Colby: September (4 page)

“
O
h
, this
will
not
do,” Chloe huffed as she paced back and forth, casting evil glances at her scrying bowl on each pass. “How am I supposed to get these two together, when they won’t cooperate and outside forces are conspiring against me?” She threw her hands in the air in exasperation. “They may as well be human. There was a spark. A draw. Why is it so difficult to follow through?”

Another very unwanted thought came to life. “Eros better not be messing me. I will skin him alive if I find out he’s trying to make me lose.”

There were only two and a half weeks left in the month. Chloe had come too close to winning the bet with Eros to fail now. Eight months of matchmaking would be up in smoke if Colby and Ella didn’t pull their heads out of their asses. If she had to, she would do it for them. Forcefully. With her bare hands. Lock them in a room with no way out. Use a love potion they couldn’t resist. Maybe she could even get one of her servant girls to sneak one of Eros’s arrows out and give it to her. He’d never admit to having them, but she knew he did.

A low growl of frustration escaped her throat as she thought over her problem. Things had been going well. She was sure they were headed in the right direction, and with minimal work on her part. Colby and Ella had met and Chloe had mistakenly thought that would be enough.

The man had taken care of her when she’d gotten drunk; thanks to a little extra magic Chloe had managed to get the bartender to add in. Really, it had been easy and brilliant on her part. A soft ethereal whisper in his ear and he’d been putty in her hands. Subsequently, never remembering it happening.

Chloe
knew
Ella wasn’t indifferent to the man she was fated to be with. Colby had given her his number, and she should have called him by now. Chloe didn’t pay enough attention to the girl. That had to have been the problem. She assumed the other woman would follow through. Happy to have the attentions of the Djinn.

She stopped next to the bowl and waved her hand over it. An image of Ella popped up. She stood in a small room with soft music playing and dim lighting. She pressed her thumbs into the deep tissues of a man’s back. He moaned and mumbled. It sounded like sex to her. Very good, endorphin-releasing sex. Ella’s lips curved into a pleased smile. It was like the woman actually enjoyed helping others with their tension. Touching them with no thoughts of her own sexual gratification. Chloe watched for a good ten minutes as the girl manipulated and smoothed over the man’s flesh. With each passing minute an idea swirled in her head, slowly becoming clearer and clearer.

She needed to get Ella back to Satyr and in the path of Colby. The man had been smitten enough. Surely, he would be again.

Getting her to Satyr wouldn’t be a problem. From what she’d seen, Mystics went there for no other reason than to go. But getting her there on a permanent basis for optimal chances to run into the sexy bartender would be something else entirely. The girl couldn’t spend every night there drinking and giving other men the opportunity to steal her away. And they would. No man could resist a curvy woman like her. The softness. The spark of fire held within her heart, which snapped in her blood. It would be a Siren’s call to many. She would be useless working in the bar itself. Plus, he probably had human morals about not sleeping with someone who worked under him. Regardless of how much he’d enjoy it.

Chloe tapped her fingers against the edge of the bowl. Her mind flashed to the different rooms and activities one could indulge in at Satyr. There was most definitely a spa. Her sister Lacy mentioned stealing one of the women away from there for her personal use. Room could be made for sweet, seductive Ella. A quick word with someone in charge, and Chloe could have the witch there in a blink of the eye.

Now, how did she deal with Ella not calling Colby? Men’s egos were so fragile, he may assume she wasn’t interested and turn any advances away.
If
the woman made any.

Chloe waved her hand over the bowl again, bringing up the Djinn. The genie was leaned against a desk talking to another rather delicious-looking man in a chair. Whatever it was they were discussing, it appeared important to them in that small world kind of way.

Concentrating, she focused on the men’s lips, willing her ears to pick up the sounds. It was easy enough since it was just the two of them.

“No way, Holden. I’m not taking your shift for you. I’m scheduled to take the week off.” Colby pointed to the papers in irritation. He stabbed at them, sliding them closer to the other man. “See, right here. We agreed last month. I’m working Wednesday through Sunday, then I’m outta here for seven whole days. Your ass can deal with everything while I’m gone.”

“Come on, man. It isn’t like you have plans to go anywhere. This is a one-time opportunity. The woman wants to take me to Europe with her. All expenses paid. You wouldn’t deny me that chance, would you?”

“Hell yeah, I would.”

Holden groaned and threw his hands up. “Fuck, you’ve been a dick since last week. What the hell crawled up your ass?”

Colby’s eyes shuttered. “Nothing,” he grunted. To Chloe, it sounded as though he was smarting over the fact that a certain witch never called him. Hope bloomed in her chest at the thought. “I’m going on vacation, forgetting everything about this place for a while, and nothing is going to change that.”

Chloe spun away from the bowl and sat down on a nearby chair. “That’s what
he
thinks.” If she read the situation right, Colby was upset about Ella not calling. Putting them in the same room might not work if his male pride was wounded. She’d have to do something to push him to pursue her. Something to force him to get over it.

