Chapter Nineteen #2
The moment her eyes flicked to where it charged Abe followed her gaze and tutted. She moved towards the till, trying to look casual, unhurried, but Abe was already there. Swiping her phone from the side and spinning it in his fingers while perusing the menu above Verity’s head.
She glanced at Cora, talking to Kim but with an eye on Verity. Flapping her hand with a forced smile, Verity gestured for her friend to go back to her conversation. “Can I get you something?” she asked, turning back to Abe.
“Could do with a coffee. I’ve got a long night ahead of me.” He grinned like a fiend. “What would you recommend?”
“I’d recommend Valeson’s,” she said dryly, quiet enough that the words wouldn’t reach Cora.
Throwing his coat and hat over a spare stool, he sat at the counter. “But Valeson’s don’t have such beautiful baristas.”
“We don’t do fancy crap.”
“Any coffee’s fine,” he said, spinning her phone against the countertop. “I’m not leaving without it. One drink and you can have this back. Unless you wanted to cause a scene?”
Of course she didn’t want to cause a scene, and he damn well knew it.
With one last icy stare she turned to the new coffee machine. A little voice in her head told her not to turn her back on him, but what choice did she have?
The moment she pulled out a to-go cup he chirped, “I’ll be drinking in, and make yourself one.
” Holy fucking gods. Her heart raced, hands near shaking as she made two cappuccinos.
“I’ve been looking forward to getting to know you better.
I’ll be in town for a while, plenty of time to become better acquainted.
What kind of food do you like? The restaurant a few doors down looks good.
” Verity sprinkled chocolate on the drinks, ignoring every word.
Until he mused, “Your mother seemed nice.”
“You stay the fuck away from my mum,” she snapped, whirling on him.
“There she is.” Abe leant back in his chair, watching her with pure delight.
Only then did Verity notice a pair of vampires standing outside, across the road, watching them. Back up? Blood roared in her ears, hands trembling. There was talking, but she wasn’t listening.
He was talking.
Verity almost fell back when Abe's hand touched hers.
“They don’t like me out on my own,” he explained, a surprising amount of sympathy in his eyes. “Come on, sit with me.”
Gathering the drinks she set them on the side. One drink and he’d go. Just one drink.
He pulled the stool next to him out, but Verity didn’t move.
“Do you really want your friend overhearing us?” he asked, and Verity knew he was right. Whatever he wanted to say, she did not want Cora hearing it.
Moving around the counter, losing the one barrier between them, she sat, trying not to cringe when Abe scooted closer. He slid her phone out of reach and set her coffee in front of her.
“I thought you didn’t do fancy coffee,” he said, taking a sip. “Now then, what’s the deal with you and Chapel?”
Cora was still chatting with Kim, so Verity said, “We’re, you know, dating.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, we are.”
“Nope.”
“He’s my boyfriend.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Verity floundered. “Well, you don’t have to believe me,” she snapped.
“Verity,” he started, reaching for her hand before thinking better of it. “I have known the Chapel brothers for a very long time. I know what they’re like. As nervous as you were before Theo arrived, you were terrified once he got there.” He leant closer. “If you need help…”
“No.” What the fuck? “No, I don’t need help.”
“It’s okay, really…”
“Abe…”
“One minute you’re asking me if I own humans, then Chapel declares that you belong to him and you agree…”
“That was a private conversation,” she said. He heard that?
“I’m just saying…”
“Well, don’t.” Was he seriously going to sit there and act like he wanted to help her?
“Okay.” Abe stared into his coffee, brows raised high with disbelief.
Then a thought struck her, or about ten thoughts.
The trade deal. Cliffhaven. The docks.
Keep Abe happy.
Fuck.
“You’re here for a while?” she asked, trying to keep the disdain from her tone.
“A few weeks,” he said, swirling the coffee and taking another sip.
“What parts of Havenshire have you visited?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”
She swallowed. “Because you want to share a drink and I’d like to change the subject.”
His grin returned. “You know, I do get a little sick of the arse licking.”
“Ultimatums don’t help.”
“Fair point.”
“Well,” Verity started, glancing to Cora, ensuring her friend was still distracted. “From what I hear, we all need to sweet-talk you into liking us.”
“You don’t need to sweet-talk me.” He winked. “Although, I believe Viv noticed that I… took an interest, so you might get dragged to SubRosa while I’m in town.”
“Great.” She already knew that but hearing it from Abe still filled her with dread. “How’s the rest of your visit been?”
“Fine. I like Ashhaven, at least it’s more… normal here. Highhaven was stuck up, Salthaven was boring, Cliffhaven…”
“Cliffhaven?” She exclaimed.
“Yeah…”
“You went to Cliffhaven?” They were supposed to be making a good impression. Why would he be taken to a town full of disease and rebellion?
“I did.” He watched her over his cup, taking another sip.
“Was it okay? I mean,” she wasn’t supposed to know about New Albion, “with the outbreak and everything?”
“Outbreak?”
“The Hesperian flu?”
“Oh,” he took another big gulp of coffee. “That, yeah, it was fine.”
“Fine?” she asked, but Abe stood, finishing his drink, which must have been scolding, and setting the cup on the counter.
“I meant what I said, about the Chapels. If you need…”
“Don’t change the subject,” she demanded, making Abe chuckle.
“So, you can change the subject, but I can’t?”
She scowled as he slid her phone across the counter and donned his coat. Something else continued to irritate her.
“What’s your problem with Theo?”
Abe shrugged. “He’s easy to wind up. Too uptight.”
“I don’t see why that’s your problem.”
He hummed before asking, “You met his brother yet?”
Verity shook her head. Theo had mentioned him a few times, mainly about him digging for information. She imagined a man like Theo but a little older with glasses and a nose in other people’s business. Not that she’d ever seen a vampire with glasses.
“You meet Jesse, then tell me I’m wrong.” He straightened his hat then grabbed her hand and planted a kiss on it before she could yank it back. “It was good to see you again sweet Verity, and my offer still stands. If there is anything I can do to change your mind, please let me know.”
Cora and Kim were saying their goodbyes too, and Abe nodded to the women, holding the door open for Kim as she left before throwing one last grin over his shoulder for Verity before leaving. The vampires across the street watched throughout, staring at Verity before following their charge.
“Was that Adam?” Cora asked at her side, making Verity jump.
“No,” she replied. “It wasn’t.”
“Who was he? He's gorgeous.”
Verity didn’t bother trying to come up with an answer as she untied her apron and found her coat.
“Is he single?” Cora asked, following her into the back. “Wouldn’t mind a piece of that.”
“No, he isn’t single. Serial cheater,” she told her friend.
Cora pulled a face. “I’ll pass then.”
Verity hugged her before running for the door.
“Gotta go babe. Late for donation.”
“Have fun!” Cora called but Verity was already gone.