“I wouldn’t want you to. Not without a lot of thought.”
I don’t have to think about it. I don’t want to live without you.
“And what if you go first? I don’t want to live without you, either.”
Bliss looked from one to the other. “Are you two having a telepathic conversation?”
Both Claudia and Anthony must have looked shocked, because Bliss laughed. “Yes, I know some paranormal couples can do that.”
“Can you and Drake?” Claudia asked.
“No. It’s not part of dragon DNA. I know werewolves and vampires can talk to their true mates that way. Congratulations, by the way!”
“So you know about me?” Anthony asked.
“Yes. Drake told me everything. Not right away. I think he was worried that I might go running to Claudia and tell her she was working in Paranormal Central.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Bliss chuckled. “The lady we spoke of a moment ago can be pretty darn persuasive.”
“Ah, yes. That’s very true.” Anthony would have smiled, had the trip to the Alps not been so threateningly cold. Without warm blood in his veins, he’d have frozen like a Popsicle in minutes.
Suddenly, Gaia appeared. “You didn’t think that just by talking in code, I wouldn’t know you were referring to me, did you?”
Bliss jumped. “I’m sorry, Goddess. It’s just that they…well, they already knew—”
“Oh, relax.” Gaia plopped down onto the sofa next to Claudia. “I have to talk to them anyway.”
Uh-oh. “About what?” Anthony asked.
“A job offer.”
Claudia’s brows knit. “But we already have jobs.”
Mother Nature waved away the thought. “It’s not for both of you—just you, dear.” She patted Claudia’s hand. “Besides, it won’t take you away from your work all that much.”
Bliss fidgeted as if she knew what was coming. “Uh, maybe I should go.”
Claudia glanced back and forth at her friend and Mother Nature. “Are you sure? I mean, maybe you could—”
Before Claudia could finish her sentence, Bliss disappeared.
“What just happened?”
“Relax. She’s fine. I just sent her back to her beautiful home. She’s busy fixing up a nursery, so she has plenty to do to keep her occupied for a while.”
“Oh. Okaaaay.”
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“You do?” Claudia asked, wide eyed.
“You were wondering if she’s pregnant.”
“No. She told me she was the minute she walked in the door.”
“Oh. Of course, she would.” Mother Nature rolled her eyes.
“So, this job offer…” Anthony reminded her.
Mother Nature nodded. “Yes. Let’s get back on track. Anthony, sit. This doesn’t involve you, so be quiet.”
He didn’t like being commanded like a dog, but the all-powerful one was not someone to argue with. He lowered himself onto the adjacent armchair.
Mother Nature focused on Claudia. “I need a few new muses.”
“Muses? Like Brandee?” Claudia asked.
Mother Nature crossed her arms. “You know about her too?”
“She rescued me. Please don’t be mad. I might not be here if not for her.”
Gaia let out a sigh. “Actually, that makes my job easier, so I’ll let it slide. Yes. Just like Brandee. Technology has created the need for a whole new set of muses. Brandee is familiar with photography, so I made her the muse of still and moving images. Whatever she did to rescue you must not have had anything to do with her area of expertise, because it wasn’t in her report.”
“No. There were no cameras involved.”
“Okay. I’ll ask her about it later. Back to the job offer…”
“First…” Claudia raised a finger. “Did I just get Brandee in trouble by telling you that she rescued me?”
“No. Not at all. I trust my muses to do what’s best for the greater good. She must have rescued you for a reason. Perhaps my offer has something to do with that.”
“Yes,” Anthony interjected. “The offer. What is it, and does Claudia have the right to refuse, if it’s not something she wants to do?”
“I’m getting to that, Mr. Antsy-Pants.”
Anthony thought he’d better not get on her nerves any more than he already had and leaned back in his chair.
“As I said, I need a few new muses. And yes, you have the right to refuse. Bliss did. I tried to talk her into it, offering all kinds of incentives, but what can I say? The woman can be ridiculously stubborn. I even grew a money tree in the middle of her living room.”
“Wow. What job did you offer her?” Claudia asked.
“Muse of electronic written communication. Email and such.”
“Jeez! I can understand not wanting that responsibility. I hope that’s not the job you’re offering me. I’m not very tech savvy.”
“No. I’m aware it’s not your area of expertise.” Mother Nature shrugged. “I’ll find someone for that eventually.”
Claudia was chewing her lip, and it was all Anthony could do to wait for Gaia to get to the point.
“I need a muse of middle management. I thought you’d be good at that.”
Claudia’s eyes widened. “Seriously? That’s almost as bad as muse of the Internet. Do you know how many frustrated, angry managers have dumbass bosses who have no idea what’s going on, and…”
Anthony cleared his throat.
“Oh!” She looked at him sheepishly. “Sorry, hon. I didn’t mean you.”
He smirked. “I didn’t think you did.”
“You’d be able to alleviate some of that frustration,” Mother Nature said.
Claudia’s brow wrinkled. “How?”
“Just whisper in their ears whatever will help. Like, ‘Hey, it’s a paycheck’ or ‘It’s almost Friday…’ You know. Whatever you told yourself to get through another boring day.”
Claudia winced. “I didn’t cope that well. Actually, I stayed because I was secretly in love with Anthony. I drank the frustration away after I got home each night.”
“Oh. Well, in that case, forget it. You’d suck at that,” Mother Nature said.
Claudia laughed. “I’m afraid so. The last thing I want to do is create more alcoholics.”
Gaia turned her gaze on Anthony. “You knew all this?”
“I only found out after the bar burned. I had no idea prior to that. I was busy trying to keep my own feelings under wraps.”
“But now you know. And you don’t have a problem with an alcoholic girlfriend?”
“I don’t think of her that way. She’s Claudia. Not a disease. Besides, she’s working hard to change. All I can do is admire and support her.”
Mother Nature nodded. “You’re a good man, Anthony. I’m glad I didn’t leave you on that mountaintop.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Gaia sat up straighter and glanced from one to the other. “So, what should I do with the two of you? You’ve been a huge pain in the ass.”
Claudia’s jaw dropped. “We have?”
“Well, your boyfriend has. He was the one who created a paranormal meeting place with humans in and all around it and gave me more gray hairs than I already had. I’m amazed it didn’t blow up in your faces…much.”
“I had a dream of creating a safe environment for those of us who wanted to put aside the old prejudices,” Anthony said. “I knew I couldn’t be the only one who wanted to achieve that, and you have to admit, it was successful.”
“There’s one success I’m aware of that your little band of misfits were responsible for.”
He was about to take exception to the word “misfits” when Mother Nature held up one palm.