No, and that is unusual.
How unusual?
The only magical beings I generally cannot read are the dead reanimated or those without souls.
And he is obviously neither.
Unusual, as I said.
“Intriguing” was what he meant. I returned my attention to René. “Shall I meet you there?”
He nodded. “I need to slip by my apartment first and get a few things, just to ensure our safety, but it should only add twenty minutes or so.”
I didn’t believe that excuse for a second. “You own an apartment here? Or was that just a figure of speech?”
His smile finally broke free of the shadows haunting him. “According to the rags, I’m a millionaire playboy. What do you think?”
“An apartment in every capital and a girl in every town,” I replied with a grin.
“Not quite every town,” he said, smile widening. “EvenIhaven’t that sort of stamina.”
“That’s not what the gossip rags say.”
The stars returned, gleaming mischievously. “I guess the only way you’ll find out is to succumb to my charms and my bed.”
Mind above the crotchcame Atticus’s comment.
Thankfully, he didnotbroadcast that widely.Are you sure you were some grand lord? You seem more like a freaking monk to me.
I am—was—an earl, and in my time, women did not make out with strangers.
Aside from the fact it hasn’t been “your time” for centuries, you’ve been the familiar for multiple witches.
All of whom were male and not so sexually... frustrated.
“I take it,” René said wryly, “that you are currently conversing with the cat that is definitelynotyour familiar.”
“His name is Atticus, and he’s an ass.”
René glanced down at Atticus and formally bowed. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Atticus.”
The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.
I rolled my eyes. “I should warn you, René, that he has this thing for men with power.”
René’s eyebrows rose. “He can sense mine?”
“No. Neither can I, for that matter. Why is that?”
“Shields within shields.” He glanced at his watch. “I will meet you at the pier in, say, an hour?”
I hesitated, my gaze briefly brushing his lips, then stepped back and forced a smile. “See you soon.”
He didn’t reply, but he did watch me as I walked to my car and climbed inside; his gaze was a weight that lingered deliciously long after I had left. Thankfully, Atticus had decidednotto accompany me but go directly to the meeting spot, so I didn’t have to put up with his running commentary on the state of my hormones.
Once I was close to Pandanus Beach, I stopped at a supermarket to get some nibblies to provide a plausible cover for us sitting there talking, then grabbed us both a decent coffee. With the bag of food and the tray holding the two coffees in hand, I walked down to the end of the pier. René wasn’t there, but Atticus had claimed one of two tables available at the end of the T-shaped pier and was giving anyone who tried to claim it off him the evil eye.
He had a very good line in evil eye, let me tell you.
