He stepped inside, tall, confident, with keen eyes that took in the room.His shirt sleeves were rolled to the elbow, his forearms tanned and strong, and he carried himself with the relaxed swagger of a man who didn’t try too hard because he didn’t have to.Rezer already didn’t like him.
“Evening, Lisa,” Tony said, his grin widening.“Got my tea ready?”
Rezer’s gaze flicked from Tony to Lisa, then back again.“Ah,” he murmured, his tone smooth but edged.“The great, great, great grandchild.”
Lisa could feelRezer’s smugness, sharp, and entirely too pleased with itself.
“Seriously?”she asked, turning to look at him and forcing a calm she did not feel.
Rezer’s expression was all innocent composure, though the faint quirk of his mouth said otherwise.“Did I say that out loud?”
“You know you said it outloud, you asswipe,” she muttered.It was one of Elora’s insults and probably beneath Lisa to use, but it was either that or she might just throw something at him.
“Everything okay?”Tony asked, stepping fully into the shop.His grin was easy, as always, handsome, unbothered, and self-assured in a way that most human men weren’t around her.He carried a small paper bag, probably from the bakery next door, and set it on the counter.He barely gave Rezer a look, walking straight to the counter.“Brought you those scones you like.”Rezer didn’t miss the fact that Tony hadn’t bothered to even acknowledge his presence.Power move, impressive really, but Rezer could still wipe the floor with him.
Lisa’s irritation softened a fraction while her embarrassment rose.Why was it bothering her that Rezer was witnessing this?“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know,” Tony said, leaning one elbow on the counter.“But I like the way you pretend it makes your day.But it doesactuallymake my day.”
She bit back a smile and shook her head.“You’re impossible.”Tony really was a nice guy, attractive, easy to talk to, all the things.But as much as she hated it, she wasn’t attracted to him, and yes, there was an age difference even if she didn’t look older than him.He might not think about it, but Lisa did because she’d been alive a long time, seen a lot of things, and experienced a lot of things.She couldn’t just pretend she was a normal human woman.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Rezer shift slightly, just enough that it caused Tony to notice him.His posture straightened a little, his easy grin dimming as his eyes cut toward the dark elf sitting comfortably in the reading nook.
“Didn’t realize you had company,” Tony said, his tone polite but edged and his words a complete lie.She recognized this for what it was; a power play.
Lisa turned, catching the way Rezer’s gaze stayed steady, unflinching.“He’s a customer,” she said quickly.“Just enjoying the atmosphere.”
“Ah.”Tony’s eyes narrowed, but he covered it with a grin.“Well, I hope you’re not enjoying it too much.”There was definitely a bite to his words.
Bloody hell,Lisa mentally growled.This was not how she expected her night to start.
Rezer smiled faintly, lifting his cup in a slow, deliberate toast.“Oh, I’ve enjoyed myentireday.Immensely.”
Lisa exhaled through her nose, stepping between them like a referee who already knew if she didn’t interfere there would be a fight.“Tony, I’ll get your tea ready in the back.Give me one second, all right?”
“Sure thing.”He flashed her a grin, then gave Rezer a once-over that was friendly on the surface but seemed to carry the weight of sizing up competition.
Lisa turned sharply and headed for the back room, muttering under her breath, “This is why I don’t date.”
She gathered Tony’s tea blend, taking her time.The quiet gave her a moment to breathe, to think.Rezer had been calm all afternoon, quiet even.But the moment Tony’s name came up, that calm had shifted, turned brittle and tight.Jealousy.It was absurd, but there wasnomistaking it.
By the time she returned to the front, the air between the two men had thickened.Tony stood by the counter, casual but alert, while Rezer remained seated, still, composed, but with that unmistakable air of silent challenge.He was leaning back, an ankle resting on his knee.His posture was lazy, as if he was saying,I don’t have to stand up because I’m that much more dominant than you.Okay, maybe Lisa needed to lay off the re-runs ofTeen Wolf.
“Here you go,” Lisa said, handing Tony his bag of tea.“And please, whatever dynamic is going on,” she motioned between the two, “don’t start anything.Either of you.”
Tony chuckled.“Who, me?I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
Rezer’s tone was smooth, but his eyes gleamed as he glanced at her, then back to Tony.“I’m both.”
Lisa’s hand flew to her forehead.“Oh, for the love of?—”
Tony chuckled.“You always keep things interesting around here.”
“Only on Thursdays,” she said, glaring between them.“Now both of you, out—or at least one of you.”Why had she said that?And why had she hoped it would be the non-dark elf who left?Ugh, she felt like she was a teenager again, which was weird as hell since she hadn’t been a teenager in nearly a couple centuries.
Tony laughed, scooping up his tea but leaving the bag of scones.“Fine, fine.But I’ll be back next week, Lisa.”It sounded like a promise, but the look in his eyes was for Rezer, and it was most definitely something different.
“She could just mail you the tea,” Rezer suggested, out of nowhere.“I’m sure her shop's capabilities have moved with the times and in this modern era lovely Lisa could simply pop your order in the post and then you wouldn’t have to show your face here again.”
