Maybe she should have been honest. He didn’t know it would only be the two of them. She knew Nathan would have nothing to do with it and could count on Morgaine not cheapening the most sacred Wiccan holiday there is. She’d just “forget” to invite Jules or say she forgot accidentally on purpose because he’s the Super and doesn’t like parties in the building. Since Sly doubted he’d go anyway she could say she didn’t want to put him in the awkward position of refusing.
“So, Samhain—I mean, Halloween is only a couple of days away. You won’t forget to tell me soon, right?”
He smiled. “No, I won’t forget.”
As soon as he closed the door after her, she stuck out her lower lip. “Chad,” she whispered, “I swear you ruin everything.”
His voice followed her up the stairs. “I didn’t ruin anything, but you were about to.”
“What are you jabberin’ about?”
“Your relationship with Morgaine. You know how competitive you two can be.”
“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”
“Yes, you do. I remember a couple of world class fights between you two only a few months ago. It’s a good thing Konrad was here to lift you off Morgaine and suspend you in midair by your macramé belt.”
Gwyneth chuckled. “We was just scrappin’. Nobody got hurt.”
“Well, he’s not here now, and I can’t very well keep you two from killing each other if you go at it again. Of course, if one of you murdered the other one, I’d have some company, wouldn’t I?”
“Probably not, since witches believe in reincarnation, but you don’t have to worry, Chad. Nothin’s gonna happen.”
“Famous last words.”
Morgaine had some appointments for readings the following day. This woman wanted a palm reading. Not the best for loads of information so she didn’t do it often, but it was good to keep her skills sharp. She traced the heart line of her female client. “Now this is a good, strong line. There are a couple of partial lines dropping down from it, which means you’ve had a couple of heartaches, but in general your love life is—”
A rap on her door interrupted her thoughts.The energy is familiar—oh, it’s Sly!Now, how to get rid of this client so she could spend some quality time with him?
The woman leaned forward. “My love life is…”
“Oh,” Morgaine patted the woman’s hand. “It’s just fine. You’ll meet the man of your dreams soon, have two children, a house in the suburbs and a minivan.” She craned her neck to face the door and yelled, “Be right there.”
The woman got the hint and pulled out her wallet. “How much do I owe you?”
“Fifty.”
Her eyebrows raised. “Fifty bucks for a ten-minute palm reading?”
Morgaine sighed. “Okay, twenty. But you’re only getting the discount because I hurried the end.”
The woman seemed appeased, paid her bill, and opened the door just as Sly looked like he was about to leave.
Morgaine hurried over. “Sly, come on in.”
“If you’re busy it can wait.”
“No, it’s fine.”
The woman turned to Sly and whispered in his ear, “She’s good, but her appointments are booked too close together. If she rushes you at the end, ask for a break in the price.”
“Uh, thanks,” Sly said. He watched her go.
“What was that about?” Morgaine asked.
Sly strolled into her apartment and waited for her to close the door. “Apparently you give discounts if you kick someone out before they’re finished.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “Uh, well. There was really nothing…”
