He runs ahead of me, into the kitchen, looking back every few seconds to make sure I’m behind him. As soon as I set my bags on the counter, I scoop him up and hug him close, barely able to hold his squirming fluff-ball body.
Ash comes in behind me and sets his bags next to the others.
I return Chester to the floor and turn my attention to the man. “Thank you for today—and for lunch. I had a nice time.”
“You’re welcome. I must catch up on work tomorrow, but in the evening, we can go over your business paperwork.”
“I’ll make dinner if you want,” I find myself telling him, even though I can only make a few things, and I doubt he wants boxed macaroni and cheese.
But the small fact I can’t cook doesn’t seem important right now—it’s a problem for tomorrow.
“I’d like that,” he says.
My breath catches as I look up at him. The councilman studies me, smiling slightly. Dang it, I must be sparkling again.
I rip my eyes to the groceries. “I should put these away.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He looks reluctant as he takes a few steps toward the living room, walking backward so he’s still facing me.
“What time do you get off work?” I ask.
“Five-thirty.” He takes another step and then pauses.
“Just come on over when you’re done.” I abandon the groceries, deciding I should walk him to the door like a polite pixie.
We end up hesitating in the entry. So tall, Ash looks down at me. He slides his hands into his front trouser pockets, smiling slightly.
This wasn’t a date—not a regular date nor aday-date, as Rowan suggested. So why does it feel like it was?
“I’m doing it again, aren’t I?” I whisper, wincing. I can feel the shimmering magic surrounding me, pulsing in time with the butterflies in my stomach.
“You are,” he confirms.
“I’m sorry.” I pull my eyes to the floor, mortified.
“Don’t be.” His voice is friendly, curious even. “I don’t think I’ve ever made a woman sparkle before.”
“Haven’t been around too many pixies?”
He chuckles. “No, I have.”
Oh good. Everyone is just better at controlling it than I am.
“Is it because you’re a summer?” he asks, curious. “Is your season naturally shimmery?”
“No, it’s not unique to summers. It’s just a pixie thing, but it’s worse when our magic is at full-strength.”
Like mine is now.
“And it happens when you’re…” Ash hesitates, a roguish smile playing at the corner of his mouth. “Attracted to someone?”
“Um, kind of.”Let me die.“You know that sensation you get when you’re around someone and you get butterflies in your stomach? It’s that, except…visible. Which is really fun and not at all embarrassing.”
Ash laughs softly. “School must have been difficult.”
“I went to a human school, and they can’t see it. Only fae.”
“Interesting.” He shifts forward. “Is it usually this persistent?”
