Page 3 of Vampires and Violas (A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening #2)

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We’ve barely sat down when Cassian looks at his phone, grimacing. “Oh, how foolish of me. I completely forgot I have an appointment.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “You have an appointment at eight-thirty on a Tuesday evening?”

“I’m afraid so.” He rises. “You two stay—enjoy your dinner. Noah, you don’t mind driving Piper home, do you?”

Filthy, wretched vampire.

I breathe in through my nose, glaring at him. Cassian smiles in a way that’s not as innocent as he believes and then excuses himself.

Noah clears his throat, highly uncomfortable, and sits back in his seat. Looking at the table, he says, “I’ll take you home now if you want.”

“I thought you went back to Denver?”

Slowly, he lifts his eyes. Meeting his gaze is a painful dart to my heart. We weren’t friends for very long, and we’d only toed the line of a romantic relationship when I found out he was a monster-in-hiding. But I became attached, and our parting hurt.

“I did.” He drops his gaze to the pepper shaker and idly slides it toward him.

“So, you’re hunting again?”

“I was promoted to a different position.”

“Are you being cryptic on purpose, or are you just trying to annoy me?”

Amused irritation flashes in his eyes, and he finally holds my gaze for more than half a second. “The regional director gave me Reid’s old job.”

“You’re in charge of the investigation department?” I ask, surprised.

“He made me the chief of investigations for the western region, yeah.”

“Noah…that’s a big deal.”

His expression sobers. “It is.”

“So, you have to stay in Denver now?” My mouth is dry, and I wish our server would come get our drink order.

“I can live anywhere in my region. Denver. Phoenix. Salt Lake City.” He clears his throat. “Here.”

“Are you thinking of moving back?” I hold my breath while I wait for him to answer. Which is stupid. Why do I care where the lying vampire lives?

“I thought about coming home,” he admits, studying the pepper again. “My parents were disappointed when I returned to Denver, and Britta is getting married next month.”

I’m silent as I try to untangle my emotions. They’re all over the place.

His frown deepens. “Would it bother you if I moved back?”

“What difference does that make?”

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“Glenwood Springs isn’t that small. It’s not like we’re going to bump into each other every day.”

“I’d be working in the administration office.”

“I’ve only been there once.”

He nods, looking like he doesn’t know what else to say.

“You’re on the clinical trial for the daylight drug like Cassian, aren’t you?” I ask, finally broaching the subject that’s sitting like a big fat elephant between us. “That’s why it was so easy to hide your condition from me.”

“I am,” he confirms.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He sighs, looking like he doesn’t want to have this conversation. “Because you mentioned several times how unsettling you find final-stage vampires. At first, it didn’t matter, because we had a professional relationship, and to be blunt, it wasn’t any of your business. Then we became friends, and it felt like I missed my chance to tell you.”

I study him for several long seconds, and then I nod. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“I believe you.”

He exhales. “Piper, I’m so sorry.”

“I know. I just wish?—”

“Hi there,” our server says when she approaches the table. “Sorry about that wait. What can I get you to drink?”

“Decaf coffee,” I say, hiding my frustration. It’s not her fault she has lousy timing. “If you have it.”

“I’ll brew a new pot.” She looks at Noah. “And for you?”

“Water’s fine, thanks.”

She walks away, and I contemplate Noah. “I’ve never seen you eat a vegetable.”

“You haven’t, no.”

“I thought you didn’t like them.”

“They were never my favorite. It wasn’t a big loss.”

“Can you have tea and coffee, or do you have to abstain from all plant-based foods like Cassian?”

“I do fine with both. I can have alcohol, too, but it messes with the drugs, and I don’t really like it anyway.”

“That’s right,” I say softly. “You must be on all those medications.”

“Four of them, yes. I don’t care for the synthetic blood, though. It doesn’t taste right when you drink it straight.”

“And you can’t hide yours in a smoothie.”

“That’s how I used to take it, but I had to quit when I entered the final stage.”

“What kind of blood do you take?”

“Buffalo right now.”

