Page 12 of Only Human in Strangeville

I had no idea what to make of that.

“When and where?” I brought us back to his second question. “Oh, and the car is great. Thank you.”

His expression turned pleased. “Excellent. Is tonight too soon? I thought maybe, first, I’d introduce you to more of the town, show you around some. If you agree to a second date, then I’ll take you over to Mayday Hills and treat you to a fancy dinner.”

“Well,” I replied with a grin and a stronger flutter in my stomach. “How can I refuse?”

“I’ll pick you up here at four. Nimbus can tag along tonight.”

“Oh, a man who lets the children come. Even better,” I joked.

I swear Davin blushed a little. “I like dogs.”

Nimbus wagged his tail.

He gestured at the envelope in my hand. “Seriously, make friends with Katsuro. It’s in everyone’s best interest if you two get along. I’ll see you tonight.”

I watched as Davin left, stomach tingling. I hadn’t expected to get asked out so soon, but I was really looking forward to it.

“Crap,” I muttered. “I don’t have anything to wear.”

Okay, I’d make a few stops while I was in town.

I looked down at the envelope and considered Davin’s words. Why on earth would it make a difference to everyone if Katsuro and I got along? I pictured his longer dark hair, and his dark, piercing gaze, and the warm feeling inside strengthened. If nothing else, he’d said Nimbus could come to the coffee shop any time, and that was certainly something.

I slid my finger under the edge of the envelope and pulled it open.

Dear Ms. Miller,

Had I given him my last name? I couldn’t remember. But it seemed like everyone in town knew everything about everyone else already, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

I request the pleasure of your company tonight…

“Tonight? Why tonight?” I stared at the invitation in my hand, rubbing the expensive paper with my thumb and biting my bottom lip. What did I do? Cancel on Davin? Put Katsuro off?

I released a long breath and put the card in my pocket. How did I even tell Katsuro yes or no? He owned the coffee shop. I could probably leave a message there.

“Damn it.”

First off, I needed to head over to Mayday Hills, look into the job at the bookstore Jaz had mentioned might be available, and do a little wardrobe shopping. Actually, first I needed to go to the pet store.

“Well, Nimbus, ready for an adventure?”

He rooed at me, wagging his fluffy curled tail. The anxiety that had threatened to take up residence in my chest dissipated at his adorableness. He trotted along at my side with a jaunty little swagger to his gait. I chuckled and went to my car.

The little guy jumped in the back like he’d been riding in cars his entire life. Which, since I knew nothing about Nimbus, other than that he was adorable and a puppy and fluffy beyond belief, and soft, and okay… anyway—maybe he had been in cars quite a bit in his brief life.

I put the pet store in my GPS, turned on some tunes, and headed out.

The pet store was a cute local place not too far into Mayday Hills and they had everything I needed. Little Nimbus won over everyone in the store. Conveniently, the bookstore was right next door. If I did get a job, I might be able to bring Nimbus to the pet store. They had a small play and boarding area. For today, I was going to take him inside with me. I’d been told it was pet friendly.

The bells on the door jingled when I went inside, and the mingled scent of old books and coffee eased a tension in my shoulders I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying. Though I’d never considered books as any sort of career in my old life, now the idea was all I could think about. Even if I never actually wrote anything good, maybe I could be surrounded by them and sell them. I wasn’t being negative about my aspirations to be an author. It was simply a new skill, and I wasn’t sure how it would go for me. Courtesy of the government buying me out of my old life, I had the time to give it a try, and the leeway to take a lower-paying job. It was also so radically different from what I’d done before that it was unlikely to trigger any suspicions should there be any surviving members of the trafficking ring out there.

“Hello!” A woman popped up, nearly literally, from behind the counter.

It took an act of will to keep from yelping. She looked like an owl had mated with a goblin and produced a somewhat human offspring. After the last few days in Beechworth, I was almost willing to believe she wasn’t human, and it startled me.

“Hi.” I made myself smile back. She certainly sounded friendly enough.

---