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ten years with no powers at all.”
    His father was like a serious criminal! “How do you know he’s innocent?”
    Leo met my gaze. “I just do, Jen.”
    I looked away to avoid the intensity of his gaze. Out the window a man was helping two young boys out of an SUV. He waited for each of them to take his hand before crossing the parking lot. I thought about my dad. I didn’t know what I’d do without him, and I had a mother. I wasn’t sure what the deal was with Leo, but he didn’t seem to have one.
    “I guess you want information on the Directorate too.”
    “That would be great.”
    “I was kidding,” I said, hearing the irritation in my voice. “I’ll try one time. I’ll get the names and that’s it. Then you’re on your own.”
    A grin broke across Leo’s face. “Thank you, Jen.”
    “Who are your father’s main enemies? Can you narrow it down?”
    “If money isn’t a motivating factor, yes. The top three suspects are Elaine Franklin, an old girlfriend who now works as a staffer, Danny Cannon, the husband of a fling ten years ago, and an old poker buddy, Tim Oliver.”
    “But you can’t connect any of them?”
    “Not yet.”
    I eyed his five o’clock shadow. “How old you are you really.”
    “Seriously? I’m seventeen.”
    “No way,” I said. “You’ve got to be at least twenty.”
    He frowned. “Male genies mature faster. Physically and emotionally. Hasn’t your mother told you that?”
    “No. She didn’t tell me much. You don’t seem more emotionally mature than other guys.” I wasn’t touching the physical thing.
    “I am,” he said with a cocky grin. “A seventeen-year-old genie has the maturity of a twenty-two-year-old male.”
    “So you’re about as mature as a fifteen-year-old girl,” I said, unable to resist the slam. “Girls do mature faster than guys.”
    His face fell. “Not that much faster.”
    “Sure,” I said with a tone that made it clear I totally didn’t mean it. “Whatever you say.”
    He started to argue, but the perky waitress showed up. She refilled my tea and somehow managed not to pour it all over me despite the fact that she never took her eyes off of Leo.
    He hadn’t touched his Coke, but she brought him another glass. Then she finally brought us the chips and queso.
    “Is there anything else you need?” She winked at Leo. “Anything at all.”
    “Thanks, Tracy,” Leo said reading her nametag. “We’re good.”
    When she walked away, I rolled my eyes. “Can’t you turn off the charm or something? That’s so annoying.”
    “I can’t do anything about it. If you think it’s annoying, imagine how I feel.”
    “I’m guessing you feel like some kind of rock star.” I couldn’t believe the attention he was getting.
    “It really interferes with my social life,” he said.
    “Yeah right. I’ll bet it does.” He could have left with any one of these waitresses. And one or two of the waiters.
    Leo dipped a chip in the cheese and ate it.
    Sure he was cute, but I had brothers. I grabbed a chip and scooped out the yummy cheese and spinach. I waited until he looked away to pop it into my mouth. Delicious.
    “I’m not a rock star and I have no desire to live like one. My father taught me what that sort of lifestyle brings. He partied away most of his life, and part of mine. What do you think would happen if I really liked a girl, and I took her out to dinner?”
    “Probably what is happening now.” I grabbed another chip.
    Leo loaded up another nacho. “Exactly. She’d get pissed about all the unwanted attention.”
    I wasn’t sure I was buying his tale of hottie woe. “You’ve never taken one these bimbos up on their offer?”
    Leo finished chewing and looked down at the table. “I didn’t say that. I just said I know better now.”
    “So you really can’t turn off the animal magnetism thing?”
    He shook his head. “There isn’t any way. My dad tried every way possible to alter his appearance. No matter how ugly he was or