9. Nine

Nine

Rainbow

The owner of the store wanted to meet me to go over the sale, make sure we were on the same page for keys, etc. I really needed a break from working on my house and needed to interview some prospective contractors, so it worked for me.

We met at the store, a charming unit sandwiched between a nail salon and a cafe, and I got my first walk through of the place. It was actually in better condition than I'd hoped. The windows were relatively new; the flooring was a beautiful old parquet. Really, it was an absolute jewel!

"You've really taken care of the place!" I remarked to the owner.

They waved me off dismissively. "Just did the necessary repairs. The odd coat of paint."

Clearly, it was more than that. It would reduce the amount of renovations I would need to do by quite a bit. Luck had been on my side with this unit compared to my house.

"Without cutting corners, too," I praised.

Earl was an older man, completely human by my guess, and ready to retire closer to his family. All he wanted was this sale to go through and to be certain his place was in good hands.

"So you're going to sell herbal treatments. Like weed?"

I wanted to choke at the blunt question, but gathered my senses quickly enough to give a polite, if vague, answer.

"Well, maybe I'll get a license for that, but initially, no. Just plant based remedies for things like colds and injuries. There'll also be crystals and things like that. New age hippy items."

"People 'round here will like that kind of stuff. Lots of people are big with nature. Caught some nudists doing some hiking one time, didn't even have boots on!"

Shifters likely. I wasn't about to point that out since it seemed Earl was one of those who was unaware of the supernatural all around him. Even if he suspected, I wasn't about to out myself as a witch.

"Well, that's ideal! When I was in college—" I started until Earl interrupted me with a curious gleam in his eyes.

"What did you study?"

"Oh, I took a botany major with a minor in business. I grow a lot of my own plants for the remedies I'll sell." At least I could be completely truthful about that.

My magic had been perfectly stable by the time I was old enough to go to college. Passing the necessary tests to get a GED was simple. I'd always liked learning, and flourished at college, making plenty of human friends. They were easier to get on with than witches around my age in the coven, since they weren't as judgmental.

"Ah! Smart man."

"Yeah, college was great. So when I was studying I made up a lot of these remedies, hangover cures, energy boosters that don't leave your heart hammering, and it helped pay my way through school."

"I'm impressed." Earl gave me a rather paternal smile. It made me miss my dad. Now that things were more settled with my family, I was getting more news. Dad was stable, the best we could hope for while Jones was still missing. I really badly wanted to see him.

"It's easier to let go of the store knowing you'll be here to look after it. I wanted someone with a good head on their shoulders and I got that. Take care of the place." Earl clapped me on the shoulder before giving the store a last look.

Then Earl handed me the keys and left, letting me walk around on my own, making notes as I went. Everything was superficial, the colors not what I wanted for the place, for example. Sure, I wanted some shelves to be built, but it had good bones. Lack of storage wouldn't keep me from opening, as my inventory would be low until I got a feel for the local area. I was sure, with the larger supernatural population here in Umberwood, that the store would be a success.

An hour later, I had just finished my second contractor interview in the cafe next door when my neck prickled with awareness. I turned around, barely catching a glimpse of my hot neighbor taking a table in the corner. He was all fake smiles for the young server when she went to get his order.

"Can I get you anything else, hon?" I looked up to find the maybe mid-forties lady, Macy, who'd been looking after me, beside my table with her coffee pot. She had her usual easy-going smile, which guaranteed her a big tip.

"Can I get a BLT please, with whole wheat bread, light mayo, please?" I returned her smile with one of my own.

"Sure thing." Macy noted it down on her pad.

"Um, are you sure it's okay for me to meet my contractors here?" I'd asked before, but I wanted to check I wasn't being annoying since I'd taken each contractor next door to let them get a look at the place and Macy had been kind enough to save my table for me.

"As long as you buy something from time to time, we don't care. You're good. Not busy today, anyway."

"Thank you." Macy was getting a huge tip.

"No worries, hon. I'm looking forward to your store opening. Been listening in. Hope you don't mind." Macy grimaced a little, like I might be offended.

"Not at all! Is there anything you'd suggest I stock?"

"Oh, hon, I could give you a list, but I'd really like a real good muscle soak after being on my feet all day. Something to treat corns, too."

"Fantastic idea! I've actually got something that'd be great for you. I'll drop you a free sample in the next couple of days if you like."

Macy's expression was a mixture of gratitude and relief. "You are an angel. I'll get your food as quickly as I can, before you have another appointment."

"I've got plenty of time. I'm not meeting the next one for like forty-five minutes."

She left for the kitchen, leaving me in the direct line of sight of Griffin, who had obviously been listening in to my conversation with Macy.

Griffin cocked his head, a sort of mocking smirk on his face. Did he think I couldn't do this? Couldn't make a go of a life here?

All I did was glare back at him and return my attention to notes I'd been making. His attention on me made my skin flush. Minutes ticked by achingly slowly. I longed for my food as a distraction from Griffin's unwavering attention. I was trying to get up the courage to go and speak to him when someone else approached my table.

"Sorry to interrupt," came a cheerful male voice. The accent was indistinguishable from any other I'd ever heard, almost like a non accent. It was weird, yet pleasant.

My head snapped up. I had to crane my neck back to meet the eyes of the speaker. Pretty pale blue eyes on an unfairly attractive face.

A vampire.

He must have caught the small movement when I tensed, because he rushed to speak.

"Please don't run away, I just want to talk to you!" he implored.

Something about the gentle, pleading way he spoke to me softened my initial panicked response. My paralyzing fear set in. My heart was drumming a staccato rhythm in my chest. I broke out in a cold sweat.

