Page 7 of Fated Protector

"Not for me, I don't think," says a low voice. And there, standing in the doorway is Jack.

CHAPTER5

"It's you,” I say, unsure how to react to his sudden appearance. Except for his attendance at the ceremony, I haven't seen him since that night. He had held me back from Sasha’s disfigured body, rocking me as I screamed and screamed. It was kind of him, but now I don't know how to act around Jack. How should I act around anyone who had seen such a raw, bleak side of me?

"I want to make you a deal," he says, walking around the bookshelves toward the doorframe of the stairwell.

"A deal?" I'm too tired to deal with this right now. I just want to go upstairs and sleep for at least a week.

"A deal," he repeats. “For the bookstore.”

"You want the bookstore?" I know he had made a fuss over it the other day, but to be so intent on it is crazy. Besides, it has to be bad manners to talk business on the day of a funeral, especially when the deceased’s property is the matter of discussion.

"Yes, I want the bookstore."

I inhale sharply as he takes a few steps toward me. I should be afraid because he's practically a stranger. But there is something about his cool confidence that makes me feel secure. What an odd thing to think about someone who had tried to rob me a few days earlier.

"I should have it for sale in a few weeks,” I say. “You can bid on it then.”

His eyes widen in shock. "You can’t sell the bookstore. You can't!"

"Says who?" I retort, surprised at his vehemence.

He scrubs at his face. "Says… says the world!"

“What the hell does that even mean?” My God, this man is crazy. Maybe I shouldn't feel so safe after all.

"I know you're a smart lady. You can tell this ain’t no ordinary bookstore. You must've figured that out by now."

"Sasha just had some eclectic tastes," I say slowly, ignoring the part of my brain reminding me that I saw evidence of actual magic in the form of amorphous doorknobs.

"Eclectic tastes.” He chuckles. “Now, that's something I've never been called before."

I grimace at his odd statement. "Were you and Sasha… involved? Is that how you know her?"

"Hell, no!" Jack burst into laughter. “I sure would've been lucky, but I think Sasha and I would have strangled each other after a day together. We were just good friends. I promise."

"Then why do you want the bookstore so badly?"

His eyes soften, and he places a hand on my shoulder. "Cher, this ain't your world. There's so much that you don't know. Give me the store. I’ll take it off your hands. And I'll take good care of it."

Could it be that easy? I could get my lawyer in tomorrow if I needed to make a deal. I wouldn't even have to put it on the market. "I can get the paperwork ready tomorrow," I offer with some hesitance.

He smiles. "Paperwork wouldn't do us any good. We gotta do a spell to pass ownership on."

Alright, he's definitely crazy. "A spell?"

"A spell," he confirms. “Your auntie probably had it somewhere in the other bookstore. Depending on the ingredients, it might take a couple of days, but then we can pass the key over to me. Then you can go on back to your fancy New York home and never worry about it again."

"You're insane. You were a great help the other night, but you are insane. I take back what I said. I’m putting the store on the market. If you want it, you can get it that way."

Jack growls in frustration, dropping his hand from my shoulder. "I’m telling you, it doesn't work like that. Where's the key?" He snaps his fingers at me.

"Upstairs. In my suitcase." I turn to retrieve it, but he makes a shushing noise and jogs up the stairs. A moment later, he returns with the ornate key in his hand.

"Watch this," he says, striding over to the fireplace. He shoves the key into the cracked stone, but nothing happens. He raises his eyebrows at me and motions me over. "Now, you try."

I take the key from him and turn it in the stone hollow. I take a deep breath, and just like last time, the entire unit swings open, revealing the hidden shop inside.

---