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didn't still wear the same size she had in high school by
eating butter.
There was only a few seconds between the ordering
and the attack. His mother didn't like to waste time.
"William, why did you move away? I thought you
were happy in Seattle."
Will fidgeted with his napkin, avoiding her eyes. "I
was bored. I wanted to get away and try something new.
When I saw Harriett, I knew this was the place to be."
"You met a girl."
Will looked up in astonishment. The confused
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expression his mother gave him was almost worth the
morning wake-up call.
"Harriett is the house." He didn't mention Harriet
was also the name of the spirit wandering the halls. That
would make her pack him up quicker than anything. He
didn't want to go anywhere. He wanted to stick around with
his hot handyman.
His mother nodded. "It'll be gorgeous when you get
her fixed up and, really, who can resist living on Mulberry
Street?"
Will stared at his mother, completely and utterly
stunned. For the first time in his life, she actually
understood him. Maybe the sky would fall down tomorrow
or gravity would reverse itself. Neither event would be
more shocking than this very moment.
Hazel returned with their dishes. She gave his
mother an assessing look as she placed a small pot of
melted butter and a carafe of syrup on the table. "I brought
out the real maple stuff," she said, giving him a wink. "Is
there anything else I can get you?" She poured them both
some more coffee, a surprisingly good beverage for a diner.
"Not for me. Mother?"
She looked at her plate in surprise.
"No, everything looks good. Thank you."
They ate in companionable silence.
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"Your man was right; this is a good diner," his
mother said. "I wanted you to know your brother ratted you
out to your father too. He called to yell at me for letting you
move away." Her voice was so cold Will was surprised
there weren't icicles forming in the air. It was amazing his
parents ever had three children together. They couldn't
stand each other. He could only assume at one time they
were much fonder of each other than they were now. To
give them credit, they both always made sure Will and his
brothers knew they were wanted.
His parents were just more practical in their show of
adoration, such as chauffeurs, French nannies and the
helicopter Will got for his fifteen birthday and wrecked by
his sixteenth. More traditional parents would've grounded
him. Instead he got a chauffeured limo. His father thought
Will was safer with someone else driving him. He was well
into his twenties before he got his license.
"I'm sorry Father gave you a hard time."
His mother shrugged. "He says he's worried about
you. I think he just doesn't like you to get too far away.
He's always been possessive about you kids. Remember
when Gil wanted to move to Maine with his first wife?"
"Yeah, I never did know why he changed his mind."
"Your father refused to finance his business if he
moved."
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"Huh. I always thought he wouldn't care where I
went because I can't give him grandkids."
"Who says you can't?" Mrs Stamson asked,
spreading marmalade on her toast. "You can artificially
inseminate some girl or adopt a poor orphan, but if you
plan on using a surrogate, let me know and I'll make sure
it's someone from a suitable family."
"Of course, Mother," Will said, trying not to choke
on his coffee. Some things just weren't breakfast fare. She
gave him a smile that looked a lot like the one he saw in the
mirror, but rarely saw on her. "I was young once too,
William. I know I've never been a warm, huggy sort of
mother, but I love you and I want you to be happy. If
moving to a small town, fixing up a house and living with a
hot stud with a tool belt is your way of being happy, then
I'll try to be happy for you."
"He is a hot stud," Will agreed.
Mrs Stamson picked at her eggs for a moment.
"You do know your house is built on a ley line
intersection."
Will shrugged. "The power doesn't bother me."
She nodded. "I know. I just want you to be careful.
A lot of people will want to access the property." She
pinned him with a sharp gaze, similar to the one she gave
him as a child when he was caught doing something wrong.
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"Your handyman has a lot of power of his own. I'd be
surprised if he really was a handyman."
A chill went through Will's body as his mother
confirmed his own suspicions. "You think he's something
else?"
"Possibly. Be careful. Enjoy him, but don't tell him
anything you don't want passed on."
The pancakes churned in his stomach. He
swallowed to keep his food down, the delicious pancakes
suddenly unpalatable. He set down his fork as he focused
on not throwing up. All he wanted was a nice guy to settle
down with.
Finding his voice took a few tries. "Thanks, Mother.
I'll keep that in mind. Hell, at least I can get my house
fixed." If nothing else Cash would have to start working on
the mansion to keep his cover. Now his stomach churned at
the thought of sharing his bed with the other man.
"Should I say anything to him?"
His mother shook her perfectly coifed head. Not a
hair stirred. "I'd wait and see what he wants."
Will gave a snort.
"I mean besides you. It's obvious the man wants in
your bed, but you should wait and see what else he wants
or who he works for."
She patted his hand, the greatest show of affection
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she ever gave Will or any of her children, her equivalent of
a hug.
By the end of the meal, for the first time in his life,
he and his mother were on the same page. They both
thought his boyfriend was hot, his house had potential, and
the little diner had some damn good food. He said goodbye
to his mother as she dropped him off at the bank.
He might as well transfer his brother's money while
he was in town.
The local bank was a cute brick building with a sign
stating they'd been serving the community for two hundred
years. Will entered the bank and approached the perky
blond at the teller window.
"Hello, sir, how may I help you?"
"I'd like to open an account."
"If you take a seat over there, I'll have someone help
you right away," she said, indicating a row of leather
chairs. The building was all exposed brick inside, giving
off a feeling of permanence. He could almost feel the
spirits of thousands of people who must have walked
through those doors begging for or depositing money.
"Will. How nice to see you again."
Dr Mathews walked up to him with a wide smile.
Overly friendly for the one time they'd met.
"Umm nice to see you again too." Will stood and
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shook the man's hand. The doctor glanced around.
"Where's your boyfriend?"
"At home." Will didn't think of Cash as a boy
anything, and he especially didn't like the other man's
sneering attitude.
Mathews slid into the chair beside him and stripped
him with his eyes as if he were a two-dollar hooker. "After
you're done here, why don't you come and have lunch with
me?"
Will sat back down. "No, thank you. Cash and I
have an understanding."
Mathews sat up straighter. "What kind of
understanding?"
"I don't sleep around, and he doesn't kill any of the
men who try to seduce me."
The doctor paled. "You don't need to mention this
to Cash."
"Nope."
"Good." With a last wistful gaze, the man rushed
out of the bank.
One more problem solved.
A few minutes later, a good-looking man with dark
layered hair and buffed nails approached.
"I'm Alan Archwood, how can I help you?" His
words were polite, but his eyes examined Will like he was a
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hot piece of ass trolling the bar scene.
If he hadn't promised his brother the money or
wanted to create a local account, he would've walked right
back out. "William Stamson. I'd like to open an account,"
Will reluctantly shook hands, pleased his magic protected
him from the other man. He had a feeling Alan Archwood
wasn't above using magical persuasion to get what he
wanted.
"Right this way, sir." Alan led him to a highly
polished desk with a state-of-the-art computer. All the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]