Page 5

“I’m stealing your girlfriend,” Cassian says to Noah when he walks into the kitchen.

“How did you get in here?” Noah demands, looking up from his morning steak, knife poised in his hand.

“I gave him a key,” I admit.

Noah turns his skeptical eyes on me. “Why would you do that?”

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Cassian loops his arm over my shoulders and lifts his eyebrows at Noah. Suggestively, he says, “Piper and I are close.”

I push the handsome vampire away, rolling my eyes. “Never mind. Give me back the key.”

Noah shakes his head, grunting, and turns his attention back to his practically raw breakfast.

“Are you ready to go, business partner?” Cassian asks me.

“We’re not partners yet,” I remind him.

“We will be.” He looks in the empty cast iron pan like he’s hoping there’s leftover steak and then wrinkles his nose with disappointment when he sees there isn’t. “I’m in the mood to buy a flower farm.”

“We’re not going to buy a flower farm,” I remind him. “We’re going to buy property we can turn into a flower farm.”

He meets my eyes, smirking subtly. “That’s the spirit.”

“I mean, we’re going to look at property,” I correct.

The vampire shrugs, humoring me.

“Are you sure now is the right time to leap into a new partnership?” Noah asks.

Cassian prowls the kitchen, edgy. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“You told us yesterday you’re interested in the throne.”

“I’m not interested in the throne,” Cassian objects, looking slightly vexed as he turns to face us.

He leans against the counter in front of the toaster I no longer need and crosses his arms. “I have no choice but to claim it. I’m afraid if I want things handled well, I need the power to oversee them myself. ”

“A wise observation,” Noah says. “But again, do you think now is the time to wrap yourself up in a new business venture?”

“Hey.” I shoot my boyfriend a scowl. “Stop trying to talk the wealthy vampire out of investing in your girlfriend’s business. I can do that myself.”

A smile ghosts over Noah’s face.

“I’ll be a silent partner,” Cassian promises, “simply available to sign the checks.”

“People don’t really use checks anymore,” I say.

“That might be true in general, but you’ll need one for the earnest money to secure the contract.”

“I don’t even know what earnest money is.”

“Poor little renter.” Cassian tuts several times. “You need me.”

“I used a cashier’s check when I bought my house in Denver,” Noah points out, just to be contrary. “Not a personal check.”

“Thank you for your input,” Cassian responds dryly.

I shake my head, scoffing at their bickering even though excitement is bubbling up in my chest, making me feel lighter than I have since I discovered I have fangs.

I think this might really be happening—I’m going to be a vampire with her own farm. Sure, I can’t go out in the sun. But I’ll just…garden at night. That’ll work.

With thoughts of evening garden parties at the new flower farm dancing in my head, I walk across the room to say goodbye to Noah.

My boyfriend obediently tilts his head up for a kiss, smiling after our lips brush because he knows I want more than this paltry peck.

“Have fun,” he says.

“We’ll try.”

When Cassian and I step onto the porch, I pause. My eyes land on the sensible crossover parked in the gravel drive. “Where’s the Lamborghini? Or any of your other wildly expensive vehicles?”

“Showing off money isn’t wise when you’re hoping to secure a good deal,” Cassian says, but it sounds like he’s evading something.

“The realtor doesn’t know you’re…you?”

“He’s aware we’re paying with cash, but nothing else.”

Something uncomfortable occurs to me. “We’re not going to look at any of Ethan’s properties, are we?”

A strange look passes over Cassian’s face.

“Cassian?”

“We’re meeting Hunter, Ethan’s brother and business partner.”

I stop dead in my tracks and turn to gape at him. “Are you serious? Why? ”

“To secure a better deal, naturally. Both parties can benefit from cutting out the middleman. Hunter is aware of that, so he agreed to meet me when I contacted him this morning.”

There is so much to address here. I shake my head dumbly, trying to find a place to start. “I’m not buying property from Hunter.”

“We don’t have to buy anything. But the man is rather reclusive, especially after his brother’s incarceration, and money is the easiest way to draw his kind out of hiding. Believe it or not, their business suffered when his brother was convicted of murder, sexual assault, and kidnapping.”

“But why do 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’t have to. 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.”

I nod, breathing out slowly, trying to get control of myself.

I watch Cassian round the front of the car, pausing when Ethan’s brother meets him. They’re directly in front of the vehicle, giving me a good view of the conversation.

From the relative safety of my seat, I study the man. He doesn’t look as much like Ethan as I first thought. His hair is the same shade of blond, but he wears it short. His shoulders are a little broader, and his eyes are light instead of dark.

His complexion, however, is just as flawless, and it doesn’t look like there’s any extra fat under his casual business attire.

Apparently, Ethan shared immortal life with him.

That’s great.

My unease increases as the men shake hands. It’s clear they’re sizing each other up, and I don’t think that’s a good sign.

They walk toward the house. When it looks like they’re going to disappear through the front door, I make a stupid decision—I get out of the vehicle.

Why? I have no idea. Except maybe I don’t like Cassian going in by himself, and two against one makes for better odds.

But as Ethan’s brother turns to me, my legs become gelatin.

What am I thinking? It’s not like I can save Cassian from being murdered with my paltry self-defense skills. And besides, like he said, he’s over two hundred years old. He’s had a good run.

“Hello,” the man says, and thank goodness, his voice is nothing like Ethan’s.

“Hi,” I say awkwardly, lifting my hand in a lame wave.

Cassian jerks his chin like he wants me to join him. Meekly, I do as requested.

The man extends his hand. “I’m Hunter Brennan.”

Gulping, I step forward. His skin is warm, not hot, confirming my suspicion he’s a monster, just like Cassian and me.

I nod, feeling like a bobblehead doll.

“And you are…?”

I have a name. I mean, obviously. But I’m not sure I should share it. Maybe Ethan merely described me as a brunette with a nice smile, but it could be a tad bit suspicious if both brunettes are named Piper.

Not privy to my thoughts, Cassian says, “This is Piper. She’s my future business partner.”

“Piper?” Hunter asks, looking a little nervous now. “It’s nice to meet you. And…what do you do?” He pauses. “As a profession?”

“She’s a flower farmer,” Cassian answers.

I’m tempted to smack Cassian, but when I look at him, planning to tell him to shut up with a stern gaze, I realize his expression is fixed on Hunter, and it’s rather…scary.

I guess we’re doing this now.

Hunter takes a subtle step back, his attention returning to the crazy vampire at my side. “A flower farmer?”

“She’s also one of my progenies,” Cassian continues. “Just like you’re one of my progenies. However, I like her—and I don’t particularly like you.”