Page 5 of Vampires and Violas (A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening #2)

4

I’m sitting on the couch, watching the latest episode of one of my K-dramas on my phone, when the front door opens. No one has a key except my grandparents, who are currently in Maine, my parents, who are touring the eastern National Parks this summer, and Noah.

Since I just checked our family circle on the location app earlier and everyone was where they should be, it must be Noah.

He and I are in a circle together as well. I’m not sure why he hasn’t left it. Though, to be fair, I’m not sure why I haven’t left it either. I checked it once while he was in Denver, but I felt like a stalker and didn’t look again.

Noah walks into the living room and pauses when he sees me on the couch. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

He glances toward the kitchen. “I thought Cassian and Max were headed this way.”

“They’re not here yet.”

My eyes travel over him, not accustomed to seeing him in anything but a tee and his leather jacket. He’s wearing a button-up shirt and slacks, carrying his laptop bag and discarded tie. He’s rolled the shirtsleeves up to his elbows like he doesn’t have the patience for them. The look is half-professional and fully hot.

“I see your job came with a new dress code,” I say.

“The one downside of the promotion.” Noticing my eyes have strayed to his forearms, he explains, “The AC isn’t working in my new office.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I might work from home tomorrow.” He shifts a little. “If that’s all right?”

Home, which is here.

“That’s fine.” I look back at my phone. “I’ll be out back most of the day anyway.”

“I’m going to change, and then I need to call my realtor. I’ll be down in a bit to help with dinner.”

“No hurry,” I say, distracted by how cozy having him here feels.

Though I pretend to focus on the video, I watch him climb the stairs. As soon as he’s gone, I press a hand to my stomach, willing the butterflies to calm the heck down.

Maybe it would be easier if we’d never gotten close, if I didn’t remember the heat of his kiss or the feel of his hands as he touched me. But I do remember—with amazing clarity.

Thankfully, my wandering thoughts are interrupted by a phone notification.

Cassian: On our way. I got your text about dinner. Do you need me to drop by the grocery store?

Piper: Nope. I bought meat for you carnivores when I was done with my stops.

Cassian and I don’t eat together every day, but it’s not a rare occasion either. For being a well-connected, ancient vampire, he’s a bit of a homebody. And for unknown reasons, he seems to like my home. He’s here constantly. But the company has been nice. Being friends with Cassian is like having a house cat.

Fifteen minutes later, Olivia arrives. When I meet her at the front door, she pushes the plate of brownies into my hands and dramatically says, “Get them away from me. I’m feeling weak.”

“How long is this sugar fast again?”

“It’s a lifestyle , Piper,” my best friend says with mock patience. Her shoulder-length hair is naturally strawberry blonde, but it’s leaning closer to rose gold these days thanks to her monthly trips to a local salon. It suits her, making her look like a sophisticated city pixie instead of the meadow elf she resembled when we were young.

She’s pretty and healthy, and I don’t like her stressing over food so much.

“Do you really want to live a life where you can’t eat your mom’s brownies?” I ask her.

“No. But I’d like things that aren’t supposed to jiggle to stop jiggling.”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” Max walks up the porch steps, making Olivia peep with horror when she realizes Cassian is with him.

Cassian gives Olivia a wolfish smile, and then he passes us, heading into the kitchen. “I’m not.”

Max scowls at the vampire, and then he shakes his head and turns his attention back to me. “How’d your deliveries go?”

“Fine. How was your hike?”

“Good.”

“Did you?—”

I’m cut off when Max’s cell phone rings. He looks at the screen and answers immediately, grinning like a lovesick puppy. “Hey, Emma. What can I—” He frowns. “Are you sure? I swear I checked all the boxes… Yeah, sorry. I’m at my sister’s place. I’ll head right over and fix it.”

Olivia watches him with a pinched expression, crossing her arms. “Whatever it is, can’t you do it in the morning?”

Ignoring her, Max looks at me, still talking into the phone. “I don’t think Piper will care if you stop by…?”

“It’s fine.” I turn away, carrying the brownies. “She can stay for dinner if she wants.”

