Standing tall, Joy asked, “Will you swear it?”
He searched her eyes, then mine. “Unless she asks me, I vow never to use my charm on her.”
I frowned. “Why would I want you to?”
Atticus turned his gaze to the bookshelves behind him. “You’d be surprised what happens in life where suddenly Vampire gifts are needed.” He looked at me. “I must away.”
Atticus had an unusual, if not old-fashioned, way of speaking.
He bowed. “Again, my deepest apologies. My people left coolers with ice under the table to keep the leftovers chilled until you leave. If you need any assistance getting them home, don’t hesitate to call. I’ll make sure someone comes by this afternoon to clean the table and collect anything you don’t wish to take.” Atticus handed Joy a business card. “I’m at your disposal.”
“Thank you for this, Mr. Rain,” I said.
He winked. “Call me Atticus.”
Joyand I left at a decent hour and were home before dark. People had trickled in throughout the day, and morepurchases were made. Some wanted to haggle, but I never let them negotiate lower than my comfort zone. Joy suggested I be assertive or customers would think I was a pushover. Honestly, I wasn’t used to being assertive, let alone playing conversational badminton with so many strangers.
By the time I got home, mental exhaustion had overtaken me. I curled up on the sofa while Joy fixed her dinner and ate alone at the round table in our dining room. My mind was still reeling.
Can I do this again? I feel like a drained battery.
“That Vampire was trying to salvage his reputation,” Joy said from the dining table, “so don’t take his offer as kindness. You can trust neither a Mage nor a Vampire. They’re always the villains. They smile and lie like they were born to do it.” After a lengthy pause, she added, “Gracious.I don’t understand how my packmates can trust a monster.”
Atticus seemed okay to me. I could hardly be upset at a man who brought me all those delicious treats when he hadn’t personally done anything wrong.
Just as my eyes closed, headlights flashed through the dark windows, and a car engine shut off.
Joy bounced to her feet but remained in the dining room. “Are you expecting company?”
I shook my head and approached the window. A figure emerged from a black truck and waved. “It’s Archer. Um… that’s his name, isn’t it? The one with the blond hair.” I didn’t want Joy thinking Archer’s name lived in my mouth.
Smooth, Cecilia. No one will ever suspect you know him.
When I opened the door, he stepped onto the porch and proudly held up a bag.
“I brought you guys dinner.”
“Too late,” Joy sang from across the room.
Archer furrowed his brow. “You guys ate?”
I took the bag. “Come in.”
“I probably shouldn’t. Noah doesn’t want any men in here.”
“He doesn’t want anyone seducing Cecilia,” Joy said from across the room. “You’re hardly a threat.”
I set the bag on the kitchen counter, knowing Archer must have been thinking the same thing I was about Joy’s innocuous remark.
Archer opened the fridge. “Holy shit. What’s all this?”
“A misunderstanding at Dragonfly’s,” Joy answered, bringing her dishes into the kitchen. “We had breakfast there this morning. Atticus brought lunch to the store to make amends for an unpleasant experience. Nothing you need to worry about.”
With a defeated look, he shut the door. “I brought burgers and fries, thinking you two might be starving. Bear made everything, but I guess it was all for nothing.”
I pulled out the container and headed to the couch. “I’m famished.”
“She didn’t eat,” Joy informed him. “I need to jump in the shower, so be nice to Cecilia. She’s had a hard day.”
