Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Patty put a hand on Aunt Florence’s arm, giving her a poignant look. “Speaking of a poor, overworked Mr. Tom.”
Aunt Florence patted Patty’s hand, nodding. “Yes, that leads me to my next point on today’s agenda. Now, Jessie—”
She paused as Tristan sauntered into the room wearing a white T-shirt, tailored gray blazer, and stylish jeans. We wouldn’t be training today in anticipation of the other gargoyles coming in.
“Hello, ladies,” he said, giving the garhettes a charming smile.
Both garhettes turned to face him with stars in their eyes and delighted smiles.
“Well, that improved my circulation,” Aunt Florence said, batting her eyelashes at Tristan.
He swept his gaze across the others, only pausing briefly on Nessa. Even in that short space of time, I could tell he was drinking her in. He’d clearly gotten the memo, though, and didn’t call her out directly, a break from custom for him.
She had dropped her gaze to the floor, her smile withered away, trying to pull an Edgar and shrink into her clothes.
“Hey, everyone,” he said. “I see we didn’t wait for the official office hours I set.”
“Oh.” Patty blinked profusely, and even I knew she was playing dumb. “There were official hours set? I wasn’t aware.”
Tristan glanced at Mr. Tom. “Are you up for making some coffee? I can take over guarding Jessie from this lot.”
Patty tsked in mock annoyance, and Aunt Florence laughed and batted her hand in his direction.
“Silly man,” she said.
“Oh, of course.” Mr. Tom’s wings fluttered. “What are we having this morning?”
“Half-caf, quad-shot, upside-down caramel macchiato with whole milk and cold foam.”
Mr. Tom inclined his head dutifully. “A simple order today, I see. Makes sense when performing mundane duties.” He lifted his eyebrows at the people in my room. “And sir?” He looked Austin’s way. “Will you be gracing the territory with your presence today, or did you decide to be the only person to take a day off?”
“I don’t need a crystal ball to know that that gargoyle is going to get his wings ripped off,” Aunt Florence murmured to Patty out of the side of her mouth. When Mr. Tom looked over, she smiled pleasantly and nodded supportively.
I nearly spat a laugh into my coffee.
Austin didn’t respond.
“Bring him up a cup and me another, if you would, Mr. Tom?” I asked.
“Of course, miss.” Mr. Tom walked from the room.
“What’s next?” Tristan said, leaning against the wall and entwining his fingers patiently.
“Yes. Right.” Patty took on a serious expression again. “Jessie, as we know, your staff is making space available for the incoming cairns and packs. Those who can fit are moving in here. The mages, Aurora, and Sue are moving in today, I believe, and Tristan in a couple weeks, right?”
Nessa tensed, glancing Tristan’s way from under her lashes. He didn’t seem to notice.
“Plus the usual residents.” Aunt Florence gestured at Austin and me before sweeping her hand in the direction of the hall. “This place will be bursting with activity.”
“Now, we know Mr. Tom is sensational at looking after everyone,” Patty said.
“Yes. The best.” Then Aunt Florence spoke out of the corner of her mouth again. “Except for that smart mouth. He’ll get his dentures slapped out before long, just you watch.”
“But he is only one man tasked with looking after everyone.” Patty shook her head.
“Don’t worry, Jessie, we have just the people to fill in and help. They can do it all—excellent cooking, spotless cleaning, going about their chores with a smile and quick feet. They will work with Mr. Tom to manage the house while so many people are in residence.”
I had wondered when I’d need to broach this subject. Mr. Tom never wanted help taking care of Ivy House and the people in it, but the ladies were right. This place would be at capacity, with temporary bedding going into the third floor for Aljoe’s accumulated rogues, now numbering twelve. Wild, all of them, with somewhat surly dispositions, but none of them struck me as dangerous. Not when they didn’t need to be. They’d just been too powerful to find a welcoming home among shifters, especially since none of them wanted to be in a pack. Joke was on them, it seemed. Now here they were, in a pack on steroids.
“I agree,” I told the ladies. “They won’t have it easy, though. Mr. Tom tends to push back with help. He still has a grudge against my mother.”
“Don’t you worry about that, Jessie.” Aunt Florence brushed it away. “We’ll sort him out. There is no gargoyle on this earth that can stand in the way of good sense, though many of them try.”
“In and out,” Patty said to Tristan as they walked for the door. “In and out.”
“Just that bit early,” Tristan replied, watching them leave.
“Right.” I sighed. “Next?”
It turned out that Dave just wanted to warn me that his greater family, including the Elder, were at his mountain and would be coming down to meet me today. He hoped the wood was still available for them to rest in.