Witchy Sour (The Magic & Mixology Mystery Series Book 2) (13 page)

Midge’s pleasant gaze froze. “May I ask the nature of your business before I call up to him?”

My face must have turned into a beet. “Um, I’m just returning something of his.”

“Let me call him.”

“If it’s too much trouble, I can just leave it here and he can pick it up later.” I jangled the coins in my pocket for emphasis. “He overpaid me earlier, so I just wanted to return the extra. I didn’t realize how late it’s getting...”

She shook her head, distracted by some sort of Comm device pressed against her ear. A moment later, she shook her head again. “He’s not in his room, but he might be grabbing a bite to eat in the dining area. Follow me.”

Midge hopped down her stack of books and gestured for me to follow her through a doorway on the far side of the lobby. “Even if he’s not eating, you should really consider giving our chowder a try. It really is to die for.”

I laughed. “I bet. It smells heavenly.”

“No,” she said, peering up at me. “Literally, someone once died for it.”

I winced. “I ate already, thank you.”

“I’m kidding,” she said, turning around and winking at me. “Nobody has died for it.”

“Oh.” I forced a false laugh. I’d had enough talk about dying and potions lately, and it was getting hard to tell what was real and what was fake. “You’re funny.”

“Nobody’s died...recently,” she corrected. “Oh, look, there he is.”

I didn’t get a chance to ask if she was kidding a second time because just then she pointed across a small, romantically lit dining room to a table for two. However, one of the place settings was empty. Behind the other sat an impeccably dressed man.

“Shall I set you a place?” Midge asked curiously. “Or mention that you’re here?”

Stepping back from the doorway just as Liam glanced over in our direction, I shook my head. “I’ll go over myself. But first, may I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

Lowering my voice, I took a few steps back into the lobby, out of Liam’s sight. “What do you think of him? He’s new here too, right?”

She squinted at me. “Hold on a second—you’re the new Mixologist.”

I blinked. “Yes, I am. How did you know?”

“I’m ancient. I know these things. Plus, small town. Word—”

“—gets around,” I finished for her. “So I’ve heard. Do you know anything about Liam’s story?”

“May I ask why?” Midge leaned in, keeping her voice on the quiet end of the spectrum. “I don’t mean to be rude, but the reason I’ve been in business for centuries is because I keep my guests’ information private. Their names, their room numbers, and most importantly, their business. I thought you just wanted to deliver coins.”

I decided to play the card that Liam himself had handed me. “There’s a little more to the story.”

Midge raised an eyebrow. “Do tell. Tit-for-tat, you know.”

I tried for what I hoped was a semi-embarrassed, flirtatious sort of wink. Mostly, it just felt like an eye twitch, and I lost my train of thought.

“Are you okay?” Midge asked. “I can recommend a good doctor if you’re feeling ill.”

“No, no, I’m fine.” I slapped a hand over my twitchy right eye. So much for my powers of seduction. “I’m just wondering what you think of him. Liam. He asked if I wanted to get coffee. He’s new, I’m new...I hope you understand.”

“Oh!” Midge let out a high-pitched giggle. “I see how it is now. Liam is a perfectly nice gentleman. There’s only one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, the reason I didn’t put two and two together sooner is because everyone knows that Liam isn’t interested in your type. No offense darling, it’s not just you. It’s all of us.”

“All of us meaning...witches? Magical people? Islanders?”

Midge laughed. “No, you’re not understanding. Women. Liam is not interested in women.”

My spine went ramrod straight. “Wow, I missed all alarm bells going off with that one.”

“He’s a very manly man, you know,” she said. “And he’s been coming here on and off for the last ten years on business. I can tell you one fact—he’s never once laid a finger on a woman in any sort of way, especially not a romantic way. He’s never been on a date as far as I know, and I know everything. He’s just not interested. I’m sorry, but maybe your alarm bells are broken.”

“Guess so,” I said, doing a mental head scratch. “I could be wrong, I suppose.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Midge patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry, you’re certainly not the first, and you won’t be the last. However, he’s a lovely conversationalist, and he’s not bad to look at, either. If you’re wondering whether or not it’s a good idea to get a coffee with him, I say why on earth not? Go for it! You’ll probably have to work with him on business at some point, anyway. Most of the islanders do.”

