A Touch of Madness (A Recipe for Disaster Novel 1)

But it's not roaring me down.

When the doorbell rang a bit later, I struggled awake and got to my feet. By the time I’d gotten to the door, whoever had been there had left. Sitting in front of the door was a bouquet of flowers. They were beautiful, all black petal with reddish highlights and an almost velvety feeling to them. They smelled intoxicating, a scent I couldn’t put a name to but it made me think of hot sex and cold champagne, which is weird. I shook my head and smiled. I swear Zeke does the most cheesy, romantic things for Cassie. I didn’t invade their privacy by reading the note, instead I carried the flowers to Cassie’s room and left the bouquet on the bed.

An hour or so later I heard Cassie come in the door. She was humming to herself. “Hey sleepy head, how you doing?” she called up the stairs. I was in the bathtub, enjoying a bubble bath.

“I’m pruning up nicely.” I yelled back, hearing Cassie tromp around the condo, doing her thing. Then I heard a girlie exclamation as she walked into her room and I smiled to myself, imagining her swooning like a little girl. So when I heard hysterical laughter coming from her, it was a little shocking. Somehow romantic flowers didn’t suit rampant laughter.

“Oh Cal, you’re an adorable idiot, an absolute thick head.” I heard her say through the door. “Next time, read the damn card.” She ordered me and slid said card under the bathroom door. I lazily stretched out an arm and grabbed it. Then I almost drowned in shock. The envelope that the card was in had my name on it so I opened the envelope, curiosity aroused.

Kitten,

We dance well together and I want to do so again, soon.

Hope these make you think of me.

Sebastian.

My mouth was opening and closing like I had something to say, but not a damn sound emerged. “You drown in there Cal? What does the card say?” Cassie asked whining tone and all. I numbly got out of the bathtub and handed her the card to read while I cleaned up the bathroom. Cassie had put the flowers in my room and the smell still made me think naughty activities but now it disturbed me. I sure hope that’s not what Sebastian meant by thinking about him. Cassie walked into my room to look at me, her expression guarded. Well, as guarded as she could ever be.

“Cal, I think you should be careful about Sebastian. Zeke’s Sire is a good man, for a Demon Lord but I don’t get his sudden intense interest in you. No offense.” She said carefully. I didn’t take offense, I’m naturally paranoid and it’s rubbed off on Cassie.

“I’ll be careful love, no worries. But I actually like the damn flowers, even if I’m not thrilled about who sent them.” I replied, frustrated. What I didn’t say out loud was that these were the first flowers I’ve ever been sent. Most guys were like Alex, never thinking of me as a romantic, well, woman. The beautiful, mushy flowers moved the girlie part of me even though I could barely stand Sebastian. Part of that was me remembering old hurts; his sudden attraction to me came after knowing Cassie for several years. Did he want me just because I looked like her? Though I could still vividly remember how it felt when he’d kissed me after dancing. My head started to hurt. “You know what? Whatever. They’re pretty flowers. That’s all I’m taking it as.” I said finally and Cassie smiled at me. I pulled on a pair of comfy pajamas and climbed into bed. It was early, but I was exhausted. Inevitably I dreamed of Sebastian, probably because of the damn flowers.

Blood loss takes a couple of days to recover from, but by the next day I felt as good as new. Though it took a while for my appetite to calm down, I’d been eating everything. Three days later and it was Thursday; I have this thing about Thursdays, I honestly do. They’re either really good, or really bad and the last few have been bad. I was sincerely hoping tonight would be good. In honor of the changers who had been attacked, tonight’s theme was Wild Things. Amanda gave me the option of either dressing in animal patterns or in an actual costume. Cassie immediately ‘borrowed’ my black leather pants and went as a black cat. She has a bit more curve to her frame than I do, so the pants looked painted on. I jokingly slapped her butt and it stung like hell.