Flipping the Bird (Shift Creek #1) - Carrie Pulkinen Page 0,48
he always did when Donovan spoke to him. “If it isn’t the little slug trying to slime his way into my good graces.”
Donovan’s skin crawled, but he refused to take the bait. “I hope you’re well, Matthias.”
“I’m a master warlock and head of the Rainecourt fortune. Of course I’m well.” He laughed. “If you’re calling to ask for money, Father made it clear in his will the run-down shack in Texas was all you were to receive.”
“I don’t need your money. I’ve made plenty on my own, and that ‘shack’…” He ground his teeth. If his brother thought the manor was nothing more than a hovel, it was best to let him continue with that belief. “There’s a magical creek that runs through the town, and its power is deteriorating.”
“Don’t tell me you actually believe in that little marketing ploy.”
Donovan picked up Marty and headed toward the house. “It’s not a ploy. A Rainecourt ancestor blessed the spirit of the creek, and only a warlock from our bloodline can help.”
“Why don’t you do it, then? Oh, right… Because you’re not a real warlock.”
“Please, Matthias.” It pained him to grovel, especially to a narcissistic dickhead, but this was for Alice.
“I’m a busy man, D. Small town gimmicks don’t concern me, and you’d be better off not getting involved. Father abandoned that place for a reason.”
“If you would just—”
“I’m busy.” The line went dead.
Donovan stepped into the foyer and closed the door, gripping the knob so tightly the damn thing nearly came off in his hand. “That went as well as expected.”
“I don’t know why you bothered with him. Did you forget about the time he turned me into a cockroach just to be an ass? We’re lucky Griffin took pity and changed me back, or I’d still be an insect.”
Donovan scratched beneath his chin. “At least you’d be pocket-sized.”
“Not funny, boss.” He scrambled down the front of Donovan’s shirt and hopped to the floor. “What’s the plan now?”
“For the creek, I don’t know. For Alice, there’s only one thing I can do.”
“You’re seriously done with him?” Megan emptied the cash register and carried the money to the safe.
Alice leaned in the doorway, trying to ignore the nausea that had been churning in her stomach since the night Donovan found out about the amulet. “He accused me of stealing. You know how I feel about being called a thief.”
“What if he apologized?”
She scoffed. “It’s been three days. I doubt that’s going to happen.” He was probably waiting for her to apologize, since his damn mongoose convinced him she stole the amulet. She’d apologize for lying—she’d already said she was sorry for that—but she refused to apologize for something she didn’t do.
“I don’t know. The guy looked rough when I saw him. Red-rimmed eyes and everything.” She spun the dial, entering the combination.
Alice waved her hand. “Allergies. Springtime in the Hill Country can be killer.”
“If you say so.”
There was no point in wondering what she’d do if he apologized. She hadn’t seen hide nor tail of the man since he left her apartment in a huff. Never mind the fact she’d had a helping of rocky road ice cream every day since he left. She had to fill the hole he’d torn in her heart somehow, and thickening her waistline was the easiest way to do it.
She glanced at the clock. “Oh shoot. Daisy is holding a book for me at the library, but they close in five minutes. Do you mind…?”
“Go ahead.” Megan closed the safe. “I’ll lock up.”
“Thanks. You’re the best.”
She tossed her hair behind her shoulder. “I know.”
Alice hot-footed it across the square toward the library. The next installment in her favorite romance series hit the shelves today, and Daisy had promised to put it on hold for her. The balmy air signaled summer’s fast approach, but the sun had already dipped behind the buildings, casting long shadows across the pavement and making the temperature downright pleasant.
She passed The Crow’s Nest, waving to her mom through the window, and her long strides turned into a jog as she rounded the corner. The book would be the perfect distraction for her tonight. Gods knew she didn’t need another evening wallowing in self-pity and missing Donovan Drake. She would get over that man if she had to pluck her own tail feathers to keep him off her mind.
She reached the library as Daisy stepped through the front door. With her curly red hair swept up in a twist and the black pencil