Mercedes chuckled softly.
He liked the way she laughed. It was better to hear her laugh rather than argue with her, which is how their in-personfriendship started. Though, he couldn’t call her a friend either, because she worked for them.
“I suppose you’re also my boss. Does it make you happy that I said it out loud?”
“It does.”
She shook her head. “You’re such a pain.”
“Look, I’m a pain that is offering you a break from this enchanted laundry room. It’s a gorgeous day, let’s take a walk downtown and have a coffee. Maybe a scone or something.”
“Sure.” She held out her hand and he took it, reveling in the softness of her skin as he helped her to her feet. When she got her bearings, he didn’t let go of her hand. It was nice to hold her.
Pink flooded her cheeks and she pulled her hand back.
“Sorry, we should get going.”
“Right. Do you mind if I wash my face before we go?”
“As long as you don’t explode the sink, then sure.”
She winced and then punched his arm. “Thanks.”
Magnus explainedto Sven that the dryer was acting up, but everything was okay. It was basically the truth, but he didn’t want to worry his brother about some minor witchcraft problem that might be a fluke. Then he told Sven he was doing a coffee run and taking Mercedes along. Sven was shocked, but didn’t complain either. Magnus knew Sven wanted them to get along.
He waited in the main lobby until she appeared from the small room under the stairs behind the check-in counter, which was the cloakroom when this had been a funeral home. She’d slipped on her leather biker jacket and had her purse slung over her shoulder. Her jeans were a big baggy on her, but he could still make out her luscious curves. The cuffs were rolled up and she had on Converse sneakers.
Fashion hadn’t been something he paid attention to in the years he’d been around. He’d seen enough change and had his favorite items of clothing through the years. Her outfit sort of reminded him of the fifties, but rockabilly, and he had to admit on her, it looked damn good.
She’s so sexy.
“Feeling refreshed?” he asked, ignoring his lustful thoughts.
“Yes. Did you tell Sven what happened?” she asked nervously.
“I did, but not the details. I didn’t want him to worry.”
Relief washed across her face. “I must’ve put too much detergent in the wash.”
“That doesn’t explain the dryer though.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “No. It doesn’t, does it? It was acting like it was possessed or something. I’ve never had problems with appliances before.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get Phineas down here to tinker with it. They were old appliances to begin with, from The Clothes Spin. It’s run by a witch, by the way.”
“Oh, it is? Never heard of a witch running a laundromat.”
“She offers other services. I swear, nothing dark. No one practices dark magic in Harmony Glen. Not that I’m aware of anyways. This town is a fairly happy place, even with a haunted dead-and-breakfast.” Magnus winked at her and she smiled.
After leaving together, he opened doors for her and totally forgot about their horrible first meeting in Tallowfield. When he was laughing and joking with her like this, he didn’t think of her nasty ancestor who cursed him and Sven. He was seeing Mercedes for Mercedes, the woman who shared a lot in common with him.
Going on the MONZTR dating app had been a huge step for him, but one he’d wanted to make. Especially when he saw how happy Finn was with Margaid, and there were a few othersin town who had made matches over the last few months. Connecting with Mercedes had given him hope for something more, until he saw who she really was. Except he’d been wrong about the whole thing.
As they walked along Pleasant Street toward Main Street, he waved at a few townies he knew, like Asher and Jane, and Thaddeaus and Sloane.
“You know a lot of people in Harmony Glen.”
Magnus shrugged. “Well, when you’ve lived in a place for about ten centuries, you get to know people.”