Lucy gasped. “There are boy fairies and angels?” she whispered.
Evie grinned. The adorable girl had sussed she was an angel the first time she’d seen her. Very young children could see through the magic veil that hid her wings, and a few adults knew of their existence too.
“Yes, there are boy fairies and all sorts of other magical creatures too. All you have to do is believe.”
“I do believe.” Lucy looked brighter already.
Evie kissed the top of her smooth head. “I have to go now, cutie pie, but I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Okay. Bye bye, Evie.”
“I hope you feel better soon. Look after those flowers for me.”
“I will.”
Evie headed out of the room and waved back at Lucy once she reached the door, a warm fuzzy feeling in her belly.
She took the bus to the restaurant, which made her twenty minutes late. Not a good omen for her date with Mr. Gorgeous Fae.
Alvaro was even better looking in the flesh than on his profile pic. Although disappointingly, he appeared to know it as he sat at the dinner table preening himself in the reflection of a silver spoon. He tucked his flowing locks behind a pointy ear, batted his eyelashes and made a pouty pose with lips full of mischief.
Evie’s cheeks warmed at her rash judgment. He might be a very nice person under all that pouting and preening. “Hi, I’m Evie. Sorry, I’m late.” She sat down clumsily, tugging down her too-tight dress again. “I had to take some flow… err, something to a little girl in the hospital,” she stuttered like a tongue-tied teen. Probably best not to mention she’d received flowers from goodness knows who. Maybe she had a secret admirer.
Alvaro looked up from his mirror spoon and appraised her, his amber eyes disturbingly predatory. “You’re worth the wait.”
Evie slipped out of her khaki jacket and draped it on the back of the chair. She caught a glimpse of her cleavage. In tugging down her dress, she’d pulled it too low at the front, and now half her boobs were on show. She hoicked it up quickly, hoping he hadn’t noticed, but Alvaro zeroed in on her chest.
Err, up here, boyo. “So, what made you use Love Bites dating agency?” she asked in an effort to focus his attention on her face. It didn’t work. “A good-looking guy like you must have loads of girls lining up to go on a date with you.”
She regarded him while he stared at her cleavage. He hadn’t looked her in the eyes once. He licked his lips as though imagining what it would be like to taste her. Is he dribbling? Eww.
“There are, but none of those girls give me what I want,” he said, his voice loaded with an innuendo she found uncomfortable. “But you look like you’re up for some fun between the sheets.”
This was not going how she imagined. “Look, Alvaro, I think we have our wires crossed. I came on a date to get to know you, not be ogled like the next notch on your bedpost.”
“You shouldn’t have worn that dress then.” He reached across the table and stroked her arm. “It’s obvious you’re here for the same reason I am. Sex.”
Things were getting disconcerting.
The waiter came over. “Can I get you a drink, miss?”
Evie snatched her arm away from Alvaro’s vile pawing and stood. “No thanks, I’m leaving.”
“What? We haven’t even started yet, love.”
“I am not your love, and I’ll be reporting your inappropriate behaviour to the dating agency. Bye.”
With that, she fled from the restaurant.
Outside, she gulped the cool air and tried to regulate her breathing. She was a quivering mess, but at least she’d met the sleazeball in a public place and was able to make a rapid exit.
Hopefully, her date with the vampire would be better.
* * *
Caleb straightened his tie and checked his watch. Almost time to go.
A quick tidy around his modest apartment before he left, and Caleb made his way to the bowling alley; he thought it less intimate than a restaurant. He had no intention of starting any kind of relationship with the mermaid—Alyssa, her name said on the profile—and he would make it clear as soon as they met, but at least they could have some fun knocking down the pins.
He entered the bowling alley and scanned the foyer. Hmm, she didn’t seem to be here, and he was on time too.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. “Caleb, from Love Bites? I recognise you from your profile picture.”
He frowned. He didn’t recognise her, except for the putrid green hair.
She held out her hand. “I’m Alyssa.”
