Page 13 of Vampires and Violas (A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening #2)

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I’m sitting in the middle of a bed of cheerful purple violas, catching up on some of my landscape chores, when a text comes through on my phone. Careful not to crush the flowers, I stand and step onto the walkway that meanders through the garden like a woodland fairy trail, pulling off my gardening gloves.

Sam: Hey, Piper. This is Sam Porter. I got your phone number from your business card. My sister is holding a birthday party for my niece next weekend, and she was hoping you could put together a few arrangements for the tables. Do you care if I give her your number?

Piper: Hi, Sam. That’s fine. Thank you for recommending me.

Sam: No problem. I’ll see you on Wednesday.

I make my way down the path, heading toward my rose garden. The tea roses have slowed down in the mid-summer heat, but I still have plenty.

Several of the cutting beds I didn’t get to this year reseeded themselves, and they’ve filled out with cosmos and zinnias. Beyond the rose garden, the sunflower patch is doing well.

I should have enough to get through the rest of the season. Barely, but enough.

The sun feels especially hot today, probably because I haven’t had my blood this morning. I wanted to get out early, and I was afraid the blender would bother Noah.

But he’s up now. I find him sitting at the island counter when I come in from the back patio, reading an email on his laptop. He turns, smiling. “Morning.”

Feeling self-conscious about what transpired between us last night, I pass him to wash my hands. “I see you’re working during the weekend again.”

“Says the flower farmer who just came in from the garden.”

I smile as I dry my hands. “I was weeding a landscape bed, not working in my cutting garden.”

“I got an email from Larissa. Her boss wants to meet this evening.”

My empty stomach twists as I turn around to face him. “Already?”

“I’m going to tell her to reschedule it for a weekday.”

“Oh?” I ask, somewhat relieved, though it’s not like he’s turning it down altogether.

“I thought we might take a day trip today.” He nods toward the coffeemaker. “I made a fresh pot this morning.”

I pick my favorite flower mug and pour myself a cup. “Why are we going on a day trip?”

“It’s our Day One—it needs to be special.”

“You really have been watching K-dramas.”

“I thought we’d go to the Denver Botanic Gardens.”

“You think a girl who grows flowers for a living wants to walk through a massive garden on her day off?”

“Yes?”

Taking a sip of coffee, I smile. “You’re right. But Noah, there’s one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“I didn’t agree to start dating you.”

He stands, taking his empty breakfast plate and utensils to the sink. “I’m hoping you’ll change your mind by the end of the day.”

“I like your optimism,” I joke. “All right. Let’s take a trip to Denver.”

I make my smoothie, eat a piece of cinnamon toast, and then take a shower. I spend more time getting ready than usual, fussing with products in my hair and curling it just right even though I’m going to pull it up in a ponytail.

When we’re both ready to go, we meet in the living room. Heading out the front door, I say, “Let me check the mail really quick.”

“It’s still early. Do you think the carrier has been by yet?”

“Probably not, but I’m expecting a check.”

“Who’s it from?”

“Tea Rose Floral. A customer requested locally grown flowers for an event order, so they contacted me. The owner said she’d send the check weeks ago, but it still hasn’t arrived.”

Alas, the mailbox is empty.

“Are you worried she didn’t send it?” Noah asks.

“No,” I say. “My neighbor said she saw someone snooping around the mailbox. It made me nervous.”

“I’ll add a security camera to the system,” he promises. “If they come back, we’ll get an alert.”

My cell phone rings as we’re walking back to Noah’s SUV, and I don’t recognize the number. It might be a spam call, but it could be a customer.

“Hello?” I answer, deciding to risk it.

“Is this Piper?” a woman asks. “My name is Kayla. I got your number from my brother, Sam. He said he spoke to you this morning?”

“Hi, Kayla,” I say, relaxing. “Sam said you want flowers for a birthday party?”

Noah opens the passenger side door for me, ever the gentleman, and I slide into the seat.

“That’s right,” Kayla says. “The party is next weekend, and I want a few cheerful arrangements for the gift and cake table.”

“If you’d like, we can set up a meeting. I’ll take pictures of my current stock so you can review your options. Do you live in the Glenwood Springs area?”

“I do.” We plan to meet at a local coffee shop after she gets off work tomorrow.

