Amanda M. Lee [Lee - To Spell With It

1

One

Y ou cant be serious.

I cracked into my crab leg and fixed my boyfriend Galen Blackwood with a dubious look. He had an odd sense of humor sometimes and it was clearly on display now.

Oh, Im serious. Galen dumped steak sauce over his rare steak to cover the pooling blood he knew it gave me the heebie-jeebies and took a swig from his drink. Its a big thing and it happens every seven years or so. They change locations.

I stared hard at him. I was convinced he was playing with me. A cupid convention. Were actually having a convention for cupids in Moonstone Bay? There was no way that could be real. Does everyone whip out their bows and arrows for it?

He regarded me with solemn eyes as he cut into his steak. Im not messing with you.

This is like the time you told me that trolls lived under the bridge, right? I went looking for a troll because I wanted a photo and it turned out that the only thing that lives under the bridge is some local guy who likes to drop his pants and flash women. I guess he was sort of a troll.

Galens expression darkened. I told you I would handle that. I didnt know he was still doing that. No one purposely goes down there, so there havent been any reports for some time.

I dont want you arresting him. I meant it. He just caught me by surprise. I wasnt even sure what I was looking at until I saw him move his hand. I mimicked the movement, causing Galens eyes to light with mirth.

Stop that. He reached out and slapped my hand down before scanning the restaurants waterfront patio to make sure nobody was looking. This was the sort of place men took women when they wanted to score, so absolutely no one was looking at us because they were too busy staring at their dates. You cant do stuff like that until were alone.

I caught the double meaning of his words and rolled my eyes. Please. I could make you back down from that super-fast if I wanted.

How do you figure?

Id dress up like a cupid and wear nothing but a satin diaper and shoot arrows at you.

He snickered at my roundabout way of bringing the conversation full circle. Im not lying to you, Hadley. Were actually having a cupid convention. Its a weeklong event and ... it often gets out of control.

I narrowed my eyes and stared hard at him. I was determined to get him to admit he was lying. When he didnt as much as blink I started to wonder if he could be telling the truth. I dont understand, I said. How does that work?

It was hard for me to admit when I was confused. In fact, I, Hadley Hunter, was almost never confused. I was proud of that fact. Even if I ran off half-cocked in the wrong direction, I was rarely confused about it. Thats a good thing, right?

Are you asking how the conference itself works? Galen asked as he broke a breadstick and handed me half. In a moment of weakness Id admitted that I believed the calories didnt count in bread ... and pie ... and cake ... and candy ... if someone shared the item with me. Hed found my logic confusing, but embraced it all the same. Since then, he ordered the fattening item and gave me half. I didnt feel healthier physically, but I did in my head. Thats all that mattered.

I nodded as I bit into the bread and moaned. Oh, this is buttered goodness. I want to date this breadstick its so good.

I guess I know where I stand. He offered me a wink to let me know he was joking and leaned back in his chair. Do you really want to know about the cupid conference, or are you just digging your heels in because you like to argue?

That was a loaded question. I really want to know.

He waited.

And I might be digging my heels in a bit, I added. Im curious. I cant help it. What do cupids have to conference about?

Being a cupid isnt what you think it is.

No? Id given this a lot of thought since I found out my new friend Booker no last name was a cupid. Moonstone Bay was full of paranormal creatures. Galen, for example, was a wolf shifter. My new best friend Lilac Meadows (yes, thats her real name) was a half-demon who could turn her hair red and make her eyes shoot lasers. Okay, Im making that last part up. During a fight several weeks ago, though, thats exactly what I thought she was going to do. Her eyes turned red and fiery and she shot fireballs from her hands while fighting with a local cult. She was really impressive. But it was the cupid in my life that was cause for concern. What is being a cupid like?

Galen heaved out a sigh. He was used to me asking questions about paranormal beings. It had been happening since I landed on the island months before. He was usually open and honest about things because he figured that was the best way to placate me. The cupid stuff clearly had him on edge, though.

Are you going to tell me? I pressed.

I dont necessarily know all the ins and outs of being a cupid, he admitted after a beat. I didnt grow up in that world.

Theres a cupid world? This just kept getting better and better. I dug into the crab shell for meat and yanked it out with the tiny fork provided. I cant wait to hear about this.

I dont know how much I can tell you. I dont know much about cupids.

Youre friends with Booker, I pointed out, enthusiastically dunking my crab in butter. Did I mention how good the food is here? Yum.

He smiled indulgently. Im glad youre enjoying yourself. I figured you would love the seafood.

Why havent you brought me here before?

Because its expensive and Im a public servant.

I slowed my chewing and frowned. I can help pay.

Instantly, the expression on his face switched from amusement to regret. That is not what I want. I brought you here because I knew you would like it. Dinners on the beach are going to be harder to come by because our stormy season begins in a few weeks.

Id heard other people in town talk about the stormy season. I assumed that meant tourists stopped coming. The storms were apparently intermittent, so that wasnt the case. Moonstone Bay was the premiere paranormal vacation destination fifty-two weeks a year. That was essentially drilled into my head now.

I can still help. I meant it. I wasnt yet working Id inherited a lighthouse several months ago from a grandmother I didnt know and had been settling in since leaving the mainland but I had savings. I could definitely help swing dinner, no matter how expensive it was. I want to help.

Knock that off. Galen made a face and inclined his chin toward my plate. Eat your crab. Ive got dinner covered.

I made a mental note to think hard and long this week about exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I was having a great time on the island. It already felt like home. Just because I had a guaranteed place to live, though, didnt mean Id be able to slide by without getting a job. It was becoming more and more of a necessity. I simply had no idea what I wanted to do. Ill cook you dinner tomorrow to make up for this, I promised. We dont have to eat out all week.