Page 24 of Valentine's With A Vampire

He nods. “I know, and I’m not.” He exhales, leaning into it. He draws me closer until the crowd, the music, and everythingblurs into background static. His touch makes my head spin. This moment tastes of promise. Eventually, we break apart, both breathing raggedly. I rest my forehead against his.

A swirl of confetti drifts overhead, produced by some passing fairy. We watch the bits of shimmering paper twirl past us, dancing in the fountain’s breeze. A pair of townsfolk glides by, tossing us a knowing grin.

Someone calls out, “Told you he’d come around.”

Another voice says, “Pay up. I had two days in the pool.”

My cheeks flush. Declan grumbles, rolling his eyes, but the corners of his mouth lift faintly upward. He tugs me along, weaving through the crowd. We pass an arch of roses that shift color as we walk under them. I catch him glancing around in mild fascination and sense his guarded posture relaxing more by the second.

Eventually, we stop at a quieter corner near the “Moonlit Inn,” stepping onto a wooden walkway lined with hanging flower baskets. He takes in the blossoms, some glowing faintly. His expression softens. “When I see these, I think about how we can create new arrangements. Something that merges my style with the magic here.”

My heart warms. “I’d love to see that. You might even outshine the local bloom makers.”

He snorts. “Or I’ll blow up the shop with a mis-aimed enchantment.”

I laugh under my breath, imagining half-singing daisies raining from the rafters. The mental image is so ridiculous, I press a hand to my mouth. He chuckles with me, that tension in his eyes momentarily replaced by pure ease. Something inside me clicks. We’re on the cusp of real partnership. Perhaps fated or perhaps chosen, but either way, ours.

We wander farther, hand in hand, until we find ourselves at a vantage point overlooking the edge of town. A swirl of fog driftsbeyond the barrier, faintly shimmering with pink. He pulls me close, and I lean my head on his shoulder, watching the illusions swirl. The day’s chaos, heartbreak, and revelations fold into a sense of calm possibility.

A hush builds. I sense him searching for words. Finally, he clears his throat. “So, are there rules about living arrangements? Because I can’t keep paying for the inn forever. Especially if I’m staying.”

I raise my head, scanning his face. “I can help you find a place. Grizelda can also alter any fruit or vegetable into a very fine home or floral shop. Or you can move your floral business in at the edge of my shop’s property. I have a big storeroom that’s mostly unused. Maybe it can be your workshop?”

He nods thoughtfully. “I might take you up on that.”

My lips tilt up. “I’d love that. We can see if we drive each other crazy.” A flicker of humor glimmers between us. “Besides, I’m sure the townsfolk want you to set up a permanent floral shop for the festival seasons.”

He slants me a sidelong look. “How many festivals are there, exactly?”

I grin. “You’ll find out.”

His quiet chuckle is warm. We stand like that for a while. This is what I wanted—to trust someone enough to share life’s weirdness, to risk heartbreak because the alternative is emptiness. My heart brims with genuine hope.

Eventually, the swirl of nighttime breezes grows chilly. He rubs my arms to keep me warm. “We should get back. It’s late, and your mother might appear out of nowhere to demand an interrogation.”

I groan. “She definitely will, but maybe in the morning. Let’s slip away now.”

Hand in hand, we return to the heart of town, passing more couples who wave or congratulate us. My cheeks flare, but I can’tstop smiling. It’s surreal, but he’s chosen to stay, to see this through. I relish the steady warmth of his hand around mine, the easy rhythm of our footsteps.

We reach the boarded walkway leading toward the bookstore and florist side of Evershift Haven. Lanterns drift overhead, glowing soft pink and gold, reminiscent of the orb that once haunted him. I look at him, half-expecting him to scowl. Instead, he shrugs a little, a rueful smile tugging his lips. He’s come so far in accepting the magic around him.

I brush my thumb across his knuckles. “Look at you, not even glaring at the lanterns.”

He snorts quietly. “Don’t push it. I might still try to tie one to a fence if it follows me home.”

A laugh bubbles out as he pulls me into a gentle kiss. We part, and I savor the warmth in his gaze. I whisper, “Welcome home, Declan.”

He nods. “Yeah, I think it might be.”

Epilogue

I STAND UNDER THE ARCHINGbranches of the Heart of Haven—a centuries-old oak at the Town Square’s center—watching the festival lanterns drift skyward. A swirl of pastel illusions sparkles under the moon’s glow. It’s been a full year since the night Declan stumbled into Evershift Haven. The memory makes me smile.

He’s beside me, wearing a neatly rolled-sleeve shirt that shows the floral ink on his forearm—a new tattoo he got to celebrate opening his Evershift Haven shop, having decided to leave the human one to be managed by a competent manager in the human realm. He visits a few times per year, but Evershift Haven is home. His scowl from last year is gone, replaced by a calm contentment. He’s still not a grin-at-everyone type of guy, but his eyes gleam with quiet satisfaction.

Bethany never left. She stands near my mother, and they’re talking about something with animated body language. They keep glancing at us, sharing conspiratorial smiles. I catch Bethany’s wink. She’s immersed herself in Evershift Haven again, rekindling friendships she thought she’d lost. Now, the townsfolk treat her like a beloved old friend returned home.

I shift my gaze to the small strip of stores across from my bookstore. Where once stood an empty lot, now a massive, enchanted tulip blossoms in vivid pink, grown large enough to house a full-fledged florist’s shop. Grizelda used her magic to transplant it and coax it into a building. Leaves curve around a wooden door, and petals overhead forming a natural awning.Lights twinkle among the stamen, giving the interior a perpetual golden glow. “Stewart’s Enchanted Blooms” is a place where flowers sing, hum, or shift color in tune with the recipient’s emotions. The sign out front is shaped like a leaf, etched with swirling script.

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