Viktor grimaced when the squeaky wheel on his cart drew the attention of two women standing near a display of Halloween decorations.
I laughed and pointed at a flickering ghost. “I should get that for Wyatt and put it somewhere in his room.”
Viktor paused and searched our surroundings. “Where is everyone? We must go before it gets too late and the shops close.”
When I noticed Christian undressing a mannequin, I handed Viktor several large bills from my wallet. “I’ll get everyone rounded up if you’ll pay for my things. You look a little wiped out.”
He puffed out his chest, clearly insulted. “I come from a long line of Shifters, and before you were born—”
“You don’t have to explain. I was just teasing. I know all the nooks and crannies of this store, so I’ll have a better chance at finding everyone quickly.”
Viktor pursed his lips and nodded. “Sounds reasonable.”
As he walked away, one of the carts clipped a display and knocked the socks onto the floor.
I strode up to Christian and rested my arm on a rack. “Looks like you finally found a woman you don’t have to charm to see naked.”
He circled his finger around the small breast of the mannequin. “Where the feck are their heads?”
“They’re selling clothes. They don’t need heads.”
He arched a dark brow. “When I look at a woman, the first thing I tend to notice is that she has a skull attached to her body. Humans are a morose lot.” He yanked her arm off and waved it in front of me. “Just look at the detail in the hands, but they couldn’t be bothered to give her a head?”
I took the arm and tossed it aside. “So if she had a face, you wouldn’t have ripped off her clothes?”
He shrugged. “I was curious if she had nipples.”
I tugged on his sleeve. “Help me find everyone,partner.”
Christian reached for a bottle of body spray in the center aisle and sprayed it. “Jaysus wept! What dark magic is this?”
I took the bottle and gave it a cursory glance before setting it back on the shelf. “Sweet pea.”
“Why would a lady want to smell like peas?”
We strode toward the outdoor section. “It’s not peas. It’s…”
He gave me a sardonic smile. “It’s what?”
“Um, flowers?”
“And tell me, lass, how often do you find men lingering in the garden so they can smell the daffodils? If a woman wants to attract a man, she needs to smell like bread.”
I choked out a laugh. “I thought you were going to say blood.”
“Because I’m a Vampire?” He glared, moving a step ahead of me.
A young blonde hurried past us, her eyes devouring Christian as he swaggered by in his black trench coat.
I pointed up ahead. “Is that Gem?”
We neared the outdoor patio furniture that was on sale to make room for holiday decorations. Gem looked like a mannequin sitting on the loveseat glider with her lavender hair and Jackie O sunglasses. Scented candles were burning all around her—a sickly-sweet combination of pumpkin spice, sugar cookies, and apple pie.
“Sit next to me, Raven. This is divine! I didn’t know they made chairs that moved. I want one for my bedroom.”
Christian reached out his hand and pulled her to her feet. “Those are what humans put on patios. They’re not for the bedroom.”
She straightened her white sweaterdress. “Says who?”
