Stone’s sixth sense told him Clarabelle had capitulated too easily. “But what if it does mean a relationship?” He stood and paced. “I’m here to protect her, not to get involved. Not to mention, I’m not at all interested in love. I’m a forever bachelor.” While he now freely admitted to himself he was besotted with Sophie, his reason for remaining single remained more valid than ever. He wasn’t husband material.
“Magic doesn’t give two cents about your multitude of nots,” Clarabelle said sharply, a sure sign she still wasn’t in the mood to accept the fact that all three of her boys were confirmed forever bachelors.
“You’re saying, I won’t have a choice?” Stone asked. “That it can make me fall in love with Sophie?”
“Of course it can’t make you. You have free will,” Clarabelle said. “I mean, if it was possible to use magic to make you fall in love, I would have done it by now. So much easier than—” She stopped abruptly.
“Than what?”
“If you don’t want to fall in love, I suggest you remain vigilant,” Clarabelle said, not answering his question. “Keep your emotions in check. Stay out of situations that give you an opportunity to fall in love.”
“Like moving in with Sophie?” he said ruefully.
“Exactly like that,” Clarabelle said.
“Fuck.”
Clarabelle tsked. “If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a hundred times, Fairy Godpersons don’t curse.”
“My apologies. It’s just that as of this evening, I am living with Sophie.”
There was a long pause. “What, may I ask, precipitated this change in your address?”
“She’s had a viable threat against her. Until it is neutralized, we will be together twenty-four hours a day.”
“Well. That is a big pickle,” Clarabelle said, sounding way too cheerful. “On the food-for-thought side concerning your magic, there’s a slight chance that what is going on is a test of your worthiness to continue having your powers. You did, after all, allow your wand to be injured, which resulted in it losing its original magic.”
“Fu…fiddle sticks,” Stone said, trying out Clarabelle’s favorite curse word.
“Much better, dear.”
“Do you think I should turn in my wand and get out of the fairy godfather business?”
More tsking. “Did I not tell you during boot camp that there is no leaving the business?”
“You did not.”
“Anyway, what’s at stake is the magnitude of your wand’s new power. I’ve never known of a wand that had to be sent off to be fixed. Only time will tell if it holds new magic. And if it does, is it greater, or greatly less than what you were given upon completion of bootcamp?”
“You’re saying I’m at risk of having a limp wand?”
Clarabelle chuckled. “It’s possible. But before you get all caught up in what-ifs, just remember that what happened to your wand was not a result of neglect. The powers-that-be will take that into consideration.”
“Who exactly are the powers-that-be?” She had mentioned the council a few times over the last month but had refused to tell him who served on the committee.
“That is not something I wish to discuss,” she said primly. “The only thing that’s important from this point forward is for you to remember that you control your actions, not the magic. What you do or do not do with Sophie during your time of forced proximity is your call. Your decisions cannot be blamed on your magic.”
“In other words, I’m to keep it in my pants.”
“Yes. Your penis should stay in your pants.”
He groaned. That was never a phrase you wanted to hear your mother say. “I’m worried that all these glitches will bring danger to Sophie. Perhaps I should hand the job off to Ryder.”
“Nonsense. You are a professional,” Clarabelle said. “Focus on the job. The rest will sort itself out in due time.”
Stone sighed. “I’ve got to get off here. I love you. Good night.”
Stone hung up the phone and lingered on the balcony a bit longer, sweeping his gaze over the street Sophie lived on. What if magiccouldforce two people together? What if he had no choice but to fall in love with Sophie, and her him? Would that be so terrible?
