Chapter 1

On my twenty-first birthday, an anonymous package showed up at my apartment.

The second I opened it, a pocket-sized fairy shot out of the box.

He hovered in front of me, his luminous white wings beating gently behind him.

Then he leaned closer and asked in a voice made for temptation, “What kind of life do you want? Tell me, and I’ll make it happen.”

My heart nearly burst with excitement.

Seriously? People actually got this lucky?

A wicked smile spread across my face.

“My greatest dream is to land a rich, honest man with a sweet, easygoing personality. I want him toned, with a great ass, big pecs, and broad shoulders. He also needs to be completely devoted to me for the rest of his life. Think you can handle that?”

The tiny fairy grabbed fistfuls of his golden hair and exploded.

“You cannot be serious! I’m a wish fairy, not Cupid!”

The moment I finished making my wish, the fairy’s dark green eyes flashed gold.

A beam of light shot from his gaze and sank between my eyebrows.

An emotionless voice echoed through the room.

[Contract successfully established.]

A second later, the fairy grew to full human size.

Tousled golden hair fell across his forehead. His flawless, translucent wings folded against his back. With that beautiful face and those melancholy green eyes, he looked like heartbreak brought to life.

Good Lord.

For a moment, I forgot I was standing in my shabby studio apartment. Looking at him made me feel like I had wandered into Seattle on the rainiest day of November.

He paced back and forth, muttering frantically.

“I’m doomed. I’m completely doomed. My first assignment out of training, and I get an impossible client. I’ll never make my quota this year.”

Leaning against the doorframe, I interrupted his breakdown.

“Who says it’s impossible?”

He stopped and finally took a good look at me.

I gave a low whistle and raised one eyebrow.

“You’re standing right here, aren’t you? You meet quite a few of my requirements.”

Blond hair, green eyes, broad shoulders, narrow waist. He looked like a limited-edition fantasy figurine that had somehow come to life.

Next to him, ordinary humans seemed poorly designed.

The fairy’s pale face went bright red.

“Me? Keep dreaming, loser. I don’t care if I have to hunt down every matchmaker in the universe and drag Cupid here by his wings. I will fulfill your wish.”

He ground out every word through clenched teeth.

“Impressive connections. In that case, I’ll leave my future happiness in your hands.”

I held out my hand.

“I’m Riley Grant. What should I call you?”

The fairy lifted his chin. His long, cool fingers settled casually into my palm.

“Evan Blake.”

I blinked.

“That’s a pretty normal name for a magical creature.”

“Some of us know how to blend in.”

I made no effort to hide the way my gaze traveled over Evan’s bare upper body.

There was only one thought in my head.

This man belonged in a museum.

Apparently, he could feel me staring. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed.

“Riley, where exactly are you looking?”

I raised my eyes and met his emerald gaze.

Then I smiled.

“I was just wondering if you were hungry. Want some cake?”

He followed my finger toward the dining table, where my birthday cake was waiting.

Evan studied it for a moment before answering in a lofty voice.

“I suppose I could have a little.”

His tone suggested he had no interest whatsoever and was only agreeing because I had begged so nicely.

I cut the cake into several slices.

Evan ate almost the entire thing by himself.

For someone pretending not to care, he sure demolished that cake.

He would never admit how much he enjoyed it, but the satisfied gleam in his eyes gave him away.

Then again, a cake that good had never stood a chance.