I sighed. This could backfire but…. “He’s going to ask you out today.”
“Ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod,” young Joey squealed. “When? Where are we going? Alina will totally blow a gasket if I skip practice but this is Bill Tucker. Ohmigod, I’ve got to call Darcy!”
Shit. “You can’t go. No matter what he says or does. Joey, listen, this is very important.”
She didn’t even hear me. “Oh, no way. I wonder if he’ll let me drive the Camaro. Where’s he going to take me anyway?”
“To the hospital,” I barked. “Which is why you can’t go out with him today.”
A little sunlight went out of her expression. “What are you talking about?”
“Josephine Louise Whitmore! Get your butt down here this instant!” Our mother hollered from the bottom of the stairs.
“Uh oh, she three named you. That means business.” I swallowed and looked at the door. “Do me a solid and don’t tell her I’m here, okay?”
“Why not?” She reached for her wide-legged jeans and yanked them up, then pulled on a black sweater with a blue horizontal stripe across the chest over the tank.
“Because she wouldn’t understand. And I have a limited amount of time to do what I came here to do and having her grill me like a flank steak will only slow me down.”
“Are you like, new or something?” Joey tilted her head and reached for her backpack. “You seem kind of nervous.”
“This is my first gig.” I offered a smile. “It’s important that I get it right. Now go on, before she comes up here. I’ll see you later.”
“You’re just going to hang out in my room all day?” Her tone was skeptical. “That doesn’t seem very faery godmother like.”
I waved the wand and nearly poked my eye out. “I’ll head out as soon as you do.”
Young Joey still looked unsure. Inspiration struck and I added. “I’ll do some recon on Bill for you but just promise me you won’t go out with him!”
She grinned and then vanished out the door. My shoulders slumped and I sagged onto the bed and grumbled, “That was a disaster.”
The mattress next to me dipped even though there was no one there. I started up and an invisible voice said, “On the contrary, lamb. You did rather well.”
“Robin?” I blinked and he slowly appeared beside me. Long legs clad in black suit pants, and a matching jacket and a brilliant white dress shirt open at the collar exposing his tanned throat. “What are you wearing?”
He bounced up off the bed and spun around. “Do you like it? I got tired of the whole rugged outdoorsy look.”
“I like your rugged outdoorsy look,” I said and then clapped a hand over my mouth. “That just slipped out.”
His eyes flashed and he leaned forward. Planting his fists on either side of my hips, he invaded my personal space with a predator’s stealth and skill. “Do you now? And here I thought you were angry with me. Shall we kiss and make up?”
His scent wrapped around me, an enchanting blend of male spice and cedarwood. Temptation incarnate. His lips, so full and delicious looking and only an inch away. What would one kiss hurt?
Self-preservation reared its tardy head. I shoved him away and tried to ignore my thudding heart and gather my wits. “You can stop it now.”
“Stop what?” he asked.
“Stop pretending that you’re attracted to me. I’ve already cashed in the first trip so the bargain is officially underway.”
One blond eyebrow rose. “You think I’m pretending to desire you simply to fulfill our bargain?”
“Why else?” I shook my head. “Don’t answer that. Tell me what you’re doing here?”
“Did you forget something?” He held up a hand and in it sat the hourglass. “It would be a one-way trip if you didn’t have access to the sands of time. And as to your absurd notions…you’re right. I don’t need to seduce you into a bargain. You came to that all on your own.”
He wasn’t wrong. I had made the impulsive decision to travel back in time before having another row with my mother. Evidenced by the fact that I was still wearing my pajamas.
“It really worked?” I asked the fae. “I made it back to before the accident?”
“You saw your echo just now. Did she look fresh from a car wreck?”
“But what day is it? Damn it, I need a newspaper.”
Robin held out a hand and a rolled-up paper appeared in it. “Your wish is my command.”
I eyed the periodical dubiously. “And what will that cost me?”