Page 29 of Power Shift
“Nope. I’m happy with the way things are. It’s fall. He gets two events per year. Hopefully, he’ll write the rest of the year off and start things up next year.”
“I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Ash said.
“Especially since one of the Keep vehicles just pulled up.” Tess pointed to the window as a dark SUV pulled into the front parking spot.
All of us spun toward the door at the same time.
My shoulders fell in relief as Simone stepped out. But that relief was short-lived when the driver’s side door opened, and Caelan stepped out.
“Here we go,” Moira murmured.
“Hush. Let’s plan on a normal visit,” I hissed as I reached toward one of the vines and had it reach over to unlock the door.
All three of my friends started laughing.
Chapter
Seven
Caelan was a river when he walked, everyone parting around him without a conscious thought. Tourists crowded the walkways early today. Joy Springs was popular all throughout the year, but autumn brought more visitors than normal. The town was a popular hotspot for fall color, relatively rare in Texas.
He held the door open for Simone, the Omega breezing inside holding her ever-trusty clipboard. She smiled when she saw me, but the gesture didn’t reach her eyes. Whatever they were here for, it wasn’t an event.
Caelan came in after her, and the store felt two sizes too small. All the plants became alert, sensing a threat in their midst. I sent out a calming pulse of magic. The Shifter Lord might be a lot of things, but he wasn’t destructive without cause, and he had a soft spot for plants.
His eyes locked on me, heat swirling in the stormy depths of his eyes. I swallowed hard, squashing the internal thrill I felt at his possessive behavior.
“Good morning. How can I help you today?” I offered a polite smile.
Simone laughed. “It’s way too early to act so weird, Evie.” She set her clipboard down on the register desk and fumbled through her purse for a pen. “We’re here to schedule you again.”
Moira coughed to cover a laugh.
“The Shifter Lord is becoming a regular social butterfly,” I observed dryly. “If this is short notice, different rates will apply.”
Simone rolled her eyes. “Caelan will pay whatever is required.”
“Caelan also owes us a check from the last event,” Moira said.
“I wired it to your business account this morning.” Simone’s attention rested on the Lord. “Caelan? Care to tell Evie what you want since you were reticent to discuss it with me?”
Her acerbic tone did enough to tell me how annoyed she was with the Lord.
But Caelan’s gaze rested on my worktable, where an unfinished boutonniere sat. I’d started messing with a new design earlier that morning before remembering I had to finish up Hattie’s arrangement.
This one was missing any sentient plants, but I’d embedded poisonous belladonna and a perfect, purple berry into the design. He stepped forward and leaned over the table to study it.
“If this one bites, I might think you’re subtly wooing me,” Caelan mused, reaching out a finger to touch it.
I slapped his hand away. Simone sucked in a breath. “Poisonous,” I snapped. “Extremely deadly. Don’t touch and don’t get too close.”
Caelan straightened, a furrow on his brow. “Why would you create something like that?”
I shrugged. “I’m immune and can deactivate the toxins in plants.” A grin touched my lips. “If I want to.”
Simone rolled her eyes and tapped her clipboard with her pen.
“Deadly and beautiful,” Caelan said. “Just like a Floromancer I know.”
