Free Faerie Dust Dead (The Luna Devere Series Book 2) by J.M Griffin

something awful when I got home last night. I had
to soak my feet for nearly a half hour.”
    Smiling over the dog comment,
and knowing she meant her foot, I said I’d place an ad in the local paper if
Stephanie didn’t call me with a referral within the next two days. Annie and
Dilly were great as far as staff were concerned, they knew the ropes, and took
the time needed to make customers happy. It meant a lot to me that I’d been
able to hire such capable workers, even if I had been tempted to let one of
them go.
    Tables were dressed and ready
for customers, the sun was bright, and our first customers drove in just as I
put Riddles out in the backyard. He scampered off the porch and raced along the
path toward the woods, on the hunt for unsuspecting faeries. I watched as his
tail disappeared around the bricked path’s edge.
    The first batch of cupcake
lovers streamed through the door with wide smiles, sweet comments, and money to
spend. They made a dent in the cupcakes, ordered some boxed for take-away and
then hit the gift shop. I watched as they wandered around the shelves, peering
at the faerie books and lore, and admiring the glass window hangings. Questions
were asked and answered, goods were bought and wrapped, and happy consumers
went on their merry way. Life is good.
    As I returned to the dining
room, I stopped short when I saw Calis sitting at the corner table. A pot of
tea, a teacup, and an assortment of cakes sat before him. He glanced my way,
beckoned me to join him by way of a crooked finger, and poured tea into the
cup.
    As I slid into the seat across
from him, Calis set the teacup in front of me and offered a cupcake. Why? I hadn’t any idea, but I shook my head and sipped the tea. I’d noticed a few of
the nearby customers were taking notice of what was happening at this table. I
was unwilling to let gossip spread that I’d taken up with a dark-haired
stranger, so I smiled at the onlookers. Dilly brought a second teacup to the
table and lingered for a moment.
    “Is there anything else you
need, Luna?” Dilly asked as she fixed her gaze on Calis.
    “No, we’re all set, thank you,
Dilly. I think Annie could use a hand, though. People are waiting for their
orders,” I said.
    Dilly glanced at Annie, the
crowd, and then hurried toward the kitchen. I smiled, knowing full well that
she would badger me for information later on.
    “You’ve made an impression on
my help, Calis,” I murmured with a smirk.
    “Seems so. I’d rather they
didn’t hear what we discuss though, so I’ll be coming by after hours from here
on out,” he replied.
    “I’m afraid that’s not
convenient. I have a routine, and to vary it puts me behind schedule. This is a
food business that works on well-greased wheels. I can’t afford to have you
interrupt my days and evenings on a whim,” I said.
    He picked at a candy-corn
cupcake and savored the taste of the frosting. When he glanced at me with a
frosty blue glare, I drew in a breath and held it for fear he’d explode with
anger.
    “Whether it’s convenient or not
is of no consequence to me. I can’t do my job without you. The best time to do
it is when no people are hanging about. I can’t speak freely when there’s a
chance that others will hear what I have to say. It puts them in danger, just
as it does us. You’ll need to adjust; after all, I won’t be here forever,” he
said with a slight grin.
    Disheartened by his demands, I
mumbled, “Thank God for small favors.”
    “Those journals your father
wrote, are they proving useful?” Calis asked.
    I gave him a shrug and said, “I
haven’t had a lot of time to study them.”
    “Liar,” he accused softly.
    My spine stiffened as I gave
him what I hoped was a fearsome glare. “Don’t push me on this,” I whispered
sternly. “I have a business to run, employees to attend, and a cat that must
need to come indoors by now.” I slid the chair back and left Calis sitting at
the table staring at me.
    His