Page 48 of Bargains with Benefits
“I didn’t know you were coming.” She glanced pointedly at the table where Luna sat with Darius. There were no tears. Luna looked concerned, but that was to be expected. Maybe things were going better than anticipated.
I shrugged. “I wanted to be here if she needed me.”
Seraphina’s brow furrowed. “If she needed to tell you she failed? So you can decide not to write her recommendation?” Her hands moved to her hips as she continued. “Or if she needed you because she’s in tears, since you’re the one who made her confront the father who abandoned her?”
Her words stung, but they were no more than I deserved.
“I told Luna, and I’ll tell you, I didn’t know how bad herrelationship with Darius was when I asked.” I held up my hands at her skeptical look. “I knew it wasn’t great, but I had no idea…” I waved my hands in a general gesture of the mess Darius had created. “I tried to get her to drop it, but she wouldn’t even discuss it. So now I’m here to do what I can for a person I care about, who I put in a terrible position.”
Seraphina’s eyes were still narrowed in my general direction, but the words that came out of her mouth made me feel like I’d passed a test. “What can I get you?”
“A Solstice Sip, please.”
She shook her head. “Now you’re sucking up.”
I laughed. “I wouldn’t have recommended them if I didn’t think they were good.”
“You’re saying not all your recommendations are purchased with a bargain?”
“Not all.” I hedged, not wanting to relive the painful details to Seraphina. “Desperate times and all.”
“Fine,” Seraphina said, mixing the drink.
“How did you two meet?” I asked. Seraphina was awfully fond of Luna for a boss. She also seemed to know quite a bit about her.
“She ended up here her first day in town. People weren’t traveling, and business wasn’t good.” Seraphina shrugged. “We chatted all day. Luna is the most welcoming person I know, which is why it bothers me so much that someone has been anything less than welcoming to her.”
I nodded in understanding. “I get that.”
“This is the first time he’s come here, though,” Seraphina said almost to herself as she passed me my drink. “He only met her for moments at the inn when she arrived in town. He didn’t even take her to the cottage when she accepted. He let Byrd take care of it, a man who hated that anyone was there to watch him fail Cliff House.”
“Well, here’s to him being more welcoming and Luna deciding if she’ll accept it.”
Seraphina glared at me as I raised my glass. “Shehasto accept it to keep her deal with you.”
I sighed and took a drink. She wasn’t wrong. I’d tried to discuss breaking our agreement, but Luna hadn’t been interested. I didn’t know what to say to her. Part of me wanted to tell her to drop the whole thing. I’d still write the article if we could get the blood magic taken care of, but as Ambrose had said, the article wouldn’t help if there was magic driving people away from the inn. I didn’t need her to do this thing with Darius for the article. I could find another way or wait for another feature piece.
When had I become so protective of her? I’d been so incensed when I’d thought she was using me for the recommendation that I could admit I hadn’t cared what it would cost her to uphold her side of our bargain. But I’d known I’d misjudged her even before I gathered the courage to ask her about it. Luna wasn’t the type to so blatantly use people. The memory of her slipping her arm around me in the dress shop came to mind. All it had taken was a desperate plea from my sister, and Luna had feigned feelings for me to save my pride. I’d never met someone so genuinely interested in helping others, sometimes at the expense of herself.
I was glad she had someone like Seraphina looking out for her. Someone who helped keep her level while pushing her to take risks, like with the inn.
The light touch of a hand rested on my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts. “I wasn’t sure you’d make it,” Luna said.
I glanced at the table she’d been seated at with her father. He was gone.
“I told you I would.” I searched her gaze. She seemed alright, if a little dazed. I wanted to know everything they’d spoken of. I wanted to know everything about her life. Iswallowed. That was new. I’d been semi-aware that my feelings for Luna had shifted throughout this bargain, but I didn’t think I’d contemplated how drastically.
She smiled at me, and I knocked my glass backward, almost spilling it. Seraphina laughed to herself as she cleaned a glass behind the bar, a knowing look in her eye. I ran my hand through my hair, trying to gather my scattered thoughts. I still had no idea where Luna stood.
“I’m glad you did,” she said earnestly. “I need to talk to you.” Her face shifted. I wanted to say it was with embarrassment, but I couldn’t be sure.
“Do you want to sit?” I asked, offering her the stool.
“No, I’ll wait for another to open.” She shifted on her feet.
“You can have mine, Luna.” An older man sitting on my left stood.
“Thanks, Earl. You sure?”
