Being(s) In Love 03 - A Beginner’s Guide to Wooing Your Mate (14 page)

Gentle or not, Sheriff Neri responded with an actual flinch, as if the thought hurt. “Maybe. Someday.” He fixed Zeki to the fridge with a look. “You want Theo to date? It wouldn’t bother you?”

Brownie churned in Zeki’s stomach. “Maybe it would make him happy,” he argued, uncertain when his voice had gotten so wavery. He coughed. “He was a good guy in high school. He seems good now, and as attractive as he was then. Maybe more. He should date someone, if not me.”

“Wizard Janowitz.” The sheriff cocked his head to one side. “Do you want to
date
Theo Greenleaf? That might be… cruel, if you are not sure of your intent.”

“How is that cruel?” Zeki studied him in astonishment. “I’m not into magic based on cruelty. It’s immoral as well as illegal. I mostly work on problem solving, finding spell sources, missing ingredients, fixes, healing, and protection. I want to help people. Theo…. Theo could use some help, and I want hi—I want to help him. My high school crush on him aside, I want….” Zeki sighed, no longer feeling as elated as the brownies had made him. “I want him to be happy, not baking his longing for happiness into food for other people. And I want to touch him. A lot. In a sexual manner. How’s that for embarrassing?”

He was starting to feel sorry for any miscreants who attracted the sheriff’s interest. The sheriff’s intensity was rivaled only by an older sorceress professor Zeki had studied under once. The memory of her sneered disdain for wizards who lost control of themselves was all that kept Zeki from squirming while the sheriff judged him.

“You don’t know,” the sheriff pronounced at last. “And you didn’t know.” His confused frown gave way to something still and fragile, like hope. Before Zeki could ask what any of that meant, the sheriff nodded, deeper this time. “Thank you, for this.” He tore the page from the notepad and slipped it into his pocket, then put the notepad down. “I’ll come to you if I have more questions.”

“It’s admirable that you are going to protect him, even if it’s from a distance.” Zeki had to meet this Littlewolf someday.

“He’s my mate. Whatever his reasons for rejecting me, that will never change.” The way Sheriff Neri said it made Zeki want to ask more questions, to ask if Theo would have made the same vow.

He contained the impulse. “Well, and you’re the sheriff. Protecting people is supposed to be your thing.”

“Theo bakes for everyone, but he also bakes for you.” Sheriff Neri seemed amused. “How much do I owe you? You haven’t advertised your rates.”

He gave Zeki no time to recover from the implications of his first statement. Zeki was grateful, because he had no response. “Outside of interning and apprenticeships, I’ve never had a paying client of my own. I can quote the standard rates, but this was only a consultation, and you more than repaid me in kind.”

“You aren’t in business yet?” The sheriff began to move toward the door but slowed and twisted to look at him. “Isn’t that why you came home?”

“Are you saying this town needs a wizard?” Zeki trailed after him. “I doubt I’d make rent here.”

The sheriff stopped by the door. “But if you could, you’d stay?”

Zeki crossed his arms. “I’d need the support of the town, and probably business from Carson as well. But the people in town don’t like me much. I didn’t realize magic was
that
hated here.”

“It’s not the magic.” Sheriff Neri could probably instill terror with the narrowing of his eyes. Even Zeki’s meager-by-comparison human instincts told him to take care around the sheriff. He hated to imagine the fate of whoever was threatening his mate.

“If you say so,” Zeki agreed, but he hadn’t forgotten the glares from the pixy at the drugstore. That pixy had been all smiles for everyone else.

“It’s been a long time since Wolf’s Paw had a regular witch.” The sheriff took a moment, and Zeki waited curiously. “Last year there was a big fire too close to the tree line for comfort, and one of the firefighters fell and was burned.” He shook his head when Zeki gave a start. “The firefighter was were. She’ll survive, with scars, but I thought our fire department could use some extra protections. Magic, done by an expert. Nothing big or clumsy to get in their way. Nothing amateurish.”

Zeki eased back to stare at Sheriff Neri in disbelief. “That sounded an awful lot like the endorsement of the town’s alpha.”

