"Sure."
"I'm good at poker,” she said, feeling it was only fair to warn him. “I mean, not just a little good, but real, real good."
Gordon grinned. “So is that a challenge?"
"I think it might be.” Myrtle knew she was grinning as well.
"Are we placing bets?"
"Sure. What's the prize?"
"Winner gets to name it."
"You're on."
* * * *
"Okay, ‘fess up, you make your living hustling cards,” Gordon said when all his marshmallows sat piled in front of Myrtle.
She laughed. “Nope. I ... I make wishes come true for a living, but I'm on sabbatical right now, so I'm simply a lady of leisure."
Realizing what she'd just said, she wished she could take it back. It wasn't like her to let things slip. That was normally Blossom's job.
But now Blossom had some other job ... a job she wasn't sharing with her sisters, and Myrtle was the one making mistakes.
"Wishes come true?” Gordon asked.
Myrtle was trying to think of some explanation, but he didn't wait for one. He just kept right on talking.
"I can think of a wish that only you can make come true."
"A wish?” she parroted. “Sorry. Like I said, I'm a lady of leisure now. And look at that...” She glanced at her arm as if she was wearing a watch, which she wasn't. “Why, it's getting late. I should be going. My sisters will be worried."
Now that was a lie. A big lie. They were so wrapped up in their own thing that they'd never even blink an eye if she was out this late.
She stood up anyway and started to walk toward the front door.
"It's just a little wish, a quick one even,” Gordon said as he trailed after her.
Myrtle turned and almost bumped into him. “What is your little wish?"
Her palms were sweating again and breathing was difficult.
"Just one little kiss good night,” he said. “Sort of my prize."
"Ah, but I won at cards, so I'm the one who gets to name my prize."
"And what are you going to pick?"
"Not a little kiss,” she assured him.
He looked disappointed. “Okay."
"No.” She was flirting. She knew she was. She'd seen enough people flirt in her years of being a fairy godmother. That's exactly what she was doing. And despite the fact her palms were sweating, she didn't want to stop. Instead, she added, “No, I don't want a little kiss, I want the whole shebang."
Bold and daring.
Myrtle could hardly believe the words had come out of her mouth.
Speaking of mouths, Gordon didn't need a second invitation. His lips were coming closer, closer. They touched hers and all thoughts of sweaty palms disappeared. All the unhappy confusion about this new human existence fled as well. All that was left was a warm sense of rightness, of coming home.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and let her body meld with his as their kiss went on and on, a little slice of Fairyland magic right here on Earth.
If she'd seen Fiona, she would have suspected that her godmother had done some brand new spell that Myrtle had never heard of, but she didn't see hide nor hair of Fiona, and she'd been around magic long enough to recognize that this wasn't a spell, even if it was magic. It was something between her and Gordon. Something special. Something—
They parted, and Gordon said, “Well, if that's my prize, I think I'll let you win at cards every time."
"Let me win?” she teased. “Why, I beat the pants off you."
Realizing what she'd said, she felt her cheeks heat up. “I mean—"
"I know what you mean, and what you don't mean. And I think what you mean right now is that it's time for you to go home."
"Yes, it is."
"But before you go, can I ask one question?"
She nodded. “Yes?"
"When can I see you again?"
Chapter Seventeen
Blossom
"So, this is your idea of a date?” Blossom asked.
"Are you saying it isn't yours?” Rom countered.
"But Rom, a human date tends to include things like flowers, dinners, movies—"
He interrupted. “And just what is it that nonhuman dates include?"
"Pardon?"
"You said a human date, so what else is there except human dates?"
He just sat there looking at her, waiting for an answer.
Blossom didn't have one. She'd slipped up with the human date comment. Slipped up just like her sisters had feared she would.
"Stop trying to change the subject,” Blossom said. “I know what a date should entail. I've set enough people up on them. And I can assure you that this is no date."
Blossom had worked so hard choosing just the right outfit for tonight, but rather than some romantic candlelit dinner she was stuffed into a pair of Rom's boots and sweats, both of which were way too big, and they were hiking up a wooded hill.
Hiking, for Pete's sake.
He'd even shoved a backpack on her.
"Rom, really, human or not, climbing a hill in the middle of the night isn't a date."
"Pillicock sat on a Pillicock hill, Halloo, halloo, loo, loo."
"And quoting King Lear isn't a date either,” she told him.
He grinned at her. “Close your eyes."
"Pardon?” she asked.
"Close your eyes. We're almost there."
"But—"
"And your mouth. Close them both."
Not knowing what else to do, Blossom obeyed. Not that she wanted Rom to think she was making a habit of obeying, but she was curious what this was all about.
He took her hand and led her up the last little rise.
"Trust me. I won't let you fall,” he murmured, his voice as soft and as inviting as his touch.
"Now stay still and keep your eyes shut a moment.” He tugged at the backpack he'd made her lug up the hill and she could hear zippers unzipping and things being moved about. “No peeking,” he warned.
Suddenly he was taking her hand again. “Come here.” He led her a few more steps. “Sit down. But don't open your eyes yet."
