Page 23 of Hidden (Lost and Found 1)

“This is my friend Christopher Gaines.” Luna put a protective hand on his arm.Protective or possessive? Watch that body language, girl.But Gaines didn’t flinch or seem to mind.

Jennine held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Christopher Gaines. I’m Jennine May. I’m the shopkeeper and potter.” She held on to his hand a few seconds too long as far as Luna was concerned.

“I like your style.” Gaines eyed the dish, being complimentary without being flirtatious.

“Why, thank you.”

Luna was starting to get annoyed. She checked her own body language and tone. “Christopher? What do you think?”

He turned over the plate and saw that it was marked at twenty dollars. He did some quick calculations in his head. “Do you have matching cereal bowls?” He had a budget of $300 for tableware in mind.

“I do. I also have salad plates and mugs.”

“I’m looking for a service for four. Do you sell them in sets?”

“For you? Of course.” Jennine batted her eyes.

Jennine pulled out her pocket calculator. “Four dinner plates, salad, bowls, and mugs. “That would be $260 for the set. How does that sound?”

“Sounds good to me.” Gaines was pleased that he didn’t have to go over his budget, and he was getting exactly what he had been looking for. Something cool-looking yet masculine.

“I’ll wrap these up for you.” Jennine began to stack the dishes.

“Let me help,” Gaines offered.

“Me too,” Luna chimed in, and picked up the four mugs, two in each hand. “While Jennine is packing these, let’s head over to Chi-Chi’s.”

“Good idea. I’m going to have to hit the road soon,” Gaines agreed.

“We’ll be back in a bit.” Luna put her arm through his and steered him toward the doorway.

Gaines was laughing softly. “What was that all about? I sensed a little bit of tension between the two of you.”

Luna was totally forthright. “She’s a vampire.”

Gaines burst out laughing. “But it’s daylight.” He nodded up at the skylights with the bright sunlight streaming in.

“Ha. That’s what makes her a really good vampire,” Luna replied.

Gaines snorted. “You are a funny girl.”

“I come from a family of comedians,” she retorted. As they walked toward Silver & Stone, she stopped short.

“What?” Gaines asked.

“The Bodhi thing.” Luna looked up at him. “Why? How?”

Gaines cleared his voice. “Before we could hire you as a consultant, we had to do a background check. Strictly routine.”

“But I only use Bodhi for . . .” She wondered how she was going to explain her side job.

“I know. Your paranormal psychology studies.” Gaines didn’t flinch.

“So you know about that, too?” Luna hoped it wasn’t going to make any relationship impossible.

“I do.”

“And?” Luna held her breath as she awaited his response.