“She had options—she was close to nearly everyone in town. She could have left her estate to any of them, but instead, she picked you.”
“Why do you think she did that?” I ask, hoping he’ll have the answer.
“Probably because you share the same magic. Since you’re a summer, the tea shop will retain the joyful ambiance it’s always had. Even though our visiting human patrons don’t know why it feels a certain way, they enjoy it. The magic draws them in. Laverna didn’t want to take that from them.”
I ponder that, finally nodding.
“And I think you were the only one she trusted with me.”
“So, I inherited Laverna’s fortune thanks to you?”
“I believe so.”
I smile, turning toward the living room. “Then the least I can do is sacrifice a little magic for you.”
Chapter 17
The Proper Way to Address a Sorcerer
Aknock at the locked tea shop door pulls Rowan and me away from our conversation about Alishan oolong tea.
“It’s Ash,” Rowan says needlessly, like I don’t have eyes. He doesn’t sound happy about the intrusion, though we both knew Ash was going to meet us today.
I open the door for the councilman, excited to see him on a day off when he doesn’t have any obligation to check on me. He’s just here because he wants to be.
“Hi,” I say, trying to suppress my shimmer.
I must not do a good job because Ash’s smile edges into self-satisfied territory. I’m not sure the man needs the constant ego boost my magic is determined to give him.
“Good morning.” He leans down and drops a greeting kiss to my lips.
The move is unexpected, and it fills me with pure pleasure. Joyful magic twines around us like a contented house cat.
Ash groans softly, almost like he’s in pain, but there’s a smile on his lips. “You’re more rejuvenating than caffeine.”
“Does that mean you don’t want your daily cup of Irish breakfast?”
“No, I’ll gladly take tea.”
He follows me into the shop, pausing when he spots my owl, looking slightly annoyed, like he didn’t realize he was here.
“Rowan,” he says, acknowledging him.
“Ash.”
“You two are going to get along,” I inform them. “You’re not children anymore.”
“Some of us aren’t even men anymore,” Ash says, smirking.
I round the counter and give him a stern look. “Be nice.”
Ash lifts his hands in surrender, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “How is tea training going?”
“Good,” I say brightly. “We’re going over Taiwanese teas today. I’ve just discovered Alishan.”
Ash settles onto a barstool across from me. “Is that a green?”
“It’s an oolong that leans green, grown in the Alishan Mountains. It’s buttery soft, with gentle honey notes.”