She found that there was a blanket under her feet and she sat on it. She felt Rom sink down next to her.
"Now, open your eyes."
She opened her eyes and the first thing she took in was the setting. There were a number of votive candles lit all around the blanket, a picnic basket, and a bottle of wine, with all the accouterments. It took a split second for her to take all that in, and her gaze moved outwards. She drew in a sharp breath.
"It's beautiful,” she murmured.
They were on the edge of a cliff, looking down over Lake Erie.
She was sure it was Lake Erie because nothing else in town had the width and breadth of it. It went on and on, ocean-like in its vastness an occasional light from a boat, dotting the horizon. The view would have been beautiful regardless, but with a full moon shining a soft white light across the water, it was breathtaking.
Blossom looked at the man next to her. “I can't believe you did this for me."
"Actually, I can't believe it, either."
She laughed. “Not your standard seduction technique?"
"I don't have a standard. Hell, I don't have much of any seduction technique. You might not have noticed, but sometimes I'm a bit brusque."
"A bit?” she teased.
He smiled. “Sometimes more than a bit. And for some crazy reason, that seems to be a turn off for most women."
"Ah, but you're a man who quotes Shakespeare with ease. They don't feel that makes up for a bit of brusqueness?"
"Most don't,” he admitted.
"I'm not most women,” Blossom told him.
Right now, sitting on the edge of a cliff next to Rom, she felt anything but normal. She felt special, exhilarated. She felt...
She couldn't quite think of a definition for the feeling that glowed deep within her, but she liked it. Liked it almost as much as she liked Rom's surpr
ise.
"I've noticed you're anything but most women.” He paused a moment, then added, “I've noticed a lot of things about you, actually."
"Such as?"
"You don't know how beautiful you are.” He reached out and gently ran a finger across her jawline. “You're kind to everyone. You stand up to me without batting an eye. You make me smile."
"Is this where you kiss me?” Blossom asked.
"I believe it might be, if you don't mind."
"The only way I'd mind is if you didn't."
She didn't wait for him to kiss her. Instead, she moved toward him, her lips finding his and pressing against them.
She couldn't get close enough—couldn't get enough of the feel of him, the taste of him, the—
"Wow,” a voice said, causing Blossom to jump.
The jump broke her connection to Rom and she felt bereft at the loss.
"What's wrong?” Rom asked.
"Now, that's what a fairy godmother likes to see, two people falling in love.” Fiona was hovering midair over the cliff. “Wait until I tell the Council. You're in love."
"I never said that,” Blossom protested.
"Never said what?” asked Rom.
"Never said I was falling in love,” she answered.
"I never said it, either,” he assured her.
"I said it,” Fiona said merrily, bobbing up and down in the air, her tiny wings fluttering quite prettily.
"I wouldn't say it,” Rom added.
"That's good,” Blossom assured him. “I mean, all we were doing was kissing. You don't have to be in love to kiss."
"But it helps,” said Fiona. “Kissing someone you love is much more pleasurable than just kissing anyone."
"I don't kiss just anyone, you know,” Blossom said.
"Neither do I,” said Rom. “Blossom what's gotten into you?"
"Common sense. I've got to go.” She clambered to her feet.
Clambering was the only way to rise since Rom's boots were too big and made getting up awkward.
"Go?” Rom said. “Listen, if you don't want to kiss any longer, that's fine. Have a glass of wine and watch the water with me."
"Blossom,” Fiona said. “I didn't mean to break up your tryst. I was just checking on you and your sisters. It seems everyone is kissing tonight, which means I'm doing a heck of a job. The Council will be pleased, although I don't know if my husband will."
"Just leave me alone,” Blossom told her.
"Blossom, what on earth is the matter?” Rom asked.
"Fine, if that's how you feel, I'll go.” Fiona sounded hurt. “Like I said, I was just checking. Berrybelle wants a report tomorrow."
"Don't you dare tell anyone about the kissing,” Blossom warned her.
Fiona just smiled and disappeared from sight.
"Who would I tell? The cast?” Rom asked. “I don't think so."
"Not you,” Blossom said, realizing how crazy she must sound. “Listen, I'm sorry. I don't know if I can explain, but I am sorry."
"You said you weren't falling in love,” he reminded her.
"I'm not.” She realized she was assuring herself more than him. “I can't fall in love with you."
And she realized that it wouldn't be hard. Despite the fact that Rom was a bit difficult at times—okay, most of the time—she thought she could fall in love with him without half-trying.
"Why can't you fall in love with me?” he asked. “Not that I want you to, but I'm curious, why couldn't you?"
"Rom, I obviously find you to be a very attractive man, but there are things that would make it difficult for us to be together."
"What kinds of things?” he asked. “You're saying a lot of things, but unfortunately none of them make sense."
"And I'm sorry for that, too. Sorry I can't explain it to you better. But there are things I can't talk about."
"If you can't talk about them, then how can I help fix them?” he asked. He reached out his hand, as if to take hers, but she took a step backward. She didn't want to touch him, because if she did, she'd be far too tempted to kiss him again, and she already knew that would be a mistake.
