to be something really big.”

  “Maybe not.” She handed him his coat and linked her arm through his. “Let’s go get acquainted with Griffin, shall we?”

  An hour and two beers later, Anica excused herself from the table and walked over to the bar. Lily had been giving her questioning looks ever since Anica and Jasper had joined Griffin’s table. Anica thought Lily deserved to be put out of her misery.

  She leaned against the polished wooden bar. “I have info on your boy.”

  “How did you get chummy so fast? Does Jasper k
now him from somewhere?”

  “No, but he pretended to so he could find out more about the guy.”

  Lily stopped squirting seltzer into a glass and stared at Anica. “And he would be doing this . . . why?”

  “As a good deed. He’s paid for two rounds of drinks so far and has given free investment advice to anyone at the table who wants it. He’s living in Good Deed City right now. So, do you want to hear what we found out or not?”

  “I’m listening. I have to keep working, though. I’ve been watching you guys too much and I’m a few drinks behind.”

  “As you already know, Griffin’s a divorce lawyer. He also isn’t a big believer in happily ever after, which might be about the job, but not every divorce lawyer feels that way so I’m not sure if that’s where the attitude comes from.”

  “I don’t care about a happily ever after. I just want a happily right now in bed with that hottie.” Lily speared an olive and a pearl onion with a plastic toothpick before floating them in a martini glass.

  “Are you sure? Because when we were little, you were the one who always wanted to dress up like a bride.”

  Lily was silent for a few seconds. “Maybe I wouldn’t mind finding a guy like Griffin to marry.” She made a second martini and scooted both stemmed glasses across the bar toward a waiter who carted them off on a tray.

  “I’ll bet if I got him horizontal once, I could change his mind about marriage.”

  “Don’t count on it. He’s not your type, Lil. Too anal. Too conservative.”

  “I could fix that.”

  “Eventually you’d have to tell him you’re a witch.”

  “By then he’ll be so blissed out on good sex that he won’t care.”

  Anica sighed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Listen, Jasper’s doing all these minor good deeds, but I think he needs something major, something that will buy him a chunk of hours, maybe even the entire twelve. Any ideas?”

  “There’s the soup kitchen. It’s open twenty-four/ seven.”

  “Which soup kitchen? I’m sure there are several.”

  “Probably. This is the one I know about and it’s only a couple of blocks from here.” Lily set up two more glasses and began mixing some drink Anica didn’t recognize. “One of my customers is in charge of it and mentioned it so I’d have a place to send anyone who wanders in and needs a meal but doesn’t have money.”