Page 33 of Summoning my Grumpy Demon Boss

I stare at the empty bottle of wine on the table, wondering if he’s right. “How much does that stuff cost?”

He leans closer. “This is a 2001. It’s got to be two hundred a bottle or more.”

I nearly choke on my fish. I’m a bloody fool. She brings a two hundred dollar bottle of wine to a casual family dinner? Why didn’t I listen to Jack ten years ago when he told me girls like Mia don’t go for fish like me? All I could think about was how sweet she felt in my arms and when I’d get to see her again. I was so determined to apologize and explain and make it up to her. But the next day, I looked for her and couldn’t find her. When I went up to the Bambara Street place, they’d packed up and left, and I never saw her again.

Fuck. I’m so stupid.

I thought she was angry that I ran off on her. Maybe she just never cared in the first place. Maybe I was only ever a summer fling to her.

I can’t believe I thought I had a chance with Mia Sinclair.

TWELVE

Mia

“So, Mia, a little birdy tells me you’re an artist.” Mrs Wilson smiles across the table at me and I blink.

I’m surprised Luke even mentioned me and even more surprised he mentioned my art. “Kind of. It’s just a hobby.” I brush my hair behind my ear, feeling the heat in my cheeks. Everyone is being so lovely to me and Mrs Wilson’s warmth is making this a hundred times less awkward than dinner with strangers should be. Truth be told, I’m actually enjoying myself. Her eyes are the same green as Luke’s and I’m certain they have the same spark I see when he smiles. Her short gray hair is cutinto a bob below her ears and she wears brightly coloured fish earrings. I secretly wonder what color she is when she shifts.

“I’m actually a lawyer,” I tell her, “though I’d work as an artist if I could.”

“You should.” Luke turns away from his brother, Noah, to smile at me. “You’re good enough.”

I squirm in my seat, pleased at his compliment, but I know it’s not true. “I’m not. Besides, it takes more than talent to paint for a living. It takes luck, too. Getting known. It’s a tough industry.”

Luke nods. “It is, but you really are very good.”

His mother looks between us with an expression I can’t decipher. “Well I’d love to see some of your work, Mia. What are you working on right now?”

I shrug. “Nothing really. It’s been a while since I did anything big. I haven’t felt that inspired. Work’s been so busy. It’s nice to have a bit of a reset here in Kraken Cove, actually. Escape the city, you know? I just love it here.”

Mr Wilson beams. He looks astonishingly like an older version of Luke. Like someone made a copy. His hair is shorter and balding at the front, but the close crop suits him. His square jaw has the same strength and masculinity as Luke’s. “Well I reckon there wouldn’t be any complaints if you stuck around for a while,” he says.

I half expect Luke to nudge me and grin, but he isn’t even looking at me. He’s just pushing food around on his plate with his fork, not even eating, though his brother’s cooking is amazing.

He stays quiet through the rest of the meal, despite the laughing and joking of his family. I wonder what’s botheringhim. Maybe the reminder I’ll eventually have to go back to Sydney. Is it too conceited to assume that’s it?

Maybe there’s something else on his mind.

After Noah serves up the most tender calamari I’ve ever eaten, I’m feeling too full to consider eating one more bite. Then he brings out the sticky date pudding.

I’m a sucker for sticky date pudding. My dessert stomach instantly kicks into action. I have to restrain myself from moaning around the first bite. The pudding is just the right combination of fluffy and dense, with a sweet, salty caramel sauce that I have to lick the back of the spoon and get more of. “Wow, Noah, this is amazing! You’re going to do so well when you reopen The Snapper.”

“Thanks.” He turns away almost instantly, not meeting my eyes.

I can’t stop myself gushing, though, particularly when his terse expression makes me wonder if he thinks I’m just being nice. “Seriously, I was at Aria in Sydney a few weeks ago, and I swear to God, Matt Moran doesn’t make a sticky date this good.”

Noah’s eyes widen along with his smile. “Thanks,” he says again, and this time I think he means it.

Luke doesn’t look up from his bowl. Not even to join in on complimenting Noah, which I find odd. The way he went on about it the other day, I would have thought he’d have more to say.

Mrs Wilson gives me another of her warm smiles. “Well, don’t go home without taking some for the road. I’m going to pack some right now, so you don’t forget.” She gets up from the table and begins cutting an enormous piece of pudding.

I laugh, but I have to admit I don’t protest too much when she packages up a huge slice for me. We all get up and take the dishes into the kitchen. Jack shows me how to load the old commercial dishwasher. It makes me smile when he shifts in front of me and we make short work of the job. Many hands, or arms, or um...tentacles. I like that he felt comfortable enough to be himself around me. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I get the feeling they aren’t open with most of the residents of Kraken Cove unless they have to be.

When we’re done, I look around for Luke, but I can’t see him. I go back out into the restaurant. He’s not there, either.

Frowning, I open the door and look out into the darkness. Luke is sitting with his feet hanging off the jetty, staring out across the inlet to the beach beyond. Cautiously, I walk over and sit beside him. “Hey.”

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