“Part-time.” She sighed. “He offered me a shit ton of money.”
Warning bells went off in my head. “Be careful. That’s exactly how things started with Caelan.”
A vicious smile crossed her face. “No need to worry about that. This morning, he went into great detail about what a terrible person I was and how much he hated me.”
I didn’t miss the flicker of hurt in her eyes. Anger flooded me.
She touched my arm. “It’s fine.”
Magic rose, prickling against my skin.
“Evie.” Her cool hand touched my arm. “I’m an adult. He didn’t do anything to me. In fact, the bastard was a perfect gentleman.” She rolled her eyes. “He brought me back to my apartment. Dug out pajamas for me. Gave me plenty of water and lectured me about hydration, then tucked me into bed and slept on the couch. This morning, he made me a cup of coffee, then pushed a folder full of my past across the table.”
But he didn’t give her the drops. Hmm. “None of that excuses him trying to manipulate you into doing what he wants.”
“Are we surprised? He’s a Lord, after all. You seem to have snagged the only good one.”
“Ben’s decent.” I frowned. “A touch of the ol’ misogyny with him, but I don’t think he would do something like this.”
Moira grunted. “I don’t put anything past anyone.”
“What did you tell him?”
She tilted her face up and pretended to think about it. “It went something like, how dare you, fuck off, get out of my house.”
“Seems like the correct order of things. He won’t stop.”
Her face darkened. “I’m well aware.”
“What kind of work has he asked you to do?”
“Investigative again. He said he’d have a case soon.” Her shoulders slumped. “I flew too close to the sun and the asshole burned me. I should have kept my head down.”
“You did,” I said quietly. “If anyone is at fault here, it’s me. I’m the one who dragged you into the Lords’ world. Soren’s already fascinated by you, and Ethan seems headed that way.”
Moira shook her head. “It’s not like that for Ethan. He sees a tool to be used.”
I didn’t agree with her. Not after that smack on the ass. That was raw possession. “Hmm. I don’t think most men would haul a tool over his shoulder and remove her from a bar for her own safety.” I rolled my eyes. “Or what he thought was for her own safety.”
Her lips twitched. “Kinda hot, right?”
“Extremely,” I agreed. “That ass slap was heard around the world.”
Moira let out a loud laugh. “I have an Ethan shaped handprint on my left cheek.”
“All the Lords are attractive.” I rolled my eyes. “Must be a job prerequisite. All of them are deadly, but there’s something about Ethan.” I shivered. “He has assassin energy, the kind of man who will sneak up on you and cut your throat without saying a word.”
“He’s a puzzle,” Moira agreed. “He brought me cashmere and hot food, and now he’s blackmailing me.”
We looked at each other and burst out laughing.
I got up and brought the coffee pot to the table, refilling our mugs. “Are you going to work for him?”
She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “The money is hard to pass up. I’m doing well, but Ethan’s offer will allow me to permanently retire in a couple of years. Most immortals have to work for the rest of their lives because they spend too much and budget too little. I could probably retire now, but I’d have to follow a strict budget. With the money he’s offering me…” Her voice trailed off. “Well, I could do whatever the hell I wanted to.”
“Immortality might be boring without something to do.”
Moira snorted. “Holding a pink drink with an umbrella and flirting with handsome men is doing something. I could do that all I wanted.”
