Page 19 of Howl for the Gargoyle

Her eyes widened and she paled slightly, and I thought for a moment I might've misstepped, but her lips curved up. "I'll think about it."

I nodded and slid from the bed, already aware of the way she watched me. I stretched on purpose, studying her in the mirrors above us as she gawked. I felt good. Relaxed and well rested. She hadn't really touched my wings at all, and the ache had healed at last.

"We have a couple hours. I'll start you a bath, and you can put a breakfast order in on the wristband," I said, heading for the double doors of the glitzy dark bathroom.

She rustled and groaned in the bed behind me and I grinned, resisting the urge to look over my shoulder at her. That was a good sound, shocked and pleased at the same time. It was a shame she hadn't booked more than one night. I wanted to earn that sound again.

Grivens, a cervitaur staff member of the agency, hummed and glared at his tablet, one hand reaching up to pull on his antlers. I fidgeted in my seat across from his desk, awaiting my verdict.

I'd been confident all morning, prepping Hannah a bath surrounded by crystals, filled with blossoms and oils and salts. I'd even hand-fed her the fruit plate and chocolate croissant she'd ordered for breakfast. She had a sweet tooth, apparently, and I was surprised she wasn't craving meat before a full moon.

I'd been the exemplary MSA partner.

And yet for some reason, my damn knee wouldn't stop jiggling and the minutes seemed to crawl by as I waited for Grivens to finish reading the report.

"You haven't had great ratings recently."

My jaw clenched. "I know." Obviously, because I had to sit through one of these debriefs after every appointment.

"Clients seem to feel a certain lack of commitment on your end."

My lips pressed to a flat line. Hannah and I had been rutting in that bed for hours last night. What part of that lacked—

"What was different about this appointment?" Grivens asked me, finally looking up from the screen, brow furrowing so tightly it made his antlers twitch.

Different.

I released a sigh. "Umm…a lot was different, actually," I said, shrugging. Grivens's head tilted, and I cleared my throat, considering my words. "The client's needs were different. The environment too. It was a different kind of appointment. And I've been working on getting my ratings back up with all my clients."

"Are you no longer interested in providing the services—"

"No, I am," I rushed to say, sitting up straighter. I couldn't afford to lose my entire client base just from one slip of the tongue. "This was just…a refreshing change. And a reminder of how much I enjoy my work with the agency."

Grivens's attention returned to the tablet, reading whatever notes were there.

"Can I…see her comments?" I asked, itching to know what the cervitaur was studying.

"There isn't much," he said.

There had to have been something. Grivens wouldn't be quizzing me on the appointment if there wasn't some kind of positive feedback.

"She was only estimated at a forty-three percent likelihood to return," Grivens said.

My eyebrows lifted at that announcement. Forty-three was pretty decent odds. Most clients were estimated a bit lower because it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some, or a special occasion, or a personal experiment. The one exception was werewolves, who had a monthly need for the relief.

"She booked me for next month?"

"She booked you for five months in advance," Grivens said.

A sharp, shocked laugh burst out of me and I choked as I tried to swallow it, Grivens rustling and stamping his hooves across from me. Skittish cervitaurs took after their deer brethren a little too much.

"Sorry, just…" I shook my head and fought my grin. Even Sarah had only ever booked month to month. "With full moons?" I asked, curious if Hannah had taken my suggestion.

"Not next month's, but she put a hold on the others," Grivens said.

Considering, but not yet convinced. That would be my job next month.

"This is promising and a relief to the agency, but may I recommend you strive to create a similar loyalty with your other clients?" Grivens said.

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