Page 3 of Don't Bait Me (Nora Jacobs 3)

I snort a laugh despite myself. “I bet that pissed him off.”

He shrugs again, nonchalantly, but his eyes sparkle with amusement. “He almost kicked me out of the building. I don’t think I’ll be welcome back anytime soon.”

Shaking my head with a chuckle, I consult my shopping list again. Terrance eyes my cart full of stuff as if just realizing it was there. “What’s all this for?”

“It’s for Thanksgiving dinner.”

When Terrance’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, butterflies explode in my stomach. “I hope you don’t mind, but I sort of invited Oliver and Parker to have dinner with us since neither of them have anywhere to go. And then I realized Rook and Wulf would be on their own, too, so…” I glance away and shrug, feeling strangely vulnerable all of a sudden. “I just wanted to do something nice for the people I care about.”

“Trouble,” Terrance says softly. He waits for me to meet his gaze again before saying, “You’re too good for the lot of us.”

I blush from the compliment. Terrance so rarely gives them out. Feeling awkward, I bump his shoulder with mine and tease, “You only say that now because I haven’t cooked dinner yet. I’ve never roasted a turkey in my life.”

Terrance lets out a boisterous laugh that startles everyone around us. Then, with a promise to teach me how to cook a turkey, he helps me finish up the shopping. Of course he insists on paying for the groceries and takes the cart from me, saying he’ll pack the food in his car and I just need to worry about driving myself home.Straighthome. Like I’m going to get myself in trouble between here and the den. I’m surprised he doesn’t escort me to my car and lock me in himself. “At least you have enough faith in me to let me walk across a parking lot by myself,” I grumble as we part ways at the front door.

He frowns at me. “Just get home, Trouble.”

I head to my car with another sigh of defeat. I start to dial Oliver’s number before I remember he’s probably taking his test by now, so I decide to bug someone else instead. “Hey, little temptress,” Nick greets me.

“You know, I think I preferspitfire.”

“And I prefer Gorgeous, but we don’t always get what we want, do we?”

“Fair point.”

I start the car and will the heater to warm up fast. It’s freezing outside, and since those rogue werewolves shredded my new coat, I’m still wearing Rook’s jacket.

“What’s up? You never call me unless you’re in mortal danger.”

“I’m in danger of killing a troll. Does that count?”

Nick chuckles. “Terrance is driving you crazy?”

“He won’t let me out of the house alone. He’s glamoured me to hide my looks from humans, but he isn’t strong enough magically to cover my scent.”

“He’s right. Trolls, for all their strength, aren’t very magically powerful underworlders.”

“So how do I get a stronger glamour? I have to do something. I can’t hide forever.”

“Honestly, Nora, the best person to put a glamour on you isyou.”

“What?”

“Most fey have an affinity for glamours. The stronger the fey, the stronger the glamour—and sweetcakes, you’re one of the strongest fey around. I’d even bet it was your own mother who put your old glamour on you.”

“Huh. I guess that’s something to look into.”

Filing that info away for later when I can ask Terrance and Oliver about it, I throw my car into reverse and back out of my spot. “So anyway,” I say, getting back to the reason I called him, “Do you have dinner plans tomorrow?”

There’s a short pause, and then Nick gasps loudly over the phone. It’s a totally exaggerated, fake gasp. “Why, Nora, are you asking me out on a date? Be still my heart.”

I snort. “Please. As if I need another man in my life looking for a date.”

“True. You do seem to collect men like trading cards.”

“Shut up, or I won’t invite you to Thanksgiving dinner.”

I expect a witty retort of some kind, but I’m met with silence. I pull out of my row and head for the exit of the parking lot. When Nick finally speaks, there’s no hint of play in his voice. “You mean an actual Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and stuffing and pie and all that?”

---