Motor City Mage Read Online Free PDF Page B

coming.”
    Des passed a case of Belgian ale to Greg. “That’s for all the guys.” Then started handing out bouquets. Pale pink roses for Fee, yellow and pink Peace roses for Elise and bright coral for Meagan. The extended Novak family—Lana’s mother, grandmother, aunt and cousin, Katy, hadn’t been forgotten. He must have bought every different color available at the store. There were even nosegays of tiny white rosebuds for Dina and for Katy’s little girl.
    When he handed Lana a bouquet with dramatic crimson and white stripes, she bit her lip. They were the coolest roses she’d ever seen. He had a perfect eye. The mage was far more thoughtful than he pretended to be. Lana had to remind herself that he was a jerk, nothing more than an itch that had finally been scratched. Too bad she herself wasn’t buying the bullshit.
    Dinner was served almost immediately, so there was no chance for Des to tell his story before the meal. Lana stifled a groan when she saw they’d been seated next to each other. Of course. They were the only unmatched pair, except for the two older widows and the four young children. Des had Lana’s grandmother on his other side, though, and Lana was glad to see he paid close and careful attention to the older woman, who was still grieving the husband she’d lost to the demon Nightshade less than two months earlier.
    Of course that didn’t stop either her grandmother, aunt, honorary aunt or mother from pointing out that at thirty-two, Lana was getting a little old to be single. Keeping a polite smile on her face took more effort than her last microprocessor design class.
    Not surprisingly, the serious conversation waited until after dinner, after the men, who’d been volunteered for cleanup duty finished with the dishes. The rest of the pack had left and Dina had fallen asleep watching cartoons on the family room sofa, when the four couples, Des and Lana finally gathered in the library to discuss the newest developments.
    Des filled the others in on what he’d told her last night. Then he finished with, “I can’t seem to find Luther, my usual dealer contact. I’m going to have to find another way to get a sample of the product.”
    Lana cleared her throat. Of course he’d gone out looking for the drug dealer after he’d left her place last night—even though he’d specifically promised not to. Jerk.
    “I’ll pick some up on campus Monday,” she said with a shrug. As if they hadn’t discussed this before. “I know several people in my classes who are always looking for the newest, coolest high. There won’t be any problem.”
    “No.” The chorus came from every male in the room except Ric, who tipped his head thoughtfully.
    “That might work,” the bard admitted. “She’s a student, and looks a lot younger than she is. People know she works at a bar and is in a band. No one will suspect her as a plant.”
    “No.” This time the denial was limited to Greg and Des, who both bellowed loudly enough to alert the neighborhood.
    Fee laid a hand on Greg’s arm. “She can handle herself, you know.”
    Lana glared at Des. “Exactly. And who put you in charge, anyway?”
    Des crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. “I don’t know—maybe the leader of the Wyndewin League here in Detroit? Essentially the top paranormal policeman in the city?”
    “Well, I bet if you asked, he’d say use whatever resources are already in place.” She scowled back. “And that would be me.” It was killing her not to remind the jerk that they’d already had this argument the night before.
    “You’re not going to win.” Elise gazed at her brother with laughter flashing in her dark, almond-shaped eyes. “Might as well say thank you and give in gracefully.”
    Des looked at the other males, who all shook their heads as if to tell him he was on his own. Finally he speared Lana with a glance and said, “All you do is ask a classmate, buy some if they have it on them. You don’t go