by K E O'Connor
I smiled before leaving the diner, taking a bag of cookies that Laura pressed upon me. She was constantly trying to find a way to get rid of her themed leftovers. I never minded. They were always delicious.
I walked to the office, scanning the streets to see if I could spot any of our missing zombies. I wished Nick would take this more seriously. He had other priorities, and I didn’t want to lose Alex. He was a decent guy, and it would devastate Jen if he had to leave because he no longer had a job.
I hesitated, wondering if I dared go to the police station and plead our case. It was pointless hassling Nick again. I’d have to figure out what happened to the zombies without his help.
But I wasn’t alone anymore. With my friends helping, we’d soon find the zombies.
Chapter 11
The air around me seemed to crackle with desire as I completed a circuit of the dance. I batted aside a heart-shaped balloon that was making its way toward my face and strode to the drinks table. As promised, Marissa had come through with the spare glasses, and there were plenty sitting on the table, full of champagne, wine, and soft drinks.
Despite the allure of the champagne, I stuck to orange juice. I grabbed a glass as I surveyed the crowded dance floor. There were happy couples everywhere; dancing, helping themselves to the buffet spread, and sitting at the tables decorated with tiny red and pink hearts. I stuffed down my jealousy as I watched them.
I nodded to several people as they passed by the drinks table, but my focus was elsewhere as I looked around the room to see if I could spot any of our missing zombies. I’d hoped the dance might lure them out from wherever they were hiding. With no suspects in sight to prove the zombies had been kidnapped, it was possible they’d taken off somewhere. It didn’t seem likely, but there had to be an explanation for them vanishing.
So far, there was no sign of them. Wherever the missing zombies were, they couldn’t get free. The thought made my stomach clench.
The live band began a fast number. More couples took to the already busy dance floor, some of them more expert than others. It was fun to watch. I spotted Jen and Alex dancing together, the huge smile on Jen’s face suggesting she was having a great time. Zara was also here in her sparkly dress with a male zombie from the shelter. They were holding hands and swaying to the music on the side of the dance floor.
Selina hurried over, her long gray hair piled on top of her head and her makeup a little too gothic for my taste. She stopped by the drinks table and grabbed two flutes of champagne.
“Great music, Cassie,” she said and took a large sip from one of the flutes. “I don’t think I’ve stopped dancing for more than five minutes.”
“It looks like everyone is having fun,” I said.
“They are,” Selina said. “Did you bring anybody?”
“No, all the good guys have been taken.” I grinned at her. “Besides, I have to work. I can’t entertain a date and do that at the same time.”
Selina’s dark-rimmed gaze shifted behind me. “Perhaps somebody might still ask you to dance.”
I turned to see who she was staring at. Nick was approaching. I turned back to Selina with a grimace, but she had already danced away, champagne in hand, toward her date, Rex. He was a fisherman, and as skinny as Selina, but he had the most charming smile.
I took a deep breath and pivoted toward Nick, sticking a smile on my face as I did so.
“Hi, Cassie. How’s the dance going?” Nick had made an effort. He wore smart dark pants and a fitted pink shirt, his dark hair slicked from his face, revealing a strong jawline. I’d never seen him look this handsome.
My heart thudded. That was the only word I could think of. Nick Morton was a good-looking guy. I glanced away. I couldn’t start thinking about how attractive Nick was.
“People seem to be enjoying themselves,” I said. “I didn’t know you liked pink. The color suits you.”
A faint blush crossed Nick’s cheeks. “I’m trying to get into the Valentine mood. I thought this color was appropriate.”
It did suit him. “I don’t recall seeing your name on the ticket list.” Nick wasn’t a social butterfly and only came to events in an official capacity to see how many innocent people he could hassle.
“I wanted to make an appearance and make sure there was no trouble.”
“Are you suggesting the events I run lead to problems?” I arched an eyebrow at him.
Nick’s eyes tightened. “I didn’t mean that—”
“Relax, I’m joking.” I didn’t have time to get into a fight with Nick. Plus, I didn’t want to. Tonight was about romance and making people happy.
“You usually run good events,” Nick said, his gaze on the drinks table.
That was a lukewarm compliment if ever I’d heard one. I looked down as my leg was nudged and spotted Stool. He sat at my feet. In his mouth was a red rose.
“What have you got there?” I asked Stool.
“He picked it up on the way in,” Nick said. “It’s his new favorite toy. Somebody must have dropped it when they were coming to the dance.”
Stool dropped the rose on my shoe and gazed up at me. I picked it up, did a quick check there were no thorns, and offered it back to Stool. “Don’t lose your new toy.”
Stool took the rose and placed it on my shoe again.
Nick shook his head. “It looks like he wants you to have it.”
I picked up the soggy rose and patted Stool on the head. “Well, that’s the nicest Valentine’s gift I’ve had today.”
“You’ve had more than one gift?” Nick asked.
“I might have,” I said. “Perhaps I’ve got a secret Valentine.”
Nick’s gaze narrowed. “What did he get you?”
I didn’t want to admit to Nick that all I got was a squashed muffin. It didn’t seem so great when I thought about it. “That would be telling.”