Behind the vampire, Griffin half rose from his seat. I shook my head, my eyes widening.

"I won't do anything to hurt anyone. Even the werewolf behind me. I really just want to talk," the vampire said in a soft voice. "Can I sit?" He laid the plate with my order down in front of me, my appetite now gone.

My body felt heavy, my reactions slow, foreign to me.

"A—are you doing something to me?"

"Wouldn't even if I could. Can't use my abilities on you. Promise. Can I please sit down, Rainbow?"

I gave a jerky nod. "How do you know my name?"

The vampire gave me a devastating grin. Goddess above he was gorgeous! About the same height as Griffin, wider too, his skin held the paler tone which set vampires apart. A sort of lifelessness, it was difficult to explain. He had a strong square jaw, roman nose, and blond curly hair cut short on the sides and styled effortlessly to flop over one eye.

"We should start on the right foot. I'm Sunny—"

"Oh, my goodness! It's you!" It all suddenly clicked into place. The notes with a rainbow and a sun. R and S. This was who had been following me! I had a vampire stalker!

"Ah, yes. It's nice to meet you properly, Rainbow. I've wanted to speak to you, but I think I made a mistake—"

"A mistake!" I practically screeched, lowering my volume, when I noticed Macy watching us. "You broke into my house and scared me half to death!"

"I'm truly sorry about that. My friends told me it was the wrong way to approach you. It was not my intention to scare you. I just wanted to show you how I could care for you—"

My whirring thoughts stopped at his reasoning."Why?"

"Why, what?" His earnest expression gave way to confusion. Why were all these dangerous men so gorgeous?

"Why did you want me to know that? How can you care for me? We've never met before." He was making no sense.

His expression turned rather sheepish. It was almost endearing that everything he felt showed on his face. He gave me golden retriever energy. Rather than still being scared, I was starting to relax in his presence. Maybe it had something to do with the werewolf watching our interaction, obviously ready to step in if I gave him the right look. Maybe it was just this vampire who was nothing like my nightmares.

"What do you want from me, Sunny?" I asked, taking control.

"Want? Nothing except the chance to show you I'd never harm you. I'm your mate, Rainbow."

At his words, Griffin leaped up from his seat, threw down some bills from his pocket and stalked from the cafe.

We sat in silence for a full minute as I replayed his words.

"You—you can't be. I don't… no." I denied.

Sunny stood. "I'll let you think about it. I'm staying in town for a while. A mate bond is a gift. Tell me you don't feel something between us?"

I could only shake my head, unwilling to admit anything, too thrown by what he'd said.

"We should get to know each other better," he added. Why did that sound like both a promise and a threat?

He didn't try to touch me or offer any more words, just gave me a sad smile and left.

I sat there for what felt like a long time before picking automatically at my food. It was no longer anything I wanted to eat, but I didn't want to offend anyone.

"Everything okay, hon?" Macy asked as she returned to take my plate.

"Oh, yeah. It's fine. Just…" my voice trailed off as I failed to make up an excuse.

"Not every day a vampire says he's your mate, right?"

I jolted. "What?"

"That's what he said, right?"

"Are you…?"

"Half-shifter, got the senses, not the form. No pack to speak of either, which no lie, saves me from a lot of headaches, especially 'round here."

"So you know I'm a—"

"Witch, yeah. Looking forward to those samples." She let out a sigh. "Listen, I don't usually make comments on customer's private lives, but that vampire has been watching you all day. He seems really sweet. You could do worse."

Far better than mooning over a grumpy shifter who lived next door to me and hated my guts.

"‘Ain't that the truth."

Instead of giving up on my day, I kept going, working through a few more meetings, rather than going home to just lounge around and feel… I didn't know what I actually felt about the strange vampire.

First of all, he was a vampire, and they had always terrified me. Was it fate's cosmic joke to give me a vampire for a mate?

Secondly, he had broken into my house and then my motel room! That was creepy, regardless of his species. Did he not have boundaries?

Maybe Macy was right, and I could have done worse. Sunny seemed sweet and apologetic about getting off on the wrong foot. Still, though, he had scared me out of my wits! I'd slept in my damn car, thanks!

Meetings all done, I went to the grocery store for some fresh produce. I had to come up with a meal plan and make a visit to the gym, otherwise the membership would be wasted.

It was getting dark. I'd been out all day, leaving poor Jinx alone, by the time I finally pulled into my driveway. I'd give him a treat once I'd made something for dinner. All I really wanted to do was go to bed, but I'd planned to paint another room.

Almost immediately, I noticed something different about the house. Someone had cut the bushes next to the driveway right back, making my yard look neat and tidy.

My senses told me this wasn't Sunny, that I had to look closer to home for this. I'd bake more cookies for Griffin or try another treat to thank him for helping me out. Bitterly, I wondered if he was just sick of looking at it, or if it was a hint for me to be better at dealing with my yard. I wanted to get my greenhouse set up, but after having to abandon half my plants at home, I just wasn't in the mood.

When I entered my house, Jinx got all excited, trying to tell me someone had been in the house.

There, on the coffee table, was another note. This time, I knew it was from Sunny. It read:

Hey, Rainbow,

I'm sorry again for scaring you! As an apology, I painted your bedroom for you. I love the theme you were going for. So peaceful!

Daisy, the ghost who lives in the house, says hi.

Love

Sunny

xoxo

Sure enough, I opened my bedroom door and found the walls painted in the colors I'd picked out. Sunny had even hung the wallpaper on the correct wall!

It shouldn't have been charming, yet it was.

Wait, did he say I had a ghost?