Page 117 of Kick the Candle (Knight Games 2)
Poe squawked, "Perhaps we should entertain ideas from more reliable sources than Saturday morning cartoons?"
"It could happen, Poe." I shot the bird a warning glare. Why was he being such an asshole to Logan? "I wonder if this was why Mr. Nekomata said he wanted to bulldoze the house. Maybe he plans for the sun to reach this directly."
"Could he do that?" Poe asked, fluttering to my shoulder. "You said the sale closes on Friday, the day before the solstice. Could he bulldoze this place in a day?"
"It's hard for me to believe he could get a crew out here, in the middle of winter, on a Saturday. But I'm not ruling anything out."
Logan blew out an exaggerated breath. "Not to be an ass, but shouldn't we be trying to stop the closing? Best case scenario, Nekomata never has the opportunity to shed light on the vault."
"I'll call my father back and beg. I'll come up with an excuse. We should all be prepared though. I'm not the seller; my father is. Technically, he could sell it right out from under me."
Poe yanked my hair with his beak. "What father could deny their own little girl? A few tears and I'm sure he will accommodate you."
"I'll bawl my eyes out if it will keep Nekomata out of here until after the solstice."
"Good plan, my dear spellcaster," Poe said. "However, as I mentioned before, it would be prudent of you to move the Book of Light. If all else fails, we will need it to manage the consequences."
That's right. I needed a place to hide the book, a place with enough air to enhance its magical properties and where it could be safe and protected in my absence. I couldn't keep it at Rick's and after what happened with Marcus the vampire a few weeks ago, I didn't want to involve Michelle. Which left only one person who could help me.
"Logan, I need to ask a favor of you."
"My mother is smiling and nodding her head. Whatever you are going to ask me, looks like I'm supposed to say yes."
* * * * *
After Logan agreed to babysit the Book of Light, we moved it to his condo, feeling like I was leaving my first-born baby in his home office. He wasn't completely keen on the idea. Fortunately, his mother's ghost persuaded him to go along. I spent the better part of the day laying protective spells around his place, something I'd wanted to do anyway. Nothing could come in without his invitation, aside from me. By the time I'd finished, the place was a magical Fort Knox.
"The front desk already has instructions to let you up, day or night, but here's a key."
I looked at the silver specimen he dangled in front of me. For some reason, the thought of having a key to his place made me uncomfortable. "I don't think I'll need my own key," I said. "This is only temporary."
"Are you kidding me? I'm gone most nights at the restaurant. If you need to get to the book, this is your only way in."
Reluctantly, I accepted the key, noticing the Valentine's emblem on the stainless steel keychain. The engraving was of an artistically designed heart pierced by cupid's arrow, only the point was actually a spoon and the feathers, a fork pointing in the opposite direction. Valentine's was scrawled across the artwork.
I turned the key over in my palm. "I know this might be awkward for you."
"You mean because I basically threw myself at you and you turned me down." He rubbed the back of his neck.
I locked my eyes on the toes of my boots. "Uh, yeah. Listen, I'm sorry about that Logan. I never meant to lead you on or to hurt you."
He took a deep breath. "You didn't. Not really. What happened between us, when I was corporeally challenged, caught us both off guard. I guess, it just meant more to me."
"What happened between us, when you were a ghost, was an accident. I didn't understand the source of our attraction, and I let things get out of hand."
The dejected look on his face had me walking for the door.
"This won't be for long." I held up the key. "I'll be out of your hair in no time."
"I like you in my hair."
I stopped at his front door and turned to face him, squirming under the pressure of the moment. "It's not that the night we shared didn't mean anything to me, Logan. It did and you do. We shared a connection when you lived in my house, and I'll always cherish those days. But while I like and respect you, even love you in some ways-"
"In some ways?"
"It's as a friend. You are a dear, dear friend. And it would kill me to lose you from my life. But I'm...I..." God I wasn't sure I could say it.
"You love him," he offered.
