Ryder knocked on Luka’s open door. “You got a minute?”

“I’ve got a bunch.” Luka waved him in from his horizontal position. Paper paved a white brick road from the couch he lay on to the filing cabinet, as if Luka needed breadcrumbs to get back there.

“I’ve got that paperwork on the sisters’ wishes for you to sign off.” Ryder headed in, careful not to plant his boots on any important documents. Which they probably all were.

“Ah, right. From a week or so ago, yeah?” Luka sat up, wrinkled and in ripped jeans. Not the image of a powerful Handler. Business as usual, then.

He motioned with his empty hand. “What did they end up wishing for?”

Ryder handed over the folder. “Both wished for five million.”

“Shame. I had ’em pegged as wishing for love.” A pen appeared in Luka’s hand and he scrawled his signature on the forms. The writing glowed silver before dimming.

“They didn’t strike me as the waiting-around type. You know how that wish can take up to two weeks to ferment.”

“As so many of the important wishes do.” Luka rolled his eyes. “Mortals. All for instant gratification.”

“Well, they do have less time than us,” Ryder pointed out as he took the folder back before Luka tossed it into his pile and it got smothered by the rest.

His Handler shrugged. “Personally, I think we should place even more restrictions on wishes than we already do.”

“People might not want to wish then.”

“No, they just wouldn’t wish for stupid things. Like money. Pah. Who needs it?”

“Don’t you live in a penthouse?”

Luka grinned. “You clocking off after handing that in?” he asked instead of continuing that line. “Setting up the party?”

“Yeah. Hailey has a few more details she wants to handle in person so I figured I’d flash her down there, maybe hang on the beach for a bit.”

“You’re taking her, then?”

Ryder studied his Handler, who looked far too interested.

“Yes,” he said slowly, one hand in his pocket as he rocked back on his heels. “She planned it. Of course she’s going.”

“To meet your family.”

“She’s already met them.”

Luka’s eyes flashed silver in surprise. “Big step.”

“Well, she is my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Luka whistled. “Well, well. Peter Pan’s all grown up.”

“Shut up, Luc.”

He threw an arm around the back of the couch with a grin. “When do I meet your Wendy?”

“You don’t.” Ryder was just getting used to the strong feelings he had about Hailey without his Handler poking at them in front of her.

“New company rule I forgot to tell you about. As your Handler I need to approve all girlfriends. Especially if they have you all gooey eyed.”

Ryder held up a finger. The middle one. “I’m not gooey eyed.” He hoped.

“Uh-huh. It’s BYOB tonight, right?” Luka said, switching tactics.

“No. Hailey’s stocked the bar with enough to outlast even you.”

“She’s stocked it with blondes? That’s a good woman you’ve got there.”

Ryder looked at him, curious. Though Luka was often snapped by the paparazzi with various women, he never arrived at events with a date. “Who’re you planning on bringing?”

Luka smiled a canary-got-the-best-of-the-cat smile. “Nobody in particular.”

* * *

“Director?” Gregor knocked on the door and spoke through the wood. “Handler Luka wishes to see you.”

The door opened as per the Director’s silent command.

Luka patted Gregor on the shoulder as he sauntered in. “Nice,” he approved.

Seated in her chair, Clare gazed over her half-moon spectacles. “Bothering with etiquette, Handler?” she said in a voice half-chilled. “What is it you want this time?”

“I can’t be nice to Gregor?” Luka deliberately used a mild tone as he wandered around the spacious office with his hands in his pockets. “I thought I’d save him the panic attack this once.”

“How gracious.” Clare steepled her hands and leaned back. A diamond pendant on a chain dangled around her neck, winking at him. It was the only part of her that would.

Luka picked up one of the priceless objets d’art that Clare had positioned around the room. “I thought so,” he said as he bounced the glass from one hand to the other.

“You’re trying to annoy me.”

“Is it working?”

“Your presence does just fine.” The glass disappeared from his hands back to its original spot.

“Ouch.” Luka grinned and headed for the couch where he sprawled. “You’re getting vicious.”

Clare delicately slid her glasses off and folded them up. “Is there something specific you needed to see me about? Yet one more of your Genies acting out?”

“That was almost sarcasm. You’re hanging around me too much. Before you know it, you’ll actually crack a smile.”

Clare did not look amused. Of course, she rarely did. Queen V. had nothing on her. They’d probably been buddies back in the day.

The pearl flecks in her eyes grew stormy as he kept quiet. “Luka.”

“All right.” Luka kicked up his feet. “I came to give you the opportunity of giving me my prize now.”

“Your prize?”

“Uh-huh.” Luka pointed at her. “Ryder’s not only taking Hailey to Leo’s party; he called her his girlfriend.”

“And this matters because . . . ?”

“No.” He shook his finger. “No getting out of this, Blondie.”

“Don’t call me that.” There for an instant, the pearl flecks gleamed hard with annoyance.

Victory. He loved to rile her. “We agreed. If Ryder took Hailey to the party, then that meant she was more than a conquest. I think he’s gone even further, which means not only was I right, I am a prophet of love and you should bow down and worship me.”

One minute he was sprawled on the couch.

The next he was sprawled on the floor.

He tutted from his prone position. “Immature, Clare.”

She didn’t acknowledge the push. “Luka, I know you don’t understand this, but I actually come here to work.”

“Huh.” He scratched his chin. “Okay. Crazy idea, but I’ll go with it.”

He swore he could almost hear her back molars grind. “What Ryder does with his personal life is his business.”

“Except it wasn’t when lottery sales went up after the Star article.”

“True. And if she’s his ‘girlfriend,’ that should bring us some decent publicity. We can schedule another article. Beyond that, I don’t see why I should care.”

Luka pushed to his feet and prowled toward the desk. He planted his hands. “Say it, Clare.”

“Say what?”

“You know.” He dared her with his eyes.

“No, I don’t.” She stared at him coolly. “I don’t see how his calling her his girlfriend has anything to do with love.”

Luka narrowed his eyes. “Fine. You want to improve the original bet? I’ll play. Ryder loves that woman. It’s only a matter of time until he proves it beyond even what you can disparage.”

“Been reading the dictionary, Luc?” She raised her eyebrows.

“I could give you a couple more words if you want.” He smiled when her eyes narrowed infinitesimally. “Ryder will prove me right and when he does, not only will you admit I know people better than you, you’ll also have to call me Prophet for an entire week.”

“Why do you care so much?”

Taken aback by the question, Luka was briefly flummoxed. “I just do,” he said, unable to come up with a better answer.

Clare picked up her spectacles after a short study of his face. “When I’m proven right,” she said, sliding them back on, “you are going to come into work at eight a.m. and leave at six p.m. every day for a month. You will also not visit my offices unless you have an actual work matter to discuss, and if you do, you will use appropriate language and manner befitting a Handler to his Director.”

“Blondie, you’ve got yourself a bet.”