Rosalina moaned. “It sounds delicious. Gah, I want them all.”
“We’ll buy a pint to take home. How does that sound?”
“Perfect!”
I parked in one of the few available spots. We got out of the car and walked toward the serving windows. A line of people stretched along the sidewalk. We went to the back and tried to peer at the attendants, but the glare at the windows prevented us from seeing anything.
As people walked away with their treats and huge smiles on their faces, my nose twitched with all the scents, and my mouth watered, desperate for a taste.
“This is torture,” I whined.
“I know.”
Finally, it was our turn to order. Young college and high school kids bustled around inside, dispensing custards, malts, and shakes, and topping them with all kinds of goodies. I quickly peered at all the guys working behind the counter, but none of them fit the bill. They were all Stales and on the young side.
I glanced at Rosalina and shook my head. Her mouth turned downward but went right back up as I handed over her Dutchman. After paying, we pulled aside and shoveled spoonfuls of custard into our mouths like two savages.
We made indecent sounds, licking our spoons and tasting each other’s flavors. An old woman walked by and gave us a disapproving look, but we didn’t care. She’d probably forgotten what ecstasy felt like, the poor thing.
Oddly, there was nowhere to sit, so we just stood there, hoping to catch a glimpse of Aaron’s mate, as people came and went. After we finished, we got back in line to order our take-home pint. We agreed on Brennan Blend for the flavor because... more caramel. Yum!
Suddenly, a strange sensation came over me. It was like a thrum rippling through my body, alerting me, telling me to pay attention. I straightened my back, eyes roving all around.
“Something the matter,” Rosalina asked.
“He’s here,” I said.
“You smell him?”
I shook my head.
Rosalina frowned. “Then how do you know?”
Slowly, I turned to face the parking lot.
A young man was walking toward the employee entrance. He was dressed in a khaki bottom and a yellow T-shirt like the rest of the workers and carried an apron in one hand, and a large open umbrella in the other.
I elbowed Rosalina. “That’s him.”
Her green eyes darted in his direction. “Ooh, he’s cute.”
He really was cute with his disheveled hair, smooth complexion, and intense dark eyes. He smelled of strawberries and sugar, Ted Drewes’s scents.
As he got closer, he started whistling the tune I’d heard in my trance. My heart leaped in excitement. Yep, we’d found him! Aaron would be so happy.
Rosalina scratched her head. “Uh, why is he carrying an umbrella? It’s not even raining.”
The umbrella was massive, one of those UV-blocker numbers with a reflective lining that went for over two-hundred dollars at the mall.
“Oh, no,” I said, a sinking feeling descending over me.
“Oh, no, what?” A little panic had entered her voice.
“He’s... he’s a vampire.”
Why, oh, why?!
I should have known.
Vamps didn’t have a scent of their own. They simply picked up the smell of things and people that surround them, and for Aaron’s mate that consisted of Ted’s sweet treat. Dammit! I’d been so overwhelmed by all the delicious aromas that I never stopped to think why I hadn’t picked up a distinctive personal smell for him or much of anything else.
“How do you think Aaron will react?” Rosalina asked.
“Oh, I don’t think it’ll go over well.”
Vampires and werewolves didn’t mix. They barely tolerated each other, and a vamp was definitely not what Aaron was looking for.
“I knew it was too easy,” I said. “Maybe I should call the furniture store and cancel my order. I can sleep in my old bed and sit on a plastic bin.”
“Oh, Toni. I’m sorry. Why don’t we wait and see what Aaron says? Maybe he’s the most open-minded werewolf to ever live.”
“Yeah, right.”
“One can hope.”
Of course, there had to be a fly making itself comfortable in my ointment. If things were ever easy, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.
Heaving a sigh, I turned to leave just as a breeze picked up almost flipping the vamp’s umbrella on itself. He huddled under it, hiding from the sun. The wind carried his scents in my direction, giving me a full whiff of sun-drenched strawberries and sugar. Except this time, another scent came along. My nose twitched, grappling with the hint of a sour tang. I recognized it. I’d perceived it before at Eric’s party. The stoned vamp had smelled just like that, except way stronger. How odd.
“What is it?” Rosalina asked.
“Nothing.” I shook my head.
Most likely, raybow Vamp and Aaron’s mate had picked up that scent from some popular vampire hangout. But whatever. That didn’t matter. I had bigger things to worry about such as convincing Aaron that vampires and werewolves didn’t have to be mortal enemies.
Make love and not war, Aaron. Om.
I wondered if that line would go over well.
Chapter 15
ON TUESDAY, I STRUTTED into the office, jingling the new keys to my condo.
Rosalina looked up from her laptop and beamed up at me. “That’s my girl,” she said and got up to give me a hug. “It’s a great feeling, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. I had to sign a gazillion papers, but it was worth it. I can’t wait to go and check it out, even if it doesn’t have any furniture.”
“They’ll deliver it in just a few days.”
“Gah!” I jogged in place like a little girl.
“Once you’re all settled in, we’ll throw a housewarming party.”
That sobered me up a little. I always imagined my mom there, celebrating with me. When Daniella got her place, part of the event was for Mom to do her protection spells and test them to make sure everyone who was welcomed could get in the house. We had such fun following Mom around in single-file and chanting silly tunes while she tried to concentrate on the spells. I would also love to
