Page 37 of Perfectly Charmed Pixie

“I’m Peaches.” Hopping up, Peaches stood on the booth seat before he launched into the air, slamming into my chest and wrapping his arms around me in a fierce hug. I had no idea pixies were that strong.

The breath was knocked from my lungs, and I made the mistake of inhaling, sucking in air as if I were dying. Thick, gold pixie dust invaded my unprotected nose. I sneezed. That was quickly followed by a second, then a third. Soon I was hunched over, caught in a fit of them.

“Oh!” Peaches flew away. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t think… I mean, I didn’t…” Peaches’s voice floated away, and a cold washcloth entered my vision, wiping at my nose and mouth.

“Give it a minute. It’ll pass.” Parsnip was there, his delicate hand wiping at my face, cleaning me up and taking away the obnoxious dust. “He’s a little drunk. Don’t hold it against him,” Parsnip whispered in my ear.

I nodded, trying to clear my throat. “N-no,” I finally managed. “It’s okay.” Taking a cautious couple of dust-free breaths, I wiped at my eyes. I could only imagine what I looked like—face splotchy, eyes puffy, and skin wet. It wasn’t the best look to sport to someone you wanted to attract.

“Are you well?” Lucroy asked, voice cool. “I’m afraid my beloved is often overzealous with his attentions. When honeysuckle mead gets involved…” Lucroy shrugged in a “what can you do about it?” manner.

“It’s fine,” I tried reassuring. When my gaze landed on Peaches’s distraught face, I amended, “Really, it’s fine. I’ve had far worse, and this is nothing. I appreciated the kind greeting, Peaches.”

That seemed to perk the golden pixie up, at least a little.

“I really am sorry. I’m so used to Lucroy. My dust doesn’t bother him, and Sedrick seems to have gotten used to it too, although it still affects him, unlike Phil’s.”

I took that information in, spinning it around my head. I’d thought Parsnip’s didn’t bother me because of the magic in Georgiana’s ring, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe it had more to do with him being my one and only, just like Peaches as Lucroy’s beloved and Phil as Sedrick’s mate.

“Would you like to have a seat?” Divia asked. At some point, she’d stood and was just to the side of Parsnip. “I’m afraid I need to leave.” She checked her watch, noting the time. “I have a conference call with the couple in our next episode. They’re on the West Coast.” Despite my blocking charm, Divia’s soft laughter tickled down my spine. “A mermaid and rattlesnake shifter. Can you imagine that? I have no idea how our designers are going to figure that one out. It’ll make for an excellent episode.”

Divia leaned over, placing a kiss on either side of Parsnip’s cheeks. The flare of jealousy I expected didn’t materialize. It was like watching a sister peck her brother’s cheek.

“Are you okay to get home?”

Before he could answer, I said, “I can drive Parsnip.”

Divia glanced at the drink in my hand. “It looks like that might be a poor idea.”

“Warlocks have a high tolerance. It would take about five of these to impair my judgment, and this is only my second and my last.” I would never place Parsnip’s life in danger. The charm in my pocket more than proved that.

“Should there be a concern, I can have someone drive them home,” Lucroy reassured Divia.

“All right, if you’re certain.”

“I am,” I said, once more answering for Parsnip. The snippy look on his face made me think I was going to regret that soon.

“Parsnip?” Divia asked like a good friend.

“I’m good,” he thankfully answered. “Go on. Book our next gig.”

“On it,” Divia sang. When she walked away, it was with a swagger. Nearly every male eye on the dance floor followed her exit.

“Please tell me you don’t have any human males on staff.”

“Currently, just one,” Parsnip answered. “And I’m not sure how much longer we can continue his employment.” There was a deeper story there or maybe just a typical one. “You know any good camera people? If they’re male, preferably of a species not so affected by a siren’s call.”

“Sorry. That’s not a crowd I typically run with.”

Parsnip waved it off. “It’s fine. Asking was a long shot.”

It wasn’t as long of a shot as Parsnip thought. Later tonight, when I got home, I’d start searching for someone to take the human’s place. Now that I’d found him, everything in me was hardwired to solve all of Parsnip’s problems.

“As Divia said, please have a seat,” Lucroy offered, pulling my attention from Divia’s exit.

“Thank you.”

Parsnip shot me a look, just long enough to show his ruddy cheeks. I didn’t think the color was from alcohol so much as embarrassment. Sitting, he scooted over, careful of his wings as he settled in. I followed, shifting a little closer than Parsnip was probably comfortable with. My jean-clothed leg fit alongside his smaller thigh. I knew he’d feel the rough fabric of my jeans through his thin, spider-silk pants.

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