She tapped a finger on her lips as she thought out the problem. Using Eros’s arrows would be too easy, and he’d no doubt warp it to his advantage. But…an image of Eros consumed with jealousy filled her head. The heated kisses and threats he dished out if she so much as thought about one tall, delectable Great Watcher.

A little male competition never hurt and would do the trick. Colby and his friend were about to have all of their plans changed.

With her mind made up, it didn’t take long for Chloe to get what she wanted. Using the scrying bowl, and the same spell she used on the bartender, she was able to convince the spa owner (after discovering who that was…a dwarf named Vasilis…who was a bit of a tyrant), to headhunt Ella and do everything in his power to get her working at Satyr the next day. She didn’t care what he promised as long as he managed it. In return, she would grant him one wish or favor. All within reason, of course.

When it came to convincing Holden to bet his friend to push the two together…she had to be a little more careful. Explaining about the bet she had with Eros was out of the question, but telling him the Gods needed his help in return for the fulfillment of his deepest fantasy wasn’t.

It was easy to see Holden wanted to be pampered and paraded about. Given every materialistic thing he craved. Chloe knew a few Goddesses who would be more than happy to do just that. And maybe teach him a thing or two about wanting without giving.

Plan in motion, Chloe turned to her favorite place—the garden off her room. She swept outside and to the chaise set in the middle. Reclining back on it, she shut her eyes and soaked up the sun, allowing the cool breeze to kiss her skin.

Another match was on its way to successful completion. Eros would be hers in three more months.

“
I
cannot believe
my vacation was cancelled,” Colby grumped, leaning back against the wall in yet another staff meeting. He’d taken up residence in hopes his sour mood didn’t rub off on anyone else. Some of the Mystics working at Satyr were pretty sensitive to what other people were feeling and insisted on talking about it. No guy, human or Mystic,
ever
wanted to talk about their feelings with someone else.

“Dude, you aren’t the only one that had plans changed.” Holden didn’t sound as upset as Colby thought he should. The guy had pestered him the previous day non-stop about taking the shift so Holden could be some woman’s
guy on the fly
.

Colby shot him a
fuck off, I don’t give a shit
look, which Holden ignored, as per usual.

“That hot chick who offered to pamper me like a God came down with a cold. Can you fucking believe that shit? A Mystic with a damn cold. It’s physically impossible.”

“Apparently not,” Colby said in a flat tone. He was rewarded with a couple seconds of blessed silence before Tuari, the tall Native American who embodied the spirit of the eagle,
and
was one of the supervisors leading the morning meeting, cleared his voice loudly.

“Thank you for attending this morning’s meeting.”

Colby snorted at the insinuation that he’d had a choice about being there. It was his damn day off, but the powers that be deemed he had to attend. It was out of the ordinary for such an unordinary place.
Fucking mandatory shit.

“I want to start out by telling you our numbers are up in both customer service and overall satisfaction.”
Tuari’s dark gaze flickered around the room, catching the eyes of a few who weren’t giving him their undivided attention. Colby didn’t doubt that the man had let his eagle spirit free to keep watch over them all. A report would most likely be filed with the names of people not paying attention. Colby’s name would be right at the top.

He’d heard it all before, and didn’t stop the roll of his eyes at the customer satisfaction numbers comment.
They were always up. Satyr provided every conceivable service for Mystics the world over.

Want to sleep in a coffin in the basement with the scent of earth and blood surrounding you? They could provide that.

Want to recreate a holiday beach resort to include sand and gentle crashing waves in one of the water rooms? They could do that, and even provide a soft sea breeze to give it that authentic atmosphere.

Want to be chained up to a wall in one of the lower level playrooms and have a demon do every depraved, kinky thing imaginable? Sign up at the bar, and the staff will take care of the rest.

Holden nudged his shoulder. “Have you seen the new masseuse?”

Colby shut his eyes for a moment, then refocused on Tuari, pretending to pay attention. It also meant he could tune out Holden and his incessant need to talk. He half wondered how they’d remained friends for as long as they had. Colby looked at him out of the corner of his eye. Holden’s face was lit up with excitement. He could see whatever was on the tip of Holden’s tongue, ready to tumble out. He might need to rethink their friendship.

“Dude, did you hear me?” Holden hissed before he appeared in front of Colby’s face, his brows furrowed deeply.

A heavy sigh escaped. “What about the masseuse?”

Holden chuckled and pointed off to their left. “Have you seen her? Fucking hot as hell. I wouldn’t mind letting her rub me down…with her body.”

Colby looked over to the group of massage therapists or masseuses, hell, he didn’t know the difference, and found the woman he assumed Holden was talking about. It was easy to spot the newbie’s. There was an excited air about them that set them apart. It bubbled and overflowed. As a general rule, he tended to steer clear until they’d been around a while. Let some of the excited energy burn off.

She wasn’t exactly Colby’s type. Tall and willowy. There was a fragility to her that made him think a slight breeze would knock her over. White blonde hair hung down her back and little pointed ears pushed through the tendrils. Fae. Probably elf.

“She’s nice. I guess,” he replied, shrugging lightly. Honestly, he wasn’t too impressed, but there was no reason to shit all over Holden’s idea of perfect.

