Page 28 of Pixie Problems
“Yes?”
“Lose my number.”
“Sir, yes, sir!”I saluted the phone.
I just couldn’t help myself.
I grinned as Finn, mild mannered Finn, gave me another alpha growl and then hung up on me.
Rhys, who was standing behind me, laughed and rubbed my shoulder. I leaned into him a little, soaking up his star elf warmth and the comfort of his presence. I could feel his relief that this Hux event had been relatively minor, and that I hadn’t been hurt. Through his hands, I could feel his magic flowing like a live current under his skin, ready to be put into action. It made my skin tingle to stand this close to him when he had it activated. My arms got all goosebumpy and I turned my head and frowned at him. His lips smirked, but his eyes, his eyes were liquid pools of fire. I hazarded a guess that I wasn’t the only one feeling a pull between the two of us. I avoided his eyes, and just leaned back so I rested against his chest. It was easier that way.
A few of the guards were standing under Hux now, just in case he somehow managed to break free, and one of them went to the door he’d entered and made sure it was locked. The worker who’d forgotten to lock it looked both sheepish and horrified, and I bet he wouldn’t forget again. Not afterthislesson.
My gaze went back to Hux. This had been a really stupid move. What had he hoped to accomplish? Did he think I hadn’t let anyoneknowwhyI was here in Moonhaven Cove? Did he think I hadn’t made any friends here?
I stilled at that random thought.
Huh. Guess I had.
I turned back to Aren, still in the circle of Rhys’ arms. I didn’t think he was going to let me out of arm’s reach for the rest of the night. “Getting back to your problem, I think I have someone in mind for you. Are you sticking around for a bit?”
She shook her head, looking regretful. “I’ll be visiting a mortal city for a while as one of my last official duties for my queen. But I’ll be back by the end of winter!”
I tapped the bar. “Look me up when you’re back in town. I have someone I think you’ll at least like enough to make friends with. Who knows, maybe more will bloom from it?”
“My thanks, Dice,” she said, sliding her glass toward me. “I’d best be going. I have a long flight.”
“Catching the red-eye, huh?” I smirked. There was nothing worse than being crammed in with a bunch of cranky humans on an overnight or early morning flight.
She made a face. “Unfortunately. It was the only flight I could get a ticket for.” She clasped me on the shoulder in a friendly gesture. “I will visit you come end of winter, Dice.” She looked up at Hux. “The wood will hold him until the sheriff arrives. Have no fear.”
“Thanks again!”
She waved and exited The Laughing Elf. She didn’t stop to get any keys, so I assumed she was taking a Ryde or a taxi.
She left as Finn came in, looking all kinds of grumpy and tired. A friendly bouncer pointed his attention toward the ceiling, and I laughed when he looked up and his jaw dropped.
He seemed to decide he wanted to take his sweet time booking Hux, so he came up and parked it on a barstool. I passed him an ice water. He was on the job, after all. And it was only because I was a bit soft for him. He still had sleep creases on his face from his pillow, which I kinda found adorable. He just looked so utterly unlike a rough-and-tumble alpha in that moment that my gooey heart felt sorry for him.
Ihadpulled him out of bed, after all.
“Morning, Sheriff.”
“Is it?” he asked grumpily. “Not that I can tell.” He glared up at Hux as he took a sip.
“Not going to take him down and out of my club in a timely manner, Sheriff?” Rhys asked with a frown as he glanced around the club, which made me notice it too. A few of the customers looked uncomfortable at the racket that Hux was making, and they started making their way over to the side of the club to pick up their keys. I almost didn’t blame them. Hux was howling. Rhys glared at him, and then shot something at him that had the shape and form of a muzzle, only it sparkled and glowed silver-white. Hux yelped, but the muzzle worked perfectly and even I, with my above human average pixie hearing, couldn’t hear it as clearly.
Finn didn’t look amused at Rhys’ problem-solving skills, and he didn’t look worried that Rhys would blast a hole through him with the very potent star powers I felt roiling beneath his skin. “Most of your customers have gone back to their own business. It’s fine.”
“It’s notfineif I’m losing customers,” Rhys snarled.
“Think of him like a coyote pinata,” I said with a smirk, and Finn raised his glass to me with a suspicious twitch of his lips.
Yep, I was all kinds of funny tonight. It was almost a relief that Hux had made his opening gambit, and that it had been so completely idiotic. Now I could stop expecting him to be around every corner. I was sure that he’d get thrown in jail for at least thirty days for violating the restraining order. I’d use that time to do some research.
“You know he’s only getting thirty days max for this, right?” Finn said, somehow cluing in to my thoughts.
I nodded. Question, why evenhaverestraining orders? I mean, they were next to useless! Hux would claim—because of course he would—that he hadn’t known I worked here, and he’d be able to slide out of this encounter with a mere thirty days in jail. Dirty, rotten,liar!