Caleb forced a pleasant smile. The woman looked nothing like her profile picture. He took her hand and shook it warmly. “Lovely to meet you, Alyssa. I have to confess I’ve not done this sort of thing before.”
“Oh, I have. You’re my one-hundredth date. Lucky you.”
He widened his smile, hoping it didn’t look fake. “Yes, lucky me, eh?”
She looped her arm into his and led him to the bowling lanes. “I’ve already paid for our games. You owe me.”
He would have paid it all or at least offered to pay half, but he got the impression she was the type of woman who liked to be in charge. “Of course. How much do I owe you?” He went to get his wallet.
Alyssa put her hand on his arm. “No, you don’t understand. I don’t want your money. You’re my one-hundredth date,” she repeated as though it was supposed to mean something.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
“You owe me your hand in marriage, my handsome angel man.”
His jaw dropped. “Err, I don’t think—”
A haunting song filled his head, cutting off his words.
The bowling alley spun around him. His vision tunnelled, with Alyssa’s face in the centre. Her mouth was moving, but the siren’s song sounded like it was inside his head. He even imagined he could feel her moist breath blowing into his ear, taste the salty air.
Confused, he backed away, his knees buckling.
“Hey, what have I told you about singing that song in here?” came a man’s voice from somewhere behind him, muffled, detached somehow. Caleb couldn’t work out if he had a foreign accent or his speech was a little slurred.
Alyssa closed her mouth, and the song stopped.
Caleb turned to see who’d told her to stop singing. His head spun more, and he swayed.
The same someone caught him. “It’s okay, dude. It’ll pass soon.”
The chap’s T-shirt had the bowling alley’s logo. He spoke to Alyssa. “Now clear off and leave the poor guy alone.”
Alyssa stuck out her bottom lip like a sulky child. “Spoilsport. You always ruin my fun.”
The chap cupped his ear. “Sorry, can’t hear you,” he said, his tone loaded with smugness.
With a flick of her putrid green hair, the mermaid flounced off.
Caleb’s head felt like it was stuffed with cotton wool. “Thanks. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t shown up.”
The young fellow pointed to his ears. “Hold on a sec.” He fiddled with the hearing aids in both ears. “Sorry, what did you say? My hearing aids were turned off. It’s the only way I can get close to her.”
“Well, I’m glad you did. Thank you.”
“Happy to help. She does the same thing every time.”
“She’s been here before then?”
“Yeah, all the time. If I’d have seen her come in, I would have chucked her out.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s mine. Sorry to have caused you any trouble.”
“We’re cool, dude.”
Caleb nodded. “Thanks again, but I don’t think I’ll be bowling tonight. Bye.”
He walked out of the bowling alley, shaking his head to clear the remaining fuzziness. A few moments later, he called a taxi. Somehow, he didn’t think flying would be a good idea tonight.
After that nightmarish experience, a banshee should be a doddle.
Chapter Four
Someone knoc
ked on Evie’s front door again. Probably the chauffeur for her date with the vampire, Henry.
She finished applying a smudge of lip gloss and ran to the door.
A delivery guy stood holding a small box tied with a red ribbon. Fortunately, not the surly man who’d given her the flowers, but not a chauffeur either. “Evie Thomas?”
“Yes.”
He handed her the box, asked her to sign his digital handset and went to leave.
“Wait, are you from the agency?” she asked, thinking it was a nice touch for the dating agency to do this sort of thing before each date. It had to be them; even if Alvaro had somehow managed to get her address, she doubted the self-absorbed Fae would have thought to send her flowers before their date—even though she didn’t hang around long enough to ask.
The delivery guy’s expression went blank. “Huh?”
Not Love Bites then, so who sent them? “Oh, never mind. Thanks anyway.” She closed the door.
Evie went into her lounge, pushed a pile of overdue bills off the sofa and sat down. She balanced the small box on one knee.
