The Gargoyle Gets His Girl

by Kristen Painter

  “We don’t want you to close it, just be on alert. You being there may help draw Burnside out. Of course, if he does turn up, hit the silent alarm.”

  Willa chewed her lip. “And if he tries something?”

  “Try is all he’ll do,” Nick said.

  Sheriff Merrow nodded. “Hardwin has full authority to do whatever’s necessary to keep you safe.”

  She stood. “So Nick’s going to work with me?”

  The sheriff smiled. “Nick’s going everywhere with you until this is over. Until Burnside is dealt with, Nick is your shadow.”

  Nick watched Willa shake her head and sigh as she stared out the shop windows from behind the back counter.

  “What’s wrong?” he called out from where he lounged in the office of her jewelry store, behind the two-way glass that looked out onto the shop floor.

  “I feel like a sitting duck.”

  “You’re not, I swear.” He’d exchanged his T-shirt and jeans for a white button-down and khakis, the closest he came to civilized work attire. His feet were on the desk and Jasper was curled up on his lap. The big orange cat’s purr rumbled with satisfaction every time Nick ran his hand down the animal’s back. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Willa stuck her head in, a gold bracelet in her hand. “I don’t think Jasper’s in any danger, but it’s sweet that you two have bonded like this.”

  Nick made a face. “I meant I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

  “I know.” Her little half-smile flattened out. “I just feel…I don’t know.”

  “Vulnerable?”

  She nodded.

  “We could lock the door and do…other things.” He waggled his brows. “Naked things.”

  “There are customers in the shop,” she hissed, but then she laughed, reddening a bit as she leaned in farther to talk to him. “And such dirty talk when my poor innocent baby is right there on your lap. Jasper, don’t listen to the bad man.”

  Jasper’s ear twitched, but he didn’t move. Nick grinned. “You want me to come out there and help you? I can unlock cases and show people stuff.”

  “You think it’s that easy?” Willa’s brows bent in doubtfulness. “The phrase bull in a china shop comes to mind.”

  “I won’t break anything. And if I do, the Ellinghams will pay for it. I’ll just file an expense report.”

  She shrugged. “Hang on.” She popped out, only to pop back in a second later. “Heads up.” She tossed him a set of keys on a telephone cord bracelet.

  He snatched them out of the air. “Keys for the cases?”

  “Yep. You want to work? Knock yourself out.”

  He gave Jasper a little shake. “Sorry, furry dude, your mother’s putting me to work.”

  Willa rolled her eyes. “You asked if you could.”

  Jasper stretched, climbed onto the desk and curled up on a stack of papers. Nick stood and grinned. He enjoyed teasing Willa way more than he should. “How much are you paying me?”

  She snorted. “You haven’t sold anything yet.”

  “I’m going to sell more than you today, you’ll see.” He came to stand beside her behind the front counter. Customers milled about, but no one seemed to be in need of immediate attention.

  “Sure you are,” she said quietly.

  “Care to make it interesting?”

  She glanced up at him. “What did you have in mind?”

  He was struck for a moment by how gorgeous she was, but also by how stressed she looked. She could use some fun. “Winner gets a picnic tomorrow night to watch the fireworks. Loser does all the work.”

  “At the fairgrounds?”

  “Isn’t that the best place to see the fireworks?”

  She nodded, her face brightening. “It is. But that would mean you’d have to get there early to reserve a good spot. How are you going to do that if you’re supposed to be my shadow?”

  He frowned. “You’re right. I guess the bet’s off. I can’t believe I forgot about that.”

  “Oh, no you don’t. You’re not getting out of it that easily. I’m calling Sheriff Merrow and telling him I need a deputy here during the day tomorrow to relieve you. Because you’re going to lose this bet and you’ll need to be planning and packing a picnic.”

  “Willa, I can’t leave you alone like that.”

  “I won’t be alone. I’ll have Ramona here and one of the deputies and besides, I’ve got the panic button if anything goes wrong.”

