“Boys, head on outside and blow off some steam. I’m going to chat with Dr. Babington.” Gates shuffled the kids out the front door and turned back to Betty.
“Is there something in particular you wanted to talk about, Gates?” Betty questioned.
“Jasper, first, of course,” Gates nodded. “I know it’s late, and you're ready to close up shop. I hope you don’t mind a few moments alone.”
Her mind raced. A few moments alone could be very nice, and very naughty. Slipping off her white lab coat and hanging it over a waiting room chair, she tried to remain professional.
“I think Jasper did great. Honestly, this was a normal baby tooth that got knocked loose—or jostled a bit too much and lost its grip. This really shouldn’t happen again—at least not for a very long time.” Betty paused.
“Well, thanks for your expert opinion. That makes me feel much better.” He moved nearer. Her form fitting dress was almost too fitting—her figure curvy in all the right places. She, this mortal witch, was everything he’d dreamt about, and he’d dreamt about a lot—given the whole immortal aspect of his life.
She was close enough to register his warm, woodsy aroma. He smelled like she thought he’d feel — intoxicating. He towered over her, even in heels. His chest and arm muscles visible under the white button-down shirt she’d longed to unbutton.
“True, he is young.” She agreed. “I don’t like to see this until they are at least a century. But it was an accident.”
“There are no accidents, Betty” He moved closer, again, raising his hands to her waist.
“Really?” Betty stared at him.
“I came to Rabbit Hash, for a reason.” He gazed deeper into her eyes. “And I think you’re at the center of that reason.”
Betty never pictured herself one of those fainting starlet-types, but right now, her knees were buckling. “Well, I’m not sure what to say. We’ve just met, and…”
Gates leaned in and kissed her. At first, their lips touched, then their tongues. Letting his desire overrun his senses. His hands roamed down her back and released her hair from its tie.
She moaned into him and returned his passion. It’d been too long since she’d felt attractive, or longed to be with anyone. She was not impractical. Did not take risks. She had responsibilities and focus. She was hiding from these types of complications.
He felt her shoulders tense and pulled her tighter, kissing her neck.
“Gates,” she breathed. “What about… what if…”
He paused, yet held her in an embrace. Letting himself get distracted by his desire for her would not bode well for helping her. She was one of his targets, and getting derailed by desire wouldn’t work for him. He cleared his throat and let go of her. “Betty, I’m… sorry. I’m not sure what came over me.”
“Of course.” She hurried away from him and checked her dress for imaginary lint. “Yes. I agree. I have no idea what just happened? That was completely wrong.”
He rubbed the scruff on his chin. “Betty, I’m certainly not saying I didn’t enjoy it. Or that I wouldn’t want to get to know you better, and… do that again. My purpose here in Rabbit Hash is precarious at the moment. I’m trying to work that out.”
She exhaled and crossed her arms. “Oh no, don’t tell me you’re mated!”
“No. definitely not mated.” Gates chuckled. Mystic Angels weren’t known to take mates, but when they did, it was for eternity.
“Wait a minute, I get it. Yeah. You’re a warlock looking for his true passion in the magical world. Why? I mean how, didn’t I see this coming?”
“See what coming?” Gates interrupted her diatribe.
She paced. “I’ve heard this all before. It goes something like this… you’ve got so much time to experience all creation offers, and still haven’t figured out how to settle down… blah, blah, blah. Good Goddess. To think, for a fleeting second, I thought we had a moment—in there—in my delivery room, when I was saving your son’s very first baby tooth fairy. That is the only reason. I mean the only reason I let this happen.”
“Wait a minute. We had a moment. To me it hasn’t been so fleeting.” Gates shoved his hands in his pockets, bumping the crystal resting at the bottom of one. He gripped it tight. “I’m pretty sure I didn’t know that moment was over.”
“Ugh. We should totally keep this professional.” Betty plopped into one of the pale green waiting room chairs and crossed her legs. “Now, what did you really want to ask me?”
Looking down at her legs, Gates couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to wrap them around his waist. Moving upward to her waist, her breasts, and her beautiful face, his breathing quickened. He never wanted a creature so much in all his immortal life. If only he could tell her the truth. Risking his angel status prior to fixing the snag would be detrimental and potentially deadly for him.
He willed his feet to move over to sit beside her. “This is going to sound weird. I’ve been around for a while, for a very long while. I’ve never helped anyone who needed a witch doctor dentist.”
“That’s not unusual Gates. You said it yourself. Most Shifters and witches don’t lose any teeth—until they are coming to the end of their journey, same goes for familiars. It’s just not a thing.” She shrugged.
“Okay. But I’ve got two questions. One, if you knew that, then why Betty Babington—of the famous witch doctor family—did you become the witch doctor dentist?” Leaning in, he put his elbows on his knees and laced his fingers together.
“Are you a gazer?” Betty narrowed her eyes.
“Why does everyone keep asking me that? No. I’m not a gazer,” Gates puzzled. “Do you see a crystal ball in my pocket?”
“Gazers are dangerous, and mostly bad.” Betty was matter-of-fact. “And, smart-ass, you don’t need a crystal ball to be a gazer.”