Leaving Max to his conversation, Olivia follows me into the kitchen and demands, “Who’s Emma?”

“She’s the receptionist at NIHA.”

“And why does she need to contact Max after work hours?”

“Probably because he messed up his W-4 again,” Cassian answers for me, joining the conversation as he helps himself to the open carton of beef broth in the fridge. “We stopped by the administration office after our hike so he could fix it. Apparently, he failed.”

“I don’t see why he can’t take care of it tomorrow,” Olivia responds. “Wasn’t today supposed to be his day off?”

“Perhaps he’d like to get paid,” Cassian says wryly.

Olivia rolls her eyes and then pours herself a glass of water. Cassian raises his eyebrows as he takes a long sip of his disgusting iced beverage, silently asking what she’s being huffy about.

Though I have my suspicions, I only shrug and set down the brownies.

“Where’s Noah?” he asks.

“He went upstairs as soon as he got home.”

“So, he’s hiding?”

“I was changing,” Noah says from the archway between the kitchen and living room. He’s swapped the button-up for a soft, semi-fitted dark gray T-shirt, the slacks for jeans, and ditched the laptop.

My eyes slide over the cottony expanse of his shoulders. I swear they should have their own zip code. And a fan club.

It’s just hormones, I remind myself. Vampire hormones.

Ew.

“Do you want me to light the grill, Piper?” Cassian asks, stepping closer than usual and touching my shoulder.

I eye his hand, suspicious. “That would be great, thanks.”

“Of course,” he answers, practically purring.

I give him a silent look that says, “ What’s with you? ”

He merely smiles and then turns for the door.

Okay then.

I expect Noah to go outside with him, but Olivia follows Cassian out the French doors that lead to the patio instead, leaving Noah and me alone.

Noah stares at the door they just went through, looking like he’s contemplating something—and not liking whatever it is. Several seconds later, he turns, giving me his full attention.

Silence settles between us, super awkward. And I don’t know why.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, shifting.

“Nothing,” he answers.

More silence.

“Listen, I know things might be a little strange between us for a while,” I say hesitantly. “It’s fine. It’ll go away.”

“What can I do to help?”

I busy myself by taking the steaks out of the fridge. “Nothing. It’s not like we were dating, Noah. We went to a movie and then made out in Cassian’s over-the-top vampire castle. It’s not a big deal, really.”

I scoot him out of my way so I can set down the packages on the island. He shifts to the side and then leans a hip against the counter, staying close.

Too close.

I dare a quick peek, but that’s a mistake. My eyes snag on his smirk.

He quirks a brow. “I meant, how can I help with dinner?”

Oh.

“I know that,” I lie, my answer coming several seconds too late. Then I turn, giving him my full attention. “Why are you acting so weird? You’re freaking me out.”

He exhales, letting his guard down and looking a touch weary. “It was a long day.”

“I imagine it’s hard settling into a new job.”

“People won’t let me work. All they want to do is talk.”

“How awful,” I say dryly.

“One of the conservators said I need a plant for my office.”

“A plant ?” I exclaim, mock-horrified. “Not one of those wretched things.”

He smiles down at me. “What do you want to bet she’s going to bring me a ficus tomorrow morning?”

Oh…it’s a woman.

I mean, that’s fine. They’re colleagues. Colleagues can give each other plants.

And what difference does it make to me anyway?

“What’s going on with your expression?” Noah asks, still watching me too closely.

“Nothing.”

“You look jealous.”

“What?” I rip open the plastic cling wrap on the first steak package. “No . ”

“So, you don’t care if Ashlyn gives me a houseplant from some random supermarket?”

He means jealous because I sell…plants and flowers and things. Right. I mean, that makes sense.

Also. Ashlyn? That’s her name? This colleague of Noah’s?

Wait.

“Ashlyn?” I glance at him and then look back at the steak. Casually, I add, “Colin’s conservator?”

“Yeah.”

I nod, pretending I don’t care that the woman we’re talking about is single and gorgeous. I must not be a good actress because I can feel Noah’s amusement.

