[Southern Arcana 2.0] Crossroads (2 page)
Or has she had enough of your crazy coworkers?”
“Are you kidding? She loves the insane lot of you.” Mariko took the yellow folder with her when she headed for the door. “Leave these to me. If any of the subcontractors are trying to screw you, I’ll know.”
“Thanks, Mari. You’re a lifesaver.” He waited until she’d shut the door behind her before dropping his arms to his desk and slumping down with his forehead on his hands. As much as he hated to admit it, Mariko was right. The last time he’d taken time off from work had been the month he’d needed to physically recover from being attacked by a crazed shapeshifter. He’d come back to the office because there hadn’t been a choice; the insurance he and Andrew paid out the nose for had been sadly lacking in paid leave for werewolf attack. After struggling for so long to build their business from the ground up, Derek had
had
to keep working.
But they had Mariko now. She could keep Andrew from drowning in work if Derek took a couple weeks off, and Penny was more than tough enough to make up for the fact that Andrew could be a little too nice. The three of them could keep things running.
Then he might just have enough time to consider pursuing something serious with Nick Peyton.
If I
can keep from howling at the moon or humping her leg or whatever happens to relatively new shapeshifters
without a lot of control.
Groaning, Derek lifted his head and pushed himself to his feet. He still had to swing by his place and pick up Kat’s present, shower and change. If tonight was the night he made his move, he could at least make an effort to look good.
Maybe the damn wizard will get a flat tire, and I won’t have any competition.
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9
Moira Rogers
***
Nick smoothed her hair behind her ears and stared at the gigantic sheet cake laid out on the stainless-steel counter. “Who likes carrot cake this much?”
“No one.” Mackenzie lifted a case of full beer bottles with an ease that made it clear she was finally growing accustomed to her newly gained shapeshifter strength. “Then again, Kat is one quirky kid.” Nick laughed and pushed open the door from the kitchen into the main bar. “She’s practically our age, Mac. Twenty-four today.”
Mackenzie just snorted as she hauled the beers into the front. “I aged a lot this year. I might be pushing forty now.”
A quick glance around the bar satisfied most of Nick’s anxiety about the festivities. Her staff had worked hard to prepare for Kat’s private birthday party, one to which a good number of the supernatural denizens of the French Quarter had been invited.
Including Derek.
She ignored the tiny stab of pain that lanced through her. Of course Kat’s cousin would be there. Nick had been looking forward to the party for months, viewing it not only as an opportunity to celebrate, but also to spend more time with Derek. Maybe even finally convince him to go out with her.
I have a better chance of sprouting wings and flying home tonight,
she thought dispiritedly as she checked the liquor supply behind the polished bar. In the weeks since Alec had told her Derek liked her, she’d tried to strike up a few conversations with him. He’d answered politely, but treated her almost with annoyance, as if she’d done something to irritate him.
Or maybe I just piss him off in general.
He wanted her; there was no mistaking his physical reaction whenever he came near her. And yet…
“Derek Gabriel hates me,” she told Mackenzie suddenly. “Alec is full of shit, and Derek hates me.” Mackenzie froze, one hand holding open the ice cooler behind the bar and the other clutching a bottle of beer, and blinked at her. “He—what?”
Nick blew her bangs out of her face and started filling the pretzel bowls. “Alec told me that Derek hasn’t acted on any of the eight
hundred
flirtatious hints I’ve thrown his way because he likes me too much, and he needed to get all his new shapeshifter crap under control before he could start anything. But our friend is full of it because, lately, whenever Derek lays eyes on me, he looks like he wants to punch a hole in the wall.”
Mackenzie’s confused expression melted into one of guilt. “Shit, Nick. Maybe it’s not you. I mean, not just you. We did get his cousin mixed up in some crazy shit, and none of us bothered to warn him.
Someone broke into Kat’s apartment, and if it was Charles Talbot, or someone like him…”
“Maybe.” She exhaled and shrugged one shoulder, unable to dismiss the feeling that it didn’t have anything to do with Kat at all. “I wouldn’t blame him. Jackson told me she was terrified.” Nick hoped being able to unwind with twenty of her closest friends would raise Kat’s spirits.
10
Crossroads
“Poor kid.” Mackenzie resumed stocking the fridge. “Which one does she have the crush on? Derek’s partner?”
