Page 14 of Curses & Cold Brew
“I know,” Agnes said, mischievous smile broadening. “But now I know thatyouknow her name, which is far more intriguing.”
“Vampires,” I muttered, taking another long swig of cold brew.
Her thin brows wiggled. “What a pretty penny that must have been.”
Vampires were far too nosy. Agnes, in particular, was considered the town gossip, even among her band of ancientcronies. They were always watching and listening. If anyone wanted to know about someone else’s business, Agnes was your gal.
I could feel her eyes assessing me, trying to find some juicy news. “It’s too early for your vampire tricks.”
“I thought demons loved trickery.”
“Not this morning.”
Agnes let out a sigh and drummed her sharp nails on the table. “We haven’t seen you at the club in a while. What have you been up to?”
“Work.”
“I was hoping to hear you’d found a paramour of some sort.”
She washopingto feed her rumor mill was more like it.
“I have had plenty of women lately, thanks, Aggie. Good thing I can magic myself clean sheets, you know?” I added with a wink, hoping the insinuation would push her to drop it.
“That’s not what I meant,” Agnes chastised. “Don’t you ever get lonely?”
“No.”
“I see I’ve been relegated to your monosyllabism.”
I ripped a bite off my scone as if I were tearing flesh from bone. “Don’t you have some vampires to mother or something?” I snapped. “I’m fine. I don’t need your concern.”
“Who said I was concerned about you?” Agnes balked. “If you’re going to be so huffy, you can enjoy your very early morning in silence.” She held up her mug, and at the silent command, Harlow rushed over to refill it. The human watched Agnes with rapt attention as the vampire took the first sip. Even after a year, Harlow was still concerned she might poison the old vampire again.
When Harlow determined that Agnes was safe, she rounded to the other tables with a pot of drip coffee and a pot of hotwater. Left alone again with Agnes, I became highly aware that my morning was going to be far from silent.
“So what’s new?” Agnes asked.
I looked at my watch. “Managed to give me the silent treatment for one whole minute. Good job, Aggie.”
She ignored me. “Anything interesting going on in hell?”
“Nothing that would concern an immortal like yourself,” I replied tightly. “But the weather is nice this time of year. Thin veil and all that.” I felt a twinge of guilt for giving Agnes the ice queen treatment—not that the vampire couldn’t handle it. She was a curmudgeon at the best of times, much like me.
The bell above the café door rang, and I looked up to see Iris wandering in. Her eyes panned the crowd, searching for . . . me.
I had to stifle a grin of pleasure at that fact.
She wore a wool skirt with a cream turtleneck, which would have been enough to make her look like she had stepped out of a fall-time romantic comedy, but the festive sweater vest with argyle and pumpkins across the chest solidified that she belonged in Maple Hollow. I wondered if she’d dressed extra kitschy just to spite me.
Several patrons turned to look at Iris, and honestly, who could blame them?
I let out a little grumble at myself. I didn’t do sunshine and sweetness. I was a creature of the night. Still, a small thrill zipped through me when her eyes finally landed on mine and she smiled.
What I would give to bottle up the feeling of when Iris smiled at me.
“What was that?” Agnes quipped, noticing our silent exchange. “Oh, she’s coming over. So you reallydoknow this redheaded witch.”
“Yes. We are acquainted,” I gritted out as Iris bridged the distance between us. “And I don’t know her the way you’reimplying. She’s just helping me with . . . a quandary I’ve encountered.”
