Magical Midlife Alliance (Leveling Up Book 7), page 9
She nodded, just a curt jerk of her head, before turning for the next room.
Nessa followed like a little lamb, suddenly not sure which was worse—this house or Grandma Naomi. She’d never longed to see Mr. Tom so much in all her life.
EIGHT
Austin
Austin glanced down at his phone to check the time. They’d gotten a lot done, but the day had run long.
“This is never going to be done in time,” Jess said, standing in the middle of the tasting room downtown. She had her arms crossed over her chest, surveying the makeshift setup they’d agreed on. Niamh sat at a high table a little removed from the rest, drinking tea and eating a scone. “We’d have to rush it, and I don’t want that. If they ask, we can bring them in here, share our ideas, and leave it at that.”
“You’re right.” Jess knew exactly what she wanted for the tasting room, and Austin had every intention of making her vision a reality.
“We should go, though.” She took a step back, surveying the space with a critical eye. “Your grandma is at the house. We need to get to her.”
“No, no.” He waved her away, leaning against the wall by the door. “I’ll see her later tonight. I know for a fact she’ll enjoy interrogating Sebastian and Nessa. We’d just get in the way.”
Jess looked away left, then right, her hand on the wine bar. “We need more light. How hard would it be to put in a window?”
“Do ye hear her?” Niamh leaned back with eyebrows at her hairline. “She’d want to be on one of those home makeover shows.”
Jessie spread her arms at Niamh. “This isn’t a dive bar. We need a little light.”
“I’m not sayin’ we don’t. I’m just sayin’ ye’re awfully opinionated about this place when ye couldn’t give two shakes about Ivy House.”
Jess shrugged, looking over the table setup one last time, and then pointed at the far corner. “Maybe a little area for selling wine things there instead of across the room.” She stared at it for a bit, looked around one more time, and nodded. “Yes. I think that’s it. This feels right.”
“Oh it feels right, does it?” Niamh looked to where she was pointing as Jess took a chair at Niamh’s table and motioned Austin over.
“Yes. There is a nice flow through here now,” Jess said. “It’ll be perfect. And in answer to your…accusation or whatever it was…” She shrugged again. “My ex-mother-in-law kind of put me off house decorating. But also…Ivy House has its own personality. I am the heir, but it’ll never be truly mine. So…I don’t know, I just wouldn’t know where to start.”
Niamh nodded. “That’s why I bought my own place. I didn’t want to live in the house with that clown Mr. Tom underfoot all the time. Ivy House is a place of work. I need me off time, too.”
“Yeah, exactly.” Jess nodded again. “That’s a great way to put it.”
They passed a bit more time, sitting at the table and chatting, looking up colors and items for the interior. When they’d exhausted their efforts for the day, Niamh wandered away and left Austin and Jess standing in the center of the space.
“It’s going to be really nice,” he told her, pulling her close.
She wrapped her arms around his middle. “I think so. Though the tasting room doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s the wine people will care about.”
“The team is working on it. Honestly, if you’re sure about delaying, it’s probably for the best. But in the end, I believe we will have a good finished product.”
“We’ll do a pre-opening at the actual winery to taste, inviting whoever wants to come, and then open a week later or whatever. That’ll start it off with a nice buzz.”
“That…is an amazing idea.” He kissed her forehead. “I love it.”
A glimmer passed through her eyes and her eyelids narrowed just slightly. A flurry of emotions filtered through the bond, too fast for him to pick any one out.
“How about we make use of the lack of windows?” she murmured, her breath sweet.
He ran his hands down her back and cupped her butt, grinding her hips against him. “We’re kind of short on time. I was hoping you’d have dinner with me? Afterward, I need to check out one of my properties. We also need to meet up with Mimi at some point.”
“Hmm.” Her kiss was languid but intense, her tongue swirling with his. “I’d love to have dinner with you. We can be really quick.”
She trailed her hands down the sides of his body and then pushed back a little so her fingers had room to feel along his belt. She ran her teeth along his lips and pulled at his button before quickly unzipping his pants.
“Super fast. Then we’ll run to the car.” She slid her palm in and captured his hard length. “We’ll have lost no time at all, you’ll see. Or if we go a little longer, so that maybe I can use my mouth a little, we’ll just go without an appetizer.”
She dropped down to her knees, sucking him in. He groaned, his fingers in her hair and his head falling back. There really was no point in resisting. When it came to her, he wasn’t a strong-willed man.
She wasn’t hurried, using long strokes that drew his eyes down to her. She looked up, repeatedly taking him in, working him with her hand as she did so.
“You’re so beautiful,” he blurted, and her rhythm stalled a little so she could smile up at him. Even a smart man had trouble with original compliments in this situation. She was lucky he could do more than continue the marathon of grunting.
He curled his fingers around her wrist to stop her. If she kept going, he’d finish before she’d even begun.
Knowing this, she gracefully rose before stripping off her shirt and then her bra. Her shoes then pants went next, leaving nothing but a lacy pink thong. She sauntered to the counter, her hips hypnotizing him, before turning around and leaning back. Her nipples constricted from the chill, pointing right at him. Her curves set him on fire.
