“You know what? I think you should take today and go rest. Tomorrow is going to be very busy. The Markhoff party will be here then, and it’s going to be rather busy,” Petty said. “We’ll send the file over for you to look at tonight.”
Everyone nodded.
“We can meet back here tomorrow morning with the Markhoffs,” Rosebud said.
“You could stop at the fountain on your way back,” Jonquil said.
“I am not kissing any more frogs.”
“Just one more,” Jonquil said with a grin.
“You guys are awful,” Zuri said, shaking her head.
Petty nodded. “We’re great with peer pressure. If that doesn’t work, we’ll pull the well-meaning little old lady card.”
Zuri couldn’t help but laugh. She hadn’t been here very long, but she already adored the godmothers.
“Plus, you need to call your sister and tell her all about Ever After. We’d love to have her visit as soon as possible,” Jonquil added.
“We would?” Bluebonnet looked at her sisters. “Oh, yes. Yes, we would.”
“Are you three up to something?” Zuri studied each of their kindly faces in turn.
Rosebud handed her another cupcake. “They’re always up to something. You might as well just get right with it. Have a snack for the road.”
Suddenly, a chittering squirrel was in the open window, and he kicked one of the songbirds off the ledge.
“Oh no!” Rosebud cried, and ran to grab a broom. “Whatever you do, don’t let the squirrels have any of Gwen’s cupcakes. It turns them into rabid little ninjas.”
The squirrel stomped his feet, like he thought he was going to square off with Rosebud. Then he looked at Zuri.
She’d swear the little beast narrowed his eyes like a laser sight on her cupcake.
Instead of doubting what her own eyes told her, she shoved the whole cupcake in her mouth at once.
The little squirrel’s mouth fell open, and the songbirds he’d displaced began pecking at his head. Rosebud waved her broom like it was a sword, and the poor little thing ran away, chittering angrily.
“I don’t know what she’s been putting in these things, but I swear.” Rosebud shook her head.
“Hmm. I just wonder,” Petty said, smirking.
“Might be all that unresolved sexual tension.” Bluebonnet nodded. “In some cultures, they believe that the chef’s or baker’s emotions are absorbed by the food they make and can be tasted by their patrons.”
Zuri liked that idea. Not the unresolved sexual tension, because who needed that kind of complication? But the idea that her hands could fill something she made with her emotions. Like love, or hope. All the good things that families and friends shared around a table of food.
“Wouldn’t that be wonderful if it were true? If people I love could taste the things I want for them? Or if guests at a wedding could taste the love in the cake?” Zuri sighed.
“Except for those little bastard squirrels harassing my birds. Little shits. I give them their own feeder. I give them water. I brush their tails if they get matted or tumble through a briar patch, and this is the thanks I get?”
The birds sang back at her, and she just nodded at them. “What are you waiting for? Go on. I’m sure the squirrels won’t bother you now that you’ve finished your cupcake,” Petty said.
“I’m going. I’m going. Geez.” Zuri gathered up her things. “But don’t forget to send me the Markhoff file. I want to be prepared tomorrow.”
“As if we’d forget,” Bluebonnet said. “Go on.”
Zuri headed out of the shop and followed the pink stone path toward the B and B. She wondered if she’d see Phillip again. She wouldn’t mind another dose of drinking chocolate and conversation.
For a moment, she considered the godmothers’ suggestion.
Her body screamed yes.
Her heart knew it was a bad idea.
Phillip was incredibly handsome, polite . . . and his hands. Dear God, his hands. She knew he was probably richer than Midas, but he had the hands of a workingman. They were broad, and calloused, and they looked strong. She couldn’t help but imagine what they’d feel like on her body.
It was his smile, really. Not the big, toothy grin, but that sort of half smirk that just made her panties fall off all by themselves.
No, she really shouldn’t be having these kinds of thoughts about her landlord.
Oh dear. That wasn’t the thought to help her, either, because she suddenly had a lot of ideas about paying rent.
Which was stupid, because she didn’t pay rent. It was part of her pay from FGI.
At least, she consoled herself, she was able to think about intimacies with another man after what happened with Alec. That was a plus.
Her thoughts took a more serious turn. Jonquil was right. She hadn’t really allowed herself the time or the space to grieve Alec. Not just Alec, but her hopes and dreams. The future she’d let herself imagine with him. It was about letting go of more than just a relationship. It was about part and parcel of all that came with the relationship.
Zuri wandered up to the fountain and she saw the frog was in his usual place.
He looked at her.
She looked at him.
Then his long tongue flicked out like a whip, and he ate a butterfly.
“Ugh, no. I just can’t.”
The frog cocked his head to the opposite side, as if to answer her.
It occurred to her the animals in Ever After were unlike any she’d seen before. Perhaps because the town was so in tune with nature and people walked everywhere. They were used to each other.
She sat on the side of the fountain and pulled out her phone, looking at the text from Alec.
She texted back: Why?
Her phone rang immediately.
She debated not answering it. Zuri was sure her sister would tell her she could get all the closure she needed by herself.
Zuri swiped to answer the call, but she didn’t speak.
