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“Really?” She turned to David. “Why’s that? I’ve asked Hayden to help me. How can I figure out what I’m going to do if you guys withhold information?”
David threw his hands in the air. “Fine. Whatever you want to know, ask.”
“Hey.” I gri
She snatched the money. “Be right back.”
“What’s at stake here? What are you fighting for?” I asked, back to business. I had a feeling I didn’t have much time. I intended to squeeze him for as much as possible while I had the chance.
David lifted his mug to his lips and I wondered if he was stalling. He swallowed and set it down. “Witches aren’t the only ones with real power. There are vampires, werewolves and other types of shifters, all vying for their place in the world. Each has their own ruler. For centuries, longer actually, we’ve stayed low key because the combined forces of the supernatural world still couldn’t match human numbers. They’ve always run things and we’ve always let them.
“We could take over, if we really wanted to, but then humans would become slaves or worse. Boris’s people feel that superior life forms should be ruling over their inferiors. But they don’t realize that going mainstream means they’d have werewolves and vampires to contend with. It would become a battle to see which species could gain ultimate control — as if we’re not all fighting enough already. And werewolves are a nasty bunch. Vampires aren’t much nicer. The bad vamps are really bad. If they had their way, humans would be slaves bred for food. I doubt they’d stop at regular humans, since any of us would do.”
I shuddered inwardly. “So, what you’re saying is that you’re all too busy fighting amongst yourselves for any one group to take over?”
He nodded. “That sums it up.”
“Which is a good thing for humans. Why haven’t you already told her this?”
“We haven’t had the chance. It’s only been a few days.”
Maybe it was David’s words or maybe it was the delivery. I didn’t know. He either had the purest of intentions or he was an Oscar-worthy actor. I wanted to believe he meant every word. “Do you trust Rena?”
“Here you go.” Tessa set a steaming mug in front of me, along with a five-dollar bill and two quarters.
“My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail,” Rena purred from behind David. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have missed the first part of this meeting.”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t get an invitation either.” David tipped his head back and smiled at her. “Pull up a chair.”
“You sure Hayden won’t mind?” Rena claimed a chair and sat between David and me, forcing Tessa to move out of the way. Rena turned away from David and shot me a look that said she wanted to hook up. I didn’t believe her. She wanted something else. But what?
I played along, flashing a smile. “Nah, I won’t mind.”
“Rena, can I get you something to drink? Espresso maybe? Latte?” Tessa asked.
From the way she avoided eye contact with me, I guessed Tessa caught the interchange between Rena and me. I’d have to set her straight. But not this second. I glanced at David to find him watching Tessa. His expression had changed to curiosity. Maybe a little appreciation thrown in. I thought I saw a hint of something else too, but wasn’t sure what. Like he knew something we didn’t. Was it my imagination?
Oddly enough, the way David looked at her didn’t bother me. With Chait, it seemed different. And it bothered me. Lots.
“Black coffee with sugar, thanks.” Rena found her purse and rifled through it, slyly peering at David.
“So how old are you guys?” I asked, wondering how many years he had on Tessa, in case I’d misread his expression.
“Rena’s around forty.” He looked to her for confirmation and carried on when she nodded. I would’ve guessed early twenties.
“He knew William Shakespeare.” Rena’s mouth curled up on one side.
“I’m not that old,” David retorted. “I met Abe Lincoln though.”
Still too old for Tessa. Speaking of her, I needed to make sure she wasn’t mad. “I’ll be right back.”
When did Chait sneak in?
Tessa leaned over the counter from her side and he bent over the other toward her, a mug between them. Damn, they looked cozy. Tessa spotted me and straightened. Chait looked over his shoulder and gave me a nod.
Chait’s arrival was perfect. “Hey,” I said. “Did you know Rena’s hot for David?”
“Yeah.” Chait turned again to study the two for a moment.
“She was flirting with me to make him jealous. I flirted back because, you know, I’m not interested in making enemies. Yet.” My voice softened as I bellied up to the counter alongside Chait and gazed at Tessa. “Besides, it’s hard to think about any other girl when Tessa’s around.”
She looked down, cheeks flushing.
“Nice one, Hayden. I’ll have to remember that line,” Chait said blandly.
“Won’t do you any good. Tessa’s already heard it.” I smirked.
Tessa rolled her eyes. “Guys. Can we not start this again?”
“Chait, how old are you?” Inquiring competitors wanted to know.
“Nineteen.”
“Nineteen in human years or sorcerer years?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Real years.”
Damn. He wasn’t much older than us and wouldn’t look like a pervert.
“I was about to ask Chait what he was doing tonight.” She eyed me as though urging me to take the hint and invite him into our circle.
“You and I have plans after work. You don’t have a shift tomorrow though, right?” I switched to Chait. “Tomorrow night. My house. Seven.”
“Okay.” He shrugged.
“Witches always move in twos or threes?” I asked Chait. It was bad enough we had to involve Chait. Bringing in anyone else took me further out of my comfort zone. “Can you make an exception tomorrow? Tessa and I would rather keep this between the three of us.”
“No problem. They won’t be expecting me to sneak out. ” Chait picked up his coffee, strolled to David’s table and took my chair. Douche.
“We have plans tonight?” Tessa asked. “Wa
“Don’t worry. You and I will be in separate rooms.”
I returned to our table, grabbing a vacant chair on my way. “So, what did I miss?”
Chapter Twenty-one
Tessa
Exhaustion clung to me like a spider web that sticks to you no matter how many different ways you try to wipe it on something else. I propped up my leg against the dashboard and scooted against the car door, my head leaning against the passenger side window. It had been a long day. I hoped whatever Hayden had pla
Hayden pulled up in his driveway and I slogged into his house after him.
He pointed to the leather couch once we’d gotten inside his house. “Wait here.”
I plopped onto it, closed my eyes and listened to him patter down the hallway. A moment later I heard water ru
When he stood in front of me again, he held out his hand.
I took it. “No fu
He laughed softly. “Remember, I told you we’d be in separate rooms.”
Hayden led me down the hallway to the bathroom and opened the door wide. The lights were off, replaced by more than a dozen candles. There was water already in the tub — with bubbles. Lots and lots of bubbles.
So he had heard me. And remembered.
Hayden pointed to a pile of folded clothes. “Pair of sweats and a t-shirt, so you’ll have clean clothes to put on. If you want.”
What a sweet, thoughtful thing to do. On impulse, I stretched up on tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. I saw the hunger and the intensity in his eyes and I knew I couldn’t stop it. Even if I wanted to. Which I didn’t.