"You can't help fix them,” she assured him sadly. “They're unfixable."
"But—"
"Let's forget that whole crazy experience and just enjoy the view.” She sat back down. She really should go. Lingering was a mistake. But he'd worked so hard to make this evening special, she just couldn't leave yet.
"I understand your fury, but not your words," Rom whispered.
"My words fly up, but my thoughts remain below. Words without thought never to heaven go." She paused. “Rom, it's obvious we have things in common, but it isn't enough. Our differences are too great. Could we just go back to before that kiss and all the nonsense I was spouting?"
"I don't want to go back,” he said. “And even if I did, I don't think I can. You've got a secret. If you really are falling in love with me, trust me with it. Because without trust there can be no love. But with love all things are possible."
"Rom, I just don't see how...” She paused. “I'm so confused."
"Just remember this, without trust there is no love. I think what we have is a start ... but you have to trust me if we're going to see it grow."
"Maybe it shouldn't,” she whispered, knowing there was no maybe about it. Human and fairy relationships never seemed to end well.
"Maybe, you're right and it shouldn't.” He touched her cheek, just a tiny caress. “Or maybe you're wrong and it should. You'll never know unless you give it a try."
Chapter Eighteen
Interlude With Bernie II
"They what?” Bernie hollered.
"Don't you raise your voice to me, Bernie.” Fiona put her hands on her hips and simply stared him down.
"But ... but...” he stuttered.
"I was simply saying that as far as first assignments go, this was relatively easy. All three of them have met their men.” She looked smug.
Smug?
Didn't she get it? He didn't sentence those three to humanness in order to see them fall in love. It was supposed to be a punishment, not a reward.
"That's my point. You say they've found their men, but those three are fairies. Fairies. They're not women. They shouldn't have men to find."
"They're not fairies, remember? At least not for a few more months. You took care of that, didn't you? They're all three fairly human, and quite in love. Oh, they haven't recognized it yet, but they are."
"You weren't supposed to fix them up,” he maintained.
Maybe it was the pregnancy affecting her brain. That was a good explanation for why Fiona just wasn't getting it.
"May I quote the Fairy's Handbook?” she asked, very prim and proper. "A fairy godmother's primary responsibility is to see that her godchildren all live happily-ever-after."
"But that's human godchildren,” he maintained.
"It doesn't say that."
"But any fool would know that's what it meant."
"No, any fool wouldn't. If whoever wrote it meant human godchildren they should have said that. Who wrote the stupid thing anyway?"
He grit his teeth together and squeezed the words, “I did,” out between them.
"Oh. Well, you should have—"
"This isn't about what I should have done, it's about what you should have done. You should have left matters alone. This entire situation was all about teaching them a lesson, and instead of a lesson in real life, they're running around Erie, kissing men, dating, and having a great time."
"Well, you know love's hard work. I don't think they'd all describe it as a great time. After all, Myrtle just met her man and though they're attracted, they're not really settled yet, and Fern and Nico spend as much time fighting as they do kissing, and then there's Blossom's whole, you-can't-love-me-because-I'm-a-fairy hang-up."
"So, it's not a done deal yet?” he asked, a surge of relief pouring through his body. There was time. They could fix this.
No, he could fix this.
"None of them have actually said the words?” he asked.
"Being in love isn't about saying the words, it's about the feeling, and all three of them have it bad,” Fiona maintained.
Poor, sweet, pregnant, Fiona. She didn't know the first thing about fairy godmothering and had made as big a mess out of her first assignment as ... well, as Myrtle, Fern and Blossom would have.
He'd save her from herself and her own inadequacy.
"But they haven't admitted it yet, have they?” he pressed. “Not to the guys, and especially not to themselves, right?"
"Well, no,” she admitted. “Not in so many words."
"Not in any words, right?"
Fiona sighed. “No."
"Great then there's still time.” He clapped his hands together. There was time to fix this. Now all he had to do was decide how to fix it.
"Time for what?” Fiona asked.
"To stop it. Words have power, and without the words, nothing's set in stone,” he explained. “They haven't said the words, so it's time to bring them home."
"But I had six months. I worked up these elaborate plans based on six months of humanness. You can't bring them home now."
He smiled and gently patted her head in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. “Oh, but I can. I'm going to the Council right now."
Fiona didn't look comforted.
As a matter of fact, she looked annoyed. “Bernie, don't you dare mess this up for me."
Not even just annoyed.
She looked pissed off. Fairies didn't generally get pissed off, but Fiona had lived as a human for so many years she seemed to have a knack for it.
"I'm not messing this up, honey,” he said, soothingly. “I'm saving you. You'll see."
"But—"
"I've got to go.” He blinked out of sight.
He'd take care of this for her because he loved her.
Yes, he was doing this for love.
He wasn't doing it for revenge against the three banes of his existence.
* * * *
Fiona smiled. Yes, she'd worked hard on an elaborate plan and it appeared to be falling quite nicely into place.
She placed her hand on her slightly rounded belly. “Your mama is so smart,” she whispered to her unborn child.
Feeling quite smug, she went in search of ice cream.
Fairly Human Page 13