  “I don’t know.” It felt like going against his basest instincts, but he wasn’t the only one capable of protecting her.

  She smiled. “It will be fine. I won’t be alone at any point during the day.”

  He didn’t say anything.

  She batted her lashes at him. “I really want this picnic.”

  He sighed. “All right. But only if the sheriff can spare a deputy.” He snorted. “I love how you’re assuming I’m going to lose.”

  She walked away from him. “Sorry, couldn’t hear you, on my way to sell something.”

  Before he could respond, she was deep in conversation with a young couple looking at engagement rings.

  Damn, she was going to outsell him so hard. But he was also completely okay with losing. He made a quick call to Merrow to secure the deputy for tomorrow himself, then headed to the other side of the store and went to work.

  Halfway through the day, she was smoking him exactly as he’d predicted. He’d made a few sales, but it wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be. Ramona came in for her afternoon shift, giving Willa and Nick a chance to eat the lunch one of the busboys from Howler’s had just delivered.

  They sat side by side at the desk, after they’d moved Jasper, and opened up the takeout containers. Club sandwiches and fries, the special of the day.

  They were halfway through lunch when Ramona came in. “Pandora Williams is here to see you, Willa.”

  “Send her back.”

  Pandora came in, wearing her usual Realtor uniform, slim pantsuit, bright top, bold jewelry. She was the most unwitchy witch Willa knew, and in this town, there were plenty to know. “Sorry to interrupt your lunch. Hi, Nick. How’s the house?”

  “House is great, thanks.”

  “You ever want to trade up, get something bigger, you let me know.”

  “Will do.”

  Pandora looked at Willa. “I see you two patched things up.”

  Willa nodded. “We did.”

  “Okay to talk here then?”

  Willa got up and shut the office door, giving them privacy. “It is now.”

  “Great. I went to my mother’s library and did some research. I didn’t find much, but I talked to her—in very vague terms—about how to break a spell like the one you did. I hope that was okay.”

  “Of course. I’m sure she’s not going to blab. Besides, if she’s still dating Hugh Ellingham’s butler, I’m sure she’ll hear about this sooner or later. Was she able to shed any light on what to do?”

  “A little.” Pandora crossed her arms. “She said the only way to break the spell that she knew for sure would work is to destroy the ring, but he’s got to give you the ring of his own free will.”

  “How the hell is that going to happen?” Nick asked. “The guy’s stalking her.”

  Pandora nodded. “I asked my mom that. She said if you can learn the troll’s real name, you can ask him for the ring and he’ll give it to you.”

  Willa sighed. “Any thoughts on how I might do that?”

  Nick grunted. “You could agree to meet him and maybe talk him into it. If he’s really that gone over you, he might not think twice about telling you.”

  Willa raised her brows. “That sounds safe. Meeting with the troll who’s obsessed with me. I’m sure he won’t try to haul me back to his lair or anything.”

  “I don’t think trolls have lairs,” Pandora said.

  “Caves,” Nick added.

  “You know what I mean.” Willa put her hands on her hips. “You two seem
to think this is no big deal.”

  Nick laced his fingers through hers. “Willa, whatever we set up, I’m going to be there. Close by.”

  “How are you going to manage that?”

  He grinned. “I have a plan. Now we just need Burnside to contact you.”

  Willa thought for a moment. “You’re sure you can keep control of this situation?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She reached over and hit the power button on her computer. “Then we don’t need to wait for him to contact me.”

  Twelve minutes. That’s how long it had taken Martin Burnside to respond to Willa’s email agreeing to meet him.

  Now it was the other side of midnight, and she stood in the middle of the park, waiting on him. Pacing. Going over every possibility in her head. And trying not to freak out.

  Sheriff Merrow and one of his deputies, Jenna Blythe, watched from the roof of the sundries shop across the street. Hugh and Julian Ellingham lurked in the shadows of the trees at the farthest edge of the park. And Nick was right behind her, on the fountain stage, looking just the way he had when she’d first unknowingly met him. Like a statue of a gargoyle.