“Zuri? Are you there?”
The sound of his voice was familiar and foreign at the same time. Once upon a time, she’d been ecstatic to hear his voice. Now, she didn’t feel much of anything. She’d thought it would hurt, or would at least be bittersweet.
“Yeah, I’m here, Alec.”
“Can we get together and talk tonight?”
“We’re talking now.”
“I have some things to say to you that I should say in person.”
When she didn’t answer, he spoke again. “I’m sure you have some things to say to me, and I owe you the opportunity to say them in person if you want to.”
Did she want to?
“Tonight isn’t good. I’m working.”
“I’m leaving early tomorrow. One of my fraternity brothers is getting married. So I’ll be gone for a few weeks.”
A few weeks? That sounded like a lie. “It doesn’t take a few weeks to get married, Alec. Try again.”
“I understand why you don’t trust me. It’s going to be one of those destination weddings, and everyone is invited to come for the planning through to the wedding. Since I’m the best man, I have to be there. At least tell me the door is open. Just to talk.”
She was probably the dumbest creature on two feet to give him the answer she did, but it was out of her mouth before she could stop herself. “Okay. But just to talk.”
The frog made a distressed sound. She turned to look at him and found him not on the mermaid’s bosom but sitting right next to her.
“Thank you, Zuri. You won’t regret it.”
“I already do,” she said with a sigh. “We should probably hang up while we’re both ahead.”
“Can I just say that I miss—”
“No!” she interrupted him. “You don’t get to say that.”
“Okay, Zuri. We’ll talk soon. Text or call anytime you want. Even if you just want to call me an asshole.”
“Asshole,” she mumbled.
“Do you f
eel better?”
She could hear the mirth in his voice, and it was contagious. Zuri almost laughed, too. “Don’t make me laugh while I’m angry with you. You almost destroyed my career. You don’t get to just make me laugh and it’s all forgotten. It was selfish and shitty and . . . and . . .”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“For what. Say it.”
“Everything?”
“I want a detailed list.”
“Can I work on it? I need to make sure I cover all my bases. Next time we talk, I’ll tell you everything I’m sorry for.”
Was this closure?
“I guess. Whatever. I have to go.” She hung up before she could do anything else stupid.
Zuri looked down at the frog, and he looked back up at her.
His round face seemed to say, Well, it can’t get any worse, can it?
But couldn’t it? It could, she was sure.
“In for a penny, or a wish coin, am I right?” She held out her hands for him.
The frog hopped into the bowl of her hands, and she almost dropped him. He was a heavy boy.
She lifted him up to her lips and cringed as she puckered up and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. Zuri expected him to be slimy, but he wasn’t slimy at all. His head was a little cool, but not clammy or damp, thank all the powers in the universe.
“I hope you’re not that kind of frog that’s going to get me stoned.”
Zuri studied him, and he continued to meet her gaze. Zuri swore she could see human understanding in his eyes.
Only, that was crazy.
Just like kissing a frog and expecting him to turn into a prince.
“Sorry, buddy. I tried.” She put him back down into the fountain, and he hopped into the water.
Zuri looked down at her phone and considered.
If this wasn’t the universe trying to tell her something, she didn’t know what was.
Frogs did not turn into princes. Whether they were green and amphibian or the two-legged kind.
Chapter 7
Phillip had held on to the small hope that Zuri would be the one to break his curse.
Now, that hope had turned to dust.
She’d kissed him, and nothing.
Not that he’d expected it, after all these years. Only, the pull he’d felt between them had sparked a ridiculous flame of hope. Hope he should’ve known better than to have.
Phillip still found himself intrigued by the enigmatic Zuri and wanted to know more about her. He enjoyed their conversation, and he wanted more.
He also wanted to explore the other feelings between them. He knew he wasn’t the only one burning in that fire. He’d be more than happy to be her rebound man. Only, that thought left him cold. Phillip didn’t want to be a rebound, if he was honest. He wanted to get to know Zuri; he wanted . . .
Well, what he wanted wasn’t on the docket anytime soon. A knock on his door jarred him from his thoughts. It was late for visitors, and as far as he knew, Hunter had gone out for the night.
He opened the door, surprised to see Petty standing there, looking as fresh and bright as she had the last time he’d seen her.
“I have a file for Zuri. Can you make sure she gets it?” Petty shoved the pink, glittery file folder at him.
“You know, you could give it to her yourself. She’s just down the hall.”
“Is she? Hmm.” Petty grinned at him.
“Your matchmaking efforts have not gone unnoticed, woman, but you should know, it’s for naught.”
“For naught, eh? Why is that? Don’t you think she’s beautiful, smart, kind, and all-around wonderful?” Petty put her hand on her ample hip.
“I do, I do.”
“That’s what we matchmakers like to hear best,” Petty teased.
“Unfortunately, she’s not the one.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know why. If I knew why, I could fix it.” Wasn’t that obvious?
“I mean, how do you know?” Petty demanded.
“She kissed me today. At the fountain. Nothing.” Phillip sighed. “And she’s still talking to her ex.”
