Page 27 of Cordelia Manor
Evan smiled even though the crease between his eyes remained, showing he was definitely not very comfortable with this conversation. I decided to step in to take some of the heat off him.
“So, Al and the coven went over to the manor and purified it this afternoon, did some boundary work, and set some charms and spells around the place. Do you think it’s safe for Evan to return?” I asked.
Drew nodded. “Yes, with the protection you have from your ancestor and the others,” he said, looking at Evan again, “…as well as the work the coven has done, I imagine that spirit is fairly well-contained for now. But I wouldn’t go back into that basement. Not until it’s clear how you can counteract the negativity.”
“Don’t worry,” Evan said. “I have no interest in ever going back in that basement again. Once was enough for a lifetime.”
Drew chuckled. “I’m sure. And if you need us, we will gladly come help.” Lance kissed Drew on top of his head, causing him to smile up at his husband. “Well, with that, I think we all need to hit the road. Lance, you’re the designated driver,” he said before standing up.
We shook everyone’s hand again, helped them discard all the trash from the cheesecake, and followed them out.
Once we’d said our goodbyes, I drove Evan back to The Pink Palace. “You have my number, so text me when you get up tomorrow and I’ll come and get you.”
Evan nodded. “I-I’m not quite ready to move back to the manor, but I would like to explore it a bit more, so yeah, thanks.”
“No problem, and you know you’re welcome to use my place as a sort of headquarters while you work things out. It’s safe there and not one spirit in sight.”
“Just a little possession.”
I cringed. “Sorry, yeah, but he won’t be able to do that again, I promise. Besides, none of us are going back into the basement anytime soon, so that should keep him well-secured. You should be fine either way.”
Evan smiled at me. “I hope so because I’m thinking about turning the manor back into a hotel, or at least reopening the restaurant. If I can get the funds together, that is.”
I winked at him. “I have no doubt you can.”
We arrived at The Pink Palace, and before he got out, he said, “Thanks, Cary, for this good day. I needed it.”
I reached over and put my hand on his. “It was a good day for me too.”
Evan hesitated, then almost as if he saidfuck itin his own mind, he leaned over and kissed me. Chaste, but still a kiss. “Night,” he whispered, then jumped out of the car.
I watched him sprint up the stairs to his hotel room, and just before he disappeared inside, he glanced back toward me and smiled. Yeah, it really was a good day.
23
Evan
Icautiously followed Aland Cary into the manor, still feeling trepidation, but thankful to have two people with me. The fact they were both witches made me a little more confident the nasty fucker wouldn’t come at me again.
We walked through the entire place, from floor to floor and room to room, and all seemed calm. The only thing that felt off, even to me, was the basement door. “Don’t go down there,” Al cautioned. “Don’t even approach the door.”
“Trust me, not a worry!” I replied.
We walked back out of the kitchen and sat at one of the tables in the dining room. ““So, what’re your plans for this place?” Al asked, gesturing around the room.
I shrugged and sighed. “Well, I’d like to reopen the restaurant, but it won’t be cheap to get it back up and running. I went over the costs last night, but I don’t have the funds to do it on my own. Maybe if I got a loan—” I stopped and blushed. “Sorry, I could go on and on about all this. You probably don’t want my sob story, though.”
Al smiled and winked. “What if I knew someone who’d make the perfect partner?”
I sat up a little straighter. “I would be interested, but it has to be someone who knows the restaurant business. I’ve worked in a few and know margins are slim, even among the most successful places. But yeah, I would like to talk to them.”
I almost bit my tongue to stop talking. I’d thought about that myself, but not all partnerships were worth it. I couldn’t imagine how screwed I’d be if I agreed to work with someone only to have it go sour, like with my fucking ex.
But I also knew I wasn’t likely to get a loan on my own, and I didn’t have experience running my own business. I knew how to run a restaurant, but… jeez, I was rambling in my own head now.
I looked to Al, who was still smiling at me. “Who do you have in mind?” I asked.
“Let me talk to her first. If she agrees, I’ll get the two of you together.”
