Aida grinned around the mouth of her bottlebefore lowering it. “That’s what you get for unexpectedly showingup at my job.”
He smiled at the teasing note in her voice.“That woman is more of a vampire than I am. She pretty much drainedmy savings account.” And all for a painting he planned to give awayas soon as he received it. Owen wasn’t her boyfriend, but he stilldidn’t want a reminder of the guy.
Aida glanced nervously around to make sure noone overheard him, but no one was paying attention to them. “Youhave a savings account?” she asked.
“Idid.”
Aida chuckled as she turned her attentionback to him. “Where did you get the money?”
“I worked while I was traveling. How do youthink I got around?”
“I guess I assumed you used your ability tomanipulate minds for places to stay, money, transportation, and…well, anything you needed.”
“Nope. I had money in savings before I left,mostly from hacking jobs I took for the kids at school. I kept morethan a few of my classmates and their friends in good standing withtheir grades by stealing tests and answers for them.”
“How… upstanding of you.”
He grinned at her as his hand fell on the barbeside hers. It wassoclose. If she moved her finger acouple oftinycentimeters, they would be touching.
“Upstanding is boring,” he said.
And he was anything but boring. Like Kyle andCassidy, he could have asked his parents for help if it becamenecessary, and she could do the same with Mollie, but she didn’twant to rely on Mollie, and it seemed Julian felt the same wayabout his parents.
“There were a few times I had to use myabilities,” he continued. “But, for the most part, I did as humansdo and worked my way around the world. It was a challenge Iwelcomed.”
Kyle and Cassidy wanted to experience life ashumans for a bit, but she was curious as to why Julian did too.“Why?”
“Why not? It was more of a challenge to work,save money, and move on than it was to use my abilities.” Heglanced around before pitching his voice lower and leaning closerto her. “For those first years, it wasn’t as difficult to be aroundpeople. It still wasn’t great, but I could handle it, and Iactually enjoyed watching them go about their lives. I knew, oneday, that wouldn’t be the case, and I decided to experience as muchof this world as possible before being around humans made it toodifficult to travel.”
Aida didn’t recall thinking about moving herhand before it was resting over his. Julian didn’t move for asecond, and then his hand turned over beneath hers, and he squeezedit. “And is it becoming too difficult?” she asked.
It’s a lot easier when you’re here.But he kept that to himself. “It’s getting there,” he admitted.
“What will you do?”
“I’ll handle it.”
“Julian—”
“I’ll be fine, Aida.”
The haunting strains of music drifted away.From the pub tables closest to the stage, a group of men applaudedloudly as one of them released a loud whistle. Cassidy smiled atthem before giving an elegant bow that made them cheer louder. Theywere still clapping when the piano player started the next song,and they didn’t stop until Cassidy began singing again.
CHAPTER 19
“She’s so talented,” Aida said as she pulled herhand away from Julian’s.
“That she is,” Julian agreed.
“Do you want a drink?” Kyle asked as heappeared in front of Julian.
“I’ll have a beer.”
“We have many beers; you’re going to have tonarrow it down some,” Kyle said as he waved at the row of at leasttwenty taps. “Plus, we have bottles.”
Julian studied the taps. “Give me yourfavorite.”
“You got it.”
