Page 95 of Cherish

A lot longer.

“I don’t know what that means,” he tells me.

Hudson grins. “That’s okay. I do.” He reaches down, squeezes my hand.

“Ask about her,” I tell him quietly, fighting down the nerves churning in my stomach. He nods.

The two of them head to the front of the bakery and are intercepted before they make it halfway to the front counter. Not by someone who wants to talk to Hudson, specifically, this time—or at least not only because of that. No, from what I can overhear, they’re just super fascinated by vampires.

Which is what I was counting on when I sent them up there. People in Adarie really do hold paranormals in high esteem.

“Can you do that dragon thing you do?” I ask Flint.

He lifts a brow. “You mean shift? Breathe fire?Fly?”

“I was talking about a bakery-appropriate activity, like the forget-me-nots you made bloom for me that time in the library. Can you do something likethatagain?”

“I suppose. Any particular reason why?” He brightens. “Are we going to make Hudson jealous?”

“That wasn’t my goal, no,” I answer.

He sighs dejectedly. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.” Then he holds out his hand and blows on it softly. Seconds later, I watch as an ice flower forms, petal by petal, in the palm of his hand.

“Oh wow!” I say loudly enough to attract attention. “That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! Can you do it again?”

“I’m not a trained seal,” he tells me with a frown.

I pluck the perfect little flower out of his hand and hold it up. “I never imagined that you were,” I tell him softly. Then in a much louder voice, I squeal, “This is amazing! It’s perfect!”

A glance toward the counter tells me that the older woman behind the cash register—I don’t know her, but she does look familiar, with short lilac hair and laugh lines around her eyes—is paying extra-close attention to us. Exactly as I’d hoped. If Gillie is in the back, she’ll hear about the paranormals in no time.

“How can you do that?” I ask, again much louder than I normally would.

Flint gives me a what-the-hell-are-you-doing look. Then says, “Because I’m a dragon. It’s kind of what I do.”

“Well, I love it. Will you make me a whole ice bouquet? Please?” Then, in a softer voice: “Will you just play along with me?”

“I’ll play along,” Eden says right before she opens her mouth and blows out a whole stream of ice crystals. They form into the most perfect rosebud I’ve ever seen—complete with long, thorn-free stem.

“That’s gorgeous!” I exclaim, and this time I’m not even playing it up. It puts Flint’s pretty little daisy to shame. “I didn’t even know dragons could do something like that.”

Eden just gives me a smug half smile, then reaches over to the next table and hands the flower to Heather.

Heather’s eyes widen, and she looks between Eden and the rose like she can’t quite figure out what’s going on. And I get it. Every time I’ve turned around lately, Eden and Macy have had their heads together in a way that does not look strictly platonic.

Heather’s been moping and specifically not talking about it, but it’s been obvious she’s upset. At least until this evening, when she got dressed up, put some makeup on, and has spent the last half hour talking to everybody but Eden.

“Thank you. It’s beautiful,” she whispers, bringing it up to her nose like she might actually be able to smell it.

Eden gives her a little eyebrow lift/chin nod in response.

Flint snorts. “You act like that’s hard or something.” In just one breath, he creates a giant rose in full bloom.

“I didn’t realize this was a contest,” Eden shoots back. Then blows out a long stream of ice crystals that coalesce into a full bouquet of flowers—roses, daisies, lilies, and even a couple of orchids, if I remember my flowers correctly.

“Seriously?” Flint says.

Eden just shrugs and plucks one of the lilies from the bouquet and holds it out to him.

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