Page 25 of The Mating Magic
Still a fast eater, as if the dog feared the food would be taken away from him. Always, it twisted Lacey’s heart. Maybe someday Lucky would eat slowly, realizing the food would be there, no matterwhat.
“Why do you helphim?”
The wizard didn’t seem threatening. Still, Lacey chose her words carefully. She stroked the dog’s head, and he looked up, wagging his tail.Progress.
“Because someone needs to. The poor thing has been abandoned and mistreated, and needs a little love. Doesn’teveryone?”
For a moment Drust said nothing. Then he nodded. “Yes,” he murmured. “Theydo.”
Never had she seen this quiet, reflective side of the wizard, only the forbidding and stern Drust. Her usual confidence fled. Lacey stood, twisted her hands, unsure what to do withthem.
“I have an affinity for stray dogs,” she said, not meeting hisgaze.
“Ah yes. Tristan would approve of that, being a stray doghimself.”
A small ball of energy suddenly sailed through the air toward Drust. He leaned and the ball smashed into a tower of glass herb jars. Drust rolled his eyes and flicked a hand, repairing the brokenjars.
Lacey didn’t know what to think aboutthat.
As she set out fresh water for the dog, she kept stealing glances at the wizard, who seemed content to sit on the empty counter and look around. Drust might have seemed imposing and formidable, but when relaxed, he was quite cute. No, not a good word. Distinguished and handsome. With his ebony hair, close-trimmed black beard and mustache, classic cheekbones and strong jaw, he was good-looking but those steely blue-gray eyes seared straight to yoursoul…
He was lean and tall, but in that outfit hard to tell. Her thoughts drifted to imagining him clad in simple chinos, a black V-neck T-shirt, and barefeet.
No, not bare feet, perhaps hiking boots, and a stick in hand as he climbed up a steep path, whistling atune.
Lucky at his side, clambering up the rocks and barking at squirrels, while she led the way, carrying a backpack for their picnic at thesummit…
Lacey shook off the image, silently laughing at herself. Chase was still out there, perhaps endangering Others or Skins, maybe even her sister. And she was daydreaming about a date withDrust?
Drust caught her glance and gave a knowing smile. A flush suffused Lacey’s face. Dear goddess, he was a powerful immortal and probably could read herthoughts.
Lacey headed back into the front room of the store and began rummaging through the supplies of herbs for the dried water lilies. Mom had meticulously arranged each jar in alphabetical order, but after her death, Lacey put the more popular herbs up front for customers and categorized everything according toneed.
It helped in sales, but not at a time like this when she was in a rush and had an inquisitive wizard in hershop.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Drust stroll alongside the shelves, hands behind his back. Lucky had abandoned his food to walk with the immortal, tongue lolling, tail wagging, as if the damn dog belonged toDrust.
So much for food issues…andloyalty.
Water lilies, water lilies. Did she place them with the flowers or with the waterplants?
This is worse than going into my grocery store after they’ve rearranged all the aisles and I end up in the toilet paper aisle when all I want is a bag ofsugar.
Drust made her nervous. He didn’t state why he was here, and that made her even more uneasy. Maybe he planned to turn her into something she sold in one of thosejars…
Finally, she whirled and faced him. “Okay, tell me. Why are you here? It isn’t because you need to purchase herbs or you harbor a fondness for straydogs.”
Picking up a jar labeled TOADSTOOL NIGHTSHADE, he studied it. “I am waiting for you to tell me the truth of why you are here in your shop, Lacey McGuire, when you claimed the Bloodmoon flower potion is at yourhome.”
Blood drained from her face and her stomach gave a sickening lurch. Caught. No use summoning excuses or stammering out explanations. Ohwell.
Here goes. If I get turned into toad fodder, sorry Evie. Good thing I updated my will and left you the house, ratty as it is, and theshop.
First, a little protectivemeasure…
“I’ll tell you if you put down the toadstools. They’re poisonous todragons.”
As he raised a brow, but set down the jar, she added, “And if you promise nothing will happen toEvie.”