“Andrew,” Nick confirmed. “The tall blond guy. They have this…thing. It’s epic.” She checked her watch and sucked in a breath. “People should be arriving soon. Dinner’s been set up, right?”
“Yep. It’s all ready.” Mackenzie shoved the last two beers in the cooler and picked up the case. “I could stay back there and keep an eye on it, though.”
“Surely you’re not scared of Jackson’s mother.” He was due back from the airport with her any minute. “Seriously. She’s great.”
“So I’ve heard. What about you? If you’re giving up on Derek, what else have you got going on?”
“Not a damn thing,” Nick muttered darkly. “My love life is officially a barren wasteland, where sexual satisfaction is entirely reliant on a fresh supply of C-cell batteries.” To say nothing of the loneliness that had plagued her for months.
“You could stop throwing out flirtatious hints and ask him out,” Mackenzie pointed out. “I mean, before you resign yourself to dating electronics.”
Nick had been set to do just that on returning from Boston. Then Derek had started gritting his teeth whenever she got within ten feet of him, and it stopped seeming like such a good idea. “Maybe.” She waved both hands in the air and made a disgusted noise. “I don’t want to talk about my pathetic love life anymore. Let’s talk about you and Jackson.”
“What’s to talk about?”
“Moving in with him?” Nick snatched up a towel and started giving the bar one final polish. “That’s a big step.”
Mackenzie laughed. “C’mon, Nick. After the year I had? Not all that big a deal.”
“You make an excellent point. But I’m proud of you for getting past it and moving on with things.
Like the dance studio.”
Her friend’s eyes lit up. “Have you seen it lately? The contractors Derek found for me, God, they’ve worked magic.” She hesitated. “You don’t think he found me contractors who actually work magic, do you? I still can’t tell.”
Nick tried not to laugh. “As far as I know, it’s all sheetrock, semigloss paint and mirrors. But I want to come by sometime next week and—” She broke off when she caught sight of Kat waving through the etched glass of the front window. “Guest of honor’s here.”
She hurried to unlock the front door and pulled Kat in past the standing sign which proclaimed the bar closed for a private party. “Happy birthday, sweetie.”
Kat took in the bar’s decorations with wide blue eyes that made her look young, even if she was almost Nick’s age. “Wow, it looks awesome. I haven’t had a birthday party in years.” www.samhainpublishing.com
11
Moira Rogers
“Just wait ’til the booze starts flowing.” She winked at Kat. “I’m going back to start the music. Want some champagne?”
“Sure!” Kat bounced up to the bar, obviously overflowing with excitement. “Heya, Mac. Where’s Jackson?”
“Picking up his mother from the airport.” Mackenzie popped the cork from one of the bottles of champagne. “They should be back any minute.”
“Awesome. Mama Holt is the best. You’re gonna love her. Tell her, Nick.” Nick leaned into the back office and flipped the switch on the speakers linked to the satellite radio feed. “I did. But she’s nervous because Jackson got shot. I told her that’s a depressingly normal day around here.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say Jackson gets shot every day. But, you know, he’s in some trouble or other, like, every time I turn around. That’s what happens when you hang out with Alec.”
“Amen to that.” Nick surveyed the room again, pushed her hair behind her ears and glanced down at her shorts and T-shirt. “I need to go upstairs and change. Do you guys mind?” Mackenzie grinned at her. “No problem. I’ll hold down the fort.” Nick barely made it out the back door before her easy smile faded, and she cursed herself roundly as she climbed the wrought-iron stairs to the unoccupied apartment above the bar. Of all the nights to fall into a depressive funk, this had to be the worst. Not only would she ruin Kat’s birthday, but everyone would know she was upset because…
Because
why
, Nick? Because you sleep alone? Or because you can’t breathe when Derek Gabriel
smiles, but he won’t smile at you?
She stomped through the kitchen and into the bathroom, where she’d left the bag containing her spare clothes and toiletries. At this point, she’d be better off going to New York to let her father fix her up with whatever random, well-heeled werewolf he’d managed to scrounge up.
He’d been dropping hints again, ever since she’d gotten back from New England. “Come home, Nicole,” she mimicked as she tugged off her T-shirt. “You’re missing too many priceless opportunities by living so far away.”
