Page 19 of The Neighborly Thing To Do
“You’ve done this in multiple places?” Cassidy interrupts.
Hugh blinks at her. “I have seven hotels in seven different supernatural towns,” he informs her, puffing his chest out like he can’t help himself. “Each one does great things for the local economy.”
“And your wallet, too, I guess.”
“Naturally.”
“You kick people out of their houses for those, too?” Cassidy asks.
“No, because people sell when they’re offered a buyout. It’s like they realize what that kind of money can do for their lives,” he says pointedly.
Cassidy shrugs. “It’s like you don’t realize what that house will do for the rest of my life.”
Hugh bristles. “That land should be used.”
“I think Finn told you we’re planning to fill the house with our own family,” she says cooly. “It’ll be used, Hugh, don’t worry.”
“Human kids,” Hugh scoffs.
“I’m technically half, right? So our chances of having supernatural kids is pretty high. And you don’t get a say who lives in myfather’shouse. I’m sure his grandkids being there will be a nice thought for us someday.”
She’s talking about having kids with me with a level of sincerity that I almost believe in. I fight to keep a neutral expression so Hugh doesn’t see the shock on my face.
Hugh stares at Cassidy for a minute. “I don’t have anything against you,” he says to her. “And I think I’m being more than fair, offering above fair market value. But land is at a premium in this town. You’re obstructing supernatural creatures from living here.”
“Give me a break,” I scoff. “You don’t want anyone to live there; you want to make a profit. Well, that’s my wife’s house, and you won’t be touching it.”
He ignores me entirely. “You’re human,” Hugh continues. “Go be among humans.”
She squeezes my hand. “Can’t now, can I?” she asks rhetorically. “Finn wouldn’t exactly do great out there.”
Hugh grits his teeth at the reminder of my existence. I don’t know what he has against me, exactly. We were never friends, but we weren’t enemies. But regardless, I will plant myself between him and Cassidy and refuse to be moved. He won’t get to her when I’m around.
“I’ve asked Mayor Davies to add the house to the town meeting agenda next week,” he says. “Let’s vote on who should own the house.”
“Myhouse, you mean?” Cassidy asks pointedly.
“The house you don’t have any legal right to, considering you’re human,” he retorts. “I’ve asked him to bring it to a vote before the town. If you like this town so much, let them decide your fate. The town by-laws are on my side.”
Cassidy’s tough façade crumbles a bit. Hopefully not enough for Hugh or anyone else to notice, but I’ve been staring at her, taking in every detail. I can see how that scares her. I squeeze her hand again.I’m here, I want to shout.You don’t have to do this alone.
“Thanks for the information,” I grunt in Hugh’s direction, pushing to my feet and getting a sick satisfaction when he falls back a few steps. “We’ll see you at the town meeting. I don’t want to see you until then.” He doesn’t look like he’s going tomove, and I can feel the stares of everyone in the pub. I focus solely on Cassidy. “You ready to go, wife?” I ask, needing to rub it in that she is, in fact, mywifenow. When she nods, I fish out my wallet and leave a few bills on the table, then help her down from the high stool and wrap an arm around her back as we walk outside.
Chapter 11
Cassidy
Iget to fly again, and I can’t even enjoy it this time.
It’s dark now, and the town looks like twinkle-lights below us, but I’m too busy freaking out to appreciate it.
Atown meeting, to decide whether or not I deserve to stay in town. Fucking perfect.
It’s an emotional gut punch that anyone in town would even entertain this idea. I’ve been hereten years. This is my home, and I thought they all believed that, too. But now, Hugh genuinely believes he can get enough people in town to vote to kick me out, and I’m worried he might be right.
When we land in my front yard, Finn walks us to the door, then straight to the couch. To my surprise, he doesn’t set me down, instead holding me so I’m perched on one of his large thighs.
“Want to share what’s going on inside your head?” he asks, his voice more gentle than anyone would assume a man of his size is capable of.