“Huh.” Suddenly, I have an epiphany. “You were picking up your prescriptions when I ran into you at the pharmacy while I was buying my blood that first time.”

“I was, yes.”

There were so many little signs…and I missed them all. I was too preoccupied with my own drama, my own changes. Or maybe…maybe I didn’t want to see them.

Because this is weird and wrong, and it makes me sad. Noah isn’t supposed to be a vampire. He’ll never age. He won’t be able to have a family. He’s stuck like this forever.

“You seem really stable for a vampire,” I say, trying to hide my melancholy. “So…good job, I guess.”

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“Not really.” And apparently, I’m not hiding it well enough. “How long have you been in the final stage?”

“About three years now.”

“And you still haven’t forgiven Cassian?”

“He told you?”

“Yeah.”

“I know why he did it. I just didn’t want…” Noah frowns. “This.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re not dead. If he hadn’t turned you, we wouldn’t have ever met.”

He contemplates me solemnly. “Even with everything that happened, you’re glad?”

I think about it, taking the question seriously. “Yeah.”

“I know we can’t go back to…” He raises his eyebrows, suggesting a romantic relationship. “But what do you say we try this friend thing again?”

I don’t answer right away, enjoying watching him squirm. “Yeah, okay. But Noah, you are friend-zoned so hard.”

He smiles a little. “Did you close the gate this time?”

“I not only closed it—I padlocked it.”

“I missed you.”

Out of nowhere, my eyes become misty. I look away, refusing to get emotional, and blink quickly. “I sort of missed you, too.”

“You never cashed the last check I sent.”

“That’s because you’re not renting a room from me anymore.”

“I signed an agreement—wasn’t it a six-month contract?”

“Yeah, but you breached it when I found out you had fangs.”

He chuckles softly. “I don’t remember that being in our terms.”

I lean forward and whisper, “I don’t need your charity rent.”

His smile morphs into a smirk. “I need a place to stay while I’m selling my house in Denver.”

If that’s not a bad idea, I don’t know what is.

“Stay in your parents’ basement, cool guy.”

“Come on. You like having company, and I don’t want to explain Roku to my mom again.”

I try not to smile. “Max has a spare bedroom that I’m sure he’d be happy to lease out.”

He gives me a puppy dog look that absolutely should not be legal. “Come on, Pip.”

“Do not call me that.” I point at him so he’ll know I mean business. “You’re not moving back in. No. It’s not happening.”

“I need to replace that lightbulb,” Noah says when he flicks the switch and one of the recessed overhead lights in the spare bedroom doesn’t turn on.

I watch as he wheels in a large suitcase and leaves it next to the bed, accepting my lack of willpower. Last time, Noah only brought a duffel bag. This time, it’s obvious he intends to stay awhile.

I’ve knowingly let a vampire boarder into my house—one I’m stupidly attracted to.

Two bites, and I’m in trouble.

My mind wanders to places it shouldn’t go, and a shiver travels down my spine. And not a bad shiver. A pleasant one.

This isn’t good.

Vampires are gross, I remind myself. Gross.

Noah steps onto the bed and stretches his arms over his head to unscrew the light bulb. His shirt travels up, exposing his ribbed abdomen.

So gross , my brain insists. You definitely don’t want to lick him.

I shake myself and turn back to the hall. “I’ll see if I have any new bulbs.”

“If you do, grab one for the front porch,” Noah calls as I head down the stairs. “I noticed it was out, too.”

“Okay.”

My best friend Olivia calls as I’m rummaging through the closet in the mudroom.

“Hey,” I say. “How was dinner with your parents?”

“My mom sent me home with a plate of brownies and told me if I wouldn’t eat them, I should bring them to you.”

“Doesn’t she know you gave up processed sugar?”

“She’s an evil woman. Can I drop by? You can pawn them off on Max if you don't want them.”

“Why don’t you just take them to Max? You know he’ll eat them.”

“You could call him and have him come to your place to get them…”

Seeing right through her brilliant plan, I say, “Cassian isn’t here right now.”

“Dang it,” she sighs.

“You nabbed those brownies just so you had an excuse to come over, didn’t you?”

