Page 96 of Cherish

“I can make my own, thank you very much.” And then he sucks in a breath so big and long that I have visions of him single-handedly starting a new ice age right here in this bakery.

But before he can start to blow anything out, the woman from behind the counter stops right in front of us with a couple of large jars in her hands. “I thought you might need these,” she says, her eyes alight with wonder. “It seems a shame to let the flowers go to waste.”

She holds one of the jars out to Eden, who takes it with a grin. Then she plops the huge bouquet of ice flowers into it before handing the jar back to the woman. “I hope you enjoy them.”

She gasps in delight, and though she’s not Gillie, I know we’ve found one thing we were looking for. An opening to ask some questions whose answers just might lead us to a smuggler.

52

Such a Sweets

Little Baby

“Is this your bakery?” I ask when she sets the heavy ice bouquet down on the table.

“It is.” She smiles at me. “Are you new in town?”

My heart plummets. What does this mean? How could Gillie’s bakery be here, exactly as it was, if she isn’t here to own it?

“We came with Hudson,” I force out, nodding to where he and Jaxon are— Oh my God. I almost rub my eyes to be sure, but yes, that really is my mate tickling a baby in a carrier propped up beside the cash register. I guess the “kissing babies” jokes from earlier are all too real. Jaxon catches me staring and shoots me an I-can’t-believe-you’re-making-me-do-this look, but I don’t even feel bad about it.

It’s good for him. Whatever’s going on with him and Flint is making him more taciturn than usual, and that has to stop. Whether he’s going to be the future vampire king or the future dragon king, eventually he’s going to have to give up part of the tall, dark, and surly demeanor he’s so fond of and actually talk to people. The sooner he gets used to playing nice, the better.

“Oh, Hudson is just wonderful,” the woman gushes. “His students used to love him so much. They were always talking about him.”

“He is pretty lovable,” I tell her, pleased that he still became a teacher in their memories.

Flint makes a disbelieving sound in his throat, then shoots her his most charming grin. “She has to say that. He’s her mate.”

“Oh, you’re the girl everyone is talking about!” She glances around the group. “I wasn’t sure which one of you he was mated to, and it seemed rude to ask.”

“It’s not rude at all,” I tell her with a smile. “Would you like to join us for a few minutes? Jaxon and Hudson are getting tea—”

“Oh, I’d love to, but I can’t. Everyone wants to check on Hudson, see how he’s doing, and get a look at his friends, so things are really busy in here tonight. But it was very nice to meet you all.” She holds out her hand. “I’m Marian.”

“I’m Grace.” I shake her hand, then introduce the others in turn. “Before you run off, I have to ask, though. Where did you get these adorable little tables? I love them so much, and I can tell by the color that they aren’t from around here.”

“Aren’t they precious? Polo got them for me, though I don’t know from where. He’s got a real talent for finding the most obscure things in Adarie.”

“Polo?” I ask, searching my memories for someone who fits that name, but no one jumps to mind.

“He’s got a booth at the midnight market. It’s on the last row—you can’t miss it, or him.”

“Why is that?” I ask.

She grins. “Because he’s the only chupacabra in town.”

As soon as she says it, I flash back to that last battle with the Shadow Queen and the chupacabra who fought right alongside Hudson and me. Of course Polo was his name—how could I possibly have forgotten?

“If you go down to find him tonight, tell him Marian sent you,” she says. “And that I said to give you a discount.”

“We’ll do that,” Flint tells her as he picks up the ice bouquet and holds it out to her.

Her cheeks turn a dusky purple as she takes it. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

Flint grins at her. “We can make more. Besides, those are definitely for you.”

“Thank you so much.” She blushes a little more, then tells him, “I’m going to put them in the freezer so I can enjoy them for a long time to come.”

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