Noah looks concerned when I end the call, keeping his eyes on the road as he pulls onto the I-70 eastbound ramp. “Do you normally meet with clients in the evening?”

“For special event orders, sometimes. I like to let them pick the flowers, and I show them my portfolio to help them with ideas. Besides, meeting at a public place is safer than inviting them to my house or going over to their house.”

“Do you care if I go with you?”

“You can if you want, though I’m not too worried about it.”

Maybe it would bother some women that he’s being protective, but those women probably never had a vampire stalker. I get why Noah is nervous, and I like having someone watching out for me.

“I’ll carry your portfolio,” he jokes. “If I remember correctly, that was part of my tenant agreement.”

“Oh, that’s right—you’re supposed to pull my wagon and sit next to me at markets. Well then, consider yourself my honorary employee.”

With that decided, we focus on our mini road trip.

But on the way to Denver, Noah takes three separate work calls. They’re routed through the hands-free speaker in the vehicle. I stay quiet, not sure I should be listening, but unable to help it.

There’s a suspected vampire gone rogue in Denver, preying on homeless people. Another hunter needs help filling out a form H702, whatever that is. The last call is from a hunter informing Noah he tracked down a vampire with out-of-date contact information, and the file is now current.

When Noah hangs up, I say, “You went from babysitting pre-vamps, to a hunter, to babysitting hunters.”

He laughs, but he sounds tired. “That’s accurate.”

“Do you hate it?”

“No.” He rolls his eyes as a car cuts him off. “I like making decisions instead of answering to someone else. And things won't be so chaotic once I get Reid’s mess straightened up.”

“It sounds like you’ve had to go through a lot of files.”

“That’s mostly what I’ve been dealing with—sending people out to update contact information, fill in missing information…all that.”

“Have you found a lot of vampires who were turned illegally—like Ethan? People who paid to be infected?”

“Quite a few.”

“Aren’t they reluctant to tell you what they did?”

“I’ve offered to drop charges in exchange for information. Right now, we need to see who they’ve been working with more than we need money from their fines.”

“Whoever it was paid off Reid, which means they must have contacted him to offer a deal. Do you think that’s what Larissa’s boss wants?”

“There’s no way to know until I talk to them.”

“Okay, but let’s say it is. What will they do if you say no? What’s going to keep them from killing you on the spot?”

“I’ll tell her, him—whoever it is—that I’ll think about it. I don’t have a death wish.”

“But you won’t really think about it?”

He flashes me a look. “Of course not.”

“Ethan said he paid four million dollars for the three bites, and that was just one job. I can’t even imagine the money they’re going to offer. It’s good they promoted you and not someone else.”

“You think I have higher than average willpower?” he chuckles. “Or a natural aversion to money?”

“No, but you’re…you. I don’t think you could be bought.”

He glances over briefly, his eyes soft again.

“Speaking of being bought,” I say hesitantly. “Cassian offered to invest in my business. I’m not going to do it, but…”

“How much did he offer?”

“He just threw out some numbers. A hundred thousand…then two hundred thousand.”

“You might want to consider it. He has a knack for that sort of thing. What would you do with the money?”

I feel a little giddy thinking about it. “Probably buy a plot of land so I can expand. I’d really love to sell flower seedlings in the next few years. Maybe put up a little shop on the property.”

“So, like…a nursery?”

My heart flutters, and the prettiest picture pops into my head—greenhouses full-to-bursting with baby plants, cutting gardens where people can pick their own flowers. A cute little shop that will serve as my storefront.

“Like a hybrid nursery and flower farm,” I say. “Small, cozy…perfect. Nothing too large or unmanageable.”

“You’ll need more than a few hundred thousand to get started.”

Crestfallen, I realize he’s right. That wouldn’t even cover the cost of the land, much less the construction and paying for the stock.

When Noah notices, he adds, “If you’re serious about it, sit down and discuss your plan with Cassian. If he thinks the idea is solid and profitable, he’ll work with you.”

“I can’t actually accept Cassian’s money.”

“It would be a business deal.”

“Not a sound one, though. I know because several banks have informed me.”

“Yes, but Cassian is a very different sort of bank.”