Holden was in his face again. Colby pushed him back with a disapproving grunt.

“Are you insane?” Holden stared at him wide eyed.

Tuari’s voice rose and snagged their wavering attention. They both focused on him long enough to listen to him wrap up the quick meeting with a
keep up the good work
and an
I’ve got my eyes on you
. People around them started talking and moving. Some filtered out the door of the conference room, while the rest stood around gossiping. A Satyr tradition with some of the longer-term employees.

Holden’s intense stare falling on him meant the guy wasn’t giving up on the
hot masseuse
conversation. Colby shrugged. “I’m just not into elves.”

“Elves? What the fuck are you talking about?”

He resisted rolling his eyes—barely. “The tall blonde. Not really my type. Too fragile looking.” He may have grimaced. She wasn’t unattractive. Just not
his
kind of woman.

He wanted one buxom brunette who never called him. The fact it ate away at him after a week had passed, concerned him. He thought she would contact him over the weekend, but it never happened. Figured she was recovering from her hard night of partying. Then the week flew by and still nothing. He’d been under the impression there was a connection in those few moments they spent together. He’d apparently been wrong.

Holden laughed full and loud, before Colby could say anything else. “Not
her
. She’s working the desk at the remodeled spa. Moving over from customer service, I think.” Holden craned his neck, searching, then smiling brightly. “Her,” he said and pointed back in the direction of the elf, but slightly in front of her. “The curvy brunette. Fuck, look at that ass. I would love to slide my hands over it and just squeeze.”

That was
all
Colby could see and, damn, it made his own pants get a bit tighter. Soft black slacks cupped the woman superbly. It was such a fine derriere that he could almost forget about the
other
woman who’d, in essence, stood him up. Saliva pooled in his mouth, and his hands tingled with anticipation. Holy fuck, her ass was better than nice, it was stellar. The perfect handful. People shuffled, and the heavens opened up. The curvy brunette came fully into view. Colby damn near swallowed his tongue when he got a good look at her. Ella Burke, tormentor of his nightly dreams, stood not ten feet from him. Fucking smiling softly.

She wore the standard black with red piping spa tunic. Her dark brown hair was twisted up into some hair thing. Hell if he knew what it was called, nor did he care. All he was sure of was that it showed off the smooth column of her neck. A place he wanted to nibble and suck. Leave giant hickies on, as a show of possession.

Whatever conversation she was having had a full smile blooming on her face. Her eyes twinkled with happiness, capturing his heart. Right then he knew. Knew he wanted her on a level he’d never wanted a woman before. More than he’d wanted her over a week ago.

His heart stopped in his chest. The world stopped spinning. When it registered who he was looking at, when his brain kicked into gear, his heart thudded into motion. It was a rebirth of everything he’d thought he lost. There was something inherently inviting about Ella. Like her spirit stood there with open arms saying
come on in, let me love you
. He wanted that love covering him from head to toe. He wanted to be the sole focus of all of her dreams and wishes.

Holden’s chuckle had Colby snapping his mouth shut, which he hadn’t realized had dropped open. “What did I tell you? Fucking. Hot. I’m calling dibs.”

Colby frowned. “You can’t call dibs on a woman.”

Holden laughed again. Colby’s hand balled into a fist. He was seconds away from punching his oblivious friend. “Sure you can. I saw her first, so I get first shot. It’s part of the bro code.”

He shook his head and blew out a calming breath. “You’re an idiot. And, for the record, you didn’t see her first.”

Holden scoffed. “I sure as hell did. Did your old feeble brain forget that I
just
pointed her out to you? Man, it must suck getting old.”

“Fuck you.”

Holden’s snort came out quick. “You’re just pissed I thought to call dibs first.”

Colby sighed. “I’m not pissed.” But a small part of him was. Even if he didn’t want to admit it. It fucking ticked him off that Holden deigned to
think
he had a shot with her. “And to be clear, I saw her at the club two Fridays ago.”

“I call bullshit.”

“Absolute truth. She was in with a bunch of her friends. They were drinking White Lightning and setting it on fire. I had to get a couple attendants over to help get them gathered up and sent home. You can check the logs.”

Holden stared at him for a couple of minutes before he grinned evilly. Colby didn’t like the look on his face. At. All. He waited for whatever ridiculous plan the guy was brewing to come shooting out of his mouth. It didn’t take long.

“Bet me.”

“Bet you what?” Colby replied, afraid of where Holden’s mind was headed.

“Let’s make a bet. I’m interested. You’re interested. Let’s see who can get her to go out with them first. Whoever wins has to cover the other’s shifts for a week.
And
do all of the paperwork.”

Colby groaned, but didn’t immediately shoot the idea down. He still wanted her, even though she never contacted him. For all he knew, she’d lost his number on the way back to her place. Or misplaced it and was too embarrassed to come find him. Or,
shit
, she’d been attacked walking home alone.

Irritation crawled up his spine, as a strong dose of possessiveness rolled over him.
Fuck
! He knew he should have insisted on taking her home.

“You’re on,” Colby said, cuffing Holden on his shoulder hard before striding over to where Ella stood.