Magical Midlife Invasion (Leveling Up 3)

His mouth turned downward as he thought. Finally, he said, “I could find a use for them if they stay. I’ll get back to you.” He reached out and gently squeezed my upper arm. “Time for me to go. I have a lot of work to get to, so I’ll be away for a while. I’m getting things in place before I buy that winery, so…I’ll talk to you about that at a later date. If you need me…” He paused, dropping his hand to his side, his robust muscles flexing, popping out all over his torso. “I’ll see you around, okay? Call me if…you get into trouble.”

I watched him leave with mixed emotions, wanting desperately for him to stay. Although I knew he had to get back to his life, especially since he was still in the early stages of building his territory, it had been nice to have him around. Nice but also dangerous, because any longer and I would’ve forgotten why I was supposed to keep my hands off him. His comforting presence around the house calmed me in ways nothing else did. Pleased me, if I was being honest. Feeling him curl around my body, or his lips on mine…

I blew out a breath, tore my eyes away, and marched into the house. That guy was special, he was incredibly handsome, he was one of a kind, and he was not looking for a dame on his arm. I might be willing to peel back my regulations about work and pleasure, but he clearly wasn’t planning on it, and that was just fine. He was too hot for the likes of me, anyway. Down with hot people—they made you feel like you had to try harder. I wanted to keep trying very little, thank you very much.

Back in the house, I found my mother in the kitchen, tidying the counters. Time to clear the air.

“Hey, Mom,” I said, stopping at the counter. I felt Mr. Tom upstairs in the doll room, repairing those that had come back without arms, eyes, or a head. The intruders hadn’t been as scared of the dolls as they were of the shifters and basajaun, and a few of the plastic and plaster horrors had been kicked or stomped to high heaven. “How’s…everything?”

She placed a glass in the cabinet. “Jessie, you know that I’m pretty open-minded, but…” She shook her head. “What happened in the front yard… That was a little much. Magic or no, you can’t go around wiping out leather-clad people like that. What if the cops find out? Visiting you in this house has been hard enough, I don’t want to make arrangements to visit you in prison.”

“I know. This whole thing has been an adjustment for me, too, but this is how the magical world works.”

Her sigh was heavy and her body bowed. “Magic is real. All these years you think one thing, and then the wool is lifted from your eyes.” She shook her head, suddenly looking older than her years. “It’s going to take me a while to wrap my head around all this. We’re going to leave tomorrow. We need a break.”

“I get it. Sorry, about all of this. I know it’s hard to process.”

“Dolls walking around, strange animals—do the butler and those boys actually fly with those capes? Like Superman?”

I huffed out a laugh. “Those aren’t capes, they are wings. They’re gargoyles. When they turn into their other form, those turn into wings. Like a bat, kinda.”

Her silent stare was a little manic.

“It took me a while to get used to it,” I murmured. “But it isn’t always so dangerous here, I promise. You just got unlucky.” It was partially true.

She wiped down the already clean island. “I just don’t know. I don’t like the idea of all of this. Why not a peaceful life? Maybe throw your hat into the ring again for love. That Austin Steele is sure a lovely man. Quite the looker. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. He dotes on you.”

“He turns into a polar bear. He’s not part of a peaceful life.”

She groaned and put up her hand. “Let’s not talk about that.”

“He also has a rough past and isn’t looking for a relationship.”

“Well, that just sounds like fear, that’s what that sounds like. He’s gallant and a gentleman, but he’s just as blind to love as the rest of them. He needs you to show him. Give him a nudge, Jessie—that’s all he needs. Show him what you want, and he will serve you up the world, I can see it.”

“I just want to get used to…this new life. I just got out of a divorce, Ma. I don’t need a relationship either.”

“Oh now, Jessie, you and Matt were emotionally divorced for years. It’s about time you connected with someone again. Matt has. I hear he’s happy with his new girlfriend. If he’s moved on, why don’t you? Why not choose someone like Austin?”