“Ex, schmex.” She waved her hand. “Whatever. Things aren’t always what they seem, Phillip. Don’t lose hope.”
“Petty, I’ll be honest. Right now, hope hurts a lot more than despair ever could.”
She patted his cheek. “It’ll all work out, if you just trust me.” He studied her and decided to confess what he’d done. “I might’ve done what I wasn’t supposed to.”
“Which time?”
“We went to Ravenna.”
Petty snorted. “Of course you did. Well? What was her answer?”
“A wedding.”
“Excuse me, what?” Petty wiggled her nose to adjust her glasses.
“A wedding. Her crystal ball showed me an image of a wedding with a bride in a lavender dress and Esmerelda flying over the bride’s shoulder.”
Petty gasped. “You can’t be serious.”
“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do.”
“Not that. Marrying Ravenna is not the answer. I do promise you that.”
Phillip didn’t want to marry Ravenna, and Ravenna didn’t want to marry him, but he didn’t want to be a frog, either. He had a choice to make, and no one could make it for him except himself. He knew Petty meant well.
“Anyway, will you see that your guest gets this?”
He took the folder. “Yeah.”
Petty disappeared in a puff of pink glitter, and he sneezed.
“I wish she’d stop doing that,” he mumbled.
He didn’t mind the excuse to see Zuri again. It probably wasn’t the brightest course of action, either, but all his choices at the moment sucked.
He ran a hand through his hair and walked down the long hallway to her door, where he knocked lightly.
She opened the door, and his mouth went dry. He forgot what he’d come for. Hell, he was pretty sure he’d forgotten his own name.
Zuri was wearing leggings and a soft, lavender, seemingly cashmere sweater that clung to her in all the right places. Her hair was pulled back under a kerchief, giving him a view of the tender line of her neck.
She smiled. “Hi.”
What was he doing?
Why had he come?
He was holding something, and he held it up in front of himself dumbly.
She arched a brow. “That’s very sparkly.”
He looked at it, then he looked at her, then back to the file. His brain finally took pity on him and switched into gear. “Petty dropped this off for you. She asked me to deliver it personally.”
“Did she? If she were here, why didn’t she deliver it?” She accepted the file. “Not that I’m complaining about a visit from my new friend.”
“I sense the wheels of matchmaking are furiously turning,” he said.
“Do they ever stop turning with those three?” She stepped to the side. “If you wanted to come in and we could have more drinking chocolate, I wouldn’t mind it. I’ve had one hell of a day.”
“Me too.” He followed her inside and closed the door behind him. “You can go first. Tell me about your day.”
“I kissed a frog,” she blurted.
He nodded. “You’re not alone. Everyone tries. I’m sure the frog, if he really is a prince, appreciates it.” The words were cold on his tongue.
“Does he, though? I mean, he didn’t seem to be in distress.”
“Kisses from a beautiful woman don’t seem to be the kind of thing to be distressed over.” He flashed her a grin and went to the screen on the refrigerator. He typed in the unnecessary request for the drinking chocolate.
The castle knew what he wanted and would deliver, but now was not the time to clue Zuri into the realities of magic.
She snorted. “Oh, please. I thought we were past that.”
“Past me thinking you’re beautiful? Nope. We’ll never get past that.”
She gave him a shy smile. “I mean, i
f you insist, who am I to disagree?”
“That’s the spirit. I ordered some drinking chocolate.”
“You could build up the fire, too. If you were feeling inclined.” She sat down on the couch and thumbed through the file Petty had sent her.
He was happy to start the fire and get it roaring nice and high, filling the room with soft light and just enough warmth to make it cozy.
“Everything in this town is crazy. Even the weddings. These people want me to pull off a wedding, from beginning to vows, in three weeks.”
“You can do it.”
“How do you know?” She grinned.
He sat down on the couch next to her. “Because I know the godmothers. They wouldn’t have hired you if you couldn’t. Nor would they have asked it of you.”
Phillip was reminded of Petty’s words earlier. Telling him that things weren’t as they seemed.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. They sent me home early today to ‘rest’ so I’d be ready to start kicking butt on this tomorrow.”
“So what was the bad part?”
“I feel weird talking about this with you.”
“Why? Is it about your ex? It’s fine.” He shrugged. “I like you, Zuri. I want to be your friend. Friends tell each other things, right?”
There was a knock on the door, and Phillip got up to answer it, to get the drinking chocolate.
He brought it back over to the couch and gave Zuri her cup, before sitting down next to her. Just as she was about to speak, her phone buzzed with a request for a video chat.
“It’s my sister.”
“I’d love to meet her,” he said.
“Really?” Zuri held up the phone and swiped to accept the request. “Hey, Zeva. Say hi to my company, Phillip Charming.” She turned the phone to Phillip.
He was surprised to see Zuri’s mirror image looking back at them.
“Hello, Prince Charming,” Zeva said with a big grin.
Startled at the use of his real title, he said, “Hello yourself, Zuri’s pretty sister.”
Zeva laughed. “You’re a smooth one, aren’t you? Is that hot chocolate? I cannot wait to visit your castle.”
Men Are Frogs Page 8