by Devon, Cat
“Well, that’s a good thing, right? Even so, I have a serious security system installed.” She pointed to the panel on the wall.
“No security system is infallible.”
“This one is pretty darn close,” she said. “Or so the sales rep assured me. Why? Do you know about security systems? Have you heard something bad about this one?”
Daniella didn’t even realize she’d reached out to touch Nick’s arm until her fingers started humming. Her hand was on his arm where he’d rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt. Her bare skin was on his bare skin, and the result was startling. If she had an internal security system, it would be blaring alarms and flashing lights.
As far as first touches went, this one was incredibly intense and powerful. Her eyes lifted from her hand to his face. Was he feeling it, too?
His eyes darkened as he stared at her as if trying to reach the innermost workings of her mind. She felt drawn to him. He moved closer.
Fearing her heart might jump out of her chest, she stepped back. Okay, she obviously didn’t really think her heart would literally do something like that, but her entire body felt strange. She’d never experienced this before. She didn’t even know how to label or describe it.
Maybe she was coming down with something? Not that she had time to get sick. Maybe it was just exhaustion and excitement? Yes, she was going to go with that explanation. It beat the chance that she was attracted to Nick.
“What does your ESP tell you about opening your store?” he asked her.
“My what?”
“Your ESP. Your brother mentioned something about you having a talent in that area.”
“When did you speak to my brother?”
Nick shrugged.
She wasn’t about to let him off the hook. He couldn’t bring up a subject like that without her following up. “That’s not an answer.”
“Naturally, as fellow business owners, Gordon and I talk from time to time.”
“About me?”
“Your name may have come up briefly in one of our conversations,” he said.
“I don’t have ESP,” she said.
“You don’t get feelings about certain things?”
“I definitely have the feeling that you didn’t come here to look at the things I’m planning for this space. You came here to try to talk me out of opening my shop again.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “So you do have ESP.”
“Oh please. A two-year-old could figure it out.”
“Figure what out?”
“That you don’t approve of me,” she said. “No big deal. I’m not sure I approve of you, either.”
“Why not?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said sarcastically. “Maybe the fact that you’ve been so outspoken in your disapproval of me.”
“Not you.”
“Right. Not me. Just my store’s location,” she said.
“It’s not personal. It’s business.”
“Yeah, for you and Donald Trump maybe. But for me, my shop is very personal. I’ve thought through every little detail. For example, I looked through dozens and dozens of cherub designs before picking this one for my logo for Heavenly Cupcakes.” She held up one of the flyers for her grand opening.
Nick was not impressed. “It looks like a fat baby who has eaten too many cupcakes.”
She was as upset as if he’d insulted her own child. “It does not!”
“It does to me.”
“Which just goes to show what you know,” she muttered. “You’re clearly no expert regarding angels.”
“You’ve got that right.”
She doubted Nick had an angelic bone in his body. “Well, I’m happy with the way my logo looks. I spent weeks selecting the font. I love the way I’ve decorated my shop with some art deco touches. Chicago is one of the most art-deco-influenced cities in the world. I can’t believe you’re not interested in highlighting those aspects in your own building.”
“Believe it,” he said curtly.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a real Debbie Downer?”
“No.”
“Well, maybe the correct term would be Donnie Downer since you’re not a female.”
“I’m having a hard time keeping up with your scatterbrained conversation.”
“Scatterbrained?” She put her hands on her hips. “Who are you calling a scatterbrain?”
“You. Obviously.” He frowned at her as if she were a few cupcakes short of a dozen before adding, “Duh.”
She cracked up.
His frown deepened. “What’s so funny?”
“You are.” She grinned at him. “There was just something about the way you said duh.”
“I don’t appreciate being laughed at,” he said coldly.
“And I don’t appreciate being called a scatterbrain, so I guess we’re even.”
“We’ll never be even,” he said.
“Why not? Because you’re a man and I’m a woman?”
Because I’m a vamp and you’re not. The words were on the tip of Nick’s tongue, but he held them back. This was another first for him. He’d never been the least bit tempted to reveal his secret before. Yet here he was with her, on the verge of doing something stupid.
Was she some sort of witch whose touch melted his brain and sent his undead body into overdrive? She’d put her hand on his arm and gotten to him with a simple touch. He refused to acknowledge that she might have rattled him. He refused to give her that power. But he knew he’d hidden his reaction well.
She appeared rattled by the physical contact as well. Good. That meant he could get to her. Nick took that discovery with him as he abruptly made his departure. He’d sensed her rapid heartbeat in a way that made him hunger for her. Next time he approached her, he’d be better prepared … and fed.
* * *
Daniella began the next morning with her plan to win over the neighboring businesses. She wasn’t going to waste her time trying to convince Nick any longer. Instead she’d go directly to the other entrepreneurs on her block. Nick’s abrupt exit last night was a clear indication that the man had no intention of siding with her. He also had no manners.
He hadn’t even bothered coming up with an excuse or one of those white lies like I’ve got somewhere else I need to be. No, last night he’d simply turned on his heel and walked out, leaving her standing there wondering what had just occurred.
