Page 75 of De-Witched

He dared her disapproval and cupped her cheek with his calloused hand. “We care about you. We don’t want anything to happen.”

“I’ve heard it. I understand. But I’ve been choosing my own path and lovers for a long time now.”

His hand fell away. “Lovers? Are you sleeping with him?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no. Not yet.”

A muscle popped in his jaw. “It’s a bad idea, Leah. He’s a warlock. You can’t have a future with him.”

“I’m not writing his name on my binder.” Uncomfortable, she shrugged her shoulders, the echo of his words prodding at something raw inside. “I like him.”

“The Warlock of Contempt?” he sneered.

Dangerous emotion washed up her. “Don’t call him that.”

“Unbelievable.” He paced away, then back, a show of frustration. “He’s not good for you. It won’t end well.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he’s a warlock,” Kole repeated. “And you’re a human. There are too many obstacles between you.”

He was right. She’d already acknowledged that to herself, but it still hurt.

She took his hand, squeezed it, aiming for a light tone. “I’m not looking for forever. You know me, it never lasts. Worst taste in men, right?” She waggled her eyebrows.

His smile was reluctant, rueful. He squeezed back. “You’re setting a whole new record this time.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting.”

Leah’s eyes shot to the doorway. In her chest, her heart kicked hard.

Gabriel stood as stiff as his voice, every muscle in his lean body locked and outfitted in a tuxedo that rippled over him like black water. His hair was styled back, ebony silk against the fine bones of his face.

The intensity there made her breathless. “Gabriel. Hi.”

When he didn’t respond, she followed his gaze to her and Kole’s joined hands.

She dropped Kole’s instantly. “Uh, you know Kole Bluewater, right? He’s come to support the event.”

Gabriel didn’t soften. “Bluewater.”

“Goodnight.” Kole’s voice was cold as he eased closer to her.

She wrestled the unladylike urge to kick him as Gabriel noted the movement.

This wasn’t going as she’d planned. For one thing, Gabriel was supposed to be all eyes for her, not her unwelcome chaperone.

Best-laid plans, she sighed internally, and ignored both the idiots as she went to tell Peggy she and her two escorts were leaving.

The evening was a smash. The dinner was incredible, the champagne flowed. Leah’s speech to thank everyone for coming and supporting the shelter had gone over very well, especially when Chuck and a few others were brought out. Chuck had behaved himself beautifully, giving everyone the big eyes, which had resulted in four—count ’em, four—people coming up to Leah and asking about him.

She’d laughed, twinkled, charmed, did everything but tap-dance to keep everyone smiling and open to donating. She’d checked in with Mitch and Frankie, who were in charge of the table set up with materials about the shelter, and they’d confirmed several checks had been slipped in their cashbox. Sonny, ill at ease in an ill-fitting suit, just looked relieved. Leah was sure he would celebrate now he was on his way back with the animals to the shelter. Not one for parties, that man.

With the gala a success, Leah finally throttled back on her hostessing enough to take a sip of champagne. Her feet hurt but she refused to take the shoes off just yet, not when she hadn’t had a chance to implement her seduction plan.

God. If the gala was a smash, the seduction was a crash. After Gabriel had seen her and Kole holding hands, he’d withdrawn into his mask and had barely spoken. Not on the very, very long Uber ride into the city—three was definitely a crowd in the back seat of a car—and not to her all evening. Some seduction if she couldn’t even pin him down long enough to proposition him.

She kept one eye out for him as she circled the room, shaking hands and directing servers to fill their trays. Impatience twinned with irritation as he continued to be elusive. When she saw her friends, irritation pushed to the fore.

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