Page 11 of Sugar, Spice, and Magical Midlife

“Stop!” I jumped in front of him, doing my best to ignore the smell of his pheromones, an intoxicating blend of musky feline spice that hit me in all the right lady parts. “No more violence, please. We need to fix him up and get him the hell out of here.”

“Here’s my number.” Oblivious to the imminent danger, Lenny held up a slip of paper. “Come over tonight. Grams is asleep by seven. We’ll have the house to ourselves.”

“Uhh, no thanks.”

When Ric growled behind me, I decided to do Lenny a favor and zap him once more. His head lolled back and his eyes shut before he let out a loud, blubbery snore.

Ric’s eyes shifted back to normal as he slung Lenny over his shoulder again. He turned to me with what looked like a cross between a scowl and a smile. “You owe me one.”

“I owe you?” I blinked hard. Was this jerk for real? “This mess wouldn’t have happened if you wouldn’t let little creepymen steal your breakfast.” Sure, it was unfair blaming it all on Ric, but the strong scent of his pheromones had me on edge.

He shot me a cool look. “And if you were stricter with your apprentice.”

“Believe me”—I rolled my eyes to the ceiling, cursing when I heard Ethyl flutter farther into the duct—“I’m having a long talk with her.”

“Good, but you still owe me.”

“Fine.” I shot him a glare that could melt Merlin’s sword. “Your next cinnamon rolls are on the house.”

His mouth hitched up in a devilish grin. “I was thinking more about you going out with me.”

“Oh.” I blinked at him. “Like a date?”

He shrugged, Lenny’s inert body bouncing like a rag doll with the movement. And yeah, Ric had broad shoulders, but I had a feeling he also used magic to bear Lenny’s weight. “If you’re still interested.”

“Yeah. I’m interested.” I licked my lips as another wave of pheromones hit me. I wondered if he was secreting them on purpose, though I was so turned on I didn’t care.

“Great. I can pick you up at the bakery tonight at seven.” He turned on his heel and headed for the door.

“So...” I followed after him, missing his scent, my libido such a twisted mess I felt like a stray cat chasing scraps. “Dinner and a movie?”

“No dinner.” He frowned, his hand on the door. “Just a movie.”

“Oh, okay.” I stood there staring after him while he loaded Lenny into the back of the truck and peeled out of the driveway.

I felt a fluttering by my ear and looked over to see miniature Ethyl and her rainbow-hued wings perched on my shoulder. “So he can afford to buy two dozen cinnamon rolls every day but he can’t take you out to dinner?” she squeaked.

Though Ethyl had a point, I had bigger issues than my date being a skinflint. Namely, why the hell wasn’t he in the registry, and why in Goddess’s name did I agree to go out with him?

I CLUTCHED THE ROOTSof my hair while pacing the floor.

“Why did I say yes? I can’t go out with him.”

“What?” Ethyl fluttered off my shoulder and shifted into full size. “Are you crazy?” Her high-pitched voice broke and then cracked as if she still had the tiny pipes that belonged to her six-inch self.

I shook my head, chewing on my nails. “He’s not listed in the registry.”

“Maybe we overlooked him. Let’s check the Registry.” Ethyl waved her wand and the book materialized on the glass table top beside us.

My nervous gaze shot to the door as I made a quick sweep of the empty parking lot. Revealing theRegistry of Supernatural Creatures and Practical Witchcraft Guidebookin public places was against the law. I really needed to reign in my apprentice, but we had no customers at the moment, and knowing if my date was an axe murderer was sort of important. I turned my gaze toward Des. He was back to playing his computer game, but after the incident with Gus, I wondered if maybe he wasn’t halfway listening. Oh well. Nothing to do about it now.

Curiosity won over as I tapped the heavy, leather-bound book with my wand. “Alfred, show us Ricardo Romero.”

The book’s worn and cracked surface scrunched a bit before revealing the droopy eyes, bulbous nose, and heavy frown of Alfred, the grumpy old man who enchanted the pages of the registry.

Alfred blinked up at me. “Would it hurt you to say please and thank you?”

“Ugh.” Ethyl rolled her eyes. “Please, Alfred, show us Ricardo Romero.”

---