Magical Midlife Love (Leveling Up #4) - K.F. Breene Page 0,62
Donna for the drink and then pointed at Kace. I didn’t really want to play conversation host to a stranger today, but he’d been trying to help, and the least I could do was be polite. If I’d actually been in trouble, he would’ve been a welcome sight. “Whatever he wants.”
“No.” Niamh put out her hand. “She doesn’t know shifter rules. She is offering because of Jane manners.”
“What’s the matter?” I asked, pausing with my beer raised, ready to pour it into the glass Donna had provided.
“Let me get the round,” Kace said.
“No.” Niamh shook her outstretched hand. “No. She stays on my tab, and that is that. She will neither buy nor accept drinks from nice-looking gentlemen who gave Sasquatch a good clatter across the head.”
“I didn’t—”
I waved Kace away. “Let her dream.”
He shrugged at Donna. “I’ll have a beer. Bud.” Kace nodded to Donna.
“What’s the deal with buying drinks for a shifter?” I asked.
“We—”
“No!” Niamh half turned so she could glare at Kace. “Fer feck’s sake, lad. Do ye have no sense? Leave her be. Mind yer business.”
“Today is getting on my last nerve,” I said.
I finished pouring my beer into the glass and took a large gulp as Niamh said, “I am right there with ye.”
Too bad she was part of the problem.
A couple of hours passed, and the drinks were still flowing. Kace turned out to be pleasant company, but I was tired and still heart-sore, and I honestly didn’t want to have to try so hard. Being polite wasn’t normally a lesson in patience, but Kace had caught me on a bad day, and Niamh definitely wasn’t helping.
Thankfully, Austin was finally getting close. He’d answer Kace’s question, and then Kace would be on his way.
Except I knew that wasn’t quite true. Kace was trying to get to know me, and since he hadn’t come right out and said he was interested, I couldn’t think of a polite way to tell him that I wasn’t.
“I’m going to head to the bathroom,” I said, and slid off my stool, squeezing between his left leg and the back of Niamh’s chair.
Kace twisted his knees to the side and lightly touched the top of my hips to help guide me through.
“I’m good, thanks,” I murmured dismissively, stepping away from his touch.
I might not be great at subtlety, but I did know when someone’s interest was piqued. His touch, more intimate than helpful, confirmed what I’d already suspected. Crap. I wasn’t in the mood to gently rebuff someone. He might react badly, and then I’d feel threatened, and then magic would start flying around, and suddenly it would be a whole thing. What a mess.
Still mulling over how to get out of this situation—I had to do something, because I didn’t want to lead him on—I used the restroom and made my way back, feeling Austin nearby. His progress had stalled, though, indicating he was probably talking to someone outside.
Sir Stares-a-Lot still stood by the door, and I found myself veering that way. His presence actively squashed mirth, and his watchfulness had been overwhelmingly applied to me for the last couple of hours. I didn’t know why he was so bothered by me—I was clearly not a shifter. I should’ve escaped his notice altogether, unless he was that worried about naïve mages without much magical experience. Regardless, full of liquid courage and a black mood, I decided it was time to put this to bed.
“Hey,” I said, stopping beside him, leaning against the wall.
He didn’t respond.
“Why do you keep looking at me instead of spreading your attention around the bar?” I asked.
“I am learning this territory and the people in it.” He angled his body, his presence overbearing and his height topping mine by about half a foot. Although not as tall as Austin, he was just as broad and muscular. I felt his focus beating down on me, his dominance almost a palpable thing.
I just was not in the mood to pay attention.
“Rather than stare at me all creepy-like, why don’t you just ask questions?”
He was silent for a beat.
“What are you?” he finally asked.
“Amazing.” I spread my arms. “Also a female gargoyle.”
His face might’ve been painted on for all the emotion he showed. “I haven’t heard of a living female gargoyle.”
“It’s a new situation.”
For the first time, I saw a flicker of something on his face. Doubt and maybe annoyance. I narrowed my eyes, now watching for all I was worth.