Page 28 of Battling Bright
“Sort of.”She rotated her wrist, and two crisp twenties were held between her fingers.“You got us here.What are you having?”
He grinned.“I will pay.Now, I am not sure about the spice level.”
“Oh, I learned how to navigate that.Half and half?”
“Sure.”
“Lemonade?”
“Of course.”
She grinned and got in the short line, ordering her order in English and then a half-and-half in goblin.
The woman taking the orders chuckled.“Now you have it.You look very formal tonight.”
“Was at a wedding.Bride insisted on dressing me.”
The paypad gleamed, and Reynal reached forward and slid his fingers across the tab.It chirped happily, and they moved to one side.Reynal wrapped an arm around her and held her back against him.
She looked up at him.“You are being familiar.”
“I have had a chat with Normic and Keel.And your parents.I have permission to court you.”
“Ah.How did I miss that?”
He chuckled.“You were busy.”
She snorted.They moved to the side, and when their food was ready, she took the beverages, and Reynal took the tacos.
Emmers was sitting with Amy, but Amy was in sweats.Kairek grinned and said, “Looks like you just came from the party.”
“I did.I have two hours of work to do tomorrow when the rentals are picked up.That isn’t until ten, which is...”She checked her watch.“Six hours away.Plenty of time to get my feet flat again.”
Reynal chuckled.“I can commiserate.Gargoyles have weird feet.Shoes are not my friend.”
She looked at him in surprise.“I hadn’t thought of that.Claws down, heels up?”
He nodded and unwrapped a set of tacos.She opened her own pack, put the medium sauce on, and took a bite.She coughed.“This one is yours.”
He blinked and grinned, taking the offending item from her and biting down over her bite.“I get to taste you twice in one night.What a treat.”
She blushed and grabbed the other set of tacos, swapping them with the first.She tried the next one and sighed in relief.She listened to Amy telling Kairek about the babysitting at the wedding, and he grinned.“What are you saying?”
“Just saying that if you happen to be invited to one of these events, the babysitting comes with the invitation.”
Krys lifted her head.“He’s ten, right?A play structure can be set up for the day, and he can flip around until he’s tired, and then one of the rooms will be fitted with bunk beds on the opposite side from Azreen and Vaia’s.”
Reynal nodded and said casually, “What are you going to do about the stabbed tire?”
“Tires.They got all four.I forgot they had to come back to get their car after I whisked them home.”
The agents perked up.Emmers said, “Someone vandalized your car?”
“Yup.My aunt.Vaia’s mom.She was upset because Azreen stopped the support payments to his wife, now that she is with him.They were coming to negotiate for another purchase price.”She turned her head and bit through another taco.
Emmers checked his watch.“We have time to make a report.”
She smiled.“It’s going to cause a fuss.”