The sheriff stared at him impassively. “My title is sheriff,” he corrected before putting his hand on the door. “I’ll tell their chief I suggested it, if you’re interested.” He seemed to expect Zeki’s stunned, eager nod. “Then he’ll call you tomorrow,” the sheriff promised, with no doubt in his voice. “Let me know when you decide what to charge me. It was worth it.”

And then, just like that, Sheriff Neri was gone.

Zeki closed the door behind him before he felt it was safe enough to swoon. He suspected almost everyone swooned around the sheriff, except possibly the one person the sheriff wanted to.

The sheriff was going to publicly support him. He’d even gotten Zeki a job, a real job… at the firehouse… where Theo worked. That sheriff was truly something.

Zeki felt the grin start to take over his face and wandered into the kitchen, toward his brownies. He heard his dad come in a while later, go into his room, then come into the kitchen. His dad was shorter than him and leaner from days spent on his feet. He moved his glasses up his nose to study Zeki, then clucked his tongue and went to the fridge. “Milk for those?”

Like some other chefs Zeki had met, his father couldn’t be bothered to cook for himself after a busy day at work. He’d happily eat a brownie for dinner.

He poured himself some almond milk, then stopped to consider Zeki again. Zeki was leaning against the counter, one hand around the tray. “I think I have a job, a magical job,” Zeki revealed, and could tell his dad did want him to stay in town from how the news made him beam and nod in quick encouragement.

“And brownies to celebrate?” His dad tipped his glass of almond milk at him like it was champagne and then took a bite of the brownie Zeki had left out for him.

He was motionless for a long moment before he chewed and swallowed. Then he had a sip of milk. He paused again and then took another drink before he spoke. “Did Theo Greenleaf make these?”

Zeki held his breath. This wasn’t about reliving an old crush, and he was prepared to argue the point. But his dad took another bite before he could answer.

“Next time you see him, tell him I like them.” His dad smiled around his mouthful, then shuffled into the living room in search of his slippers.

Zeki stared after him, confused, and ever so slightly suspicious.

Chapter 6

“S
O
W
IZARD
Janowitz is going to look around and find the least obtrusive ways he can offer us some additional protection and luck.” Nils had said that twice already, but their fire chief wasn’t known for his succinct speeches. “And everyone here is going to be helpful.” He’d said that before too, usually directing it at whichever weres he caught scratching or rubbing their noses.

Zeki appeared more and more amused whenever he heard it. Each time he’d curve his lips up at one side and then glance over to Theo as if sharing the joke. Then his smile would get wider when he saw Theo watching him, and Theo would again notice the spot of chocolate on Zeki’s bottom lip and look away. He was being ridiculous. He fought fires for a living. Zeki Janowitz’s entirely unprofessional smile shouldn’t leave him flustered. But Theo’s cheeks and even his ears were hot, as they had been ever since he’d given Zeki those brownies a few days ago and then avoided the library, the bookshop, and the attached coffee shop like his life depended on it.

The blushes were uncontrollable, and Theo didn’t like or understand them. Anything and everything could set them off now. The same with his appetite. He was eating like a tourist encountering mountain air for the first time, and since he was afraid to go in his kitchen, all the dining out was getting expensive.

“You might not think you need the luck, being a bunch of werewolf tough-asses,” Nils went on, reminding Theo a lot of his high school gym coach, who had also been human. “But you’re as vulnerable as anyone else, and only a fool says no to help when it’s offered. Now introduce yourselves.”

Theo stayed in the back, certain he wasn’t expected to participate. The town knew about him and Zeki; there was no need for an introductory handshake. Maria was the first over, and didn’t hesitate in pointing out the chocolate around Zeki’s mouth. Zeki gave a start, then licked at it, his manner completely unembarrassed except for a small, betrayed glance at Theo. Some of the others were less welcoming, although they stopped just shy of being rude. Theo couldn’t tell if it was the magic causing their reluctance or loyalty to Theo. In any event, he didn’t get long to wonder. The chief called him over with obvious impatience.

