Page 62

“You just want me for my cooking.”

“No, I want ya here for a lot of reasons. Cooking may be at the top of the list, but it’s not the only reason.”

She sighed long and loud. “I have business to run. I have clients to serve.”

“So do that part-time. I can get ya a job that pays more than doing hair, even as talented at that as ya are.”

“You think I should work for Shadow Breakers.”

“I think ya have what it takes. Any money ya get from hocking antiquities can be stashed in yer mad money fund.”

Mulan grunted at me. “For when I go mad from unsolvable problem of bedding a high demon. That may be good idea, Aran.”

I laughed at her angst. “I meant the mad money ya save for vacations. Or ya can buy yer weight in stupid makeup and girlie stuff.”

“You are strangest woman I ever met. Makeup is curse word for you.”

I shrugged. “Who has time for makeup? I don’t. I have to go stop a female guardian from turning more innocent young women into demon wolves. She won’t be noticing my mascara. She’ll be paying attention to my demon armor and one of my gods-blessed swords.”

Mulan put her elbows on the table and rested her chin on top of her fists. “If you were handsome man, you would be perfect for me.”

I giggled into my coffee. “Maybe all the best female friendships are born of such admiration. Have Conn and ya worked things out? Because the place Fiona found has a large house and several cottages with it. If ya move in with us, ya’ll get yer own place again.”

“Are you rich enough to buy such property?”

“Not really,” I said, smiling at her. “The only reason I’m considering it is because Conn is a money genius. The down payment we need is what we’ll be paid for the job involving the female guardian. Plus, there’s some other money I’m going to make as the new trainer.”

“Trainer of witching magick?”

I shook my head. “No, I’ll be doing training about how to deal with bad guys and their powers. Rasmus—the new boy-toy version—is my first trainee.”

She giggled. “A master never sleeps with a student.”

I snorted. “Not usually... no. But not so long ago our roles were reversed. Rasmus knows that now and the world didn’t explode. I find it best to never say never when it comes to yer heart.”

“I will give move-in offer some thought.”

“Once I give ya my word, I will keep it, Mulan. Ya will have a home with me no matter what happens between Conn and ya. If he makes ya mad, the high demon can stay in dog form when ya’re around.”

“You are good friend, Aran.”

I laughed at her serious tone. “I haven’t had a friend in a very long time. I’m grateful ya’re letting me work out my kinks. Ya could have done better.”

“I doubt that,” she said. “Will you tell Conn I went to hair shop?”

“Sure. I’ll also tell him that ya can’t be bothered with a man who wears out in bed as easily as he does. If he needs that much sleep to recover, I’ll tell him I told ya to find a younger version.”

Mulan studied me for a few moments and then shook her head. “Never mind. I will wake him myself and tell him I am leaving.”

As she walked down the hallway, I grinned and got up to refill my coffee. Conn was going to owe me one today, which was good because I needed to see Isaiah again. Neither he nor Rasmus liked the werewolf but I needed to borrow his nose.

* * *

The coffee shopwas the closest place Isaiah could meet us because of his classes. It worked out well since it gave Conn a reason to pop into the hair shop to see Mulan.

Rasmus and I ordered coffee and waited. The normal barista was missing today. In her place was a perfectly pleasant young man whose service was impeccable. There was no fun to be had at his expense, which depressed me.

So far Rasmus had said nothing about our kissing last night. If anything, he seemed to be ignoring me.