Page 12 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

“No, I know. But Cassian…what about Sophia?”

“While Noah’s people attempt to find her, I’m going to do what I do best.”

“And what you do best is start flower farms?” I ask incredulously.

“Sure.”

I shudder, the frugal side of me panicking. “I don’t want to leap into anything. We’ll look at properties, but we’re not going to sign any contracts, okay?”

He makes a humming noise of agreement that makes me think he’s not actually agreeing. I suspect it’s probably all I’m going to get.

“When are you going to be here?” I ask him.

“I’m leaving my place now.”

“Fine,” I groan. “I’m getting up. See you soon.”

We end the call, and I drag myself to the bathroom, stopping in front of the mirror and running my thumb over my gums behind my teeth. It doesn’t even feel like there’s room for fangs.

Being a monster is weird.

With a sigh, I turn on the shower to let the water warm up and start getting ready for the day.

3

“I’m stealing your girlfriend,”Cassian says to Noah when he walks into the kitchen.

“How did you get in here?” Noah demands, looking up from his morning steak, knife poised in his hand.

“I gave him a key,” I admit.

Noah turns his skeptical eyes on me. “Why would you do that?”

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Cassian loops his arm over my shoulders and lifts his eyebrows at Noah. Suggestively, he says, “Piper and I are close.”

I push the handsome vampire away, rolling my eyes. “Never mind. Give me back the key.”

Noah shakes his head, grunting, and turns his attention back to his practically raw breakfast.

“Are you ready to go, business partner?” Cassian asks me.

“We’re not partners yet,” I remind him.

“We will be.” He looks in the empty cast iron pan like he’s hoping there’s leftover steak and then wrinkles his nose with disappointment when he sees there isn’t. “I’m in the mood to buy a flower farm.”

“We’re not going to buy a flower farm,” I remind him. “We’re going to buy property we canturn intoa flower farm.”

He meets my eyes, smirking subtly. “That’s the spirit.”

“I mean, we’re going to look at property,” I correct.

The vampire shrugs, humoring me.

“Are you sure now is the right time to leap into a new partnership?” Noah asks.

Cassian prowls the kitchen, edgy. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

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