That was all in the past. She’d moved on to Plan B. Her first stop was Pat’s Tats. She’d grown up in this neighborhood and Pat’s Tats had been there for as long as she could remember. Even so, she’d never actually gone into the tattoo parlor before. There was no need. It wasn’t as if she’d ever want a tattoo. That was so not on her bucket list.
The first thing she noticed was the buzz of needles inking skin. Her stomach turned and her squeamish self wanted to abandon Plan B and run back to the safety of her own shop.
But her Inner Cupcake Diva insisted she stay. The noise soon stopped as her presence was noted.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” she said with forced cheerfulness.
She recognized the owner, Pat Heller, who set down his tools and came toward her. “Are you here for a tattoo?” he asked.
“No way.” She quickly realized that her emphatic refusal might be rude so she added, “I mean, no thank you.”
The tattoo victim checked out the addition to his arm, which was already covered in blue ink. He reminded her of the creatures in Avatar. Pat didn’t have many tattoos on his arms, but those he did have were nicely done. Not that she was any expert on such things. He also had some strange kind of symbol tattooed below the knuckle on each of his fingers, a different one on each digit.
“I thought you and your customers might want to try some of my cupcakes,” she said. “And I wanted to introduce myself as a new fellow entrepreneur. I realize I’m the new kid on the block in a manner of speaking and that you’ve been successful in business for a long time.”
“Are you saying I’m old?”
“That wasn’t my intention, no. Not at all.”
“And you’re hardly the new kid on the block. You were born here.”
“Well, not right here in this tattoo parlor. I was actually born in a hospital, but I know what you mean. I am a local. Like you.”
“Not really like me,” Pat said.
“Well, of course not since you’re a man and I’m a woman and you’re doing tattoos and I’m baking cupcakes. But there is a creative element in both our lines of work. In fact, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs includes both our professions in their latest online survey.” Realizing she was getting off the beaten path conversation-wise, she paused to take a deep breath before continuing. “Are these your tattoo offerings displayed on the wall?”
Pat nodded. “Are you interested in getting a tattoo?” he asked her.
“No way. I mean, it’s not my thing. But I can still admire your artwork without having it embedded in my skin.” She studied them closer. “Many of these designs are really unique. I mean, I’m no expert obviously, but you’ve gone beyond the standard motifs of hearts and butterflies and barbed wire. Were you trained as an artist?”
Pat said, “I consider what I do to be art.”
“You’re clearly very talented. Would you be interested in branching out?”
“In what way?”
“Doing some drawings for my business.”
“Do you mean cupcake tattoos?” he asked.
“I was thinking more along the lines of flyers and that sort of thing.”
“You’ve already got your logo,” he said. “I saw your sign in the window advertising your grand opening. The cloud background with the angel perched on top is clever.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I really appreciate that. Especially coming from someone like you.”
“Someone like me?” He sounded insulted.
“Someone with such an artistic gift,” she hurriedly explained.
“Well, I do tend to see what others don’t.”
She nodded. “Creative people are like that. We notice the little things in life.”
“That’s true.”
She smiled at him. Finally she felt like she was on the same page with someone on this block. “I’m really glad I stopped by today and we had this talk.”
“I’m glad, too,” Pat said. He leaned forward to kiss her hand. “It’s been a pleasure.”
His gesture could have been sappy or icky but was courtly instead. She’d never had anyone kiss her hand before.
Feeling confident, Daniella left a box of cupcakes next to the cash register as Pat suggested and then moved on to the Happy Times Emergency Dental Clinic next door.
Once again she was greeted by the sound of drilling.
“May I help you?” the receptionist asked her.
Daniella checked the older woman’s name tag before replying. She was helped by the fact that the receptionist looked like Mrs. Cunningham on the classic TV sitcom Happy Days. The other woman radiated maternal vibes. “Hi, Lois. My name is Daniella Delaney and I’m the owner of Heavenly Cupcakes. Our grand opening is a little over a week away so I’m stopping by the other businesses on the block to introduce myself.”
“Your family owns the Evergreen Funeral Home, right?” Lois said.
“That’s right,” Daniella said. “But I’m here about my own business venture.”
“I saw you had a HELP WANTED sign in your window along with the sign for your grand opening. Adorable angel by the way,” Lois said.
“Thanks. Yes, I still am looking for some part-time help. Why? Do you know someone who might be interested?”
“Me,” Lois said. “People who come here have problems or they wouldn’t come to an emergency dental clinic. It might be nice working someplace where people are happy.”
“Have you worked in retail before?” Daniella asked.
Lois nodded.
“I wouldn’t want to steal you away from the dental clinic or anything…,” Daniella said.
“Not a problem,” Lois said. “I’m not the only receptionist working here. Tell me more about your shop.”
* * *
Nick was not having a good day. You’d think that being a vamp would make life easier, but the opposite was true. He was only now appreciating how much he’d depended on using mind compulsion to deal with humans who gave him a hard time. He’d just made that comment to Pat as the two of them met to discuss Daniella.
