Page 106 of Bargain With the Boss

I sighed. “It’s nothing.”

“Nothing?” She put a hand on my cheek and tipped my head up to meet her gaze. “I think not.” Then she gave it a little tap. “Spill.”

“Have any lemonade?”

“If I get you some will you stop avoiding my question?”

“Maybe if you put some beer in it.”

She laughed. “Luna Shandy coming up.” She went to the cabinets and pulled down two mason jars and started buildingour favorite summer drink. “You aren’t planning Arthur’s demise again, are you?”

“Always.” I kicked out my legs and crossed them at the ankles. Cheddar chased a coil across the cork flooring then rerouted and used his sharp little nails to climb my jeans to settle himself on my chest then immediately set to purring.

“See, even Cheddar Better knows you need something.” She set the sweating glass in front of me with a ridiculously large lime slice on the lip.

I tipped the slice into the glass and lifted it for a sip. Between the drink and the cat and Luna’s house, I felt some of the anger ebb from me.

“It’s a girl.”

I sighed. “Is that your witchy powers?”

“No, sisterly.” She sat across from me at the cluttered table. “And I’ve had that vibe when I’m fighting with Caleb. So spill.”

“Lu, I’m not sure I’m ready to.”

“That bad, huh?” Milo came over with a chunky puzzle piece and tossed it on the table. “Hey, Tornado Mi, does that belong on the table?”

He just shrugged and went back to the bench to return with another, this time he left it on Luna’s leg.

She sighed and piled it with the other. “This is why my house looks like it does.”

I grinned at her. “You love it.”

She wrinkled her nose at me. “Yeah, I do. And I see you changing the subject.”

“Yeah, well it’s a damn long story.”

She stood and took our drinks. “Then come into my lair and tell me all about it.”

I hauled myself up off my chair, dumping the cat on my seat. I picked up Milo on the way by and flipped him up over myshoulder. He squealed and demanded another flip. “You’re not going to pull cards are you?”

“I wasn’t going to, but now I am.”

“Man. I walked into that.”

She snickered as she opened up the door to the four seasons space she used for her reading room. It was bright and cool in the midday sun thanks to three massive fans overhead. More plants were in here, these more oversized with a monstera in the corner as well as a fern that was as tall as me.

My sister always had an affinity for greens.

I wondered if she and Syd would get along as fellow plant mamas.

Not that it mattered anymore.

“That aura is getting more red.” She tipped her head.

“I’m here for—wow.” I noticed the shelves. “He didn’t catch that was wrong?”

“Pretty sure he was just glad he knew how to use the drill. He kinda forgot about the level part. Said he could eyeball it.”