fluttering. I thought it was the energy I’d created with Hoel. I’d never had an angel go down on me before. Who knew what the consequences were when our kind met? But I noticed the flutters only grew worse as the luncheon drew nearer.
Valerio Hunan was coming today.
I’d see him again with his soft, demanding lips, firm hands and skilled fingers.
“Earth to Pia.” Adele stood in front of me with a roast in her arms. “I need to use the oven. Can you park your useless ass somewhere else?”
I shuffled over. “Useless?”
“Girls, not now. We’ve—” Sam set a salad in the fridge as she spoke.
Adele put her hands on her hips as she spun to confront me. “This would go much easier if you and Rose would apply a little effort in learning to help out in the kitchen. The moms have been slaving in here for two days. They shouldn’t have to do all the work.”
I poked her in the chest. “I had feeding issues yesterday.” She knew better. I never said no when they asked for help.
“You always have feeding issues.” She pointed to Rose. “She has to feed today, yet she’s still helping.”
Rose’s eyes went wide as she tried to lead Adele away from me. “Don’t drag me into this. I have plans to feed tonight. I’m also older and more experienced than Pia.”
I grabbed her arm. “What does that mean? You don’t think I can take care of myself?”
The kitchen went quiet.
I stared at each of my family member one at a time. “You don’t.” I blinked. “You gave me the impression last night that you trusted me.”
The door to the main house swung open and my father strolled in with six strange males. “These are my lovely wives and…” He regarded everyone, taking everything in at a glance—Adele glaring daggers at me, Rose inspecting the tiles on the floor and my mothers studiously cooking without a comment.
“This—this is the help I hired.” He pointed at the men.
I stared hard at them. Not men, shifters. They radiated a wild power much like my suitor Cooper. My father believed in keeping the money within the supernatural community.
My father stuck his hands in his pockets and avoided any direct eye contact. Smart man. “Rose, why don’t you show them around the greenhouse so they know the layout of the tables and the bar?”
I brushed pass Adele, heading outside. “I’ll do it. Rose might eat them. Come on, boys. We’ll start with the bar.”
* * *
One of the shifters proved he could make a killer Long Island Iced Tea. I was on my third and checking out the throng of ass-kissers coming to snoop around my parents’ estate. They were throwing this luncheon to welcome Valerio to Lake City and assess him for permanent residence, but really, who was going to kick him out?
If he was powerful enough for my father to offer him two of his more deserving daughters for marriage, then none of these bottom-feeders would complain about his presence in the city. Welcome, my ass. It was more of a let’s-check-out-the-most-eligible-incubus-in-town party. My parents were playing matchmaker, hoping he’d find one of the daughters of the other families more appealing.
I took a big gulp. He’d found me interesting. God knows why.
Rose swayed through the crowd, her long red hair a beacon I could spot in any crowd. She approached me with a sandwich and placed it in my hand. “It’s peanut butter. Your favorite.”
“It’s not my favorite.” I smelled it. Rose was the worst cook this country ever produced. There should be laws banning her from the kitchen, but I could detect a peanutty scent from the bread.
“Look, it’s the only thing I can make that won’t kill you. Eat and soak up some of that alcohol so you don’t puke on Ms. Renway like last time.” She watched as I took a big bite. “Adele didn’t mean what she said. I know she feels horrid—” A bright, loud laugh interrupted Rose.
Rising on tiptoe, I glanced over Rose’s shoulder at Adele entertaining some of the
Valerio Hunan was coming today.
I’d see him again with his soft, demanding lips, firm hands and skilled fingers.
“Earth to Pia.” Adele stood in front of me with a roast in her arms. “I need to use the oven. Can you park your useless ass somewhere else?”
I shuffled over. “Useless?”
“Girls, not now. We’ve—” Sam set a salad in the fridge as she spoke.
Adele put her hands on her hips as she spun to confront me. “This would go much easier if you and Rose would apply a little effort in learning to help out in the kitchen. The moms have been slaving in here for two days. They shouldn’t have to do all the work.”
I poked her in the chest. “I had feeding issues yesterday.” She knew better. I never said no when they asked for help.
“You always have feeding issues.” She pointed to Rose. “She has to feed today, yet she’s still helping.”
Rose’s eyes went wide as she tried to lead Adele away from me. “Don’t drag me into this. I have plans to feed tonight. I’m also older and more experienced than Pia.”
I grabbed her arm. “What does that mean? You don’t think I can take care of myself?”
The kitchen went quiet.
I stared at each of my family member one at a time. “You don’t.” I blinked. “You gave me the impression last night that you trusted me.”
The door to the main house swung open and my father strolled in with six strange males. “These are my lovely wives and…” He regarded everyone, taking everything in at a glance—Adele glaring daggers at me, Rose inspecting the tiles on the floor and my mothers studiously cooking without a comment.
“This—this is the help I hired.” He pointed at the men.
I stared hard at them. Not men, shifters. They radiated a wild power much like my suitor Cooper. My father believed in keeping the money within the supernatural community.
My father stuck his hands in his pockets and avoided any direct eye contact. Smart man. “Rose, why don’t you show them around the greenhouse so they know the layout of the tables and the bar?”
I brushed pass Adele, heading outside. “I’ll do it. Rose might eat them. Come on, boys. We’ll start with the bar.”
* * *
One of the shifters proved he could make a killer Long Island Iced Tea. I was on my third and checking out the throng of ass-kissers coming to snoop around my parents’ estate. They were throwing this luncheon to welcome Valerio to Lake City and assess him for permanent residence, but really, who was going to kick him out?
If he was powerful enough for my father to offer him two of his more deserving daughters for marriage, then none of these bottom-feeders would complain about his presence in the city. Welcome, my ass. It was more of a let’s-check-out-the-most-eligible-incubus-in-town party. My parents were playing matchmaker, hoping he’d find one of the daughters of the other families more appealing.
I took a big gulp. He’d found me interesting. God knows why.
Rose swayed through the crowd, her long red hair a beacon I could spot in any crowd. She approached me with a sandwich and placed it in my hand. “It’s peanut butter. Your favorite.”
“It’s not my favorite.” I smelled it. Rose was the worst cook this country ever produced. There should be laws banning her from the kitchen, but I could detect a peanutty scent from the bread.
“Look, it’s the only thing I can make that won’t kill you. Eat and soak up some of that alcohol so you don’t puke on Ms. Renway like last time.” She watched as I took a big bite. “Adele didn’t mean what she said. I know she feels horrid—” A bright, loud laugh interrupted Rose.
Rising on tiptoe, I glanced over Rose’s shoulder at Adele entertaining some of the
Similar Books
