Page 22 of The Tide is High

Evie narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know if this is one of those times or if your gut is old enough to make that decision.”

Jennifer pulled back and huffed. “My gut is as old as I am,” she said, tossing up her hands. “If I have to wait to be your age, it’s a long time.”

With another chuckle from Parker, Evie felt her cheeks grow hot. “That’s a nice way to put it,” she said, giving the child a backward nod towards the kitchen. “Go and get your snack from Dani, and be good.”

“I’m always good,” Jennifer said, walking away. “And don’t forget his drink.” She sounded like True.

“Beer, whatever’s on tap,” Parker said, bringing her attention back to him.

“Sit, wait, stay,” Evie said, thinking about the stray line she’d given Jennifer and carrying it through. The shifter frowned, so she pointed to the seat before reaching for a pint glass and placing it under the tap.

Evie wondered if Jennifer’s point about him being scared to come in was accurate, but sometimes, kids say the darnedest things, as the saying goes, and Jennifer usually kept to that well-observed fact.

Scared of his mate, no doubt. He obviously didn’t know Dani.

When Amy stopped next to Evie, she eyed Parker with interest. “Did you want something from the kitchen?” she asked, nudging Evie with a snicker and interrupting the pour.

Both witches stared at Parker expectantly. He felt more than a little self-conscious. “I am hungry,” he said.

Amy grinned wider. “And not just for food, right?”

“Stop,” Evie said to Amy, finishing the pour and tossing a beermat down on the bar before placing the brew on top. “He’ll get there in his own time.”

“Get where?” Parker said, confused.

“To the whole mating, wooing thing,” Amy said, making Evie snort a chuckle.

“You know?” Parker asked, eyeing the witches, unsure of what was happening.

“Of course, we know, we’re…” Amy leaned in. “Witches,” she whispered. “Go ahead, stake your claim; get it off your muscled chest,” she said, lifting her hands and shrugging.

Parker cleared his throat and reached for the beer. By the time he came up for air, he’d drunk almost all of it.

“Thirsty work this mating thing,” Amy said, snickering.

“I think they call that Dutch courage,” Evie informed her.

Parker slapped his hands on the counter and eyed the witches for a long moment before his gaze navigated to Evie. “We need to talk,” he said.

Evie’s eyebrows reached for her hairline. “Oh, no, you’re not dragging me into the whole wooing thing,” she said, shaking her head.

Parker looked a little confused. “I thought you said…”

“She said,” Evie pointed to Amy. “You should stake your claim – I want nothing to do with it.”

“How can you have nothing to do with it?” Parker asked.

“I have enough on my hands with Jennifer and this bar,” Evie said. “I’m not the matchmaker type.”

“Huh?” Parker asked, confused.

Amy was with Evie; if he wanted to woo his mate, he should have the backbone to do it himself and not expect anyone else to mediate for him. Besides, Dani was hardly a man-eating monster. “She doesn’t want to get involved.”

“She’s already involved,” Parker replied, unsure.

“When did I get involved?” Evie asked, pulling back and eyeing him like he’d lost his mind.

“When you came to the guesthouse,” Parker replied.

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