Page 14

Chapter

Eleven

JUNIPER

I adjusted one of the enchanted mason jars, watching golden light spill across worn brick paths.

The central courtyard looked almost normal if you ignored the way shadows seemed to dance away from the protective runes carved into the stone fountain.

Five intimate seating areas spiraled out from this hub like petals, each one specifically positioned to allow both mingling and strategic retreat.

"You're hovering," Diana said, appearing beside me. "The garden is perfect."

"I'm not hovering," I lied as I straightened another jar. "I'm ensuring my first mixer doesn't end in supernatural warfare or someone getting eaten."

Diana laughed. "An entirely reasonable concern, given your guest list."

I scanned my handiwork one more time. No iron furniture near Lunara's designated area—even enchanted garden chairs could make our Fae guest's skin crawl.

Ruby and Vivienne's spaces sat at opposite compass points—centuries of wolf-vampire tensions weren't about to be solved over appetizers and small talk.

Elena's seating area featured sturdy furniture that should withstand even the most enthusiastic wolf shifting.

And Astrid's space...I'd positioned the demi-goddess near the reflecting pool, trusting the sunset would catch those remarkable golden eyes just right.

Someone here tonight would see that divine glow and be utterly captivated.

The crunch of leaves drew my gaze to the garden entrance.

My heart did that stupid little flutter thing as Lust strode through the archway, his charcoal suit a stark contrast against the spring colors.

The setting sun caught his chestnut hair, and I found myself wondering if it was as soft as it looked.

No. I forced my attention back to the place settings, irritated at my own weakness.

Getting involved with anyone was firmly off the table, and lusting after Lust himself?

Oh, the irony. Still, my eyes betrayed me, stealing glances as he approached.

That combination of raw power and endearing awkwardness shouldn't be as appealing as it was.

I focused instead on straightening my sweater, reminding myself that organizing other people's love lives was as close as I planned to get to romance.

My days of trusting in love ended the moment Xavier showed his true colors.

Diana's eyebrows lifted slightly. The look she gave Lust was calculating, like she was solving a particularly interesting puzzle.

"Your setup actually looks..." Lust paused, his aristocratic features arranging themselves into careful neutrality. "Adequate."

"High praise indeed," I drawled, but my retort lacked its usual bite. My stomach twisted itself into knots that had nothing to do with the way Lust's presence made the air feel charged.

Diana glided closer to Lust, her smile pure mischief. "Speaking of adequate, how are those quotas coming along? I heard Aydan had to make three emergency matches last week just to keep your numbers up. None of them actually stuck either. One date, and they were done."

Lust's jaw tightened. "I wasn't aware you had my assistant reporting to you now."

"Oh please, that boy would report to a houseplant if it showed interest in his spreadsheets." Diana adjusted a mason jar with deliberate care. "How long has it been since you made a successful match yourself? Two months? Three?"

"I've been occupied with other matters."

"Brooding isn't a full-time occupation, darling." She winked at me. "Though he does it so well, doesn't he?"

I busied myself, kicking a stray leaf under the bush, trying not to smile as Lust's perfectly controlled expression cracked.

"I am called Lust," he said with exaggerated patience. "Not Romance. The distinction seems to continually escape you."

Diana's laugh sparkled through the garden. "And there's your problem. Lust without romance is like," she gestured at the garden, "conjuring fire without warmth. All flash, no comfort."

"The metaphors get worse the longer I know you," Lust muttered, but I caught something almost fond in his tone.

The garden gate creaked, and my heart jumped into my throat. Time to see if I could really pull this off.

I did one last check on the stock at the bar while Diana welcomed our first guest. Two security guards in dark suits flanked the garden entrance, checking the invites of everyone arriving.

"Lunara!" Diana embraced the Fae woman warmly. "How's the dance studio? Those new mirrors we talked about working out?"

Lunara smoothed her blue maxi dress, silver hair catching the sunset. "Finally. Though explaining UV-resistant glass to the installers was...interesting."

Three men in business casual drifted through the gate. Lust materialized beside me, making the air crackle with supernatural energy.

"The one in the gray blazer," he muttered. "Marketing executive. Terrible poet. Tried to woo a water nymph with haikus about drought."

