Magical Midlife Love (Leveling Up #4) - K.F. Breene Page 0,51
had some good people already, but he’d expanded the size of the territory quickly, and they were stretched thin. If Kingsley hoped to be impressed, he’d be left wanting. Still, it was worth trying to rally the forces and present a good defense to outsiders. Austin would need to show Kingsley his best if he expected help.
Or maybe it would be better to display his weaknesses. To be humble.
“Help yourself to a few flowers,” Jess said, Jimmy now back with Mr. Tom, staring for all he was worth. “It was a long journey.”
“Oh. You are so kind.” The basajaun offered her a toothy grin. “Very generous. A great hostess.” The basajaun picked up some of the smashed flowers Jimmy had crushed in his haste to get away. “Since I was the reason behind this catastrophe…”
“Yes, fine, that’ll work, I guess,” Edgar said, wringing his hands as he watched.
“Jess.” Austin squeezed her upper arm gently. “That’ll be my brother. I have to go. I need to make sure everything is set up for him. I wanted to spend the day with you guys, but…”
“Of course you have to go,” she said. “I doubt your brother is that far behind the basajaun. Do you need anything?”
“Rain check?”
She smiled, and her lashes fluttered, a pretty gesture that thawed something inside of him. “Easter only comes once a year, but…I’m sure there’s some way you can make it up to me.”
He ran his thumb across her skin before pulling his hand away. “In the coming days, depending on how it’s going, I might need you to show off your power and your people and your house. I might need a spectacle.”
“I say, if ye want to make an impression, don’t invite us all,” Niamh said. “Some of these clowns would only make yer brother pity yer new setup.”
“Speak for yourself, old woman.” Mr. Tom sniffed. “Most of us are housebroken.”
“Says the eejit who names his weapons.” Niamh shook her head and went back to looking for eggs. “Ye didn’t even think up good names, either. Who names a bludgeon Ron, fer feck’s sake?”
“People have spirit animals, and weapons have spirit people. How is that so hard to grasp? I simply evoked their human likenesses.”
“Ye and the vampire. Ye’ve both lost yer marbles. This house has gotten to yis. Why do ye think I never moved in? I know why.”
“You throw rocks at tourists. You don’t know why.”
Austin pulled himself away from the fight. When they got going, it was hard to drown them out.
He squeezed Jess’s arm again. “We’re in the same boat. We just have to do what we can with what we have.”
She laughed, but nervousness bled through the link. It felt muted, which meant she’d learned to turn it down. That was probably good. Hopefully it didn’t extend through bedtime…
“Good luck,” she said as he turned.
He stopped in front of Jimmy, the kid now in rapture, staring at the basajaun like, well, like someone who’d just found out Bigfoot was real. His gaze slowly shifted to Austin.
“Enjoy the rest of your day. The golden egg is at the center of the labyrinth, or near enough—”
“Austin Steele, that is cheating,” Mr. Tom chastised.
“Maybe have the basajaun go with you to find it,” Austin continued. “He can nearly see over the hedge. I will be here tomorrow for a proper send-off.”
“Okay.” Jimmy leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Just so you know, my mom’s dream has always been to find a man that cooks her dinner. She likes romance, too, like roses and candlelight and stuff. I mean, all girls do, right? But I’ve always heard her say that she loves the idea of a man in the kitchen.” His face colored. “I don’t know, she’s just always wanted someone to cook for her, I guess, and she never got it with my dad. My dad always said it wasn’t his job. I don’t think she liked that much. But, you know…” He shrugged. “If you wanted an in with her…”
“Well.” Mr. Tom puffed up. “It’s good to know I’m appreciated.”
“No.” Jimmy placidly pointed at Mr. Tom. “I mean, you are, but I meant—”
“I know what you meant.” Austin winked at the kid. “I’ll take care of it.”
Jimmy smiled, and it was the look of a boy who thought something good was going to happen to the most important person in his life.
Austin hoped he could make good on his promise.
Fifteen
It was the day after Jimmy left, and I’d decided I wasn’t going