Page 47 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade

“Right then, here is some money to help you out until your first paycheck. Cashing the check won’t be an issue. One of my friends works at the bank down the street. She’ll help you get an account set up. No questions asked,” said Yolanda, pulling some cash out of the metal box. She set the money on the desk. “I don’t want it paid back. It’s a gift. I only ask that one day, when you’re able, you pay it forward.”

I nodded emphatically. “Thank you.”

“Do you have reliable transportation?” she asked.

“I have a car,” I managed, as I tried to stop crying. It didn’t work.

“Honey, that’s not what I asked,” she countered. “Is it in good working order?”

“Not exactly, but she gets me where I need to go,” I responded as I sniffled.

She grinned again. “I agree. It did get you where you needed to be. It got you to us. Michael can swing by and look at it for you.”

I licked my lips. “It’s parked at Gobbs.”

Pain flashed through her eyes. “I’ll tell Michael to go by Gobbs.”

“I don’t know what to say other than thank you,” I whispered softly.

She came around the desk, radiating warmth. “I’m a hugger. I hope that’s okay.”

I wasn’t normally one for being held, but I went right at her, muffin and all. I wrapped my arm around her and gave in to the tears fully.

She rocked me gently, humming softly. “I love a good cry. It releases just what the body and mind need to heal. So let it all flow, hon.”

As I did, warmth spread around me from behind. Additional squeezing occurred and I knew then that Torid was there, hugging me as well. That only made the waterworks flow harder.

We’re ke-ee-ping Honda?he asked, sounding elated.

I nearly groaned.

ChapterSeventeen

Stratton

“Yeah,and I told you to wait, you old goat.”

Stratton entered the Demon Grounds Coffee Café and found it full of people, which wasn’t unheard of this time of the morning. What was different was the fact there was a long line off to the side, along with several other lines. Three women who weren’t normally behind the counter were there handling orders.

As much as he wanted a cup of coffee that didn’t come from the pot at the police station, especially with the smell of freshly ground beans wafting through the air, Stratton wasn’t in the mood to deal with whatever was happening at the café. Not after the all-nighter he’d just pulled. It was his third one in the last seven days.

He was just about to turn to leave when something caused the hair on his arms to rise. That normally only happened when something from the Fae realm that shouldn’t be out and among humans was loose.

The feeling of something from the Fae realm being close grew, and Stratton half expected Old Bloody Bones himself to pop out of nowhere. When nothing happened and the feeling faded, Stratton relaxed. He’d been putting in long hours at work and clearly needed some sleep.

“Out of the way there, sexy bottom,” said a familiar feminine voice from behind him.

“Legs, I’mrighthere. I can totally hear you calling Stratton’s bottom sexy,” said Jeffrey Farkas.

“Oh, I’m well aware, hubby,” returned his mate as she pushed past Stratton. Dana Van Helsing-Farkas paused long enough to glance Stratton up and down and offer a half smile. “I know you got here before me, but I’m having a coffee emergency here. Coming between me and caffeine could prove hazardous toyourhealth.”

Jeffrey sighed, offering Stratton an apologetic look. “I told her coffee isn’t good for the baby.”

Stratton wisely remained silent, fully understanding that Dana wasn’t to be pushed. She’d been born and raised in New York City, was a former assistant district attorney there, and had taken over a thriving law practice in Grimm Cove. She wasn’t exactly a woman you wanted to end up on the bad side of. Add in pregnancy hormones and she was downright frightening—even to a Fae.

“And I told him that taking it away from me will result in him being listed on a missing person poster,” returned Dana, holding her head high, her trademark Van Helsing dark hair hanging to her mid-back.

She was in a form-fitting red dress and a pair of black high heels. The heels put her at around six-three. Shorter than Stratton and Jeffrey but tall all the same. She still drew a few looks from some of the locals for her manner of dress, but she didn’t seem to care. Stratton had to applaud her fashion sense. Though he didn’t comment. Jeffrey would never let him hear the end of it.

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