Nick looked down at Stool. “I guess Stool wanted to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“Thank you, Stool. That’s sweet of you.”
Stool wagged his tail.
“He loves you because of the dog treats you give him,” Nick said.
“I give a good tummy rub, too,” I said, scratching the fur on Stool’s belly.
“You spoil him,” Nick said.
“So do you.” I stood and lowered my voice, leaning closer to Nick. “How are things going with the Council? Any progress on the funding issue?”
“Not so far.” Nick’s mouth was close to my ear so I could hear him over the music. His warm breath on my neck made my stomach flip. “We’re still in discussions. I’ve submitted the information they’ve requested. Now, it’s a waiting game while they figure out what’s more important, a fully staffed station or a money making theme park.”
“Zee Town already makes enough money for the Council,” I said. “It seems like they might be getting too greedy and want to cash in on our unique status.”
“I agree with you,” Nick said. “I didn’t put that in any of the reports. Rubbing their noses in their own greed won’t get them on side.”
“I can always have a word with them,” I said.
Nick held a hand up and leaned back. “No, don’t get involved.”
“I won’t say anything stupid. I’ll simply remind them of the town’s principles and why we were established. We’re a haven and an example of peace, not an endless source of income.”
“That’s a bad idea. A terrible idea. They might make a knee-jerk reaction if you hassle them. I don’t want them to come down on the side of the theme park.”
“I won’t say anything to force their hand in the matter,” I said. “I won’t annoy them.”
Nick grinned at me. “I’ve never known you to annoy anybody by making your thoughts known.”
I scowled at him. “If they know residents want to keep Alex and don’t want a theme park, it might persuade them to stick with what we already have.”
“Sometimes, it isn’t a terrible idea thing to keep y
our opinions to yourself.”
I sniffed. “I’ll only do that when, well, so long as the opinions being aired are the right ones, I’ll keep offering them.”
“You mean when you think you’re right about something,” Nick said.
I took a sip of my drink. I was a little over-opinionated and had trouble keeping my thoughts to myself. That wasn’t such a bad thing. It was better that than go through life hiding away and never having an impassioned thought about the world.
Nick’s smile widened. “, for once, you’ve lost the ability to speak.”
I placed my glass down and put my hands on my hips. “No, it’s not that. I was doing what you suggested and keeping my opinions to myself.”
The smile remained on Nick’s face. I couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was when he stopped frowning. It must be the subtle lighting in the hall that made him look so good.
“If you’re not too busy, we could...” he gestured to the dance floor.
Now, I was too surprised to speak. Had Nick just asked me to dance? I pulled on the hem of my blouse and was about to reply, when I was lifted from my feet and spun around. I lost my grip on the rose in my hand and it flew through the air.
“Cassie! I’ve been looking for you.” For a few seconds, I was too dizzy to see straight. When my eyes focused, Grant was standing in front of me. He planted a big kiss on my lips.
“You have?” I didn’t know what I was more startled about, being spun around and lifted off my feet, or getting a huge kiss from Grant.
“Yes! I said I’d see you at the dance, and now I have,” Grant said. “Are you too busy for a dance? You promised me one.”
“Oh, yes. I can dance.” I looked at Nick, whose expression was stony. “I can spare five minutes.”
“Excellent. Come with me.” Grant grabbed my hand, completely ignoring Nick and Stool, and pulled me onto the dance floor.
I hesitated for a few seconds and glanced at Nick. He had already turned and was striding toward the exit, Stool at his heel.
I tried to concentrate on dancing with Grant, but my thoughts kept flashing to Nick. Maybe I’d misinterpreted what he’d asked. He can’t have meant for me to dance with him. Perhaps he wanted me to check the emergency exits with him, or wanted to talk more privately about the funding issues at the station. Nick hadn’t been gesturing us onto the dance floor, had he?
Grant spun me so fast that I had no choice but to concentrate on him. His warm hands gripped my waist, and he pulled me toward him as a slow song came on. “Are you having fun?” His words brushed past my ear.
“Yes, you’re a great dancer.” I placed my hands on his shoulders.
“I’m a superhero when it comes to dancing.” Grant whirled me under his arm before bringing me back into his strong embrace.
“So it would appear,” I said with a laugh. “Do you have any other superhero powers?”
“I’m very stealthy and I’m also aiming for super strength,” Grant said. “And the ability to read minds, that would be pretty cool.”
“Yes, it would.” It would have made my recent conversation with Nick so much easier if I’d known what he meant.
“What time does the dance finish?” Grant asked.
“Midnight,” I said. “I’ll be here for at least an hour after that, making sure everyone safely leaves, and the hall is secured.”
“Do you ever take a break?” Grant asked.
“Sometimes. I love my work. I love putting on events that make people happy.”
“You’ve made me happy by dancing with me.” Grant pulled me tighter into his arms.
I couldn’t deny it felt good to be held. I could barely remember the last time I’d danced, if you discounted the jig around the Black Dog with Old Taffy. As for anything else that concerned romantic embraces, well, it had been too long.
The slow song ended, and I reluctantly pulled away from Grant. “I’d better get back to work. I can’t have the canapés running out.”
