Page 33 of Guarded by My Gargoyle

“I was talking to Maris and turned around and there was a Stonehaven-shaped hole in the room.”

“There is no such thing.”

“Seven feet tall. Wings. It’s a very distinctive shape.”

“I wanted air.”

“So I hear.” Her gaze flicked towards Aidan.

“Traitor,” Garrick said.

“I didn’t say anything,” Aidan protested.

“You didn’t have to.”

Flora hopped down onto the porch, patted Aidan’s arm as she passed him, gave Sam a little wave, then planted herself directly in front of Garrick.

“Sit down, boy. You’re giving me a crick.”

“I’m not sitting down.”

“Then I’ll make this quick.” Her black eyes traveled over him. “You look terrible.”

“I looked exactly like this an hour ago.”

“No. An hour ago you looked constipated. Now you look tragic.”

Sam made a suspicious choking noise from the river, and Garrick ignored him. “Did you need something?”

“I needed air, just like you.” She inhaled elaborately through her nose. “Ah. Lovely.”

“Flora.”

“All right. I wanted to see if you’d gone home.”

“Why?”

“Curiosity.”

“No.”

“Nosiness?”

“Closer.”

Her teeth flashed, and he looked at her for a long moment. “You arranged the appointment.”

Flora’s eyebrows rose.

“At the start,” he said. “You set it up before either of us agreed to it.”

“I did.”

“Why?”

“Your gardens were a disgrace, and she needed a large contract.”

“That isn’t why.”