“Your new conservator is really yummy.”

“He’s off limits.”

“I just like looking at him.”

I locate several dusty boxes of lightbulbs on the top shelf. “I’m having the same problem.”

“You like Cassian?” she asks, startled.

“What? No.” I wrinkle my nose at the thought. “Noah’s in my spare bedroom right now, and he brought a suitcase.”

The line goes quiet.

I glance at my phone screen. When I see the call wasn’t dropped, I say, “Olivia?”

“Isn’t he in Denver?”

“He was. Now he’s back.”

“Did he apologize?”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re all good? Just like that?”

I rub the back of my neck, feeling like an idiot. “Yep.”

“Then why are you on the phone? Go tackle him.”

“No— no . He concealed the truth twice, once about being my conservator and once about being a vampire. I’ve forgiven him, but only a fool would trust that man again.”

She sighs, disappointed. “But he’s so yummy.”

“I thought Cassian was yummy?” I say wryly.

“I mean, I personally think Cassian is yummier. But Noah is pretty tasty himself.”

“Can we stop using food adjectives?”

“It’s only weird if you make it weird.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “This conversation has reminded me I need to take my blood.”

“And…you just made it weird.”

“Sorry.”

“Enjoy your smoothie.”

“Enjoy your brownies.”

“I’ll drop them off tomorrow. Tell me when Cassian’s there, okay?”

We end the call, and I go upstairs and pause awkwardly outside Noah’s door with two boxes of light bulbs in my hands.

He turns when he notices me hovering. His face is solemn, but there’s mischief in his eyes. “Cassian is yummy, huh?”

“What?” I ask sharply.

He nods toward the heater grate. “You were in the mudroom, right?”

The mudroom that’s directly below Noah’s room.

Crap.

That means he heard a lot more than just that.

“I was talking to Olivia,” I admit.

He takes the lightbulbs from me. “You should warn her Cassian doesn’t really do relationships.”

“You should warn him she doesn’t either.”

“Then they’re an even match.”

“As long as he doesn’t bite her.”

“He’s careful with humans.”

I stop and think about that. A question burns on the tip of my tongue, but nope.

Nope, nope, nope.

“What?” Noah asks, sensing my curiosity.

“What about vampires?” I study the cheerful yellow bedspread. “Like, final stage? Does he…bite…them?”

My cheeks go hot.

A smile toys at Noah’s mouth, but like a gentleman, he schools it. Then he steps on the bed to screw in the new light bulb. “That’s between him and his dates.”

“Right.” I try to laugh. “Sorry, just… Well, the subject was sort of brought up in the support group today, and…”

“What did you talk about?”

Don’t look at his stomach. His toned, ribbed, washboard stomach.

I stare at his feet. “That vampires naturally want to bite people to continue their line. And pre-vamps want to be bitten for the same reason. And I was just wondering if vampires have the same urge to bite each other.”

“So, you discussed the birds, the bees, and the vampires?” He lowers his arms and hops down, looking very masculine next to the yellow bed.

“No.” My cheeks flame harder. “It’s not like that.”

He crosses the room, stopping right in front of me, so very…tall. “Then why are you blushing?”

Ignoring that, I peer up at him. “It’s illegal, though, right?”

“Passing the virus is illegal. Consuming human blood is illegal.” Noah quirks a brow. “But one vampire nibbling on another? Not illegal.”

“Oh.” I swallow and then clear my throat. “Good to know.”

He smiles. “Any other questions?”

“No. I’m gonna…” I flap my hand toward the stairs. “I’m going to take my blood now.”

I’ve almost escaped when Noah calls my name.

“What?” I ask, reluctantly turning back.

“NIHA has pamphlets on the subject if you’d like to read up on it.” He gives in to a rotten grin. “I can grab some from work.”

“No, thanks.” I cringe as I turn down the stairs. “I’m sorry I asked.”

“It’s natural to be curious,” he calls down, chuckling as he returns to his bedroom. “There’s no reason to be embarrassed.”

“ Goodnight, Noah. ”

I should have kept my mouth shut. See if I ask him anything else.