“If you need some help, Theo can show you around, get you set up for whatever it is you do.” Perhaps some of the chief’s doubt in Zeki’s abilities was due to Zeki’s choice of clothes for his first important magical job in Wolf’s Paw. In his skinny jeans and sneakers, he looked as young as he was. Only his faint stubble, as if he’d forgotten to shave, made him seem older. Theo didn’t know if Zeki needed a wand, or a robe, or a hat, or if those were wizard stereotypes, but he had to admit, Zeki looked more like he was here for a casual date than to practice arcane arts.

Theo’s hair was back. It had been his turn to clean the rec room, so he smelled like the orange oil on the furniture. He felt too hot, sweaty. This was not how he wanted to look in front of Zeki. But he crept forward anyway, resigned to his fate. Nils shook Zeki’s hand one last time as Theo came to a stop. “And while you’re at it, Wizard Janowitz, can you maybe do a little something to remind our Theo what caution is?”

Theo stopped. Zeki tilted his head toward Theo while keeping his eyes on the chief. Theo turned away to glare at Nils, but the chief was already on his way out of the room. So was everyone else, although the marathon of their house-hunting reality show was still going on the rec room’s big TV.

“Zeki’s fine, by the way!” Zeki called out after their retreating backs, then faced Theo. “I’m really not choosy about the title. Witch, wizard, whatever.”

There was chocolate on his breath. Theo’s mouth went dry. He was acutely aware that he wasn’t speaking.

Zeki ran a hand through his hair. He’d put product in it, probably a simple oil to keep it perfume-free. The oil did absolutely nothing to control it, but it made it look shiny and soft. His T-shirt was purple, and he once again had on a long-sleeved cardigan that prevented Theo from seeing his tattoos.

“We meet again,” Zeki said after a moment or so of awkward silence. “How was your latte?”

Theo twitched. Outside the room there were muffled sounds Zeki couldn’t hear—the rest of the firehouse listening in, shushing each other.

“Good.” Theo cleared his throat and tucked stray hair behind his ear. “Thank you.”

Zeki shifted from one foot to the other and then burst forward. “Those brownies, Theo. Those brownies.” His deep dark eyes seemed to sparkle. Theo swiped at his warm cheeks and inhaled a rush of pleased scents,
pleasure
first among them. Zeki hadn’t been upset or disturbed by the gift. He’d appreciated it, even liked it. Theo sighed happily and watched Zeki tug at the bag over his shoulder. “Before I forget, your tray,” he explained as he dug around inside the bag, then stopped as four plastic-wrapped cupcakes fell out and hit the floor.

Theo bent to pick them up, recognizing the individually wrapped cupcakes as the Five-Chocolate Cupcakes with mousse filling he’d made for the bake sale. Zeki knelt down to scoop them up, avoiding Theo’s gaze now. “Those brownies—were those even brownies?—were so good. My dad thought so. Mr. Elliot too. But….” Zeki flicked a look up through his pretty eyelashes. “But you can’t sell them like that, Theo. Not with that particular extra ingredient.”

“Oh.” Theo handed over the one cupcake he’d managed to grab and stood up. “It was too much.” He’d thought they would be, with his awkward yearning all over them.

Zeki followed him up. “No, Theo, I liked them. I liked them
a lot
, in a way that was inappropriate for the general public.”

Theo wet his mouth, hypnotized by the sweep of Zeki’s eyelashes, the warm chocolate essence of him. Then Zeki looked into his eyes. “
Oh
,” Theo realized, in a different tone.

“I didn’t like sharing them,” Zeki went on seriously. “I don’t think when you made them you realized how potent they….” He searched around in the bag rather than finish his thought, then held up the last cupcake. “Here.”

“I don’t really like sweets,” Theo recited. He rarely ate his own desserts. He told people this all the time and they never believed him.

Zeki snorted at him and pushed the cupcake at him insistently. “Theo….” He drew out the name, in a plea or an order, Theo couldn’t tell, but Theo twitched and then obediently reached out to take it. He watched himself peel off the plastic and noticed the plastic wrap had ruined the look of his frosting.