  “Maybe he’s not coming,” she whispered.

  “He’ll show,” Nick answered, his soft growl a darker shade of his usual voice thanks to the granite confines of his current form.

  She responded with a short, jerky nod and went back to pacing, her eyes scanning both directions for her stalker. Minutes passed with no sign of the troll.

  “Willa.”

  She jumped and turned at the sound of her name. A dark, hulky shape stood just outside the edge of the soft glow of the closest street lamp. Somehow Burnside had gone unnoticed as he’d approached her. Her heart thumped in her chest. “M-Martin?”

  He nodded and stepped into the light. “Pretty, pretty Willa. I’m so happy you agreed to meet me.”

  The light shone off his scalp, his thinning gray hair doing little to camouflage his impending baldness despite his attempts to comb it into a style that said otherwise. His nose and lips were bulbous, a typical troll trait, but his small black eyes were surprisingly kind. Willa nodded. “I just thought…we should talk.”

  “I agree.” He smiled, revealing a row of small, square teeth. He wore dark denim overalls with a sport coat, an interesting look to say the least. He reached into the jacket pocket. “I brought you a gift.”

  She swallowed and backed up toward Nick.

  Martin held out a small package wrapped in a man’s handkerchief. Hopefully not used. The platinum ring she’d made for him gleamed on his finger.

  She took the gift and untied the knot. Inside was a snail shell carved with flowers and vines. It was actually quite lovely. “Did you make this?”

  He nodded shyly. “Hobby of mine. You like it?”

  “It’s very pretty. Thank you.” She hoped that was enough small talk, because she was ready to get this conversation moving toward something useful. “I didn’t bring you anything, but—”

  He thrust his hand out, making her jerk back. “You made me this ring. That’s good enough.”

  If only she could snatch it and be done with this whole thing. “If we’re going to get to know each other better, I feel like I should know your name.”

  His brow wrinkled in uncertainty. “Martin.”

  Okay, that wasn’t going to work. She was going to have to apply herself to the task, make him believe she really liked him. Not only was it a lie, but it was…icky. She forced herself to smile, but she couldn’t imagine what it looked like to him because it sure didn’t feel real.

  He smiled back.

  Maybe the dim lighting was on her side.

  She sidled closer, going for coy as best she could. It was like trying to flirt with one of the old men who hung around outside of the hardware store. “No, Martin, I mean your real name. You know…” She brushed her fingers over his arm. “Your true name.”

  His smile faltered. “I, uh…I’m not sure I should…”

  She stomped her foot in a show of the most juvenile upset she could muster. “I knew you didn’t really like me. You’re just pretending, aren’t you?” Ugh. This was so not her.

  He clutched at the air, his thick stubby fingers clenching nothing. “No, I love you. I do. You’re the only woman I can think about.”

  She crossed her arms and gave him a stern glare, something that took little effort. “And I suppose you still want to marry me.”

  “I do. Very much.” He looked like he might cry.

  She touched his arm again. “How can I marry a man when I don’t even know his real name?”

  Martin took a deep breath, his weepy eyes squeezing shut for a moment, then he whispered something unintelligible.

  She leaned forward, tightening her grip on him a little. “What was that?”

  He gulped. “Brindlesticks.”

  The name came out on a whisper and a whirl of magic, sending a trail of luminescent sparks through the air that winked out as quickly as they’d appeared.

  He’d given her his true name. And by doing so, the power to control him. She let go of him.

  In that moment, she realized Nick was watching her do exactly what she’d told him she never would. Force someone to do something against their will.

  But it was her or Martin, and she couldn’t sacrifice the rest of her life because of some magic gone wrong.

  She gently took Martin’s hand. It was as limp as a sleeping kitten. A wash of pity swept her. He was in this state because of her. “Thank you, Martin.”