“Business? What does he do?”

“Why don’t you ask him yourself?” Midge put both of her hands on my shoulders and manually spun me around. She marched me straight over to the table in the corner where Liam looked up, an amused smirk on his face as Midge grinned broadly. “Liam, I believe you’ve already met Lily. Lily, this is Liam.”

“How do you know my name?” I asked in a hushed voice while awkwardly smiling at Liam. “I never told you.”

“Dear, I know everything,” she whispered. “Now, sit down. I’ll have coffee and a snack brought out. It seems like you two have a lot to discuss.”

Chapter 11

“Thank you,” I murmured a few minutes later as Midge herself dropped by our table with two cappuccinos and a small plate of biscotti. “This looks delicious.”

Liam leaned forward from his seat across the table and winked. “Why do you think I’ve stayed here during every business trip all these years?” He cast a teasing glance over at Midge. “Not for the company, surely.”

She gave him a good-natured swat on the shoulder. “Keep that up, and I’ll start putting a pinch of Forget-Me-Not into your potion. You’ll be swooning over me every time you walk into this lobby.”

Liam laughed. “Thank you, Midge. You’re a dear.”

She gave a quick bow of her head, and then studied both of us once more before vanishing from the dining room back toward the lobby.

“She seems like the perfect person to own a B&B,” I said once she’d gone. “Friendly, but strict. Private.”

“Not to mention the cappuccinos.” Liam raised his glass. “A toast before we jump straight into business?”

I raised my mug, and we clinked glasses. I took a sip of the frothy beverage, the creamy warmth just what I needed after a long day at the bungalow. Closing my eyes, I sighed with happiness. “This is good.”

“Wait till you dip the biscotti into it.” Liam reached for the plate and picked up a long, thin cookie with a light frosting made to look like a magical wand. He dunked it into his own cappuccino, and then held out the end. “Try this.”

I hesitated. As positive as Midge was that Liam wasn’t interested in “my type,” I couldn’t help but think this was feeling an awful lot like a date. I didn’t want to be on a date. However, I did want that cookie. Leaning forward, I took a quick bite, smiling despite every intention to be one hundred percent business. “That is tasty.”

“I told you! Now, hold on, you’ve got a little something...” He trailed off, reaching across the table, his finger gently brushing something off of my top lip.

I blushed. “Well, that was embarrassing.”

“It was just a bit of foam.” He winked. “I thought it was cute.”

For lack of a follow-up, I reached for another cookie.

“What brings you by?” Liam asked. “Did you get my note?”

“Yes!” Grateful for the change of subject, I reached into my pocket and dug around until I extracted all of the money he had paid me. “I also got the coins you left for your meal, and it is far too much. I can’t accept it. So, here you go.”

Liam’s eyes followed my movements as I extended my closed fist across the table, turning it over and exposing the coins on the palm of my hand. It felt odd to dump them on the table, so I waited patiently.

“That’s everything.” Liam hardly glanced at the coins. “You didn’t keep any payment for yourself.”

“The meal was on the house. You’re a visitor. Plus, it was just a few eggs.”

“Keep it all. I left it as a tip. It wasn’t an accident.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You ordered eggs, but paid for an entire chicken coop.”

Liam laughed as he reached forward and closed my fingers around the coins. “Keep it. I want you to have it. Really, you’re making a big deal out of nothing.”

“It’s too much!”

“It’s my money. I earn it, so I get to spend it how I like, and I would like for you to have it. I wasn’t tipping for the eggs. I was tipping for the service. It’s been a while since I’ve been to The Isle, and it was pleasant to receive a warm reception. Don’t read deeper into it.”

I frowned. “You normally don’t receive a warm reception?”

Liam grinned. “You like to ask questions.”

My cheeks likely reddened, and I gave an embarrassed shake of my head. “You don’t have to answer that. I’m nosy by nature. Don’t worry, it’s not just you, I pester everyone with questions.”

“Unfortunate. I rather liked the idea of it being just me.” Liam winked. Then he nodded at the coins in my hands. “It’s yours.”

“Thank you,” I said, pulling my hand back. “Then I insist you come back for breakfast before you leave The Isle. On me.”

“Of course. How does tomorrow sound?”

