Page 41 of Bargains with Benefits
That couldn’t happen. No matter the complexities of my feelings for Vincent, I needed to save this inn. We’d come so far already. The only way I could keep him from canceling our bargain was to plow forward with Darius. I had to hold up my end, and then he’d have no choice but to continue.
I’d sent Darius a message the morning after seeing Vincent. I had yet to hear back, but that wasn’t abnormal. I didn’t expect an immediate response, or, at least, that is what I told myself. What would it be like if my father actually wanted to hear from me? Or spend time with me?
Well, it didn’t guarantee things would be better. I remembered how Vincent’s parents had approached our table at the restaurant. The entitled way they’d claimed his time and attempted to dictate his actions. He’d fought them off the best he could, but still. It was clear they treasured him in their own way. Maybe more like a precious stone to look at and value instead of a living, breathing fae with his own thoughts and opinions, but...it was something. They had their own ideas and requirements for what his life should look like. I wasn’t sure that was any better than my father completely ignoring me.
I pressed my palms into the dough again with more force.
When a knock on the door sounded, I silently thanked the gods for distracting me from the thoughts of Vincent and our bargain. “Come in!”
Evelyn entered, balancing a stack of books precariously in one arm. A folded piece of paper lay across the top. I reached to help her but my hands were still covered in sticky dough.
“Sorry, Evelyn, I can’t help you at the moment.”
Evelyn grunted. “I saw this on the inn’s doorstep, so I grabbed it.” She set the folded paper on the counter. “The rest are mine.” She gestured to the stack of books. “We have a good starting point for opening that door.”
I hadn’t seen Evelyn much in the last week, given I wasn’t working at the tavern often. Seraphina, the friend she was, hadn’t given me shifts, knowing I had things to do for the inn. That hadn’t stopped Evelyn from reporting on her progress. She’d sent me her notes on the magic after I stopped by the tavern; it was a treatise I could only understand every other word of, but Evelyn was its author. I’d known she was brilliant, but I couldn’t believe she’d been hiding such a big part of her life from us. She seemed obsessed with solving this problem. It was as if the magic sealing the door personally offended her.
Rinsing my hands, I toweled them dry and grabbed the note. My breath came up short. It was from Darius. I broke the seal and read it.
“He wants to meet for the evening meal.” I coughed. “At Parkview Tavern.” My eyes continued skimming the page. “Tomorrow.”
Evelyn stepped closer to read over my shoulder. “That was quick. What did you say to him?”
“I said I wanted to report the inn’s progress. I also told him I had a favor to ask.” I flipped the page over to see if he’d written on the other side. “He didn’t even ask about the favor. Or the inn.”
Evelyn’s hands went to her hips. “Well, at least if you meet him at the tavern, Seraphina and I will be there if it goes to shit.”
I laughed. “Yes, that will help.”
It was still strange. Even the fact that Parkview Tavern was where he wanted to meet. I’d expected Darius to be more like Vincent’s parents. It wouldn’t have surprised me if he’dsuggested the same restaurant Vincent had taken me to. Just as quickly, another unwanted thought jumped in.Maybe he doesn’t want to be seen with you there by anyone important, anyone he knows.
Honestly, I wished I didn’t always think the worst of him. I wished there was some place in the middle where we could meet. I’d love to believe he’d invited me to the tavern because he knew I was comfortable there, but that would require him to know anything about my life—which he didn’t. I sighed.
“Are you going to accept?” Evelyn asked.
“Yes, of course. This is part of the deal with Vincent. For him to write the article, I must get him into Pierce House.”
Evelyn looked like she’d say something but shook her head instead. “Have you decided on the favor that will get you and Vincent invited to the house?”
I hadn’t. I really should have come up with something in my original note to Darius, but another small part of me had wanted to see if he’d respond if there was nothing in it for him. He had, which I guessed was to his credit. I wasn’t great at lying. I’d need something close to the truth, or he’d never believe it. At least I had until tomorrow to workshop ideas.
“You could tell him you want to see Pierce House?” she offered.
“I’m not sure that’s enough. He’s never offered to show it to me before. Why would he now?”
Evelyn’s gaze darted between me and the letter. “He’s never offered to meet for a meal before, either, until you asked to speak with him. Maybe that’s the difference.”
“Me asking?” I had said this to Seraphina weeks ago, but I was still surprised Evelyn mentioned it. I’d never asked Darius for anything. Maybe he’d been waiting for me to do so. I shook my head. “I don’t think he cares what I want. He didn’t care when I was a child and had no magic. Nothing has changed.” My words were too harsh for Evelyn. This hadnothing to do with her. “Sorry.” I brushed my hair back from my face.
She smiled. “It’s fine. You know him better than I. Do you want to walk over to the inn and test some of what I’ve found?”
“Yes, that’d be great. Let me bring this.” I picked up the bowl where my dough was resting. My instincts told me I’d soon have more emotions to work out on it.
We entered the inn,and I headed to the small kitchen while Evelyn went upstairs. Rolling the dough into twist shapes didn’t work out the same energy as kneading, but it was soothing nonetheless. These pastries were my favorite, perfect for adding a little sugar and cinnamon. As I finished and slid them in the oven, a knock sounded at the door.
I opened it to find Vincent and…someone else.
“Hi, Luna,” Vincent said. “I hope we’re not imposing. This is my friend, Ambrose. He might know something about the magic on your locked door.”
