Read Mr. O'Grady's Magic Box for Free Online Page A

into one of the floral teacups Mr. O'Grady had left on the
table. "Would you like some?" he offered, his voice polite and
unnerved as if they shared cups of tea on a daily basis. If Ian
thought he could mend what he'd done to her with a cup of tea, he
would be sorely disappointed.
    She leveled her gaze on him. His left brow
arched in question as he waited for her to give him an answer. "Do
I want some tea?" she bit out.
    "Yes. If I remember correctly, you like
yours with a little cream and sugar."
    She didn't give him the satisfaction of
being right. "I take it without either."
    He lifted both eyebrows, but said nothing as
he poured. He placed the teapot down and slid the teacup and saucer
toward her, letting her decide if she wanted to indulge or not.
    Her whole body hummed with fury, her
knuckles turning white as she gripped her arms. Ian sat there calm
and collected, watching her over the rim of his cup.
    Silence loomed like an entity, making the
awkward situation even worse.
    Ian finally cleared his throat. "This isn't
going well." He sat up straight in his chair and leaned forward.
"Let's start over."
    She stared at him and waited for the magical
speech he had planned to fix the situation.
    He placed his cup down and wiped his palms
on the thighs of his jeans. "Your tea's getting cold."
    That was it? Where was the apology? At
the very least, he owed her one. "This is ridiculous." Aubrey
jumped to her feet in a whirl of fury, ready to storm out of the
room, but Mr. O'Grady returned with a tray in his hands. She
lowered her eyelids in a deliberate blink, praying for patience as
she plopped back down in her seat.
    "Meat pies fresh out of the oven," Mr.
O'Grady said as he placed a plate in front of both of them. "Eat
up. I'll be back in a little while to see how you liked it."
    "Mr. O'Grady, I can't—"Aubrey began, only to
have him interrupt her.
    "Oh, no need to be thanking me."
    "But I—"
    "No, I insist—Besides, 'tis I who should be
thanking you. I want to add this to the menu for the Spring
Enchantment, but I don't like using a new recipe without first
having an honest taste test." He chuckled.
    "Uh…the Spring Enchantment?" Surely she was
missing something here.
    "Isn't this why you're here?" Mr. O'Grady
lifted one brow.
    Ian cleared his throat, drawing her
attention. "It's the event we hold every year, giving the guests a
chance to see if the faeries will grant their wish."
    Loretta hadn't informed her of an event. "Of
course." No sense in appearing ill informed, but she had a hunch
Ian caught on by the way his oh too sensual mouth
curved.
    "Maybe you can put in a request," he
offered.
    "Oh, she's already put in her request," Mr.
O'Grady was too ready to reveal her secret.
    "Really?" Ian raised a brow in the same
manner his grandfather had moments before.
    Aubrey waved her hand, making light of her
participation. "I'm a reporter. I wanted to see firsthand how the
box worked."
    "And did it?" Ian wouldn't let it go. "Did
the faeries whisk away the letter?"
    Was he making fun of her or did he really
believe in the magic box? She couldn't tell by his expression, his
Atlantic blues pinning her down as he waited for her answer.
    "Of course the faeries took to liking our
lovely guest," Mr. O'Grady nodded. His smug look of approval made
her cringe, but Ian just stared at her curiously. "Now eat up while
the meal's hot," Mr. O'Grady ordered as he turned on his heel,
heading back to the kitchen with a spry step.
    "If anything, my granddad does know how to
cook." His gaze met hers. The corner of his mouth lifted in a lazy
half smile, irritating her further. She used to love that smile,
but she refused to be drawn in again by his charm.
    "What are you grinning about?" she lashed
out, hating how her emotions ricocheted all over the place, while
he sat there all calm and cool, discussing special events and faery
wishes.
    "I'm wondering why you're still angry with
me. It's been years, Aubrey. Surely our romance didn't mean