“She was here a short while ago and I have to admit that it was hard saying no to her,” Pat said.
Nick frowned. He didn’t know whether he should be pleased or aggravated by the fact that he wasn’t the only vamp having trouble dealing with the cupcake maker. “Saying no to what?”
“She liked my designs and asked if I’d be willing to do some for her.”
“For her? You mean as a tattoo?” Nick asked. He tried to imagine tats on her alabaster-pale skin, but couldn’t. It would be a violation somehow.
“No, not tats. For flyers and ads. She said I was a very talented artist.”
“She probably knew that complimenting your work was the way to your heart. Not that you have one,” Nick said.
“Are you saying I’m not a talented artist?” Pat said.
“I’m saying that Little Miss Cupcake Maker is smart. Very smart. Which could make her very dangerous.”
“She doesn’t look dangerous. By the way, I tried mind compulsion on her and I wasn’t successful, either. So it definitely isn’t just you who isn’t able to compel her.” Pat paused before adding, “There’s something about her…”
“Any idea what that something is?”
“Not yet. But I have complete confidence that you’ll figure it out. One suggestion, however. I think you’d be more successful if you pretended to be her friend rather than her enemy.”
Nick nodded slowly. “I’ve already come to the same conclusion myself. I can learn more about her by pretending to help her instead of fighting with her. She’ll come to trust me.”
“If you’re lucky.”
“Luck has nothing to do with it,” Nick said with total certainty. “It’s all about skill.”
“If you want to practice your skill on Daniella, she’s gone over to Doc Boomer’s dental clinic.”
“Why?”
“To be neighborly and introduce herself,” Pat said.
Nick swore under his breath.
“Remember, you’re going to charm her, not curse her,” Pat said. “And since your vamp skills don’t seem to work on her, you’ll have to depend on your human skills, which are no doubt rusty from lack of use.”
“I’m not human.”
“True. But you were once.”
That had been so long ago, Nick barely remembered what it was like. Sometimes things hit him strongly, like the memory of a great meal. Being charming had never been his strong suit, however.
Even so, how hard could it be?
Nick soon found out when he walked into the dental clinic and found Daniella talking to Lois, the middle-aged receptionist there. “What are you doing?” He directed the question to them both, but Daniella was the one who answered.
“Being neighborly. What are you doing?” she countered. “Do you have a toothache? Is that why you’re so crabby?”
Lois giggled. It wasn’t a pretty sound. Nick sure wasn’t amused.
“He’s always like that,” Lois said.
“You mean he’s always brooding, morose, and negative?” Daniella said before adding, “Oh, and bossy, too.”
“Yes, I have to say that’s a fairly accurate description,” Lois said. She and Daniella exchanged a grin.
“I knew there was a reason I liked you,” Daniella said. “Here, have a cupcake.”
“Sorry, hon, but I can’t,” Lois said with real regret. “I have a ton of food allergies.”
Now Nick was the one who snorted. Lois had food allergies all right. The same ones h
e had. Because Lois was a vampire.
Chapter Four
Daniella didn’t like the way Nick was smirking at her. He managed to act all arrogant and superior without saying a word. There was also something about his eyes that she had yet to figure out. Was it the strange stormy gray color or the fierce intensity of his gaze? Whatever it was, she didn’t like it or his smirk.
“It doesn’t sound as if Lois would be one of your customers,” Nick said.
“She might be something even better,” Daniella said. “A part-time employee.”
That wiped the smirk right off his face. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Not at all.”
“She already has a job,” Nick said.
“Yes,” Daniella said. “But she’s expressed interest in coming to work for me.”
He turned his disapproving glare toward Lois. “Why?”
“Don’t answer that,” Daniella told Lois. “It’s none of his business.”
“Everything in this neighborhood is my business,” he said.
“Despotic much?” Daniella said.
“A lot,” he said, undaunted. “Get used to it.”
“It seems to me that you have a thing against women entrepreneurs. Is it just me, or do you also have a thing against Tanya’s Tanning Salon on this block?” Daniella demanded.
“I do not have a thing against businesswomen.”
“So it’s just me. That’s nice to know.”
He had no response for that, which was fine by her. She’d prefer he keep his mouth shut. She’d prefer he disappear entirely.
Daniella reminded herself that Nick’s disapproval didn’t matter. She was in charge of her own destiny. She had a smart business plan and a delicious product. Everyone said so. Except for Negative Nick.
She smiled at her nickname for him. She liked it. Yeah, Negative Nick. That worked.
“Lois and I are having a private conversation,” she informed him in her haughtiest voice. “Your opinions are neither requested, required, nor desired.”
His gaze traveled over her in a way she should have found insulting but instead made her heart beat a little faster. It was as if he was visually telling her that he knew she desired him, which was ridiculous. She narrowed her own eyes and gave him a you must be kidding me look. Turning her back on him, she asked Lois, “How do you put up with him?”
