Page 70 of Welcome to Fae Cafe

“What? No, Kate, command him to leave! We need to talk about all this!” Lily said.

But Kate nodded toward Shayne. “You didn’t want to be here alone, and now you’ve got us. And I guess this means you believe me now,” she pointed out. Lily’s mouth parted, but she seemed to have no comeback for that.

A new song came through the static speakers, and Shayne extended a hand to Lily to seal the deal. He wiggled his fingers when she didn’t take it. Finally, Lily raised her hand and Shayne snatched it, lacing their fingers together so she couldn’t change her mind.

“Make sure Lily has fun,” Kate said to Shayne.

“Yes, Human.” Shayne escorted a stricken-faced Lily to the dance floor where other couples were swaying. He twirled her into his embrace, and they blended right in, taking up the spotlight in the middle.

Kate glanced warily at Connor, still gaping beside her. She thought about escaping to find a drink. Someone carried out a punch bowl right on cue, and she turned for the refreshments table.

The chandelier of gold balloons swayed when the lobby door opened again, and Kate’s gaze darted back to it, hoping to see a pair of well-dressed fae. But only Officer Westbow came in. Kate brushed her bangs down over her face so he wouldn’t recognize her, though she doubted he’d miss the unmistakeable colour of her hair. She was a breath away from darting for the washrooms to hide when Connor drifted to her side with his finger tapping his glass.

“I know I didn’t just imagine all that,” he remarked, staring down the white-haired fae spinning Lily and dazzling the other couples on the dance floor.

“Those guys are just actors I hired, so let them be,” Kate said.

Connor released a doubtful grunt and sipped his drink. After a moment, he set it down and grabbed Kate’s arm, pulling her to the dance floor. The jerky motion caught Shayne’s eye from where he hugged Lily to himself.

Connor tugged Kate until they stood below the balloon chandelier. She thought about coming up with an excuse to not dance—broken ankle, feeling sick, allergic to idiots—but she reluctantly settled in when she caught a sympathetic look from Lily.

“Allow me to tell you a joke, Human,” Shayne said loudly to Lily, turning heads. The fae’s attention dropped to where Connor’s hands locked behind Kate’s waist.

“Of all the ugly humans in this room,thatone”—Shayne nodded toward Connor’s back, and Connor craned his neck like he knew he was being talked about—“is the most repulsive one of all. Though, I suppose that’s not really a joke, is it?”

Connor stopped dancing.

Kate’s lips peeled apart.

After a moment, Lily’s laughter erupted across the dance floor.

Shayne could have left after he got what he wanted, but he didn’t. He became a marvelous date to Lily for the entire evening. He made people laugh all night, and he became so popular among Lily’s coworkers that they tried pressuring her into bringing him to next week’s bake sale at the station.

Kate told Shayne to walk Lily home afterward, even though Lily insisted she was fine and reminded her that she carried a gun for a living. Even so, Shayne ripped off his shoes with a dramatic flair and ushered Lily off toward her apartment in his bare feet.

Apart from the night traffic, Toronto was fast asleep. Only the heavy moon and the chugging boats in the distance kept Kate company as she wandered the docks by the lake. She imagined Mor would be brewing decaf lattes back at the café for some late-night reading time to cool Dranian’s temper.

She realized she was smiling. Maybe Kate was crazy to try and get them to fit into regular human life. The fae had completely destroyed book club, but they’d also unpacked everything at the café, got the fireplace running, and had put up signs in the windows to announce the opening tomorrow morning. Even moody Dranian spent the last days studying drink combinations in preparation for the big event, and Kate had caught him in the back sneaking tastes of whipped cream and humming to himself as he put together the menu.

“Aren’t you cold?” Connor’s voice cut into her thoughts.

Kate glanced toward the road that would take her home before she answered. “Yeah.” Suddenly the docks felt less peaceful.

The sound of Connor shucking his coat filled the cool night air. Kate sighed and walked down the dock before he could try offering it to her.

“Wait up!” Connor took her arm and whirled her back. “Are you trying to get away from me or something?” He threw his jacket over Kate’s shoulders and held the flaps tight together at her front, turning it into a straight jacket. He didn’t look like he was in a rush to let go.

“It’s weird that we’ve known each other as long as we have and you still don’t seem to catch on when I try to avoid you,” Kate said, glaring down at his coat prison.

Connor grunted. “Remember your place,Kate Kole. Remember that I know who you really are.”

Kate worked her jaw, wishing she’d gone home with Lily and Shayne. Wondering why on earth she’d felt like going for a walk in the middle of the night. “How could I forget when you remind me every time you want something?” She couldn’t even look at him right now. She settled her gaze on the distant boats glowing against the dark water.

But Connor shoved her face back toward him with his thumb, and Kate winced at his breath that smelled like chewed appetizers and a compulsive need to assert dominance at inappropriate times.

“You’re right, I do want something. I always have, Kate, and maybe I’m feeling brave enough tonight to ask for it.” His gaze dropped to her mouth, and he took in a fast, deep breath.

“Oh, for the love of—pleasedon’t—”

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