“I don’t like her,” he says after a long stretch of silence.

“Did I ask?”

“You wanted to.”

I scoff. “You’re still cocky, I see. I have no interest in your personal life whatsoever. You are my tenant, and I am your landlady. Our relationship ends there.”

“So, you wouldn’t care if I asked her out?”

“Of course not.” I rip open the second package with slightly more gusto than necessary. “I mean, for her sake, I hope she’s current on her vaccinations, but?—”

Noah lets out a loud laugh, cutting me off. It’s deep, delighted, and as alluring as it is annoying.

That’s one of his talents.

“There isn’t a vaccination to ward off Vampiria B,” he needlessly reminds me.

“How would I know what clinical trials NIHA is running?”

“You can be certain this drug doesn’t exist.”

“Why?”

Noah waits for me to look over. When I finally give in to temptation, his eyes lock on mine. “Because if there was one, I would make sure you were on it.”

My mouth goes dry as he holds me hostage with his honeyed gaze. My voice wobbling, I ask, “So some random vampire couldn’t reinfect me?”

“So I couldn’t reinfect you.” A crooked smile spirits across Noah’s face, and he pushes away from the counter. “I’m going to see if Cassian needs any help.”

“You do that,” I say, my brain glitching as I think about Noah and what that reinfection process might look like.

What is wrong with me?

Knowing he’s rattled me, Noah chuckles as he walks away.

“It wouldn’t matter if I were on this hypothetical medicine,” I call after him, finding my tongue just before he reaches the door. “Because you and I aren’t happening.”

“Yeah, I know.” He looks over his shoulder as he steps outside. “Friend-zone. Padlocks. Don’t worry—I remember.”

“Good,” I say lamely.

He raises a brow, his eyes bright. “Good.”

I make a shooing motion with my hand, desperately needing a minute to remind myself for the fiftieth time that dating a vampire is a bad idea.

As soon as Noah shuts the door behind him, I close my eyes, ordering the crush-drunk butterflies in my stomach to migrate somewhere else.

“Hey, Pip.” Max startles me from my thoughts and then laughs when I jump. “Emma just pulled up. Would you care if I skipped dinner tonight?”

“You went from messing up your W-4 to going on a date?” I ask incredulously.

He shrugs, grinning.

“I don’t care. Have fun—and don’t call me Pip around the guys. I don’t need that name sticking.”

He snatches a brownie from Olivia's plate and heads toward the door. “Sure thing, Pepper.”

“Don’t call me that either!” I holler after him.

A minute later, Olivia walks in from the patio. Casually, she strolls into the living room and then deflates like a sad, day-old birthday balloon. Dejected, she turns back. “Where’s Max?”

Watching her closely, I say, “He and Emma took off.”

And yep—that’s not a happy look she’s wearing. Her eyes dart down to the brownies, and her frown grows when she realizes he took one. “Oh.”

That’s all she says. Just oh .

Then she turns to the cabinet where I keep my pitchers. “You want iced tea? I’m going to make some.”

“You like Max ,” I exclaim quietly.

“No, I just think he’s rude. You don’t show up to dinner and then leave because some pretty receptionist lures you away.”

She can say whatever she likes, but I don’t think I’m the only one wrestling with uncomfortable feelings.

Eager to change the subject, she asks, “What’s going on with Noah and Cassian?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did Cassian do something? Noah is being kind of snippy with him.”

“Noah is always snippy with Cassian,” I remind her.

“Yeah, but it seems a little more tense tonight.”

I frown. “They were okay this morning.”

Before Olivia can respond, Cassian walks back inside. “The grill is hot. Are the steaks ready?”

“What’s going on with you and Noah?” I ask.

A smirk crosses Cassian’s face before he can school it. “What do you mean?”

I point at him. “What did you do?”

He touches his chest, feigning innocence. “Why do you assume I did something?”

“Now that Noah’s living here again, you two must play nice.”

“I’m always nice, Piper. I would think you’d know that by now.”

I give him a stern look, but the vampire chuckles to himself and takes the steaks, leaving me to ponder what the heck he has planned.