Page 49 of Daddy's Friend’s Mate

“And it doesn’t work like that.”

He snorted. “But you dried my clothes. You reinforced a chair so it wouldn’t break under my weight. You used a spell to hide my appearance.”

“Yes, and those were trade deals I’ve already made with the universe. Every spell comes with a price, and sometimes that price comes later at a greater cost than the initial purchase.”

“Sounds…interesting.”

I laughed. “It’s just a basic law of exchange. When I dried your clothes, I used the wind to help me and gave the water to the sky. When I hid your appearance, I temporarily gave up some of my ability to sense things.”

“I think I get it now.”

“To fix your truck, I would have to sacrifice something pretty big. Spark plugs aren’t hard to replace, so I don’t see why I need to do that instantly.”

He nodded. “But if we were in enemy territory?”

“Oh, I would do it in a heartbeat. You bet. Or I would find a cheaper way to escape. Context is important for me.”

He smiled while giving my thigh another firm squeeze. “It’s important for me too.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” I looked down at his hand, resting mine over it like it belonged there. Maybe it did belong there. “That’s why it was so important to return the amulet. To balance everything back out. Maybe I’ll actually have some luck in the future.”

“You never know, darling,” he said in a low voice, “your luck could already be turning around right now.”

I hoped he meant that. I hoped it with my whole heart.

Chapter 15 - Eric

Part of me was a little too excited when Gill returned to tell us that the spark plugs would take most of the day to get done. Without much hesitation or questioning, Regina accepted our fate for the day and went about rebooking the cottage that had served well to house us.

A brief chat with Gill revealed they were out of the correct plugs for the truck I drove, so they had to order from the next town over. Dill would do the drive without an extra charge, and then they would expedite the repairs. Though much of the explanation stuck, I wasn’t as worried about the reasoning as I was about Regina.

And all the time I was about to spend with her uninterrupted.

We caught a taxi back to the cottage as soon as the rebooking details were hashed out. By the time we walked through the door, it was time for lunch, and my stomach was gurgling up a storm. Regina chuckled as she swayed past me.

I caught her arm before she could get to the kitchenette. “I have to admit something, GG.”

“Yeah?”

I studied her eyes, the way the gray sparkled like stony diamonds, entrancing me for a moment. “Yeah.”

“And what is it?”

“I…” I licked my lips. Was it right to do this right now? Was it right to want her? Fuck it. “I was hoping we could stay here. I was…looking for a reason.”

Her eyebrows shot into the air. “Did you ruin your own spark plugs?”

I shook my head. “Goddess, no. But I considered something like it. I just want more time with you.” I took her hand and held it up to my cheek. “I like being around you, and I don’t know why.”

“Yeah?”

Serene sensations trickled from her fingers to my cheek. Everything that came to the surface felt like the right thing. I released my remaining inhibitions and leaned into her touch, exploring the dynamic feeling of focusing on her presence. The scent of clove and ginger tingled inside my nose.

I loved that scent. I wanted to be around it more.

“Maybe we should try,” I suggested, “like the alphas said.”

She released a long sigh. “Maybe we should.”

---