Magical Midlife Dating (Leveling Up 2)

“Right now, you’re just a guy maintaining order. You have no actual authority. You’re uncrowned. That means people who don’t know you won’t feel compelled to listen to you—most out of ignorance, and some out of stubbornness. You shouldn’t have to fight for dominance every time someone oversteps. You need a sheriff badge, like in the old westerns. You need to be legit. Otherwise, it’ll be mayhem.”

The little clearing fell silent as he looked down at Jacinta’s worried face. He infused his words with his magic as he gently wrapped his fingers around her upper arms. “For as long as I’ve been here, I’ve always been just a guy maintaining order. Trust me, Jacinta, it’s more than I’ll ever need. I am the sheriff badge, and I like fighting for dominance to prove it. Don’t worry about the town—I’ve got it covered, no matter what comes.”7After finishing up my training in the trees a couple of hours earlier, mostly close combat, as I’d expected, and watched by Austin for the first time, I had excused myself to get ready for the date Niamh had set up. She’d taken over my online dating accounts because, in her words, I couldn’t be trusted to choose decent candidates. I hadn’t even argued—I was genuinely curious if she’d do a better job than I had. She couldn’t do much worse.

I checked myself in the mirror and felt all the color drain from my face. I pulled my eyes away…then slowly let them drift back.

That pep talk I’d given myself last week after the train-wreck date had prompted me to go shopping and pick up some new dresses. I hadn’t found any fun disco-ball outfits in my size, but I had picked a few dresses that showed off my curves and newly toned-up body—thank you, Ivy House, for tightening everything back up. Cheat to win.

Where the hell had all that courage gone?

I stared at the woman in the mirror, standing in a tight, bright red dress that showed popping cleavage, pushed out and up by a push-up bra, plenty of leg, and every single plane and angle of her body. She might as well have a sign that said, “Look at me, I’m sexy and glamorous!”

Which had seemed right up my alley when I was trying things on in a colorless dressing room and getting beaming nods of approval from Mr. Tom whenever I asked for his opinion. Now, ready to go into reality where strangers could see me, suddenly I wasn’t so sure. As a forty-year-old divorced mom…I wanted to gawk at myself, laugh nervously, and then slip into my PJs.

“No.” I balled up my fists, my face now the same color as the dress. “I’m sexy, damn it. I am glamorous. I will not swim around in frumpy black dresses as a means to escape attention. Oh crap, I’m showing a lot of boob.”

I thought about switching bras, but honestly didn’t want to fight my way out of this one, not to mention the dress. While the dress was actually quite comfortable, since the material stretched a little and the lace on the bodice and wrapping around my back wasn’t too tight, I worried I might break the zipper or bust a seam or something. I didn’t have the energy to pick out another outfit. Best to just go with it.

“I hope this guy is not a turd,” I muttered, fastening on a sparkly diamond and ruby necklace. My ex had had his faults, but when it came to jewelry, he’d given amazing presents.

I clasped the matching bracelet, chose dangly diamonds for earrings, and did one last check of my hair and makeup. My smoky-eye ability was much better this time—thank you, YouTube tutorials. My hair…well, there was a little curl in the otherwise straight sheet that fell past my shoulders. Good enough.

I sucked in a breath, widened my eyes at my boobs, which now looked on the verge of popping out of my dress, and blew out my breath again. I must remember not to do that at the restaurant. I didn’t know much about the kind of guy Niamh had chosen—I didn’t want him to think my breathing was an invitation.

I was more nervous to wear this dress in public than I was to meet another potential romantic interest.

“You are a sexy, independent woman, Jacinta,” I told the woman in the mirror. All dolled up like this, I hardly recognized her. “You look better than you have in years. You feel better than you have in years. Freer. Austin said he’ll be around in case danger shows up. All you have to do is—”

A stranger touched down on the front walkway, followed by another. The visitors walked up the path slowly, their presence throbbing through my middle. This wasn’t the danger I still felt coming, working its way to the house from afar. This was the result of the first summons, I knew. These people were answering my first call for help, the one I hadn’t put any requirements on before sending out.