“You would,” Emma agreed. “She’d have a sparkle in her eyes. Or a secret little smile that only she understood.”
“You gotta lay off the romance novels, babe,” Madison said.
Emma made a face.
“No, I agree with her,” Daisy said, referring to Emma. Although Emma did read an abundance of romance novels. Usually ones lifted from her mother’s bedroom bookshelves.
Still, Emma gave Madison a
Daisy nodded. “Definitely.”
She wanted her sister to find her soul mate, if that was possible. Could a demon find that for her? He did deal in souls, right? Of course, not exactly like this.
“Maybe we need to help him out,” Emma suggested. “You know, tell him places where men she might like would hang out.”
“That is a good idea,” Daisy said.
Even Madison nodded.
Apparently, this wasn’t going to be as simple as the
CHAPTER 17
“What are you doing?”
Daisy peered over Poppy’s shoulder, surprised. She wasn’t surprised that Poppy was already up. Or reading the newspaper while sipping her morning coffee. Her older sister did that every morning.
It was the section of the paper that had Daisy taken aback.
Poppy was reading the “Things To Do” section of the
That implied that she might be planning to do something a normal single woman might do—like go out. Weird.
Maybe they wouldn’t need to direct Killian, after all. Maybe Poppy was finally seeing she did need to get a life outside her little sister, her work and this apartment.
Daisy grabbed a box of Mini-Wheats, along with a bowl and a spoon, and seated herself beside Poppy so she could sneak peeks at what she was reading.
“I’m just seeing what’s going on in the singles world,” Poppy said with a smile.
This was amazing. Poppy was actually admitting she needed to go someplace where real, live, single men were? Maybe this spell was working differently from how Daisy had expected.
Maybe Killian was just supposed to nudge her in some way so that she decided she herself wanted to date. Which, when Daisy thought about it, was probably a far better idea than letting a demon choose a boyfriend for her.
Daisy finished pouring her cereal and added milk.
“I’ve decided to help Killian find a romantic interest.”
A little milk sloshed over the edge of her bowl as Daisy looked at her sister. Poppy’s attention remained on the newspaper.
So that was it. She’d decided to help Killian with his earlier claim that he wanted to settle down. A wave of disappointment splashed over Daisy like the milk on the tabletop.
Oh, well. What was that old saying about spilled milk? If Poppy’s matchmaking plan got her out—and meeting people too—then it worked for Daisy.
Poppy picked up one of the red pencils she used for editing and circled an event. Leave it to Poppy to be all systematic about her matchmaking. No wild schemes like conjuring a demon for her big sis.
“So what do you see?” Daisy asked, her mouth full of cereal.
“Well, there are a few interesting singles events this weekend. One is a speed-dating thing on Friday. And there’s a singles dance on Saturday.”
Daisy leaned in to look closer. “What about for tonight?”
Poppy searched. “There’s a ladies’ night at O’Malley’s. That’s just down the street. Oh, and there is a mixer at the Roger Klein Gallery Thursday night. From six p.m. to nine p.m. That might be good.”
She circled both.
“You should go to those,” Daisy said.
Poppy nodded. “The art gallery would probably be a good place for him to meet the type of women he’s interested in.”
“And you love art too,” Daisy pointed out.
“Oh, I wouldn’t go.” She laughed as if the idea was the most preposterous thing she’d ever heard.
“Why not?”
“Well, for one thing, it’s a school night.”
“Not for you.”
Poppy laughed. “True. But for you. And I don’t go out while you’re here at home, alone.”
Daisy’s hopes sank. Poppy was searching for events for Killian to attend. Without her.
“He won’t go alone,” Daisy said with total authority.
Poppy frowned at her sister. How could she be so certain of that? What did Daisy know about Killian anyway?
But she still found herself asking, “Why not?”
Daisy shrugged. “He just doesn’t seem like the type.”
What type was that? But instead of asking, Poppy said, “Well, then Ginger can go with him.”
“You know Madison’s mom. If she has a night off, she doesn’t like to go out.”
That was true. Ginger worked so much she didn’t like to miss any free time she did have with Madison.
“Well, then you can understand how I feel about leaving you alone.”
“You’re with me all the time.”
Poppy reached over and tugged Daisy’s ponytail. “I like being with you.”
Daisy smiled. “I like it too. But—”
Here came another of her sister’s speeches on Poppy’s ending up an old maid. And frankly, Poppy did not want to hear it. Not this morning, while she was imagining Killian with a stunning, interesting girlfriend. The image of Poppy old and alone was too easy to visualize at the moment.
“You know, I’ll just give him this section of the paper,” she said, cutting Daisy off with a smile, “and if he sees something he wants to check out, I’m sure he will.”
Daisy looked like she wanted to argue, but she turned her attention back to her cereal.
“In fact,” Poppy said, circling another event, “I’ll walk down with you and give this to him.”
“Walk down with me?”
“Sure, you are going to meet Madison, right?” Daisy always did.
“Yes. But—but I doubt Killian will be up yet. He’s a night owl. You know, because of being a paranormal investigator.”
“Was he investigating last night?”
Daisy nodded.
Poppy was surprised by that idea, which made no sense. He was here to do research, and he hardly had to report his goings-on to her.
“Well, I can always give it to Ginger.”
“She might be sleeping too.”