I arched an eyebrow. "Fascinating. You know what would be really helpful? Having this kind of information in their actual files instead of just 'enjoys fine dining' and 'seeking meaningful connection.' "

He straightened his already perfect cuffs. "My filing system is perfectly adequate."

"Your filing system is why you're missing quota." The words slipped out before I could stop them.

His eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, Ruby's arrival drew our attention. The wolf's crimson silk blouse and tailored slacks screamed corporate power player rather than predator as she embraced Diana.

"Still keeping this one in line?" Ruby nodded toward Lust, her smile sharp.

"As much as anyone can," Diana laughed. "How's the merger going?"

"Better now that I fired that warlock consultant who thought he knew more about pack dynamics than I did."

Two more men entered—a fae attorney whose profile actually mentioned his fondness for contract law puns, and a succubus whose only listed hobby was "collecting rare metals." I made another note about Lust's questionable information gathering skills.

"The succubus is actually quite the chef," Lust offered, as if reading my thoughts. "Specializes in molecular gastronomy."

"Let me guess, also not in his file?"

"Details are...fluid."

I snorted. "Like your quota requirements?"

His retort was cut off by Vivienne's arrival, the vampire's navy power suit making even Lust look underdressed. Diana floated over to greet her, leaving me to track another cluster of arriving men.

"Vivienne!" Diana air-kissed both cheeks. "That Valentino suit is criminal."

"Speaking of criminals," Vivienne's gaze slid to Lust, "remember that vampire earl you tried to set me up with? Please tell me he's not here tonight."

"He had excellent lineage," Lust protested.

"He still lived with his sire. In a crypt."

I bit back a laugh while marking another note. "Lived with sire. Let me guess, not in his file."

Lust cleared his throat while conveniently fixing the cuff of his coat.

Four more men entered: a warlock in a leather jacket, a fae attorney, and two shifters. I made another note about Lust's questionable matchmaking skills as conversations started to flow between the guests.

"The one in the blue tie," he murmured, "incredible pianist. Terrible taste in wine."

"And his file says...?"

"'Enjoys music and beverages.' "

"Seriously? How did you ever make any successful matches?"

His shoulders tensed. "I'll have you know?—"

"Astrid's here," I said as the demi-goddess glided through the gate.

Diana met her halfway. "You're glowing tonight."

"Solar flare season," Astrid shrugged, golden highlights in her hair literally shimmering. "Makes controlling the radiance tricky."

Three more men entered, one stumbling when he caught sight of Astrid. Lust sighed.

"Don't tell me," I said. "The stumbling one's file just says 'likes shiny things'?"

" 'Appreciates natural beauty,' actually."

"I hope you know that you are literally the worst at this." I watched another potential match fumble his greeting to Astrid.

"If you want better, work for Cupid," he sniffed. "They're picky about their clientele, expensive as hell, but they have good results."

I tapped my finger on the side of my thigh, an idea forming. "Speaking of results, we need to discuss our original deal. You said ten couples in ten days for ten thousand, but you only had five women available for matching. Either I need to find five more women, or we renegotiate the terms."

His jaw tightened slightly. "The agency is always acquiring new clients?—"

"Right now, tonight, I have five women and you have," I gestured at the crowd, "way more than five men.

So that's five thousand for five matches, not ten.

Except you set me up to fail from the beginning with your terrible files and missing photos.

" I crossed my arms. "I'm thinking seven thousand is more fair compensation for cleaning up your mess. "

"You've been here a week, and you're already renegotiating?"

"I'm efficient like that." I flashed him my sweetest smile. "How about this? Six thousand for getting all five matched tonight. And if any of them turn into actual love matches that last longer than a month..."

"You're pushing your luck."

"And you're missing the quota. Better than letting Aydan handle your emergency matches."

He studied me for a long moment, that sin energy making the air between us feel thick. "Five thousand five hundred for the matches."

"Six thousand, and I won't mention your terrible filing system at the next staff meeting."

"Five thousand seven hundred and fifty, and you stop smirking every time someone mentions quotas."

"Deal." I extended my hand. "Shake on it?"

His palm met mine, warm and electric. For a heartbeat too long, neither of us let go.

"You do realize," he said softly, "that betting with a sin is dangerous?"