“You got me Claudia’s chocolate covered strawberries!”
Wellthiswill be the perfect addition to a relaxing bath. Now I’m even more excited to go home and indulge while I soak the day away.
I school my features into a detached expression. “You please me,” I say, feigning disinterest. “This will do.”
Raegan pinches my cheek. “I’ve gotta finish gathering the lonely masses. Any chance you want to help with that too?
I shake my head. “Showing up will be enough. I’d rather be surprised.”
“Suit yourself.”
She gives me one more tight hug, telling me happy early birthday, then she trots back down the sidewalk and through the front entrance of Double Double. I hear the bell ding faintly as I turn and walk in the other direction. It’s time to head back to the rescue.
I decide there’s no harm in sampling a strawberry on my way. I realize these are probably the ones I sold to Claudia a few days ago. I have a small patch on the farm that provides enough fresh strawberries for me to keep, as well as sell to some local businesses.
I unwrap the box as I walk, being careful not to spill the contents, and reach in to grab one plump, red strawberry covered in white chocolate and pink drizzle. The treat is simple, but Claudia’s decorating is not. She always makes them look flawless, like the true baker she is. I buy her bakery items a lot throughout the year, but Valentine’s Day is when she really shines. I almost hate to mess up her work, but the anticipation of sweet chocolate and tangy strawberry is too much.
I take my first bite, savoring the crunch from the chocolate coating, unable to keep the juice from running down my chin. It’s delectable, and worth the mess.
As I’m wiping my chin and trying to put the top back on the box at the same time, I suddenly crash into a solid mass,bringing me to a stop on the sidewalk. For a moment, I think I’ve run into a street sign, but then I look up and find a face staring at me—a very cold, veryjudgmentalface.
Aidan Ward, Jamie’s annoying vampire friend, is standing chest to chest with me, the box I’ve been holding squished between us. Half of my beautiful strawberries are scattered on the ground, now covered in dirt and whatever else lives on the sidewalk. “Frickin’ shit!”
Aidan just stares at me, as if I’ve stained his fresh white shirt on purpose. This might be the first time I’ve ever seen him less than perfect. The rest of his over-dressed business attire is pristine, his white-blond hair precisely combed back and tucked behind his ears.
“Do you always eat your food like that?” he asks, tone somehow both monotone and critical.
I meet his scowl with my own. “What?”
“In the middle of the street? Without looking where you’re going?”
I gape at him and his thigh length navy driving coat, then school my features. “Should have known to watch out for surly vampires,” I murmur under my breath.
His scowl deepens. “I don’t appreciate being plowed down by a box of strawberries at 1 o'clock in the afternoon.”
I curse myself for forgetting he has super-sonic hearing, then decide to match his snappy tone. “Would you rather it happened earlier this morning? Or perhaps tonight. Better ambiance?”
He grunts and steps around me onto the street. “I’ll leave you to finish whatever this is.” He gestures to the strawberries on the ground, way past the five second rule.
I watch, stunned, as he turns his back to me. Surely he’s not about to just walk away. “Hey!” I call after him. He whips his head around at lightning speed. “You’re not going to help pick these up?”
He wrinkles his nose. “Why would I bother helping with something that’s not my fault?”
I let out a disbelieving scoff. “Umm, I don’t know, because that’s what nice people do? Jeez, who spit in your coffee this morning?”
“I don’t drink coffee.”
“Oh, that’s right,” I say thoughtfully. “Jamie told us you like matcha lattes. Very demure.”
He takes a step, slowly making his way back to the scene of his crime. “Yes,” he growls, clearly unamused. “And I was on my way to get one when you so abruptly ran into me.”
Perfect, I think.Now I can trap him. “I’m pretty sure you had to be distracted too, otherwise you would have been able to avoid me,” I say, wisely stroking my chin. “Were you thinking about something?” I draw out my next words in a sing-song voice. “Looonelyon Valentine’s Day?”
This seems to strike a nerve. Aidan’s jaw twitches, and I spot the veins in his neck growing more pronounced. “I don’t see you with a significant other.” He forces the words out through tight lips.
I should have known to expect the jab returned, but having my solitary state pointed out so definitively does something to the inside of my chest. Suddenly, the space feels too small to fit my racing heart.
“You know what?” I say, throwing my hands out in a defeated gesture, “Never mind. I don’t need your help.” I start picking up the abandoned strawberries, placing them nicely back into their divots in the box and murmuring quietly to myself. “I don’t know why I even try with you.”
