Not Your Ex's Hexes (Supernatural Singles, #2)(20)
Rose tapped her finger against her chin, her mind already thinking of different possibilities. “Out-of-the-cauldron, huh? I can do that … but what if he won’t listen?”
Vi smacked her leg. “Since when do Maxwells let that stop us? Lincoln wasn’t exactly the type to listen to suggestions that didn’t hop out of his own brain, either. Just make sure it’s too good of an idea to refuse.”
Olive smirked. “Or at the very least, make it one he has to listen to.”
Make Damian Adams listen? Was that even possible?
Rose wasn’t sure even Edie had the power to bring about that miracle.
But it didn’t mean she wouldn’t try.
6
Let It All Hang Out
Rose picked up the napkin beneath her wine spritzer and let her fingers fidget, tearing the damp paper into confetti as she continued mentally mapping out her game plan. Since her talk with her sisters, she’d been up the better part of the night figuring out a way to help the sanctuary that even Dr. Broody McGrumpy Pants couldn’t turn down.
And it was damn hard.
Each idea that popped into her head, she mentally heard his husky growl shooting it down until all she had by the morning was a mountain of frustration, exhaustion, and a tension headache. But as tired as she was, Olive looked ten times worse as she plopped on the barstool next to her, immediately asking Gage, Potion’s Up’s vampire bar owner, for plain black coffee.
Rose kicked up a dark eyebrow. “Since when do you drink your coffee black? Or drink coffee at all?”
“Since my roomie decided to run her own business from our living room and boasts about twenty-four-hour service,” Olive grumbled, eagerly wrapping her hands around the mug when Gage slipped it in front of her. “Thanks. And keep it coming…”
“Anything for my favorite Maxwell sister.” The vampire flashed a wink. “No offense, Rose. But she’s the more tranquil of the three of you and well, I like my quiet…”
“If it isn’t two of my three favorite witches!” Harper wrapped her arms around each of their shoulders, giving them both a noisy kiss on the cheek before taking a seat. “What are you two doing in a dump like this?”
Gage, drying a stack of mugs from the other side of the bar, shot his employee a dark look.
Harper barely flinched. “Oh, come on. You can’t deny this place needs more than a few upgrades. Eco-friendly light fixtures. Buffing and fresh paint. And we may as well demolish the bathroom and start from scratch.”
“Keep it up and I’ll start from scratch with my staff.”
The succubus rolled her expressive green eyes. “Oh, please. You can’t afford to get rid of me … especially at the rate at which you scare all the others away.”
Rose’s ears perked, but it was Olive who asked first, “Didn’t you finish training someone last week?”
Gage looked wary. “Finished training and fired two days later when I caught her skimming money off the register. Pretty sure your sister cursed me before she handed in her notice because everyone I’ve hired since Vi left hasn’t worked out.”
Harper scoffed. “Meaning the grumpy, broody vampire boss flashed a little too much fang—and not in a good way—and scared them back into the unemployment line … with the exception of Miss Sticky Fingers. It takes nerves of steel to deal with this guy. Trust me, I know. It’s the only reason I’m still standing.”
Gage cocked an eyebrow, which the sex demon copied.
“Go head. Tell me I’m wrong,” Harper dared the vampire.
“What do I have to do to get rid of you?”
Harper chuckled. “You can’t get rid of me. I bring the crowd, baby. Get rid of little ole me and this place would be a vacant hole-in-the-wall rather than a busy hole-in-the-wall.”
“I can help out a little bit,” Rose heard herself saying.
All eyes transferred to her, Olive’s mouth slightly opened.
“I know my way around mixing drinks thanks to our Girls’ Nights,” Rose continued, “and I’m pretty good at handling people … perk of all the Prima training.”
“You want to work here?” Gage failed to mask his surprise.
Harper squealed. “Yes! Yes! You’re hired! When can you start?”
“You can’t hire or fire people, Harper. You’re not the owner or the manager.”
“Which is something we should sit and have a talk about. I feel like I deserve something for putting up with your grumpy fine ass all these years.” She shot him a daring look that had him sighing.
“When can you start?” Gage didn’t bother arguing.
“After the Bonding Ceremony next week?” Rose suggested.
“Swing by and we’ll set you up with the paperwork and work out some kind of a schedule.”
“Sure.” Rose smiled. Finally. Something was going right today.
“Oh, my God! It’s back on!” Harper squealed. Vaulting over Rose, the succubus gave her a faceful of her cleavage as she yanked something off the community announcement wall. “I was just wondering if they would pull this off again this year and—well, suck me. I have that stupid promo event the radio station is making me do and I’ve already exhausted my usual excuses to try and get out of it.”