The next thing she knew, she was in her apartment wondering, “What was I just about to do? There was something…” She searched her brain, but nothing came to mind. Scratching her head, she shuffled off to her new bedroom to unpack.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I had to be sure Ruxandra didn’t follow me—again.”
Claudia stepped aside and let Anthony into her new apartment. “Mmm-hmm. So, did you come up with any more threats? Maybe something effective this time?”
She wasn’t yelling, but that wasn’t Claudia’s way. Her hand on her hip and lack of a smile showed her annoyance. She only broke out the sarcasm when she was really ticked off.
“I don’t blame you for being upset. This should have been a monumental evening for the two of us. Instead, I left and had to send a couple of friends to pick up the pieces.”
She stalked away and threw her hands in the air. “When is this going to end? Do I have to keep looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life?”
He wished he could say an unequivocal “no,” but he could not. “I’m sorry, Claudia. I know this can’t be easy for you—”
“Do you? Do you have any idea how not easy this is? Sometimes the urge to drink comes out of nowhere and seems unrelated to anything going on. Then I think about the stress I’m under and wonder why I haven’t relapsed before this.” She sat down hard on her couch.
“Did you pick up a drink tonight?”
“No. But I could have.”
“I imagine you could at any time.”
She stared at him. At first her expression was hard. Then she let out a deep breath and sagged against the cushions. “You’re right. I called my sponsor and she calmed me down.”
“Good.” He sat next to her and rested his hand on her knee. “I don’t know much about it, but I think that’s what a sponsor is for. Right?”
“Not just that, but yes. Talking to her helped.”
He tried to joke. “Maybe I should talk to her.”
“You?”
She obviously didn’t get it.
“I’m kidding. But I do wish I had someone like that at times.”
“You should have me.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but he’d heard her clearly.
He squeezed her knee and then wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry about me. I just want you to be safe. I have plenty of friends who will give me an objective opinion—even if I don’t ask for it.”
She smiled. “I imagine Kurt and Tory are good for that.”
“They certainly are. In fact, I plan to talk with them just as soon as I tuck you into bed.”
She glanced up at him coquettishly. “You’re going to tuck me in?”
He realized his mistake too late. If he went into her bedroom, there was a good chance he’d forget about coming out, and he’d asked his friends to meet him in half an hour. “I, uh… Maybe I should wait on that.”
She snorted. “Good. Because I was going to say, ‘Not tonight, honey. I have a backache.’”
Whew.
“Thanks for getting Claudia settled in, guys,” Anthony said. “I’m afraid I have another favor to ask of you. Maybe just some advice or ideas.”
Kurt settled against Anthony’s couch. “Shoot.”
“I’m sorry to take any time away from your searching for the lab, but I need to keep Ruxandra from finding Claudia. Her life is in danger. Ruxandra obviously knows she was moving, but I’d rather she didn’t know Claudia lives right over the tea shop.”
“Why don’t you just mesmerize her?” Tory asked. “Make her think Claudia moved to Timbuktu.”
Anthony dropped his head in his hands. “If I could trick her into letting me mesmerize her, I’d just erase all suspicion of me and Claudia as a couple. I had her convinced it was all business between us until…”
“Until you were swapping spit on the sidewalk,” Tory said.
Anthony rolled his eyes.
Kurt scratched his chin. “I’m thinking…”
Anthony had hoped his wizard friend would come up with a magical solution, but he didn’t want to come right out and ask. The man had powers Anthony didn’t understand. Only Kurt knew what could be done and what the consequences might be.
“I can do a spell to make Claudia invisible, but that might become a problem if a customer wants to see the manager.” Kurt smirked.
Anthony and Tory groaned.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t joke.”
No. You shouldn’t. I’m desperate here.
“Maybe I could…”
Anthony leaned forward.
“Nah. That wouldn’t work,” Kurt muttered. “I’d need her cooperation for that.”
“Ruxandra’s cooperation? That’s unlikely.”
“I know.” Kurt held up one finger. “On the other hand, I’ve never bound a vampire before, and I’m not entirely sure I can since she’s dead and all, which is kind of the ultimate binding.” He shook his head, as if another idea was out the window.
Kurt’s thinking out loud was driving Anthony crazy, but if that’s how Kurt’s thought process worked, he’d have to let him do it.
“I’ve got the solution. I just have to spell it out. Get it? Spell?”
“You’re killing me, Kurt.”
“Relax. I think I can do something. I might be able to make Claudia invisible to Ruxandra only. I just hope Ruxandra’s not too bright and won’t question a teapot floating in midair.”
“Unfortunately, Ruxandra’s very bright and questions everything.”
“Shoot. Just the way I like ’em,” Kurt mumbled.
Anthony raised his eyebrows. “Hold on. Are you saying you might be interested in her?”
Kurt squirmed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I can’t figure out why you two drifted apart. I wish I had a gorgeous woman as devoted to me as she is to you. Women can be so damn fickle.”
“Is this about the Dear John letter you received during your deployment?”
“Two deployments. Two Dear John letters.”
“Ouch. That’s rough. You can have Ruxandra if you can transfer her affections from me to you. Is there some magic spell that can do that?”
Kurt laughed. “I’d really be messing with the universe if I magically made her love me instead of you. That’s major manipulation.”
“But she doesn’t love me. Not really. She’s obsessed with me and mistakes it for love.”
“All the more reason not to shift her feelings from you to me. I don’t want a stalker any more than you do.”
Tory elbowed his friend. “What if you do it the old-fashioned way? Steal her affections? Bring her flowers and shit.”
Kurt and Anthony stared at each other. Eventually they both burst out laughing.
“What the hell. It’s worth a try.”
Anthony’s jaw dropped. Apparently, they were laughing for different reasons. “Seriously? You’d do that for me?”
“Hell, I’m doing it for me. I’d love to have a fling with a feisty blond bombshell.”
“And you’re not afraid she’ll devour you?”
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. There’s nothing the universe likes more than a good protection spell.”
“Then you can do a protection spell for Claudia. Right?”
“I gave her a talisman.”
“But a talisman can be lost or stolen. Is there a way to surround her with magical protection wherever she goes?”
Kurt nodded.
“Why didn’t you suggest that right away?”
“She has to agree. And at first I didn’t think it would be enough. Ruxandra would still get between you two. But maybe that coupled with me as a distraction…”
“Try it. Please. If it’ll keep Claudia safe, I’ll find a way to make her agree to it without telling her too much. And if you’re willing to take on Ruxandra…” Anthony put all the hope he could find into his voice.