“Great!” I tried for cheery, but my distraction won over. “Listen, I need to ask you one thing.”

“Go ahead.” Liam’s gaze was clear and pleasant. “I’m an open book.”

“Well, it’s less asking and more telling.”

“Then I’m listening.”

“I just wanted to put it out there that I’m a little confused why you’re being so nice to me,” I said. “And I feel obligated to tell you that I’m not looking for anything right now—in terms of romance, at least. This is super awkward to say since I don’t know if you’re even interested in me at all, or if maybe I’m reading this whole situation wrong. You seem like a nice man, and I’d love to have you over for breakfast. I’m babbling, so if you want to jump in and spare me more embarrassment, that’d be lovely—”

“Breakfast is just breakfast, and cookies are just cookies.” Liam gestured toward the tray. “Don’t worry. I appreciate your honesty, but I’m not looking for anything, either. Well, nothing more than some good food and decent conversation if it’s available.”

I exhaled a big sigh of relief. “Whew, okay good.”

“Now that you feel sufficiently awkward, put those coins back in your pocket and have another biscotti. The ones with the fruit tart in the middle will make you melt in happiness.”

Five minutes later, the two of us had a pleasant conversation going, and I wondered if I’d been wrong all along about this feeling like a date. Already, it felt like a catch-up between old friends. Laughing, chatting, telling stories. Liam didn’t reach for my hand or pry into my personal business, and I didn’t say anything too stupid. Plus, the cookies with the jam in the middle were some of the most wonderful pieces of dessert I’d ever eaten.

“I need to get that recipe,” I groaned, leaning back in my chair. “I shouldn’t have eaten so many sweets. I hardly had dinner.”

“I can order you some food,” Liam said, already glancing around for the server. “I recommend the Magic and Cheese. The type of cheese Midge uses is to die for—”

He stopped talking, which caused my gaze to wander across the room. Two men in cloaks drifted into the dining room, their robes skimming the floor. At least, I assumed they were both men due to their tall, broad-shouldered stature. Similar to the visitor earlier in the day, both had hoods draped low, their facial features hidden entirely.

Liam watched my gaze as it followed the two of them across the room. “You’re staring,” he said finally. “Do you know them?”

I blinked and shook myself back to reality. “Sorry, that was rude. I’m just surprised. I’ve never seen anyone on The Isle wearing cloaks before, and now I’ve seen three in the same day. Does it mean something?”

“You’re referencing the other guest at your bar today,” Liam said slowly. “He arrived after me.”

I jerked my chin subtly toward the opposite side of the room. “Do you think he might be one of them?”

“I know for a fact neither of them is him.”

“How? You can’t see their faces.”

Liam slid a sideways gaze at them, his voice low. “Look at the line of fabric around their hoods. The man from the bungalow today wore a black ribbon. These two are orange and red ribbons.”

Despite my best efforts not to stare, I found myself leaning a bit toward the two cloaked strangers. The cloaks draped over the figures’ bodies were long, black, and swooshy.

Their hoods were no different. When pulled over their heads, the fabric almost grazed the tips of their noses. At the very end of their hoods, however, was a thin strip of satin-looking ribbon around an inch thick. One of them had an orange stripe and the other a red one, just as Liam had said.

“I didn’t notice the color before,” I said. “Earlier today, I mean. The black ribbon likely would’ve blended right into the cloak itself. What does it mean?”

“You’ve never seen a Cretan before?”

“A Cretan?” I blinked. “Never even heard of it. Or them.”

“Cretan Darham Hall is a school located in upstate New York. Very cold, wildly secluded. It’s known to be one of the finest schools for witches and wizards in the nation.”

“Why am I sensing there’s a catch?”

“Because there is,” Liam said. “There is one very big caveat.”

“Which is?”

“Let me back up for a second. Cretan is a very prestigious school. The alumni community is an incredibly proud group, and former students can be seen wearing their cloaks to represent their history. It’s a brotherhood of sorts, and the members are extremely loyal to their own kind.”

“So I can’t buy one of those cloaks at the thrift store?” I asked, the joke falling flat. “They’re not accepting applications?”

Liam gave me a small smile. “No, and let me just say this. When I say they are a brotherhood of sorts, I mean that quite literally...”