Okay. So was the wordunclecode forhookup? I had no idea and had the feeling that I shouldn’t ask.
I caught Rufus’s gaze from across the table, and I swear he was doing his best not to laugh. His lips were pursed as he watched Crystal’s performance.
Sykes turned his attention to Rufus. “John, you’re quite the spell hunter.”
Rufus swiped a napkin over his mouth. “Thank you. I was just telling Clementine that there’s a new spell I’m searching for.”
“Anything we’d be interested in?” Sykes’s cold blue eyes darted to his cuffs. He twirled the diamond links that poked out from beneath his suit jacket. “You know how we’re always looking for new spells.”
Rufus’s mouth twitched. “My debt to you is almost paid off.”
“You mean,herdebt to us,” Sykes murmured, referencing the fact that Rufus was, indeed, repaying a debt that my old partner, Sadie, had owed to Sykes’s people.
“That’s what he meant,” I growled.
“Tell me about the spell,” Sykes said. “I’m interested.”
The waitress appeared and took Crystal’s and Sykes’s orders. When she left, Rufus started to explain about the spell. I leaned in to hear about it as Crystal placed a cold hand on my arm.
“I hope it doesn’t bother you that I’m in town doing what you’re doing,” she purred.
I waved away her worry. “Not at all.”
“Well,” Rufus said, “the spell I’m searching for—”
“Because you looked upset today,” Crystal continued.
“You were fine.”
Now leave me alone, Crystal. Shut up for two seconds so that I can hear about the spell.
Sykes spoke. “So you think this spell can—”
“Ididhear from Hadley,” she added.
Shut up!“Great.” I chewed on a breadstick. “That’s awesome.”
Too bad for you that I have an ace up my sleeve.
“She liked my quote.”
“So glad for you.”
Now will you be quiet?
“Yes.” Rufus brushed his dark hair from his face. “I’ve heard of such a spell. If I can find it, then I can—”
“Hadley said that she’d let me know tomorrow about the job.”
Fed up, I whirled on her. “Crystal, there is no way on God’s green earth that you are getting that renovation job. None. You can just kiss it goodbye. Now, will you pleaseshut upso that I can hear what John is telling Sykes about the spell?”
And suddenly the entire room went silent and I realized that I hadn’t actuallysaidthat to Crystal. I had more like shouted it.
Crystal’s face turned crimson, and her lower lip trembled. She slowly rose and pointed to Sykes.
“Get your drink. We are not sitting with these people. Clementine Cooke just insulted me.”
Oh no, I felt like a jerk. “Crystal, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”