  He nodded. “I love you, Willa.”

  She smiled sadly. It was time to bring this charade to a close. She dropped his hand and held her palm out. “Brindlesticks, please give me the ring I made for you. I want it back.”

  His eyes went wide, and he looked like he’d been slapped. “You tricked me.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I’m trying to save you, Martin. The magic in the ring is tainted. I’m going to make things right again.”

  Snarling and muttering, he wriggled the ring free from his finger and threw it at her feet. He went oddly still, the anger on his face vanishing into blankness. He blinked like nothing around him seemed familiar.

  She scooped up the ring and stuck it in her pocket. “Mr. Burnside, you might want to go back to your hotel room and get some sleep.”

  He peered at her. “Who are you? Why am I here?”

  “I’m Willa Iscove. I’m the one who made the ring for you.” She hesitated. “There was a mix up with the ring.”

  He looked at his hand. “I don’t…where is it?”

  “I have to make you a new one.” That’s the least she could do.

  He glanced up, confusion clouding his gaze. “Why?”

  “Because the magic I put into the first one wasn’t working. All my fault. I’ll make the new one right away and mail it to you express. You’ll have it by next week, I promise.”

  He rubbed his finger where the ring had been. “This is all real odd.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  She realized Sheriff Merrow and Deputy Blythe were walking up behind him. The sheriff gave her a nod. “We’ll take it from here, Willa.”

  Martin twisted around. “What’s going on?”

  The sheriff answered for her. “You broke into Miss Iscove’s apartment.”

  “I did?” Martin looked at her, eyes wild. “I don’t remember that.”

  She felt awful. Her mistake had caused all this. “I’m not going to press charges.”

  “We’re still taking him in for questioning,” Sheriff Merrow said.

  Martin’s shoulders slumped. He put up no fuss as Deputy Blythe cuffed him and led him away to the squad car.

  “Do you have to do that?” Willa asked.

  The sheriff nodded. “He’s an unknown quantity, Willa. Better safe than sorry.”

  “I guess.”

  Nick stepped off the fountain platform, still in gargoyle form. “You okay, Will
a? You did great.”

  She shook her head. She could sense him towering over her, but couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. “I feel awful. This was all my fault. My magic made him crazy.”

  “Be that as it may,” Sheriff Merrow said. “He still broke into your house and damaged your front door. I’d like to talk to him, make sure he’s not going to do anything like that again, and he should pay for the damage.”

  “No.” She frowned. “I’ll pay for it. Like I said, I’m not pressing charges.” She rubbed at her temple. “Chalk it up to a lesson learned.”

  “Understood.” The sheriff gave her a nod. “Anything comes up, I’ll let you know but otherwise consider this matter done.”

  A shimmer of energy caught her eye.

  Nick was back in human form. He held out his hand. “C’mon, Willa. Let’s go home.”

  She nodded and took his hand, letting him lead her away from the park. Neither of them spoke until they were a couple of blocks away.

  “You sure you’re all right?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “I feel responsible.”

  “I know, but it’s over now. Resolved. Nothing more to…worry about.”

  She glanced at him. “What? Why’d you pause like that?”

  “It’s nothing.” His gaze held a distant look.

  “No, it’s not. What are you thinking?”

  “I don’t want to sound like one of those crazy conspiracy theorists, but that all went down really easily. He gave up his real name without much of a struggle.”

  She pressed her hand to her cheek. “I don’t know…he thought he was in love with me. Why wouldn’t he have given me his name?”

  “Like I said, it’s nothing.”

  She tugged on his hand and brought them both to a stop. “What are you thinking?”

  He pulled her in tight and wrapped his arms around her. “That I’m crazy about you.”

  She smiled but poked a finger in his chest. “Seriously.”

  Nick paused, then finally relented. “I don’t want to make you worry for no reason, but it seems suspicious to me that he’s so in love with you, then the ring comes off and he’s not.”