Not Your Ex's Hexes (Supernatural Singles, #2)(32)

Rose snorted on a chuckle. “And yet you hire people like that witchy etiquette guy who is all about tradition. You can’t bring people like that on board and expect Vi to follow their rules. Those are the very people who looked down on her for her entire life.”

“They’re not rules. They’re guidelines. And Rogers is highly regarded in the Supernatural community. He’s been known to smooth out even the roughest of edges.”

“This isn’t Miss Congeniality, Gran, and Vi isn’t Sandra Bullock. No amount of buffing will smooth Vi’s edges unless she wants them smoothed. I know you mean well, but her way will never be your way. You need to let her do her thing.”

Edie tapped her red-painted finger on her chin. “Perhaps you’re right.”

“I am … which is why I won’t agree to be Vi’s wing-witch,” she admitted. “If I do it, then she has a safety net, and as much as I love my sister, I won’t be the backup plan. She’ll never pave her own way if I’m there to pick up the pieces. She needs to figure out she can do this on her own.”

“So wise beyond your years.” Edie smiled, patting her cheek affectionately. “But that’s not the entire reason you won’t entertain the idea, is it?”

Her grandma gave her one of those all-knowing looks. The one that said she sensed the lie before it had even fully formed in her head.

Rose finally admitted, “I need to figure myself out before I can figure out others.”

“And are you figuring things out?”

She snort-laughed. “I figured out I don’t possess the organizational skills needed to be an office assistant nor the patience or temperament to be a Ryde driver. I’ll give bartending a whirl and see what happens.”

“Bartending, huh?”

“I’ll be filling Vi’s spot at Potion’s Up. Why? Disappointed?”

“In you? Never, my dear. Only if it turns out that I missed your mother’s reaction to the news.” Mischief glinted from her grandmother’s eyes.

Rose chuckled. “I haven’t told her yet, so no.”

“Good. Do me a solid, and if I’m not there to witness it in person, record it for me.”

Edie squeezed her arm affectionately and pulled her to a gentle stop. “And sweetheart, you’ll figure out your thing. And whether it’s bartending or party-planning or if that thing changes from week to week, know that your sisters and I all support you.”

Edie’s words left Rose with a swarm of sensations swelling in her chest. “I know. Thank you, Gran. That means more than you know.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I know a lot of things”—Edie winked, slowly turning her gaze away—“except where to find that nacho tower that had your mother in a rant earlier tonight.”

“That would be on your left.” Rose gently steered her grandma’s shoulders toward the back display. “Go for the jalape?o cheese dip and you won’t be sorry.”

“Ah! Goddess bless you, child. Also, you’re being summoned.”

Rose turned to see Olive and Harper waving from the other end of the bowling alley. She waved back with new determination to enjoy the rest of her night. She wasn’t as good at bowling as she was at pool, but she didn’t quite need the baby bumpers, either.

She took her first step toward fun when karma bitch-slapped her across the face. But instead of a stinging hit, it came in the form of a well-dressed blast from her not-too-distant past.

A pretentious shifter on whom she’d never wanted to lay eyes again …

Mr. Pepé Le Pee-Yew …

The self-appointed tiger king …

Her ex.

Valentin Bisset.



* * *



Even from a distance, Damian sensed the shift in the air the second the tall, dark-haired Supernatural approached Rose. Her body tensed as if prepped to make a run for it and the abrupt change in her demeanor put both him and his inner demon on instant alert.

Bax bumped his shoulder, oblivious to his diverted attention. “Are we putting a friendly wager on this game, or what?”

“Who’s that with Rose?” Damian nudged his chin across the room, not taking his eyes off Rose or the man leaning too damn close to whisper in her ear.

The second Bax laid eyes on the guy, he muttered a string of curses no Guardian Angel should know, let alone verbalize. “Bastard’s got some balls on him, I’ll give him that. Or maybe he’s just got a death wish.”

Damian slowly connected the dots, and the slight twinge of familiarity. Terrance would’ve recognized the guy right away, but it took Damian a few seconds longer.

“That’s the former European Alpha?” he asked for clarification. And Rose’s ex …

“Thankfully the one and only.” Bax folded his tattooed arms across his chest as he glared across the bowling alley.

“Why the hell would Linc invite the shifter who nearly imploded his and Vi’s entire future?”

“He wouldn’t.”

“What’s got you two looking broodier than usual?” Olive followed the direction of their attention. “Oh, crapsticks. This isn’t good. We need to get that pussycat away from Rose, and then keep Vi away from the pussycat or the fireworks that happen will make the city’s New Year’s display look like a handheld sparkler.”