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“Why two weeks? If you ask me, Luxton doesn’t deserve even a day’s notice. You never got a salary. You had to depend on tips and commissions from the sale of toy dust bunnies to make the rent. There were no benefits. Any way you look at it, Luxton took advantage of you.”

“He was kind enough to hire me when I desperately needed a job.”

“He wasn’t being kind, Lucy. You and Otis were real moneymakers for him. He used both of you for marketing purposes. He charged extra for your tours because you guaranteed a storm event, but he didn’t give you a cut.”

“Yeah, well, I prefer to stage a professional exit.”

“Twenty bucks says he gets so mad when you tell him you’re leaving that he fires you on the spot.”

Lucy shrugged. “His choice.”

“Whatever. I’ll drop you off at the Storm Zone on my way into the office.” Gabriel tucked his phone into his pocket and started to get to his feet.

“Sit down,” Lucy said.

He paused, brows lifted. “Why?”

“Aiden is handling your inbox. That means you have time for a second cup of coffee.”

“Huh.” Gabriel gave that a few seconds of thoughtful consideration, and then he sat down. His eyes heated. “I do have some time, don’t I?”

“Yep. Get a life, Mr. Guild Boss.”

“Excellent idea.”

He set the phone and the coffee down on the counter, got to his feet, and scooped her off the dining counter stool.

“I’m not sure I have time for this,” she warned.

“You’re not due at Storm Zone Adventure Tours until nine. That gives us plenty of time. Get a life, Ms. Weather Channeler.”

She smiled.

“Excellent idea.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

“Good morning, Mr. Jones.” Aiden got to his feet behind his desk. “I was starting to wonder if I ought to check on you. You’re usually here a lot earlier than this.”

“I’m learning to get a life,” Gabriel said. He slipped out of his leather jacket. “Takes practice.”

“I see. Turns out your timing is excellent.”

Gabriel reflected on the short but extremely hot lovemaking in the rumpled bed and the very interesting shower that had followed.

“Yes, my timing is good,” he said.

“I was referring to the fact that the overnight team of designers and contractors just left. I’m happy to say that things in your office are moving along very rapidly.”

Gabriel was amused. Aiden was still rezzed from his first experience as a member of a Guild emergency response team. True, the action had all been aboveground for him, but a Guild takedown was a Guildtakedown whether it happened on the surface or in the Underworld. It was clear that at long last Aiden was feeling like a real Guild agent.

“Since when do decorators and contractors work overnight?” Gabriel asked.

“This is Illusion Town, sir. It runs around the clock.”

“I’ve heard that.”

“Also, Ms. Fortune and her crew are happy to do a few favors for the Guild.”