Page 47 of Vampires and Violas

A pleasant shiver plays over my skin, giving me goosebumps in the air-conditioned car. “I think you might be reading more into that than I intended.”

Noah grins as he parks. “Let’s just try to make it through the first party, and then we can discuss the details of the second, private one later.”

10

“Party was the wrong word,”I say to Noah as I shut the car door, keeping my voice low so it won’t carry. “I just meant I would give you your gift.”

He sets his hand on the small of my back, guiding me forward. “Are you my gift?”

“Noah!” I exclaim, laughing.

“A guy can dream.” He waves to a couple of kids who are hanging off the fence and watching the horses in the evening-lit pasture. “Those are my cousin’s kids—Ellie and Emmett.”

“This is pretty incredible,” I say, taking in the property.

Noah’s parents live in Carbondale. They have a good-sized acreage, an old barn, a sturdy farmhouse that looks like it just had a fresh coat of white paint, and an amazing view of Mount Sopris.

Halfway to the house, a cat comes up to greet us. She’s a calico, with long fur and bright green eyes.

“That’s Luna,” Noah says. “She rules the place.”

“She’s sweet.” I kneel to stroke her back. “So, you grew up here?”

“We moved in to help Grandpa after Grandma passed away when I was fifteen.” Noah leads me up the steps, knocks twice, and then pushes the door open, calling out a greeting.

I follow him inside. It’s weird to be in Noah’s parents’ home instead of their grocery store, where I regularly drop off flower orders. I’ve known his family longer than I’ve known Noah, but I’ve never been here before.

The entry opens to a large living room. The floors are hardwood. They’re scrubbed clean, but they’re scarred with age. The vaulted ceilings are finished with wooden planks and huge support beams. A large rock fireplace is the focal point on the south side of the room, with several couches around it.

The kitchen is to the right, and that’s where everyone is congregated.

“Hi, Piper.” Julie, Noah’s mom, motions for us to come over. “We’re so happy you could join us.”

Noah’s sister is at the large island, cutting up vegetables for a salad Noah won’t be able to eat. She offers me a big smile, looking particularly smug—probably because she wanted to set Noah up with me the minute he got back into town.

“Piper, you know Mom and Britta, but this is my Aunt Cathy.” Noah gestures to a woman in her mid-fifties who’s seated at the bar. She watches Britta prep the salad as she sips a soda.

“Hi, Piper,” she says. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Where’s Uncle Dan?” Noah asks.

“Dan, Austin, Garrett, and your dad are watching the grill with Grandpa,” Britta says. “Brandie is out with the kids.”

“I’ll introduce you to them later,” Noah tells me.

“There’s soda and sparkling water in the fridge,” Julie says. “And you can make coffee, Noah, if you want.”

“You want some?” Noah asks me. “My dad is a coffee snob like you are, so he usually has the good stuff.”

“I’m not a coffee snob,” I laugh, but it’s true. I’m particular about it, and it makes my heart happy that he noticed.

“Alex wants to put an espresso bar in the grocery store,” Julie says to Cathy. “I keep trying to talk him out of it, but he insists people will enjoy coffee while they shop.”

“He’s probably right,” Cathy says. “Though I’m not sure I see my brother creating latte art.”

Noah leans against the counter, making himself at home. “What does Grandpa think about all that?”

Julie laughs to herself, stealing a piece of bell pepper from the cutting board. “Grandpa is pretty against it.”

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