“That sounds good. We can definitely do that. You have my number.”
“I do?”
She nodded. “It’s on my business card.”
He reached into his pocket, pulled out the card, and took a look. “So I do. How about that. Pretty bold move putting your personal cell on your business card.”
She shrugged. “When you’re dealing with aquariums and fish, there can be emergencies. The last thing I need is someone freaking out because they have a leak at 3 a.m. and can’t reach me. So I put my number on there. So far, no one’s actually called me at 3 a.m., but I suppose there’s always a first time.”
“I won’t be that person, I promise.” With a little laugh, he took out his phone and texted her. “There. Now you have my number too.”
“Thanks.”
He nodded as he stuck his phone back in his pocket and reached for his car door. “Don’t go selling that on eBay to the highest bidder now.”
She laughed. “I’ll do my best.” Then her expression went serious again. “Good luck with Nina.”
He sighed. “Thanks. I’m going to need it.”
Ethan went straight home, buoyed by his conversation with Undrea and, although not looking forward to the talk with Nina, eager to get it over with.
As soon as he walked in, he found her in the living room on her laptop looking at furniture. He sat down across from her and laid it all out, speaking from the heart with as much kindness and honesty as possible. She listened without reaction until he was done.
Her eyes narrowed in contemplation, and she stared at him for a moment without answering. Then she shook her head. “No.”
Ethan frowned. “What do you mean no?”
“I mean we are not breaking up.” She closed her laptop, set it aside, and crossed her arms. “You’ve had your head turned by some little piece of local action, and I am not about to ignore our last two years together because you think the fish girl is hot and available.”
“Nina, that is not what I said. Not even remotely.” He wanted to tell her to stop calling Undrea the fish girl, but Nina would latch onto that as proof of what she was saying.
She shook her head. “You’re a man. Your head is always going to be turned by what’s new. I’m not going to let you throw away what we have because your brains are all in your pants.”
His teeth clamped together, and a soft growl gathered in his throat. “You aren’t listening to me. This isn’t about some new shiny, this is about us not being right for each other.”
“Which you only think because of the new shiny.” She got up, walked into the kitchen, and came back with her purse. “You need time to think about this, and I’m willing to give you that time. I have to go out anyway because you forgot the almond milk.”
So he had. But then his mind had been on more important things. “Time isn’t going to change anything.”
“We’ll see. I’ll be back in a bit.” She had her keys in her hand, but she stopped just before opening the door. “I want you to know I don’t blame you for this. To be honest, I’m surprised it’s just happening now. I understand you are a very desirable man and women are going to want you. But Ethan, those women aren’t going to be able to handle the pressures of being your partner the way I do. You need a woman capable of dealing with all the stress and attention of being at your side. Not to mention a woman who can take care of you when you’ve had one of your spells. Think about that. You’ll see I’m right.”
She walked out, leaving him a little dumbstruck by her reaction.
He’d expected her to rant and rave. But to flat-out refuse to accept they were breaking up? He hadn’t prepared for that.
Undrea went back into her office, a little stunned by the conversation she’d just had. Ethan was breaking up with Nina and all because of feelings Undrea had awakened in him. Or rather, her magic, but he didn’t know that.
His news was a lot to take in. Her entire foot and ankle ached now. The one thing that made it easier to bear was that he’d said he was breaking up with Nina regardless of Undrea’s feelings about him. That took a little of the weight off of her.
She kept walking until she was in the warehouse and next to Aaron, who was crouched down and rearranging the coral casts on the bottom shelf. “What did you say to him?”
He looked up. “I’m assuming you mean Ethan. I asked him why a man with a fiancée was sniffing around my boss.”
She pressed her fingers to the middle of her forehead. “Please tell me you did not say sniffing around.”
“Not in those exact words. But that was the gist of it. And then he explained that he wasn’t really engaged and things with his girlfriend were about to change in a big way and that he was definitely interested in you. Then I threatened him a little if he hurt you and you came back in.” Aaron shrugged. “That’s about it.”
“He told me all of the same stuff outside just now. Except for you threatening him.” She sighed and shook her head but couldn’t help but smile. “Aaron, you’re awful and wonderful and thank you.”
He grinned. “You’re welcome. Us waterkin have to stick together.”
“We do.” She turned as she stood to lean against the shelving. “You think he’s really going to do it?”
“Break up with her?”
“Yes.”
“He has to now. Or he looks like a liar.”
“True.” She glanced at the time on the big warehouse clock. The day would be over shortly. “I guess we’ll know soon enough, huh?”
Aaron nodded. “I imagine you will, anyway.”
She didn’t move. “What do you think of him?”
“As far as billionaires go?” Aaron laughed. “He seems like a genuinely nice guy. But that’s based on a pretty short assessment period.”
“I trust your judgment all the same. You either like people or you don’t.”
“That is true. Not sure that’s a good quality.”
“Right now, I’m going with it. Because my judgment can’t be trusted.”
He stood up, making a face. “Why not?”
She took a breath and realized she hadn’t told him about her first meeting with Ethan at the lake. “Well…” She gave him the short version that didn’t include her true identity.
His expression took on a look of amusement. “Undrea, you are in serious trouble.”
She nodded. He had no idea. “I know. Do your kind have anything like that?”
“Magical kisses? Not that I know of. But we have our own weird lore.” He brushed off his hands. “You have Mattie working on this, right?”
“I do. And I should probably call her and give her an update.” She started for the office.
“Tell her I said hi.”
Undrea smiled and decided to tease him a little. “You’re not her type.”
“Tell her anyway.”
Back in her office, Undrea dialed Mattie right away. No answer, which could mean she was outside or elbow-deep in honey. Undrea left a quick voicemail to tell her she’d spoken to Ethan and things had changed for the better.