“Damn. I figured he was magical, but I didn’t realize he was a Traiteur.”
“Yeah, he actually helped with my Passing, and now I’ve strong-armed him into helping me practice my treating skills.”
Avery lifted his right brow. “Hot.”
“Put that sassy brow back down, you whore. He has absolutely zero interest in me. Trust.”
“Men,” grumbled Avery.
Ophelia’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She glanced at it quickly. Etienne. As if just talking about him conjured his presence.
Etienne: Sure. I can do Wednesday night. Where do you want to meet?
Ophelia: Perfect. Let’s do my place.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
Wednesday after work at Prytania Botanica, Ophelia rushed home to meet Etienne. She didn’t question why she immediately changed into a fresh outfit, re-brushed her hair, and touched up her makeup the moment she got home. As she exited her bathroom, she paused, then turned back in to brush her teeth. She just wanted him to see her as a put-together human. That was all. The last time he saw her…Well, she’d been a sobbing mess.
Two sharp knocks sounded on her door. Ophelia took a deep breath to calm her nerves, then opened the door.
“Hey, E.” She could feel how big her smile was. How could it not be? It was Etienne in the flesh, in…scrubs and glasses.Good Lord. “Come on in.” She stepped aside to let him through the door.
“Hey, O.” Etienne walked through the threshold and leaned in for a chaste hug. He smelled so good— salty skin, oak trees, and clean soap. Ophelia refrained from breathing deeper.
“When did you get glasses?” she asked and took the opportunity to examine his face.
“Oh, I’ve always had them. My contacts start to bother me at the end of the workday.”
“I like them. They suit you.” Etienne sheepishly smiled, andOphelia acted like what she said was just a passing compliment and not anything more. “Want anything to drink? I just got off from work at Botanica and am in need of wine.”
“I could use a drink.” Etienne followed her into the kitchen and leaned up against the island counter with his arms crossed, accentuating his biceps.
“I’m opening a bottle of red, but I also have all the liquor and your Miller Lites left over from Red Dress Run.”
Etienne chuckled. “I do like my Miller Lite, but I’ll just have a glass of red since you’re opening a bottle.”
Ophelia grabbed two wine glasses and the bottle of red from her bar cart. Placing the glasses and bottles down on the island counter next to Etienne, she returned to the bar cart to grab the wine opener.
“May I?” asked Etienne as he held the wine bottle in one hand and extended the other for the wine opener. The simple gesture melted her heart. Etienne was nice. He was just …reserved and distant at times.
Ophelia handed him the wine opener and watched the muscles and tendons on his forearms glide and flex as he uncorked the wine. He poured a glass and passed it to her. When he finished pouring his wine, she lifted her glass in cheers.
“Cheers to…” Ophelia thought for a moment. “Never having to be the recipient of the Passing ever again.”
A laugh erupted from him, forcing his dimples to peek through his beard. They clinked glasses.
“Cheers to that,” he said.
“So what’s your treating story? I’m assuming Brutus passed you the gift.”
“Actually, my father did before he passed away.”
Ophelia pulled her drink away from her mouth in shock. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry. How old were you?”
“Twenty-three. The year after I graduated from LSU. I was in med school when he passed from pancreatic cancer.”
She was taken aback. She hated that she didn’t know thisalready, but she had just moved to New York at the time and was dealing with her own trauma.