Grant gave me a bow and kissed the back of my hand. “Come and find me if you want another dance. I’m here all evening.” He led me to the edge of the dance floor and danced off on his own as a faster song came on.
The evening flew by. Before I knew it, people were collecting their coats, wishing each other goodbye, and heading into the frozen night.
A few of the guests seemed a little worse for wear and stumbled out of the door, helped by their equally merry partners. But there had been no mishaps, with plenty of food and drink to go around, and the music had been amazing.
I walked into the emptying dance hall, shaking hands with a few guests as they left, and getting the occasional kiss on the cheek.
I locked the doors and windows and checked to make sure no one had fallen asleep in any of the bathrooms. I was heading to the main door when I spotted Grant leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets and his dark hair looking a little messy. My heart skipped a beat.
He gave me a lazy smile and pushed away from the wall. “I thought you might need a hand tidying up. I can help if you’d like.”
“Thanks. I’ve got everything under control. I just need to wait for the band to move their equipment, check everything’s secure, and lock the main doors. It won’t take long. You’re welcome to wait with me. Some company would be nice.”
Grant nodded. “I’ll definitely come to another one of your events. It was such a great evening. Everyone had an amazing time.”
“That’s nice to know,” I said. “They can be stressful to put together, but it’s always worth it when people enjoy themselves.”
Grant grabbed my hand and walked me into the middle of the dance floor, spinning me around and catching hold of me. We danced together, despite there being no music, and I couldn’t help but stare into his gorgeous green eyes.
Grant lifted me into the air, and I got a little breathless.
“Is that a demonstration of your super strength?” I asked as he placed me back down.
“No, you’re easy to lift,” Grant said.
“What else did you say you had as a super power?”
Grant stopped moving and placed both hands on either side of my head. “I’d love to have the ability to read minds. Let me see if I can work out what you’re thinking.” His gaze drifted to my mouth.
My cheeks heated. Grant seemed like a lovely guy. Quirky, full of energy, and lots of fun. “Have you worked it out yet?”
“I might have.” Grant leaned toward me.
“Miss March,” the lead singer from the band The Twisted Zombies ambled over. “We’re ready to go. I wanted to let you know we’re leaving.”
I pulled away from Grant. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch to book you for the next gig. You were great tonight.”
The singer raised his hand and headed out the main door.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said to Grant.
“You won’t hear any complaints from me,” Grant said.
I turned off the lights, put on my winter coat, and walked outside, before locking the main door. “All ready to go.”
Grant took hold of my hand again. We walked through the silent streets, frost crunching under our feet and our breath pluming out of us like dragon smoke.
My hand was toasty warm inside Grant’s strong grip. I grinned at him as we turned the corner into Ramshackle Lane.
“This is me.” I stopped outside my house.
Grant looked at the building and nodded. “It’s pretty. I love these little cottages.”
“Thanks. I’ve lived here for years.”
“I’m staying above the store in my uncle’s apartment,” Grant said. “It’s decent enough, although the walls are a bit thin. When Uncle Bill’s there, I can hear him snoring.”
“At least you don’t have to worry about that right now. Any idea when he’s coming back?” I wondered about his involvement with the missing zombies. I wanted to double check when Bill last saw Chris and if they’d argued about anything, but I couldn’t d
o that while he was out of town.
“No, but it’ll be soon,” Grant said. “I don’t think he trusts me to be in charge for too long.”
Before I could ask Grant more questions about his uncle, he planted a kiss on my lips, followed by another. It rather made me lose my train of thought.
Grant pulled back, a gleam in his eyes. “You know, I could always come in and keep you company for the night.”
“That’s thoughtful of you.” I pulled myself out of his warm embrace. “We need to go on a lot more dates before we get to keep that kind of company with each other.”
Grant grinned. “You can’t blame a guy for trying. You’re absolutely gorgeous. The first time I saw you, I knew you were something special.” He kissed me again.
If he kept giving me compliments like that, I might change my mind. After a couple more minutes of kissing, I pulled away and took my keys from my purse. I needed to give myself something else to focus on. Grant had very kissable lips. “Thanks for walking me home.”
“Any time,” Grant said. “I hope you had a Happy Valentine’s Day.” He leaned forward and kissed my cheek.
“Yes, I did.” It was the best Valentine’s Day I’d had in a long time.
“Sleep well, Cassie.” Grant gave me one more heart-stopping smile, before turning and walking along the street. He paused at the end and gave me a big wave, which I returned with equal vigor.
I couldn’t stop grinning as I let myself into the cottage and shrugged off my coat. I now felt too warm, cloaked in the brain meltingly amazing kisses Grant had given me. This Valentine’s Day had turned into something wonderful. Things were looking up in the romance department, and it was about time.
Chapter 12
I’d set my alarm before tumbling into bed. The late hour and the intoxicating kisses from Grant had made me both tired and wired. I didn’t have the best night’s sleep, so was grateful when the alarm alerted me that morning had arrived.
I was humming as I made a quick breakfast. When I spotted my reflection in the mirror by the front door, I noticed a soft smile on my face.