Page 10 of Vampires and Violas (A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening #2)

9

I leave a note on the kitchen counter for Noah, wishing him a happy birthday and letting him know I’m going to Silverthorne with Olivia this morning and will be back in time for dinner with his family.

Dinner with his family.

We can tell them whatever we like, but they’ll still assume we’re dating. Even though I haven’t known Noah that long, I’m very aware he isn’t the type to bring random friends home.

He’s not even the type to have random friends.

I hurry down the steps to Olivia’s waiting car. I told her not to come inside because Noah has had a rough week, and I’m sure he’d like to sleep in on his birthday.

“So, what are we looking for?” she asks as she pulls out of the drive.

“I don’t know. What do you get a friend for his birthday?”

“Cologne?”

“That sounds like a boyfriend gift.”

“Uh…a wallet?”

“He has a wallet.”

“Okay…what would you buy Max?”

“I make him dinner every year, but that doesn’t sound right for Noah. Besides, I’m not great at cooking animal proteins.”

“Let’s just look around. Maybe something will jump out at you.”

Like all the Colorado towns in summer, Silverthorne is packed. It doesn’t help that it’s the weekend, and families have come out to the outlet stores for back-to-school shopping.

We end up in a sporting goods store, but nothing really says, “ Noah .”

“Does he like to fish?” Olivia asks.

“He’s never mentioned it.”

“What about camping?”

“I have no idea.” I frown. “I guess I don’t really know him that well.”

“I could call Cassian…”

“You have his number?”

“I got it last night. He’s going to give me a tour of his castle this evening.”

I turn, giving her a stern look. “Livi.”

“You’re so paranoid—it’s fine.”

“I don’t know. ‘Take a tour of my castle’ sounds like a two-hundred-year-old vampire version of ‘Netflix and chill.’”

And she giggles .

“You aren’t doing a good job of convincing me you’re not going to leave there without a couple of twin bite marks on your neck.”

“You just worry about your own neck.”

“What about Max?”

She bristles, her eyes narrowing as she runs her hand over a cream-colored sweater. “What about Max?”

“You know.”

“Text him and see what he’s doing this evening, and then I’ll decide if I care.”

Eyeing her, I pick up my phone.

Piper: What are you doing tonight?

Max: Emma and I are going to the caverns. Why? Wanna come?

Piper: No, you guys have fun.

Well, heck.

“Never mind,” I say to Olivia. “Have a good time with Cassian. Just not too good a time.”

“He’s seeing Emma tonight, isn’t he?” she demands.

“Sorry,” I murmur, wondering if I should quietly tell Max Olivia is crushing on him. But I won’t betray her trust like that.

I’m making my way through the men’s section of a store, hating every tie, button-up, and logo T-shirt I pass, when I see it —Noah’s gift.

A gift that is way too expensive to be friend territory but too perfect to pass up.

Olivia follows my eyes to the black leather jacket. “Oh, that’s nice.”

“His last one got destroyed by Ethan’s thug, remember? The night he was shot.” I run my hand down the soft leather sleeve. When I find the price tag, I nearly choke.

“Two hundred dollars?” Olivia says. “Yikes.”

“And that’s with the two-hundred-dollar outlet store discount,” I murmur. “I don’t know.”

“I don’t think you’ve ever spent that much on yourself,” my best friend says. “I distinctly remember you waffling about that fifteen-dollar can of hairspray last month.”

She’s right—I’m frugal. It’s kind of my thing, and a necessity. I love my job, but flowers aren’t exactly a cash cow.

“I did really well at the market last night,” I say, contemplating it. “And it is my fault his last jacket was destroyed.”

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you’re even thinking about it. You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

I shoot her a look. “No.”

“Okay, but you’re in serious like.”

I laugh because she’s ridiculous. “Besides, I have a little extra since Noah is paying me rent.”

“Then get it. It’s really nice.”

Nibbling my bottom lip, I pull out my phone again. After snapping a picture of the jacket, I text Cassian.

Piper: Do you think Noah will like this? It’s for his birthday.

Cassian: Have I been upgraded to wingman status?

Piper: Just answer the question.

Cassian: He’ll love it.

Piper: I heard you’re seeing Olivia tonight. Behave yourself, or I’ll stake you.

All the wretched vampire sends back is a winking emoji. Which, frankly, isn’t very reassuring.

“Well?” Olivia asks.

“He says I should go for it.”

“Do it then. Be brave.”

I pull the hanger off the stand and clutch the jacket to my chest, nervous.

“It’s okay to splurge every once in a while,” Olivia reminds me. “Especially on the man who saved your life.”

“When you put it like that…”

We walk toward the register, and she grins. “I just hope your bank doesn’t turn down the transaction.”

“Why would they?” I demand, my steps faltering.

“Because you never spend that much.” She gives me a cheeky grin. “Surely they’re going to think someone stole your card.”

“So funny.”

The associate at the register smiles as she rings up the purchase, and my card goes through just fine, thank you very much.

“Where do you want to stop for a gift bag?” Olivia asks as we’re headed out.

“Let’s go to…” The words trail off when I recognize the man ahead of us. He pauses to open a door for us.

When he recognizes me, he looks as startled as I am.

“Hi, Piper,” Sam says. His tattoos are on full display today thanks to his fitted T-shirt. I don’t recognize the musical logo on the front, but the graphic says it was on Broadway.

“Hey.”

“Oh!” Olivia grins. “You’re Sam—from last night, right?”

He nods, giving me a sheepish look. “If we keep running into each other like this, you’re going to think I’m stalking you.”

The words are harmless, but they send a cold chill down my spine. Somehow, I force myself to laugh.

Even though I don’t ask, he explains, “I’m here with my sister again.”