Priceless opportunities to marry well and get ready to take over the family business, something he knew she couldn’t care less about. She didn’t want to be queen of the werewolves, or whatever.
So what
do
you want?
Nick dropped her shorts, snatched up her lightweight black slacks and stepped into them. “Tonight, I want to be the consummate hostess,” she whispered to her reflection. “I want everyone to have a good time, including myself, if at all possible.” She paused before shrugging into her sleeveless red silk blouse. “And I don’t want to think about the fact that I’m going home alone.” 12
Chapter Two
Nancy Desmarais Holt accepted the large paper box and laughed. “Now, Nicole, I want you to know I wouldn’t normally be so rude as to accept such a big piece, but that cake was
mammoth
.”
“Yes, it was,” Nick agreed with a smile. “Are you sure you won’t take more?” The older woman glanced at Mackenzie, who shook her head while raising both hands. “Oh, no way.
I’m not sure I can look at carrot cake again for at least a year.” Kat’s voice drifted from the other side of the bar. “Hey! Don’t knock carrot cake.”
“Whatever doesn’t get taken home is going to the nearest shelter in the morning,” she warned over her shoulder, then rose on her toes to kiss Mama Holt’s cheek. “Don’t be a stranger. Come back tomorrow. I’ll make mint juleps and fill you in on all the latest gossip.”
She beamed. “That’s a deal, honey. Come on, Mackenzie. Let’s meet Jack outside. I think the party’s winding down.”
Nick kissed Mackenzie’s cheek next. “Be careful, and I’ll see you guys later.” Mackenzie leaned closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Don’t be an idiot, Nick. Derek’s been making big eyes at you all night. Make a move now or I never want to hear you complaining again.” Her cheeks burned. “We’ll see.” She waved as they walked out, locked the door behind them and turned toward the table where her remaining guests waited.
Kat sat sideways in the booth, leaning back against Andrew. He was finishing up a beer and grinning at Derek, who sat across from them. Nick’s breath caught, and she made a concerted effort to breathe in and out.
He’d dressed simply in jeans and a gray button-up shirt that made his eyes look unbelievably blue.
Nick tamped down the lust that rose in her and grabbed a bottle of top-shelf tequila and a handful of shot glasses from behind the bar. She walked over, the low heels of her slip-ons clicking against the floor.
“Shots?”
“Oh God, more alcohol?” Kat laughed and struggled to sit upright. “Can I sleep on a table here? I don’t even remember where I live.”
“That’s why friends and taxicabs were invented.” Still, Nick lined up only three glasses and raised an eyebrow. “Andrew? Derek?”
Andrew shrugged his shoulders as gingerly as he could without disturbing Kat. “Hell, I’m game.”
Moira Rogers
“None for me,” Derek murmured, though his friendly smile managed to warm and confuse her at the same time. “Not sure how I feel about chasing carrot cake with tequila.” Which was exactly why Nick had avoided the cake altogether. “Come on.” She poured the shots and sat beside him, acutely aware of the warm press of his thigh against hers. “Live dangerously.” Andrew grinned and raised his shot. “To Kat, on a happy birthday.” Nick clinked her glass against his and gulped the shot, grimacing as the liquor burned down her throat. “I should have fetched more limes from the kitchen.”
Kat snatched the last glass and tipped it back. She gasped, tears springing to her eyes as she slammed the glass down on the table. “Derek will go get some with you. You can teach me how to do body shots. It looks fun in the movies.”
With both men at the table shooting her apprehensive looks, Nick shook her head. “Maybe next time.
My birthday’s coming up in a couple months, you know.”
Andrew hooted. “We can have another party.”
Nick toyed with her empty glass. “I don’t know. My father wants me to come to New York. He’s been after me about it for weeks.”
Kat listed a little to the side before Andrew steadied her. “Hey, you should take Derek. Mari said he’s taking some time off, and he’s going to be depressed if you’re not around to hit on.” Derek glared at Kat, and a furious blush spread up his neck and cheeks.
“I’m sure he’ll find something to occupy himself,” Nick said casually, but she could feel her easy countenance beginning to slip, so she glanced over at Andrew. “Do I need to call a cab?”
“Nah.” He slipped one of Kat’s arms around his shoulders and laughed again. “Up, birthday girl.
