Trouble's Brewing (Stirring Up Trouble) by Juli Alexander Read Free Book Online

him to think I was a boy-crazy moron like Anya.
    “Sorry about that,” I said to Finn when I settled back on my stool. “I think Anya was trying to cause trouble.”
    “Darling girl, that Anya,” Finn said, almost sounding serious, as he opened a notebook.
    I snorted. “I can set you up if you want.”
    Finn’s head jerked up, his eyes wide with alarm.
    I couldn’t help laughing. In fact, I laughed until my eyes teared up. “I’m sorry,” I said, trying to regain my composure. “You just—”
    “Had that deer in the headlights look?”
    “No.” I shook my head. “Your expression would make the deer look calm and content by comparison.”
    “Should we get back to work?” he asked.
    After wiping a tear from my eye, I said, “Yeah. You were awesome, by the way. How did you come up with that girlfriend phone call? That was a stroke of genius.”
    “I’m not exactly a dummy,” he said. “Although, for all you know, I was on the phone with a girlfriend.”
    “Yeah, right.”
    Finn didn’t say anything.
    He just got to town. He couldn’t have a girlfriend. Plus he was 95 and looked 19. Although he did have a movie star look to him. I eyed him for a moment. Was he dating somebody?
    Finn winked at me.
    Yeah, he could certainly snag a girlfriend with that wink and that grin.
    “You are just messing with me, right?”
    “I am, in fact, just messing with you.”
    I let out a breath. “Good. I think things are complicated enough around here without adding another non-magic person to the mix.”
    He nodded. “I would agree that we have quite enough reasons to avoid letting our guard down.” He took a sip of his water. “I have to admit our pursuit would have been much more manageable had we retired to my estate where we could work in earnest.”
    “Speaking of work,” I said. “I wanted to talk about the substitution research.” I may as well broach the subject of the unicorn horn now.
    “I’m afraid the matter of assisting with the toad slime substitution is closed,” he said with a frown. “I appealed the decision, but they denied the request.”
    “Oh, it’s not about that. But thank you.” I realized Dr. Finnegan, as odd as he was, was a kindred spirit. “I appreciate you trying. I have a proposal though. I’d like to work on another potion substitution. I promise it won’t interfere with my studies.”
    “Zoe, I appreciate your passion. I truly do, but we have work to do.”
    “I’ll work on it on my own time. It won’t interfere.”
    “What about your schoolwork?”
    “I’ll make sure my homework for school and for you come first.”
    Finn sighed. “I must say I am eager to hear what your second quest might involve? Eye of newt perhaps?’
    “I did consider it, but I chose something else.”
    “Oh dear,” he said. “Unicorn horn.”
    “Good guess!”
    “Zoe, I’m not certain that is the best use of your time.”

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
     
    Not the best use of my time? “I have to work on something, Dr. Finnegan. I need to work on something. Only in my spare time. I promise.”
    Finn was silent for a few moments, although I suspected the gears in his head were running a million miles a minute.
    I shifted on my stool, determined to avoid begging, and not at all sure I could withstand the urge to plead for permission. I couldn’t imagine the next few months without something to work on, something to play with in the back of my mind, twisting and turning and churning away at the problem.
    “I suppose there wouldn’t be any harm in allowing you to puzzle over the issue.”
    “Yes!” I yelled, pumping my fist in the air. Then I ran around the kitchen island and gave Finn a big hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I said.
    “You are quite welcome, my dear,” he said as he awkwardly patted me on the back.
    Now that I was touching and smelling him, I realized he was very much a real young person. “You won’t regret this, Finn,” I said as I released him from my