“Careful, Noah. Admiration is creeping into your voice.” I smile when he scoffs. “Do you think you’ll forgive him eventually?”

“I already have, mostly. I know he didn’t infect me out of malicious intent.” He drums his fingers on the steering wheel. “And I am glad to be alive.”

“What’s it like? Not aging? Not getting sick? Do you feel amazing all the time?”

“Not always. In the beginning, I was adamant about using the prescription blood, but it tasted wretched on its own, so I wasn’t taking enough for a final-stage vampire. I felt rough until I finally switched to an animal source.”

I reach over and squeeze his arm. “Apparently, you needed someone to tell you to stop being a toddler and take your blood.”

He glances at my hand like he’s startled I’m touching him. “Then there was the time I thought I could get away with a few fries and a bun on my hamburger.”

“Did you get sick?”

“Like a dog.” He cringes, remembering. “Yet, for the first year, I kept cheating. A cupcake here, a donut there. Not to mention, I didn’t start the daylight drug until about a year in, so I would be stupid and fry myself while doing something lame like crossing a parking lot.”

“What an awful adjustment that had to have been.”

“It’s gotten better,” he assures me. “I stopped fighting it. With Clark’s help, I got my diet on track. We figured out the right blood dosage. And Cassian told me about the daylight drugs.”

“You actually spoke to him? I thought that was more of a recent development.”

“No, I didn’t talk to him. He sent me an email with the info. I didn’t even bother to thank him.”

“You’re lucky I’m more forgiving than you are.”

He glances over, his face solemn. “I am lucky—and I’m thankful.”

My heart swells, and I pull my eyes to the road, glad we went on this outing.

The day has been perfectly pleasant—one of the best I’ve had. So, of course, something has to ruin it.

I’m hit with a serious case of déjà vu when we pull into my dark driveway at nearly ten o’clock at night and find a vehicle waiting for us.

Before, it was Ethan’s thugs. Tonight, it’s the vampire woman.

“What’s she doing here?” I ask, though we both know.

“I haven’t checked my email since I responded to her message,” Noah says. “She must not have taken no for an answer.”

Unlike before, when Ethan’s henchmen paid us a visit, Noah doesn’t tell me to wait in the car…so I don’t.

As we leave the SUV, the woman steps out of her vehicle. She doesn’t look as hesitant today, likely because it’s dark.

“Can I help you?” Noah asks, his voice less than cordial.

“Hello, Montgomery. I’m Larissa Valentine,” she says. “We spoke over the phone.”

“Yes, I remember. It’s a little late for a visit, don’t you think?”

“Forgive me. I’m accustomed to vampire hours.”

“You must not have gotten my email.” Noah shakes her hand and then immediately drops it. “I’m unavailable to meet your boss tonight.”

Distracted, she says, “I know you’re a full vampire, and yet you walk in daylight. I’d love to know your secret.”

“You’ll have to wait for later this week.” Noah presses a hand to my back and guides me up the stairs. “Call me in the morning, and we’ll reschedule.”

“Mr. York, forgive me, but it’s a pressing matter.” When she realizes Noah has no intention of talking to her tonight, she adds, “You’ve been looking for us for a good month. Now we’re trying to set up a meeting with you, and you walk away?”

Noah stops abruptly, nearly missing the next step. He turns back. “Are you saying your boss was working with Reid?”

“Working with?” She laughs softly, and even it matches the rest of her—feminine, cultured. “That’s one way to put it. I’ll be happy to go over it in detail…if you join us tonight.”

I feel Noah’s indecision, but finally, he says, “All right.”

“Noah!” I exclaim.

He turns to look at me. “Go inside, lock the doors. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Larissa turns her attention to me, frowning slightly. “Just between you and me, Miss Edwards might be safer with us.”

“What does that mean?” Noah demands.

The woman shrugs, possibly bluffing. But it’s impossible to know.

“Tell me, or we’re not leaving,” Noah presses.

She sighs. “You’re asking me a question I cannot answer. All I know is I saw someone watching the house earlier. They ran off when I pulled in.”

Well, great. Now what?

“I’d rather come with you anyway,” I whisper to Noah.

He looks down at me, his jaw tight. After several long seconds of indecision, he jerks his head in a nod. “All right. Let’s go.”