“I’m not a warlock, either.” He stated. The announcement was more than he should share, but he wanted to tell her something personal. Gates was usually hell-bent on keeping all things close to the vest. That protected not only his identity, but his mission. Blurting out details felt compulsive with Betty. His attraction to this witch was dangerous.
Betty straightened. “But I just assumed since you’re not a Shifter. That, uh, you must be.”
“Yeah, well, you know what they say about assumptions,” Gates grinned.
She snickered. “Not fair. You’re not supposed to be witty or charming. I don’t like you right now.”
“I do like you.” His blue eyes blazed.
“Go on with question two.” She uncrossed her arms.
“But you didn’t answer question number one,” He probed.
“I like teeth. And teeth fairies.” She bit her lip, preventing her amusement from surfacing.
“Seriously, you like teeth?” Gates questioned. “That’s your answer?”
“Yes. Seriously. Since I was a tiny witch, I’ve always looked at teeth first. You can tell a lot about a creature, magical or otherwise, by their teeth. They really are the gateway to the soul.” Her seriousness shown.
“I thought that was the eyes.” He furrowed his brow.
“No. Not really. How can you truly see into something that is constantly changing? Like, take Guy, the delivery guy, for example. As an Artic Reindeer Shifter, his eyes flicker from gold to blue depending on the temperature and his mood, and who knows what else,” she clarified.
“I thought that was odd, but then again, he’s a bit of an odd dude.” Gates absorbed the information. He’d skipped over Guy’s file, since he was so far down on the list of those of interest or suspicion.
“So, eyes are deceptive. While teeth, hold all the cards. They light up like the sun, showing you exactly how powerful, healthy, and good a creature really is. And they sputter and fade with age or anything evil or bad that weakens magical powers. Teeth can determine the length of our journey, for Goddess’ sakes. How much more important than that can you get.” Her brown eyes watered. “I watched my father lose too many. His powers weakened to the point he aged like a human. That’s why I’m a witch doctor dentist.”
Gates paused and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Betty. That was also way more interesting and helpful than you know. Thank you for sharing.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m a complete nerd for loving the tooth fairies, but I do. And I’m good at it. I’m a good witch doctor dentist. Plus, I don’t have all the pressure of saving lives or the world, like my brother and sister. So, my life is not complicated.”
“And that is definitely important to you. No complications. No saving the worlds.” Gates mused.
“Yeah! I’ve got a little witch to raise, a familiar to uncurse, and all these teeth fairies to help transition. That keeps me busy enough. Besides, no magical creature, since my father has left this earth in that manner. And I hope to keep it that way.” She glanced down at her clinched fists and opened her palms to rub them together.
“That’s quite a to-do list. I can see why you don’t want to add anything else to it.” Gates agreed, knowing he wanted desperately to add to her to do list. He wanted to get to know Betty Babington. He wanted her to know who he was.
“Besides, my Mama, Blanche. I’m sure you’ve heard of Blanche Babington. Who hasn’t, right? She always dubbed me the social one of our family, because I was always playing with the familiars and the teeth fairies. I even befriended a circle of Pixies when I was young.” She confessed. “I still like to visit them when I go see Mama. Anyway, Bart was the smart warlock, and Betsy, the artistic witch. Thus, Bart became the full-blown super witch doctor cosmetic surgeon, and Betsy is the master alchemist and apothecary witch doctor. Me, I’m just here for the tooth fairies.”
“Funny. I think a witch doctor dentist is definitely the sexier profession,” He nudged her with his knee.
“Ha. Ha. Now you’re being a real smart-ass,” she quipped.
“No. I’m being totally honest. Betty, please listen to me. I believe you can help me out. Which brings me to my second question.” He paused. “Why do you think you’re so busy?”
Betty stared at him without expression. Then let her brown eyes search the empty waiting room. “I’ve been pondering that question for a few weeks now. I’ve rolled it around in my head so many times.”
“Yeah, and what have you come up with?” Gates waited for Betty’s response. He wondered if she already knew the reasons things were changing and uncomfortable for her.
“I don’t have any idea really why it’s happening. I see it happening. Millie thinks it’s the end of an era.” She hesitated, “I’m kinda enjoying being needed, honestly.”
“Being needed is a good thing.” Gates burned for her. He needed her. “Betty, I think I better go.”
“Huh. And there it is.” Betty stood and held out her hand to shake his. “I’ll ask you one favor Gates Thatcher.”
“Anything.” He embraced her hand with both of his.
“First, don’t do that,” she took her hand back and crossed her arms. “Especially not after you’ve basically told me you’re not interested.”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t interested, Betty. I said I can’t act on this right now.” Gates pleaded.
“That feels so much better, thank you, Gates, for the kind rejection.”
“Wait…”
“No. Look here. Again, I’ve got a totally full plate. I’ve got Birdie, Ginger, and all of this,” she motioned to the room. “I don’t have time for romance. I’ve been telling Millie that for years now. It’s obviously not for me.”
He stood in silence, taken by her candid vulnerability. She was amazing. She was beautiful, and she was slowly but surely filling up a part of his heart that he didn’t know existed. But she was right. This was complicated, and no matter how much he wanted her, he had to let her make the decisions. She had to come to her own conclusions—no matter if she broke his heart.
“Understood.” Gates nodded. “I’ll see myself out.”