Chapter 11

Manrick

The movie was disturbing, but it hadn't bothered Manrick much. Claudia seemed genuinely on edge. When they left the bar, she insisted she was okay to call a cab, but Manrick insisted just as stubbornly that he would drive her. They had talked the entire drive to her place—a cute little bungalow with a porch swing—and she seemed much more relaxed when he pulled up to the curb. Of course, that might have been the bourbon finally taking hold.

She thanked him and said goodnight. Manrick watched her to her door before pulling away to head home to Archer's estate. Surprised he'd enjoyed the evening so much, he found himself in an exceptionally good mood the next several days. He and Claudia eased into a texting friendship, where they both shared goofy memes and just random texts throughout the days.

Manrick decided he liked the Diphone just for that reason alone. Sure, he was still keeping tabs on his favorite bowlers, and he was using the app for audio books when he cooked Archer's meals. But he found himself looking forward to whatever off the wall text Claudia would send next.

Trixie asked him a few times what was going on. She mentioned that she noticed him smiling to himself as he did his daily chores. But he was enjoying the exchanges with his new, old friend Claudia so much, he didn't even take exception to Trixie's comment.

The only thing he wasn't enjoying on his phone was the Love Bites app. No surprise there. He had a profile now, thanks to Archer. And Trixie. She had insisted on a little photo shoot in Archer's rose garden. The picture she had chosen for his profile page was one of him watering a rose bush. Dressed down in khakis and a white button-down shirt, Manrick looked relaxed. Content. He had been composing a text to Claudia in his head. Something dismal about photo shoots and self-portraits. If it had been up to him, he would have chosen one of the formal, unapproachable looking pictures in his full butler attire, including the bow tie and ascot he normally wore during working hours. After all, he didn't want anyone to swipe on his profile.

What really got him was the whole licking the screen thing. True, he had never handed his phone off to anyone to hold for him, but still. Licking a phone screen to find a love match? Not for him. He'd scrubbed his tongue with his toothbrush after that ordeal. Took a good thorough brushing and some mouthwash to get rid of the taste of orange in his mouth.

Unfortunately, he had twenty-seven notifications on the app. He hadn't looked at any of them yet. Archer had asked him a few times if he had seen any activity. Manrick continued to lie and say no, but that was going to backfire on him. Archer had mentioned something about updating his profile. Maybe getting a picture of him in the home gym and updating his likes to include romantic evening walks.

"You're lying to him, aren't you?"

Manrick jumped when he heard Trixie's voice behind him. He had slipped out to sit in the rose garden for a bit as dusk fell over the estate. Archer was at a town hall meeting, and Manrick had cleaned the dinner mess in the kitchen.

Guilty, he put his phone on the rod iron table—face down—and watched Trixie put a glass of wine in front of him and then sit down across from him, her own glass in her hand. He swallowed hard, knowing the guilt was written over his face. Probably in neon, all caps. Of course he was lying to Archer; he had no intention of asking anyone out via a love match app on a phone. But not only that, he was just grousing to Claudia about it. The fact that Archer had insisted he join the app and set up a profile.

"I'm sorry, what?" He tipped his head now, hoping it made him look innocent. Maybe even confused.

"You're lying to Archer. About the Love Bites app." Trixie sipped her wine. "I know a good-looking ghoul like you would have had some interest by now."

Manrick snorted and picked up his glass.

"Actually, I know someone who would be perfect for you."

"Oh yeah?" He arched his eyebrows, but he managed to not roll his eyes at the sassy, young witch. "Is she on the app?"

"Oh, no." She shook her head "She's my grandma."

Manrick cringed. "Oof. Now I feel ancient."

Trixie's soft laugh was contagious.

"She's pretty cool, actually. She ran a 5K last fall."

Genuinely impressed, Manrick nodded.

"So." Trixie shrugged. "How many swipes have you had?"

He huffed out a sigh. "Do we really have to talk about it?"

"We really do."

"Did Archer put you up to this?" Manrick looked over his shoulder at the French doors behind him. "Is that why you're here?"

"No." She smiled sweetly. "I knew he was at that town hall meeting. Thought I'd come over and bug you until he gets back home."

"How fortunate for me."

Trixie snickered at his sarcasm. Manrick laughed and reached for his glass.

"No one waits on me," he said quietly. "Thank you."

"Why don't you want to date anyone?"

"Because I'm ancient," he answered. He blinked away an image of Claudia—sitting on the barstool next to him at The Goblin, with a beautiful, carefree smile on her face. "And it's not that I don't want…"

"You don't want to find someone on a dating app." Trixie finished his sentence when he trailed off.

"I guess."

"But look at me and Archer. We're happy."

"You are," Manrick agreed. "But you must admit it was a fluke. Julian is a dolt. He might match me up with a mermaid. How in the world would that work?"

"You don't know that Julian had anything to do with your account."

Manrick shrugged and sipped the wine.

"Let me see."

"See what?"

"Your phone. Let me see it."

Manrick huffed loudly to convey his irritation, but he scooted his phone over the table and sat back as Trixie picked it up.

"Thirty-four swipes," she announced.

Manrick only cringed at the new number.

"Want me to weed out the good ones for you?"

"Yes."

She nodded.

"Eighteen-year-old witch from Why."

"Ew. No." He shook his head. "I don't want anything to do with someone barely legal."

"Agreed." She nodded. "I know her. You don't want anything to do with her. Trust me."

"Next." He nodded.

"Banshee. Agatha. Likes to duck hunt."

"Nope."

"Annabeth. Wolf shifter."

"No."

"Connie. Oh, she's a vampire. She's pretty sexy looking." Trixie held the phone out for him to look at the profile picture.

"That's a vampire model from a porn site." He shook his head and waved his hand at her to keep going.

"Wait." Trixie put his phone down. "What?" She frowned at him.

"That picture. It's not really someone named Connie."

"You're into vampire porn?" Trixie slowly shook her head. "Oh, boy."

"Oh, boy what?"

"Archer's right. We do need to find you a lady."

"I'm not?—"

"Oh. How about Ghouliettelooking4romeo?"

"Picture?"

"No. Well, it's a picture of a puppy. Very cute. But she sounds interesting."

"Why?"

"She likes to cook. Loves wine. Enjoys hanging out on her deck. Drinks cold beer and bourbon. Loves to read. Loves old movies. Loves dogs."

Manrick had to admit she did sound interesting.

"Hmm."

"What?"

"You just had a text message come through from someone named Claudia."

Manrick reached for the phone.

"Did you already make contact with someone from the app?"

"No." He half stood and lunged for his phone. "She's a friend. Used to be married to a friend of mine."

"And?"

"And nothing." He shook his head. "Ran into her the other day for the first time in years."

"What's she look like?"

"Don't you want to go warm Archer's sheets for him or something?"

Trixie's loud laugh echoed around the garden.

"I want to meet Claudia."

"Not a chance."