“Back to school shopping?” Olivia guesses.

“That’s right.” He drops his voice. “I don’t know how I keep getting roped into these things.”

“Because you’re nice,” I say. “I’m sure she appreciates you.”

He nods, stepping back so we can walk through the door. “I’ll see you next Wednesday for the delivery?”

“That’s right.”

“Looking forward to it.” He smiles again. This time, his eyes are a touch warmer as they meet mine. “Have a good afternoon.”

“You too.”

Once we’re out of earshot, Olivia laughs. “You are on a roll this summer. I really think he likes you.”

The thought makes my stomach squirm a little. “What if it’s the virus?”

“Making you more attractive?” My best friend turns to face me, pausing in the walkway. She scrunches her mouth to the side and narrows her eyes, thinking hard. And then she shakes her head. “Nope. You look exactly the same.”

“I’m not sure how to take that,” I say self-consciously.

“You’re super pretty, but in a dairymaid sort of way.”

“What?” I laugh.

“You know—wholesome, pink cheeks, sweet smile. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing about you that screams bombshell. So, it’s probably not the virus. Guys are just noticing how adorable you are. Maybe you’re giving off different vibes now that you’re single.”

“Maybe,” I say, honestly unsure how I feel about all that. “Let’s go pick out a gift bag.”

I walk through the front door with Noah’s gift, ready for the party. The house is quiet, but I know he and Cassian are both here because their vehicles are in the front.

I find them in the dining room, staring at a laptop, with various printouts and pads of paper scattered on the table.

“This doesn’t look like leaving work for Monday,” I say, surveying the mess.

Both engrossed, the vampires turn like they didn’t hear me come in.

Noah stands, stretching his neck—making me think he’s probably been at this most of the day. “Did you have fun with Olivia?”

“I did. What time do we leave for your parents’ house?”

“In about thirty minutes.”

“How formal are these things?” I look down at my shorts. “Should I change?”

“No, you’re fine. We’re all pretty casual.”

I turn my attention to the mess of paperwork. “What was so important you decided to work on your birthday?”

“I called the woman who gave you the contact card.”

“What did she want?”

“She said her boss would like to meet with me. She was hoping to set up a time.”

“Where does her boss want to meet?”

“Somewhere private.”

I don’t like that idea.

“That sounds like a good way to get yourself staked,” I point out. “Do you think her boss is Cassian’s ex-girlfriend?”

“It’s possible,” Noah says. “There’s no way to know.”

“Are you going to meet her?” I ask Noah, growing nervous.

A determined look crosses his face. “I am.”

Great.

“When?” I ask.

“She said she’d contact me with a time and place.”

I really don’t like the sound of this, but Noah’s been a hunter for a long time. I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.

Cassian stands, shutting the laptop. “I should get going. I’m supposed to meet Olivia soon.”

I catch his arm as he passes me. “Be good tonight.”

“You too.” He lifts his eyebrows like we’re heading somewhere far more romantic than dinner with Noah’s parents. “Happy birthday, Noah.”

“We might think about rearranging my office sometime,” I say after Cassian leaves. “I bet we could get another desk up there for you.”

Noah smiles as he straightens the papers. “Are you saying you’d like your dining room table back?”

“I just think a desk with a proper chair would be a lot more comfortable than your current setup.”

I follow him into the kitchen, almost running into him when he stops abruptly. He turns around, gesturing to the present on the counter. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a friend-gift.”

“Is that like a friend-date?”

“That’s right. They all live in the same paddock.”

He chuckles. “Has anyone told you that you come up with the strangest phrases?”

“I blame the virus. It messed with my brain.”

“It does that,” he says solemnly. “Hence the medications.”

I walk over to the counter and lower my eyes to the package. “I’m sorry you have to take so many.”

Noah’s quiet for a moment, like he’s assessing the situation. Gently, he says, “It bothers you, doesn’t it?”

“It shouldn’t,” I admit. “If you had any other disease, including regular anxiety or whatever, all those bottles wouldn’t freak me out. I’m not sure why yours do.”

“Because they control the monster.”

I lift my eyes to his, not liking that his answer is much like my own thoughts.

“You’re probably questioning if I’m me, or if I’m a product of medication. If you know the real Noah.”

Slowly, I nod. “I think that’s it, sort of.”

“I don’t know myself off the drugs,” he admits. “I was part of NIHA—I visited one of their doctors within hours of getting that final bite. I’ve been on medications since day one, and I was already taking blood. I’ve never experienced life as a rogue vampire.” He takes my hand and rubs his thumb over my skin. “But, Piper, my family didn’t notice the difference, so I couldn’t have changed that much.”

I nod, admitting that does make me feel better.

“I’m still me,” he continues, “just like you’re still you. We’re both simply versions of ourselves who have been exposed to the virus—one more than the other.”

“Speaking of that, what are you going to do about the cake tonight?”

He grimaces. “I have no idea. At least Dad is grilling steaks, so dinner won’t be an issue.”

“If you can figure out how to sneak me your piece, I’ll eat it for you.”

“That’s a pretty big sacrifice,” he jokes, following me out the door.

“What are friends for?”

“Eating cake, apparently.”

We end up taking his SUV.

We’re just pulling into his parents’ gravel drive when I realize we left his gift on the counter.

“Oh no,” I mutter.

Noah looks over. “What’s the matter?”

“I forgot your birthday present.” I sigh. “Oh well. I guess we’ll just have to have our own party later.”

He flashes me a roguish grin. “This birthday is looking up.”

A pleasant shiver plays over my skin, giving me goosebumps in the air-conditioned car. “I think you might be reading more into that than I intended.”

Noah grins as he parks. “Let’s just try to make it through the first party, and then we can discuss the details of the second, private one later.”