Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)(22)

I choked slightly as Byron raised up his glass in greeting. Don’t blush, Integrity. I raised my fake champagne to him and offered a distant smile. Then I caught the bartender’s attention and engaged him in a conversation about the weather. I didn’t look into the mirror again.

It didn’t take the three Sidhe girls long to make their first advance. The prettiest one waltzed up and, although I didn’t see what she did, her voice was loud enough to make it clear that her approach was welcome. In less time than it took the bartender to pour me another drink, her two friends joined in, pulling over chairs and simpering. I remained aloof. If he liked the chase, then that’s what he’d get.

I let a tiny Mona Lisa smile play around my lips. I was mysterious and interesting. And bloody uncomfortable sitting in this dress. There was a spot on my back where my bra strap was rubbing against the zip. It was very itchy and very annoying but interesting, mysterious women don’t do contortions in public to give themselves a damn good scratch. I twitched my shoulders but it wasn’t going away. That was okay though. I could saunter my way to the bathroom – drawing attention to myself along the way – and take care of it there.

Nodding my intention to the bartender, I slung my bag over my shoulder, then carefully descended from the stool. The door to the restroom was in the far corner. Perfect: I’d have no choice but to walk past Byron’s table. I flipped my hair over my shoulder again and strutted off.

The Cockney guy who’d approached me before glowered in my direction. This time I gave him a sweet smile, filled with sultry promise. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as he swallowed. Then I tilted up my chin and walked past Byron, the Sidhe girls and his entourage, telling myself that this would be a really bad time to trip and fall flat on my arse.

When I eventually made it to the safety of the bathroom, I immediately found the itchy spot and moaned in satisfaction as I scratched it.

There was a muted flash of light and Bob’s booming voice floating up from my bag. ‘Don’t tell me you’re doing what I think you’re doing,’ he said.

I cursed and unzipped the bag. ‘How did you get out?’ I complained. ‘I thought you had to wait until I rubbed the blade.’

Bob thrust his hips forward. ‘Uh Integrity, you can rub my blade any time.’

Oh for Pete’s sake. I started to zip the bag closed again but he made a good show of protesting. ‘Oh come on! That’s not fair! Until you take all three wishes, I can appear whenever I want to, okay?’

That certainly didn’t sound right. ‘I thought I was your owner.’

‘You are! But if you’re going to keep ignoring what a wonderful opportunity you have with these wishes, then I’m going to keep appearing to remind you of what you’ve got.’

‘Until I give you back to the guy who owned you originally,’ I said shortly.

A crafty expression crossed Bob’s face. He held up his miniscule index finger and gave me a shit-eating grin. ‘He never cleaned the dagger. I never appeared to him.’

‘So?’ I asked sourly.

‘You don’t know much about genies, do you, Uh Integrity? I’m yours until you take the wishes. You can give me away, hide me in a drawer, drop me in the ocean if you like. I’ll still come back to you.’ He gave me jazz hands. Actual jazz hands. ‘It’s magic!’

I stared down at him. ‘That can’t be right.’

‘It is! Try it. Go on. Try it.’ He craned his neck upwards, glee in his eyes. ‘We’re in the ladies room? Please try it, Uh Integrity! Leave me here! I love being in the ladies room!’

‘You’re disgusting.’

He beamed at me. ‘Thanks.’

‘What happened to your begging me on hands and knees to keep you around?’

He gave an indolent shrug. ‘Twenty-four hour cooling-off period.’

‘What?’

‘You get twenty-four hours after picking me up to change your mind. That passed, oooh, about thirty minutes ago.’

I gritted my teeth. I should have dumped him the second I realised what he was.

‘In my experience,’ Bob continued, ‘this generally goes better when the owner thinks they’re in control and making all the decisions. I like you though. I can tell you’re a bit different.’ He winked as if he were paying me a wonderful compliment. Or softening the blow. ‘Now tell me, who are you trying to impress? I can help. I’m good at true love wishes. Sometimes. Okay, almost never. But I can still help. Who’s the lucky guy?’

‘Never you mind,’ I told him as the door opened and one of the Sidhe girls strolled in. She gave me a funny look; she probably thought I was holding a conversation with myself. There certainly wasn’t a trace of fear in her expression so she didn’t recognise me. It was a relief to know that my face wasn’t plastered on Wanted posters all over the Clanlands.

I snapped the bag shut and firmly zipped it. There was a muffled squawk of irritation from Bob, which I covered with a cough. I gave her an airy smile.

‘I was drinking a glass of champagne,’ I told her, ‘when I heard someone say hello. Then I realised it had to be the drink talking.’

Her mouth fell open slightly as my feeble joke sailed right over her head. She looked me up and down and edged away. ‘Are you from Macquarrie Clan?’