Page 28 of Kiss and Spell
Her hazel eyes were kind, open and shining with a wild mischief usually reserved for circus entertainers.
“You look good without your glasses. You should lose them more often.” Whitney flicked a quick glance at him. “If you need any new clothes, I know a fabulous outlet mall nearby we can go shopping.”
He nodded. Whitney would use any occasion—a barbecue, a rainstorm, a parade—to go shopping. “Thanks, but I’ll make do with my wardrobe.”
“I know a good barbershop downtown. Get yourself shaped up before the event tomorrow.” Whitney winked at him and reached for her teacup. Xavier blinked, his mind turning with options. He rubbed his beard, which was overdue for a cut. What are you going to wear? Excitement went through his chest as he thought about going out with Ursula.
Is this what having fun felt like? He was really starting to enjoy it.
Chapter Nine
Is that minotaur flirting with me?
Xavier’s mouth dried up. He held on to his pint of ice water as the horned creature in question gave a finger wave in his general direction. Okay. Be cool. Be friendly. How would he flirt with a minotaur? What would he make small talk about? Mazes? Mythology? Now he wished he’d paid more attention in Professor Lavoe’s art history class. He emptied his water in one gulp and clutched the glass to his chest. The minotaur was now waving frantically as if trying to get his attention. Xavier looked over his shoulder, to see another minotaur coming into the tavern. Relief flooded through him. He leaned against the dartboard and let out a sigh. That interaction would’ve been an absolute disaster on his part. He could barely flirt with humans let alone mythical creatures. Ursula had insisted that they go off in separate directions in the bar, then come back together later in the evening. She didn’t want to “mess up his vibe” or “send the wrong message” by staying together.
“People might think we’re a couple,” she said jokingly. Xavier bit the inside of his cheek to keep from commenting. He should be so lucky to have a woman as gorgeous as her by his side.
Exactly thirty-two minutes into the event, he wanted to hide under his bed and eat kale chips. Xavier hadn’t managed to make a successful conversation with anyone in the bar, which only made him miss her company even more.
A stray thought floated through his mind like a lost balloon. I wish I’d stayed with Ursula.
Smitten by the Shore was increasingly becoming his personal gauntlet. Every flirty smile or innuendo-laced comment from a stranger hit him like a body blow and he froze. This was the same way he felt whenever he was required to attend a ball or dance back in the Realm.
He didn’t know what to say, so he resorted to his default mode.
Shut up and smile. Look the princely part. Don’t shame the family.
At least he wasn’t alone. Xavier scanned the bar and found Ursula cradling her half-empty glass while talking to the woman on the neighboring stool. He breathed a little easier. She arrived at the tavern literally wearing hugs and kisses—her bubblegum pink dress was covered in Xs and Os in a cute design. He couldn’t stop staring at how the dress showed off her shapely calves and the small heels made her sway like a bluebell flower on the vine.
Stop it. He snapped his attention away from Ursula.
From where he stood, he had a good view of the tavern space. Flags with dueling unicorns and roaring lions hung from the exposed beams. A garland of paper hearts decorated over the bar and doorways. A huge sign read NOMINATE YOUR SMITTEN SWEETHEART TODAY! DETAILS ON THE SMITTEN BY THE SHORE WEBSITE. Waiters switched between delivering steaming plates of appetizers and cleaning off tables with a damp cloth. The Two Princes Tavern was becoming increasingly crowded as more customers flowed in through the front door, but there were a few empty two-seater booths in the back, away from the bulk of the action.
He went over to the long wooden bar and eased next to Ursula. She was still chatting excitedly with the same woman with blackish hair and silver jewelry. Xavier just watched Ursula without saying a word. A rose quartz necklace dangled between her lush cleavage. Her black hair was artfully tousled around her face. From his angle, he could see the pale shimmer on her eyelids and slick gloss on her lips. Underneath the dim tavern lights, her skin looked smooth. He’d bet all the money in his pockets that her skin was smoother than fresh rose petals.
She turned to Xavier and her smile widened. His pulse kicked up.
“Your ears must be burning; I was just talking about you,” she said.
Ursula moved so he could clearly see her friend. Oh. His face burned.
Where were his manners? He’d been so busy stumbling to get over to Ursula that he hadn’t properly introduced himself to her companion.
Ursula gestured between the two of them. “Diane Dearworth, meet Xavier Alder. You’re a magician, he’s a fae prince. He’s visiting the Grove and looking for love. She’s open to new experiences.”
“Thanks for being subtle,” Diane joked in a velvety voice. She held out her hand to him. Xavier shook it. Her silver skull bracelet jangled as she moved. “Pleased to meet you.”
He dipped his head in greeting. “Likewise. How do you know Madame Caraway?”
“Well, we went to high school together,” Diane said fondly. “We played faeries in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
“Moth and Cobweb,” Ursula supplied.
Diane pushed Ursula’s arm with a friendly nudge. “We were also baby goths, until someone decided to go all country-club style on me.”
“I couldn’t pull off the vamp look,” Ursula said sweetly. “Not all of us can rock black velvet and lace.”
“You won’t know until you try,” Xavier said to her in a low, encouraging murmur.