“When areyougoing to tell Appa you don’t want to work in the family business? That you want to paint pictures?” Leya shot back.
Hana snorted, swinging back to the desktop. “And have him lament his child is wasting her life? Nope. Jeez, I still cannot believe you are dating an angel.” Her fingers clacked away on the keyboard.
About to tell Hana that angels don’t date, or at least Aerén didn’t, she shut it, hugging the secret to her for a little longer. Once the test was done, she’d tell Hana and their father that Aerén wanted her to go back to Cidéra with him…and she wanted that, too.
Leya left the office and headed for the nursery. Her father appeared from around the building. “Leya, we have a new job. A garden needs prettying, and a flowerbed reperked.”
She smiled at her father’s corny description while her heart dipped. Only two? Still, any job was better than none and helped to keep the business open. “No problem. I’ll drive out tomorrow and do an estimate.”
He nodded and disappeared toward the nursery again.
Sighing, she rubbed her achy brow.
“Leya, you have a nuisance, I mean, visitor!” Hana yelled from the office door.
“Hey, Leya.”
At the male voice with its faint accent and laughter in its tone, she spun around and grinned at the approaching man. “Taegér.”
“In the flesh.” He smirked, running his fingers through his overgrown mohawk. The white tips caught the afternoon light, bright against the brown.
“What brings you—ah, Brenna’s plants. C’mon. I’ve selected the ones I think will likely thrive in your frozen world. You’re paying double for these,” she deadpanned. “After all, I had to conduct extra research.”
He laughed at her teasing. “How about free labor? I find I suddenly like this place.”
What? Then she met Hana’s glower through the glass door, looking like she wanted to take a pitchfork to Taegér’s head.
Oohboy. “What did you say to my sister?”
His smile widened. “Me? I was my usual charming self.”
She could just imagine. “You are too dangerous to leave alone for a second. C’mon.”
He chuckled as she rounded the building and headed for the nursery. “So, where’s Prince Charming? Didn’t look like he’d leave you alone for a second.”
She huffed. “Why do you rile him?”
“Because it’s fun.”
Leya groaned. “Let’s find something else to hold your interest.”
She pushed open the door into the massive nursery, busy with both browsers and serious gardeners, and headed to the back, where she’d set out what she chose for Brenna.
A half-hour later, after Taegér departed, Leya entered the office.
Hana glanced her way, a scowl on her face. “Who’s the ass? He’s so full of himself.”
“Taegér?” She laughed. “Oh, he’s not egotistical. More cocky, I’d say. Given what he is, I’m not surprised. He’s immortal, like Aerén.” Hana rolled her eyes. “But they’re enemies, or they were…” Leya explained about the Empyreans and Darkreans being at war and the truce that now existed between them.
Hana’s brow furrowed. “So, you were there in Darkreans’ territory first?”
“Yes. Aerén got hurt in a fight protecting me. Taegér found us in the cave and took us to their fortress—”
The front door jangled open.
And the person responsible for happiness in her heart walked inside. Like sunlight, he brightened their poky office.
Dressed in black jeans, a matching tee, and a leather jacket, the man simply stood out with that gorgeous hair and handsome face.