Pants around his ankles, he lurched toward her like Frankenstein’s monster. His hands ran along her flesh. His mouth sucked the hard peak of her breast. He meant to fall to his knees and worship her, but he was too far gone. Instead, he sucked in a tender spot on her neck that she liked and pushed her thong aside.
“Hmm,” she purred as he trailed his fingers through her wetness.
She hooked a silky thigh over his hip. He ran his tip along her heat before thrusting, earning a long feminine mew.
“I’m so happy to be doing this project with you, Austin,” she whispered, lifting the other leg so that he held her weight. “Thank you for including me.”
His answer was a grunt. He couldn’t even be embarrassed about it.
Her smell, the heat of her skin, and the glory of her lips sent him to paradise. He closed his eyes and strove harder, his heart full, his body on fire.
His climax smashed into him, and he drove in deep, emptying inside of her. He pushed in two more times, his body shaking, and she cried out with her release.
A strange feeling curled through him, something primal that he couldn’t really distinguish. She clutched him, as though feeling it too.
In a moment, though, it subsided into the glorious euphoria that always came from their joining.
“I love you,” she whispered into his ear.
“You’re my forever,” he replied, holding her.
After they’d freshened up, he escorted her out. “I had Mr. Tom bring the new car over,” he said as he gently tugged her toward the Porsche. “The reasoning was twofold. The first was to give Mimi a little more time before Mr. Tom descended on her and slowed everything down. The second…” He grinned, ignoring the people passing by with nods or hellos. “I want to see how fast it goes.”
He left her by the passenger door and bent near the back tire, retrieving the key fob from on top.
“Is that okay?” he belatedly asked. “My Jeep’s down the street if you’d rather not put miles on it.”
She rolled her eyes with a smile. “I don’t care about putting miles on it. Honestly, the whole connection request situation with these extravagant gifts seems a little overboard.”
The bucket seats hugged his butt just right. The smell of new car and leather greeted his senses, and the metal sport pedals near his feet begged him to stomp on the gas.
“They do, but think of it this way—these big cairns don’t extend connection requests often. Or ever, maybe. I’m guessing they get them often enough, though. They’re about due to drop a little money.”
“A little money?” She laughed and shook her head.
At the entrance to the highway, he stomped on the gas. The thing shot off like a comet, throwing him back in his seat. Jess grabbed the door handle but didn’t squeal or scream. All too soon the fun was over and he had to let off the gas. He’d reached the speed limit quickly.
“I’m not really looking forward to having to dress up just so I can show off when the big cairns come around,” Jess said. “I know we’ll have to invite them. It just seems like so much hassle.”
“It does, but it’s part of the job. Babe…” He wasn’t sure how this would go, but she needed to hear it. He reached over and took her hand. “You do need a better vehicle. I love my Jeep, and I drive it almost exclusively, but I have my flashy sports car for when I want to take out my girl or impress her snobby friends. You have a new job now. You need to drive the part.”
“Yes, yes, I know. Everyone has been bringing that up since I got this car.” She looked out the window and quietly said, “What a hassle.”
He couldn’t help laughing. He loved that she was so down to earth. Most people would’ve gone gaga over being thrown into a whirlwind of money, but it hadn’t changed her even a little. She was in it for the people, not the material goods.
Austin pulled into a parking place in the rear of his new restaurant, the spot reserved for him or Jess. Probably Mimi too, because he knew full well she’d butt into all his businesses and assert her opinions. The restaurant was newly opened, having been purchased by him and closed for renovations.
“If you like this restaurant,” he said, “we can host the gargoyles here when it’s necessary. It’s the nicest I have. Assuming everything was done to the specifications I requested.”
“I’m sure it’ll be perfect,” she said, getting out of the car. It wasn’t until they’d approached the restaurant that her face filled with wonder. “Oh Austin, this is gorgeous.”
NINE
Jessie
Austin’s phone chimed. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the screen. A moment later, he looked up at me and then resumed eating in the loveliest restaurant I’d ever been in. The décor was modern and tasteful and beautiful, like some sort of swank fairyland with excellent food. It had given me the idea to do something similar for the tasting room, as well as changing my plans from tasting room to wine bar.
I knew that look.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Mimi is leaving Ivy House.”
“Wow. So late?” I checked the time. She’d been there for a little over four hours.
“Yes. She’s headed back to my place. I have no idea how she’s getting there, but she has the address. Apparently she didn’t want to stay the night in the house.”
His smirk was hilarious. I remembered him essentially feeding Kingsley to the dolls on his brother’s visit.
I finished as much of the plate as I could, then sat back and put my hand on my belly.
He glanced at me and then speared the meat on my plate. He knew I didn’t take home leftovers. It annoyed Mr. Tom, and Austin always insisted on cooking fresh when we were together.
“You know,” I said while he finished, “we should probably set up an additional housing development that is solely Ivy House’s. Property has a good shelf life if we can keep the territory going.”
