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“Butwhydo you want to draw him out? Let the spider lurk in his dark hole.”

Amused, Cassian opens the passenger side door for me. Then his expression goes grim. “Ethan’s connected to the family Sophia was working for.”

“You’re hoping Hunter knows who they are so you can find her,” I say, suddenly understanding. I slip into the seat and wait for him to come around to the driver’s side. When he’s in the car, I ask, “But why would he tell you?”

“I can be very persuasive.”

“That’s ominous,” I say. “Next question—why are you dragging me along?”

“I want your opinion on the properties. I have no idea what kind of plot would work well for a flower farm.”

I close my eyes, vexed. “You just said we’re not buying from Hunter.”

“No, I said we don’thaveto. But if you see something you like…”

The vampire is as mad as a bat.

“Don’t worry,” Cassian says. “We’re going to play it cool, get a feel for him. He doesn’t need to know who we are yet.”

“Okay, whatever. Just promise this little outing isn’t going to get either of us shot or staked.”

The devastatingly handsome vampire flashes me a smirk. “You know that’s not a promise I can make.”

“What if he recognizes me?”I ask as we sit in the car, waiting for Hunter to show up at the first property. This one has land and an aging farmhouse that was probably cute fifty years ago. Now, it’s close to being condemned. Behind it is a vast chunk of pasture, with several clusters of spruces growing inside it.

My leg trembles, and I chew gum like an addict trying to quit cigarettes, thankful for the chemical-laden, quasi-fruit-flavored non-food.

“Did you ever meet him?” Cassian asks.

“No.”

“Then how would he recognize you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe Ethan talked about me. You know, gave him a description.”

“Pretty brunette with a nice smile.” He raises a brow. “You’re right. There are no other pretty brunettes out there with nice smiles. What will we do?”

“Ah, Cassian,” I joke, nervous as heck. “You think I’m pretty?”

“Cutest little bunny I know.”

I narrow my eyes. “It takes work to be this condescending.”

He smiles to himself, watching in the rearview mirror as a large black SUV pulls into the drive. “I’ve had two hundred years of practice.”

Hunter pulls up on my side, and a quick glance through the window sends my heart into a panic.

The man looks like Ethan.

“Hey,” Cassian says softly. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” I lie.

“Really? Because hearts shouldn’t beat that quickly.”

“At least we know mine isn’t going to give out,” I say, ignoring the unnerving fact that he can sense its frantic pace, just like I can sense his steady one.

“Why don’t you stay in here for a few minutes,” he suggests. “Calm down a bit.”