Mercedes felt bad for her. One hundred years was a long time to go without talking to someone, and she imagined that maybe it was like that for Magnus and Sven when they were first cursed, before the great revelation, before monsters could come out of hiding. At least they had each other.
“I’m glad you’re actually talking to me,” Mercedes said gently. “You can always talk to me.”
Flo smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Thank you. I don’t know if I had family, but I do remember that I lived here before I became like this. I know I lived in this house, I’ve seen my portrait. It’s how I remembered my name.”
“Were you in love with Sven?”
This time when Flo smiled, there was a tenderness, a wistful longing etched in her expression. “I don’t remember.”
Mercedes had a suspicion that this was the girl who disappeared on Sven. It was a shame that Flo didn’t remember.
Had her family found out and had her cursed?The thought threw Mercedes for a loop, but it wasn’t completely far-fetched. She knew for a factherfamily was hired for things like that all the time.
The paranormal hitmen of a dark underworld of monsters and humans lived in Tallowfield. Only Mercedes had no interest in making lives miserable or killing or cursing.
Maybe that’s why she was such a disaster at the rest of her magic.
“You don’t have to worry about me and the ghouls or this house,” Mercedes stated. “Besides, they’re my bosses and I like this job.”
“I’m sorry for all that I did and for being so unfriendly.” A pink tinge bloomed in pale cheeks. “Thank you for talking to me.”
“Anytime.”
Flo nodded and disappeared back through the wall.
Mercedes returned to her work, but as she continued folding towels, she couldn’t help but wonder if Flo’s family had been aware that she was in love with Sven, and had someone put a curse on her.
She would have to do some investigating. Something was compelling her to do that, but if it turned out to be true, it wouldn’t solve Sven’s curse or Flo’s. He couldn’t see her and it would be hard to fall in love again and break a curse if you couldn’t see the person you were in love with.
Chapter
Eight
Magnus was relieved that he and Mercedes were going to be friends, but also, he wasn’t too keen on the idea of beingjustfriends. Part of him still wanted more. It was fun to joke around with her. There was so much he liked about her. And there was still that part of him that wanted her.
He wanted to know what it was like to kiss those ruby lips, to run his hands through her burgundy hair.
She works for you now. You can thank Sven for that.
Annoyed he was thinking about her again, he finished chopping the lettuce, cucumber, and dill for the special sandwich he was making for Phineas, who was in the old pond out in the back of the dead-and-breakfast. It was a deep koi pond, but some of the pipes that used to run its fountain had rusted over. Phineas was underwater, fixing the old system and cleaning up. They had just bought a lot of peat moss from him to prep all the intricate flower beds that Dazy and Feydin had planted and laid out for them this past summer, for their winter slumber.
It had been a huge investment. Sven hoped that there would be weddings at Room with a Tomb, and those flower beds would make for a beautiful space.
Magnus was hopeful for that too.
And he hoped the first one would be Margaid and Finn’s, although Finn had yet to formally ask her. Thinking about a wedding, his mind wandered to Mercedes. He was picturing her in white, her dark hair down, the sun shining, and him waiting at the end of an aisle. Mercedes smiling at him with love and warmth. Not uncertainty.
What is happening to me?
When did he become a crazy romantic? After centuries without having his curse broken or ever feeling more than the occasional infatuation or lust for another woman, he didn’t think it was possible to imagine a happily ever after. So, envisioning Mercedes in a white gown and thoughts of weddings creeping into his mind completely threw him off guard.
I need to focus on the opening and my menus. That’s what I need to do.
Magnus fully admitted that lately, he was completely distracted and Sven seemed to be doing all the heavy lifting for the business. He finished making the sandwich as the door opened and Mercedes walked in.
Her hair was smoking again and there was fresh grease across her face. It was clear she was trying to fix it, but couldn’t. “It’s the dryer. Again.”
“Again?”