After untying the ribbon, she opened the box. A sickly-sweet aroma wafted up her nose as if she’d walked into an old-fashioned sweet shop. Inside was a set of vampire's teeth—of the chewy sweet variety.
Evie burst out laughing. What a perfect gift to put her mind at rest over the craziness of dating a vamp. She stuffed the sweet into her mouth, careful not to smudge her lippy.
Hmm, delicious. If the gift wasn’t from the agency, it must have been from Henry.
Another knock at the door. Hopefully, the chauffeur this time. She slipped into her tatty khaki jacket and answered the door.
She’d gone for her best black jeans and a pretty blouse for this date, moderately smart, she thought—until now. The guy stood there in a posh suit and tie, chauffeur cap, and a pinched arse expression that made her wish she was wearing something dressier.
Not that she would have worn the too-tight black dress; the last thing she wanted was to get a vamp’s blood pumping—if they even had blood.
“Lord Henry of Marley Hall has instructed that I drive you to his residence,” said the chauffeur.
Oh, heck. She feigned a smile like she did this sort of thing all the time. “Thank you.”
The drive out of the city took an hour or so before the chauffeur, who’d not uttered a word throughout the journey, pulled into a long private driveway leading to a magnificent stately manor bathed in a golden glow from the evening sun.
Evie’s eyes widened. She was way out of her comfort zone, but she was here now, so what did she have to lose?
The snooty driver opened the car door for her as Lord Henry himself came outside to greet her. Dressed in a full tuxedo with a burgundy bowtie and cummerbund, Henry bowed graciously, took her hand and kissed her knuckles, his touch light and stone cold. “Welcome, Evangeline.”
Eek, he sounded so formal. Now she wished she hadn’t put her full name on her profile with the agency. “Hello…” She wasn’t sure if he expected her to address him by his title. “You can call me Evie,” she told him, hoping he’d take the hint. He didn’t.
He nodded instead and led her into a spacious hallway five times bigger than her flat, decorated with opulent furnishings, age-old fabrics and oak panelling.
She followed Henry, who glided rather than walked, across the room, her chunky boots clomping on the polished parquet flooring, the sound echoing around the vast space.
Evie squared her shoulders. You can do this, girl. No sign of a coffin; had to be a good thing, right?
Henry opened double doors at the rear of the hallway and stood back, tilting his head for her to enter.
She stepped inside. In the centre of the room sat a long table laden with a lavish banquet. Heavy brocade drapes covered the windows, but light came from numerous candles nestled in sparkling gold candelabras that dotted the dining hall.
Evie emitted a nervous laugh. “You have a magnificent home… I think I might have come a bit underdressed.”
The vamp smiled widely, keeping his lips together, so he didn’t show his fangs. “You look splendid as you are, but if it would make you feel more comfortable, perhaps Mummy could find you something to wear?”
Mummy? She went to speak, but he cut her off.
“Mummy, darling, where are you?” he called out.
Mummy, darling? Even worse.
A second later, as though she’d been lurking behind a curtain, a woman appeared.
Evie did a double take. The austere woman was dressed as Queen Elizabeth Ι; long medieval dress, high neck ruffle, huge puffy sleeves, and chest flattened by a stiff bodice.
She had an urge to curtsy.
“This is Evangeline, Mummy. Isn’t she exquisite?” said Henry.
The woman regarded her like a slice of juicy steak, cooked rare, with blood oozing onto the plate. “Quite delicious, I’m sure.”
What have I gotten myself into? She swallowed. “Hello, pleased to meet you.” Not.
“Mummy, darling, don’t scare our guest before we’ve eaten.” Henry chuckled.
Evie wasn’t entirely convinced he was joking. She fidgeted from one foot to the other, her palms clammy.
“I thought perhaps you might help Evangeline find something more suitable to wear?” Henry continued. “Something of yours, Mummy.”
