“He’s a nice man, isn’t he,” Templeton stated.
I frowned at him, at first thinking he must be talking about the guy who ran the restaurant. “Who?”
“Vincent Lasco, the man you’re dating…my boss,” Templeton said.
My mouth dropped open in shock. I thought we’d been discreet but apparently not. The news was probably all around Prosper Woods by now. I wonder who’d started the rumor. Could Templeton smell Vincent on me?
I didn’t think he was a supe. When I’d shaken hands with other supernaturals like Sid, the town witch, I had felt a charge under my skin almost instantly. Come to think of it, I hadn’t felt it with Sally, and I suspected she was something other than human. Since I was still getting used to this whole paranormal thing, maybe I’d missed a lot of rules. I absently wondered if they were written down or something.
“Yeah,” I said. “Vincent’s a great guy. I didn’t realize my dating life was known to people around town or even the fact that I’m gay. It’s kind of off putting if I’m being honest.” The more I thought about it, the less I liked that fact.
“Well, it’s big news when a vampire moves in and immediately starts dating a unicorn,” Templeton said.
That made my heart skip several beats as my jaw dropped open. I looked side to side and then turned back to the smiling man, lowering my voice.
“How do you know that?” I stage whispered.
“I know things.”
Is everyone in this town something other than plain old human? I had to wonder.
“How?” Sid had said the same thing to me not two weeks ago when he’d introduced himself as a witch. He’d also said he was the town witch, which in Rome’s mind meant that there was only one. Was it possible that Templeton was also a witch? Is there a whole coven of them in town? Were they even called covens, or had I just watched too many episodes of Vampire Diaries? I really was an idiot.
“How do you know things?” I needed to know if he was paranormal.
“I’m not paranormal,” Templeton said with a wide grin.
My jaw dropped. Did he just read my mind? Was he reading it now?
“I’m human but I am sensitive to paranormal beings. That’s how I knew who Vincent was and now that we’ve shaken hands, I know what you are.” He raised an eyebrow, smirking in a way that threw me off guard. He reached out and patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
“But how…?”
“Like I said, I’m just sensitive. Some would call me a medium, but I hate that title. I don’t talk to the dead unless it’s incredibly important.” He shrugged his shoulders like it was no big thing that he communed with the dead.
This is the weirdest fucking town.
“Well, I guess I’m glad to know that.” I looked around and lowered my voice. “You will keep it on the downlow, right?”
Templeton chuckled. “I will, Sheriff. I’m no gossip spreader, and I mean no harm to either of you, especially your boyfriend. He’s been very good to me. Do you know he offered me a full medical and dental package?”
I grinned. “That’s real nice of him.”
“I get my choice of doctor even though there’s only one in town.”
I chuckled and then sighed as our conversation hit an awkward pause. “Well, I’d appreciate your discretion, Mr. Templeton.”
He reached out and took my hand again. “Scott. Please, call me Scott. We don’t stand much on formality in Prosper Woods.” He leaned in close, lowering his voice. “It’ll help you fit in if you’re just a regular guy.”
I snorted. A regular guy who’s actually a unicorn, parading around town as if he didn’t have hooves. Sure. “Scott it is then,” I said, dropping his hand, still smiling.
“I need to open up now,” he said. “I heard there’s a group of tourists checking into the B&B this morning, so we might have some customers. Besides, you were on your way to get breakfast. I can tell you’re starving and with a vampire as a mate, you need to keep up with the calories. You’re taking vitamins, I hope?”
He could tell I was starving? I wanted to laugh so hard at how absurd this whole conversation was.
“I am starving and yes, I take a boatload of vitamins. Thanks,” I said, shaking my head as my smile appeared as if of its own accord. This town really was something else. “Take care, Scott. Sell lots of antiques.” I turned when he did, throwing one last wave over his shoulder before stepping into the store.
I was still a little stunned as I stepped into Todd’s Hash House. The smell of freshly cooked bacon had my stomach rumbling in seconds. The first thing I noticed was a young girl hovering around the hostess stand holding a stack of laminated menus. She gave me a wide grin, and I spotted a mouthful of braces.
“Hi there,” she greeted, looking down at my sheriff’s star, pinned to the front of my khaki uniform shirt. “Oh, you must be the new town sheriff!” She immediately reached out for my hand, dropping all the menus on the ground. With an alarmed cry, she instantly squatted and began scooping them up. I immediately bent to help her.
“You’re the clumsiest girl in town, Mary,” an older voice remarked. “Just look at you.”
Anger slammed through me when I saw tears spring to the young girl’s eyes as she looked up into the woman’s matronly face who was berating her. I threw the woman a glare and then turned to Mary, holding out a hand. She gently placed her shaking hand in mine as I
