Page 30 of Guarded By the Gargoyle

“Decaf or regular?” she said.

“Oh, Decaf. I couldn’t sleep last night so I need to watch the caffeine,” Goody Albright said. She brightened. “But if I had been asleep, I would have missed Willow’s entrance which was quite dramatic!”

“Got chased here, did you?” Goldie asked me. “A door appeared for you? That kind of thing?”

“Well, yes,” I admitted. “Er, does that kind of thing happen a lot?”

“In Hidden Hollow? More than you’d think.” She gave me a friendly smile. “So what do you want to drink?”

“I don’t suppose you have chicory coffee, do you?” I asked tentatively.

She looked thoughtful.

“No, but I could make some. I’m part Kitchen Witch—it wouldn’t be hard to bespell a pot of regular for you.”

“Oh, would you?” I hadn’t had good chicory coffee since the café beside my shop back home closed down,” I said.

“Sure, no problem.” She nodded and looked at Kael. “What about you, big fella? What are you drinking?”

“Whatever my Mistress is drinking, I will drink also,” Kael rumbled.

“Oh yeah?” Goldie raised her eyebrows. “And which one of these lovely ladies is your ‘Mistress?’”

“Willow is,” he said, nodding at me. “She is my key-holder—I would give my life to protect her.”

I felt my cheeks get hot with a blush. He was giving me such an intense look! And Goldie was grinning, clearly enjoying the moment.

“I see,” she said. “So one decaf and two chicories.”

“Oh, I’m not really his—” I began, but she had already turned and was sashaying her way down the aisle between the booths.

“You can’t tell people I’m your Mistress,” I hissed, turning on the big gargoyle—or fallen angel or whatever.

He frowned.

“Why not? It’s true.”

“No, it’s not!” I insisted. “Look, I’m going to take care of this right now.” Taking the key from around my neck, I stood and leaned across the table. “Come here so I can reach your lock,” I said to Kael.

He leaned forward obligingly—there was no need for him to stand. Even with him seated and me standing up, we were still eye-to-eye because he was so tall.

I fitted the tiny golden key into the lock at his throat, trying not to notice how good he smelled—like the best men’s cologne you’ve ever smelled times ten—and tried to turn the key.

But it wouldn’t budge.

“Hey, what…” I twisted it back and forth but the tiny key wouldn’t move, even though it was inserted firmly in the lock. “What am I doing wrong?” I demanded, looking at Goody Albright.

“Nothing my dear. I believe the fact that the key won’t turn means you are still in danger—still in need of a protector,” she said mildly. “The magic that holds Kael to you will not releasehim until you are settled in a safe place and no more threats are coming your way.”

“This is crazy,” I muttered and withdrew the key to hang it back on the golden chain around my neck.

“No, it’smagic,” Goody Albright said.

“Do you really wish to be rid of me so much?” Kael asked and his silver eyes were wistful.

“I told you, it’s not you—it’s me,” I said, feeling bad that I was hurting his feelings. “I just don’t trust men.”

“You trusted me to guard you last night,” he pointed out.

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