Page 82 of Blood and Buttercups

“One of your best hunters?” Noah lifts a brow.

“Thebest.”

“I’ll lie low, but Piper’s a close friend. I’m going to be around.”

Closeis a stretch, but my heart does a little dance.

Reid lets out a long-suffering sigh and sticks out his hand. “Give me your rental agreement. I’ll take a copy, so we’ll have it on file just in case one of the higher-ups throws a fit.”

“Montgomery,”a woman calls as we’re leaving the office. She’s in her late twenties, only about five-two, and Hispanic, with warm skin, dark eyes, and three-inch stilettos. Her deep brown hair is up in a sleek chignon, and her pencil skirt looks like it cost more than my entire wardrobe. “I’m glad you came in today. I have the paperwork for your new pre-vamp. Don’t call him a door-to-door salesman—he doesn’t like that. His wife just left him, and she took his cat. Make sure you get him set up with a counselor and a support group right away.”

It takes me a minute, but I recognize her voice and the chirpy tone. She’s the highly efficient woman I spoke to on the phone right after I learned vampires exist and they have a government-funded, non-profit organization keeping track of them.

“You’re Emma,” I say.

She turns to me, smiling. “I am. And you are?”

“This is Piper,” Noah says.

“Ah.” She gives him a knowing look. “Now it all makes sense.”

He frowns. “What makes sense?”

“You bribing Daniel with donuts.” She smacks Noah in the chest with the file. “She’s pretty.”

I laugh, startled, unsure if I should thank her or keep my mouth shut.

“Yeah, well, donuts weren’t enough, apparently, since they’ve already moved me to a different pre-vamp.” Noah lowers hisvoice. “Keep an eye on her file for me, will you? Someone’s been messing with it.”

Her eyes darken. “Whatis going on?”

He shakes his head, irritated.

“Will do.” She turns back to me. “How are you adjusting?”

“Good, mostly.”

Except that I have a stalker, and I just found out the head of my vampire family doesn’t appreciate new additions.

“If you need anything, you just let me know,” she says to me. “I, myself, have been enjoying Wexley’s Organic Blood of the Month Club. Kangaroo is excellent. Who knew?”

“You’re a pre-vamp?”

“Stage Two.” She rolls her eyes. “Got bitten twice.”

“How?” I ask before I realize it might be rude.

“Tired old story—vampires who stopped taking their meds. Two times—two different vamps. And they say working as a receptionist isn’t a high-risk job.” She laughs. “Speaking of that, I need to get back to it. Have fun babysitting Colin, Montgomery.”

“Thanks,” he says dryly. “Oh, Emma, wait. Who got assigned to Piper?”

“Ainsley.”

He relaxes, nodding.

“Who’s Ainsley?” I ask when we begin walking again.

“Reid’s girlfriend.”

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