They reachedLucy’s bed. She looked so peaceful and pain-free when she wasasleep.
“Maybe I couldcome back later?” Evie suggested.
The childopened her eyes and rubbed them. “Evie!”
Evie smiled.“Hi, Lucy. How are you feeling, cutie pie?”
“I was reallysick again.”
“I know.” Sheperched on the edge of the bed. “Do you feel better now?”
“A bit. Ooh,those flowers are really nice.”
“I’m glad youlike them. They’re for you.”
Lucy’s face litup. “For me?”
“Can I leaveyou to it, Evie?” Mary asked. “I still have a ton of things to dobefore my shift ends.”
“Yes, ofcourse. We’ll be fine. Do you have a vase for these flowers?”
“There’s one inthe bedside cupboard,” Mary told her, already halfway out of theroom.
“Can you lookafter the flowers for me while I get the vase, Lucy?” She laid thembeside the girl, near her pillow.
Lucy turned herbald head towards the blooms and sniffed them.
Evie found thevase and filled it with water from the washbasin attached to thewall. She returned to Lucy’s bedside and arranged the flowers.
“You lookpretty, Evie,” said Lucy, struggling to sit up.
Evie helped herand propped the pillows behind her back. “In this old thing?” Shetugged the dress down. It had been riding up her thighs all the wayhere. “It was only five pounds from the charity shop, but I thinkit’s a bit small. I’m going on a date tonight.”
“Who with?”
Evie lookedaround and leaned in close as though she was giving away a bigsecret. “Don’t tell anyone, but I have a date with a Fae, afairy.”
Lucy gasped.“There are boy fairies and angels?” she whispered.
Evie grinned.The adorable girl had sussed she was an angel the first time she’dseen her. Very young children could see through the magic veil thathid her wings, and a few adults knew of their existence too.
“Yes, there areboy fairies and all sorts of other magical creatures too. All youhave to do is believe.”
“I do believe.”Lucy looked brighter already.
Evie kissed thetop of her smooth head. “I have to go now, cutie pie, but I’ll beback tomorrow.”
“Okay. Bye bye,Evie.”
“I hope youfeel better soon. Look after those flowers for me.”
“I will.”
Evie headed outof the room and waved back at Lucy once she reached the door, awarm fuzzy feeling in her belly.
She took thebus to the restaurant, which made her twenty minutes late. Not agood omen for her date with Mr. Gorgeous Fae.
Alvaro was evenbetter looking in the flesh than on his profile pic. Althoughdisappointingly, he appeared to know it as he sat at the dinnertable preening himself in the reflection of a silver spoon. Hetucked his flowing locks behind a pointy ear, batted his eyelashesand made a pouty pose with lips full of mischief.
Evie’s cheekswarmed at her rash judgment. He might be a very nice person underall that pouting and preening. “Hi, I’m Evie. Sorry, I’m late.” Shesat down clumsily, tugging down her too-tight dress again. “I hadto take some flow… err, something to a little girl in thehospital,” she stuttered like a tongue-tied teen. Probably best notto mention she’d received flowers from goodness knows who. Maybeshe had a secret admirer.
Alvaro lookedup from his mirror spoon and appraised her, his amber eyesdisturbingly predatory. “You’re worth the wait.”
Evie slippedout of her khaki jacket and draped it on the back of the chair. Shecaught a glimpse of her cleavage. In tugging down her dress, she’dpulled it too low at the front, and now half her boobs were onshow. She hoicked it up quickly, hoping he hadn’t noticed, butAlvaro zeroed in on her chest.
Err, uphere, boyo. “So, what made you use Love Bites dating agency?”she asked in an effort to focus his attention on her face. Itdidn’t work. “A good-looking guy like you must have loads of girlslining up to go on a date with you.”
She regardedhim while he stared at her cleavage. He hadn’t looked her in theeyes once. He licked his lips as though imagining what it would belike to taste her. Is he dribbling? Eww.
“There are, butnone of those girls give me what I want,” he said, his voice loadedwith an innuendo she found uncomfortable. “But you look like you’reup for some fun between the sheets.”
This was notgoing how she imagined. “Look, Alvaro, I think we have our wirescrossed. I came on a date to get to know you, not be ogled like thenext notch on your bedpost.”
“You shouldn’thave worn that dress then.” He reached across the table and strokedher arm. “It’s obvious you’re here for the same reason I am.Sex.”
Things weregetting disconcerting.
The waiter cameover. “Can I get you a drink, miss?”
Evie snatchedher arm away from Alvaro’s vile pawing and stood. “No thanks, I’mleaving.”
“What? Wehaven’t even started yet, love.”
“I am not yourlove, and I’ll be reporting your inappropriate behaviour to thedating agency. Bye.”
With that, shefled from the restaurant.
Outside, shegulped the cool air and tried to regulate her breathing. She was aquivering mess, but at least she’d met the sleazeball in a publicplace and was able to make a rapid exit.
Hopefully, herdate with the vampire would be better.
* * *
Calebstraightened his tie and checked his watch. Almost time to go.
A quick tidyaround his modest apartment before he left, and Caleb made his wayto the bowling alley; he thought it less intimate than arestaurant. He had no intention of starting any kind ofrelationship with the mermaid—Alyssa, her name said on theprofile—and he would make it clear as soon as they met, but atleast they could have some fun knocking down the pins.
He entered thebowling alley and scanned the foyer. Hmm, she didn’t seem to behere, and he was on time too.
Someone tappedhim on the shoulder. “Caleb, from Love Bites? I recognise you fromyour profile picture.”
He frowned. Hedidn’t recognise her, except for the putrid green hair.
She held outher hand. “I’m Alyssa.”
Caleb forced apleasant smile. The woman looked nothing like her profile picture.He took her hand and shook it warmly. “Lovely to meet you, Alyssa.I have to confess I’ve not done this sort of thing before.”
“Oh, I have.You’re my one-hundredth date. Lucky you.”
He widened hissmile, hoping it didn’t look fake. “Yes, lucky me, eh?”
She looped herarm into his and led him to the bowling lanes.