Dead or alive, she’d never wear a getup like that, not to mention how uncomfortable it looked. “No, really, it’s fine,” she assured. “I don’t want to be any trouble, and it would be a shame to let all the lovely food get cold.”
Henry bowed again. “As you wish.”
He pulled out a chair for Evie. She sat, but only because her knees were shaking.
Next, Henry pulled out a chair next to her for his mother, then sat opposite them.
Perspiration dampened her brow. She wasn’t aware ‘Mummy darling’ was invited to their date. She smiled too widely.
Evie picked at her food to be polite when all she wanted to do was get out of there.
Mummy darling proceeded to grill her with the doggedness of an interrogator. “Where do you want to be in five years? Do you see yourself still living in that hovel of a flat, or have you set your sights on something grander?”
She suppressed a frown, shocked by the nature of her questions and puzzled by how Henry’s mother had found out where she lived. Granted, she’d given Henry her address for the chauffeur to pick her up, but why would he tell his mother?
The interrogation continued. “Do you consider marriage to be a commitment between two people, or would you consider an open relationship?”
Evie answered as civilly as she could—she didn’t want to come across as rude—while Henry sipped something from a golden goblet. She suspected it was blood since he didn’t offer her any. Her stomach churned. What she wouldn’t give for a glass or three of vino right now.
Finally, Henry put down his goblet and spoke. “Mummy, darling, I think the angel has answered enough of your questions.”
Mummy rose and walked around the table, her long skirt swishing on the floor. She clucked like a mother hen at her son. “What have I told you about slurping too quickly? Mummy’s mucky little puppy has blood on his chin.”
Gobsmacked, Evie watched as she picked up a linen napkin, spat into it, then dabbed her son’s chin with the moist cloth. And worse still, Henry let her, turning his face towards the candlelight.
She would have laughed had it not been so disconcerting. Evie stood. “Thank you both for the, err, lovely food, but I have to go now.” She edged towards the door, praying they didn’t intend to have her for dessert.
To her relief, they didn’t even notice.
“You’re so good to me, Mummy,” said Henry.
“What did I tell you, silly boy?” said his mother. “You know I’m the only woman you need.”
Evie legged it out of the manor, spread her wings and flew the heck out of there.
Two of her three date
s had been nothing short of disasters. Maybe the third time would be lucky. How bad could a date with a half-dragon be?
Chapter Five
A few days later, Caleb tapped a text into his phone.
Fancy some company? C.
Five seconds later, his phone tinged, and Evie replied. I was just thinking about you. How’s the dating going?
Brilliant. Couldn’t be better.
Don’t lie, Caleb, you’re rubbish at it. *Wink emoji*
He grinned at the screen. How did she guess, even in a text message?
Be over in 10 mins.
Bring wine. I’ve run out.
Dating going well your end too?
Yep. Brilliant. Couldn’t be better.
I’ll bring brandy instead. x
He laughed again and headed for the door.
Twenty minutes later, he landed on the fire escape outside her apartment window with a whoosh of his powerful wings.
Evie was already waiting for him, her chin raised, her smile indicating she was enjoying the balmy early summer evening. The sun lit her peaches and cream complexion with a warm, golden glow and made her turquoise eyes sparkle like a tropical ocean.
“What time do you call this?” She tapped her watch face in an exaggerated fashion. “You said ten minutes.”
“You didn’t say if you wanted wine or brandy, so I brought both.” He folded his wings and handed her the brandy and a bottle of red, an excellent year, better than the stuff she usually had.
She eyed the bottles and smiled. “Okay, you’re forgiven.” Evie sat down. She poked her legs between the iron railings and placed the bottles next to a mug, a glass, and a corkscrew. Patting the rusty metal grating beside her, she said, “Tell your bestie all about your dates.”
He sat too, his legs dangling above the city lights, his wings resting behind him. “You first.”
She opened the brandy and poured some into the chipped mug and glass tumbler. Handing him the glass, she sipped from her mug. “Ooh, that’s good stuff.”
Dating an Angel Page 3