Over dinner, he’d proposed a number of things, the most notable being inviting one of the production cairns to live in the territory. We didn’t have the resources to send protection to anyone, but if he and I could collaborate on housing, we could protect them here.
“Ours can be for magical people in general, and hers can be exclusively for gargoyles,” I continued. “Assuming we can find someone to stay here.”
“That is the hope, certainly.”
“We’ll definitely need a manager for all of this, though. I’m already stressed just talking about it.”
“A manager, yeah.” Austin shook his head. “People have always said Mimi has a sixth sense.” He hit me with a hard stare that made me lean backward. “She is very intense. In her heyday, she was named one of the most intense alphas around. She was also one of the most generous. Her pack thrived, but it wasn’t until she took over leadership.”
“She fought for placement? Challenged, I mean.”
“She mated the alpha. When they’d only been mated for a few years, another pack attacked and took his placement. I understand that there were a few very dark years under that leadership. No other packs would come to their aid. So Mimi orchestrated an uprising within her pack to overthrow the alpha and his enforcers. She didn’t do it all at once, though. She knew they didn’t have the brute strength, so she resorted to sly maneuvers. The enforcers disappeared one by one. Slowly. Systematically.”
“But wouldn’t the alpha wonder where they’d gone?”
“Eventually, yes. But her plans were already in motion. Finally she was down to a mere handful, and then every able-bodied shifter worked together to take down their captors. They named her alpha on the spot, and she led that pack until she chose to step down. She couldn’t withstand challenges, but her people supported her regardless. They wouldn’t allow anyone to replace her. And they thrived under her leadership. She took that pack from an unknown to one of the most prosperous in the country. My mom, who learned from her, continued on, and now Kingsley. The money we all have is because Mimi invested every dime she had into that pack, over and over again, and eventually saw incredible returns.”
“She sounds amazing.”
He regarded me silently again.
“She’s tough,” he finally said. “You probably won’t like her. I ask, though, if you can, that you humor her. Or humor me, maybe. Just try to get along with her as best you can.”
“Of course I will!” I frowned intensely at him. “How could you think otherwise? Trust me, I’ve had experience getting along with troublesome in-laws. It’ll be great.”
Austin
Austin pulled open the door of the Porsche for Jess, trying to keep his nerves in check. Truthfully, though, he was worried about Jess’s reaction to his grandmother.
Jess stepped out and looked up at his house, and her joy at seeing it melted his heart. He needed to get her on the deed. Hell, he needed to get her a key. They hadn’t had time to hammer out the details of more thoroughly (and legally) joining their lives together. It was way past due.
“Ready?” he asked, trying to ignore the butterflies in his stomach.
“Honestly, Austin, you’re freaking out over nothing.” She clearly felt his emotions through the bond. “In-laws know that they aren’t always going to get along with spouses. We make the best of it until the holidays, and then we all get drunk and argue. It’s basically a Jane tradition.”
He couldn’t help but smile as he slipped an arm around her and pulled her close. “I feel like you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I haven’t known what I was getting into since day one in this magical life. Why change things now?”
He laughed, pushing open the door and following the glow to the kitchen. Mimi sat at the table with a clean plate and a glass of water. She held a book against the tabletop, her eyes glued to the page.
Austin turned a little so Jess could see him put his finger to his lips. Mimi didn’t like to be disturbed when she was in the middle of a good part. Then he led Jess to the island and had her take a seat.
“Do you want any coffee or more wine?” he asked quietly. “Or second dessert?”
“A glass of wine would be fine.” She checked her phone, reading whatever she found there.
“I have brownies…”
“A glass of wine and a brownie would be fine,” she amended.
“I’ll have the same.” Mimi snapped her book shut and stood from the table.
“Here, I’ve got that.” Austin grabbed her empty plate and glass, removing them to the sink.
Jess stood as well, facing Mimi with a kind smile. “Hello,” she said, clasping her hands in front of her body. “I’m Jacinta. People call me Jessie.”
“Jessie.” Mimi nodded. “I am Naomi. I hear you are the mistress of Ivy House.”
“Yes.” Jess hesitated before sitting back down. “Would you care to sit at the island? We could also retire to the living room. Which would be more comfortable for us?”
“For you? I have no idea.” Mimi took a seat at the far end of the island. “I’m fine here.”
“Great.” Jess resumed her seat. There was not an ounce of irritation through the bond. So far, so good. “I am the mistress of Ivy House, yes. The steward, really. I’ve never been in this kind of position before.”
“And which position is that?”
“Lady boss, I guess.” She laughed, and Austin paused in opening the wine to glance her way. He loved that musical sound. “I’m suddenly in charge of a lot of people’s wellbeing. It’s new to me.”
“You seem to have already accrued steadfast loyalty. I was able to meet a few of your…team.”
And now Austin paused, because that was a compliment from Mimi, and he’d never heard her give one so quickly upon meeting someone. That house and the people in it must’ve made an impression.
“We share mutual respect and loyalty,” Jess told her. “We’re a team. Together we are greater than the sum of our parts. But you know all about that. Austin told me about how you became pack leader. Alpha, I mean.”
