Nathan's next text made her grin. «Ah yes, I forgot about your inner carnivore. I'll leave you to your meat feast then. Hope apartment hunting goes well. Sweet dreams, my foxy lady ??»
Harper's heart fluttered at the endearment. She hugged her phone to her chest, warmth spreading through her that had nothing to do with the nearby fireplace. Even after such an awful day, Nathan found a way to make her smile.
«Sweet dreams, Nathan»
Mate sweet, Reyna sighed contentedly.Makes us happy.
"He does," Harper whispered, her fingers tracing over his last message. The simple text somehow managed to wash away the last lingering tension from her shoulders.
After ordering, a large pizza with extra cheese and pepperoni from a local pizzeria Katerina had recommended, Harper settled deeper into the armchair. The soft cushions embraced her, and the fire's warmth wrapped around her like a blanket. For the first time all day, she felt truly at peace.
Chapter 11
Harper steppedout of the inn's front door into the crisp morning air, her folder of apartment listings clutched to her chest. A sleek blue sports car purred up the circular drive, Katerina at the wheel and Becca waving from the back seat.
"Ready for some apartment hunting?" Katerina called out as Harper slid into the passenger seat.
"More than ready. The inn is wonderful, but I can't stay there forever. I need my own place." Harper smoothed her skirt and clicked her seatbelt into place.
As they drove through the winding streets toward their first destination, Harper twisted in her seat to face Becca. "I've been meaning to ask - Katerina told me you raise produce and sell things at farmers markets? It must be quite an adjustment from life in the 17th century."
Harper watched Becca's face light up in the back seat.
"Oh, I have the most wonderful milk cow! Her name is Blossom, and she stays at Katerina's barn since they have all that lovely space." Becca leaned forward between the seats, her stormy-gray eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I milk her twice a day, and make butter and cheese. And, of course, I also get buttermilk from churning the butter."
Harper smiled, impressed by how well Becca had adapted to modern life while keeping her traditional skills alive. "You've really carved out a beautiful niche for yourself here. I mean, I've seen cows, of course, but I wouldn't begin to know how to milk one, much less make butter or cheese. Do you ever have classes for adults? I'd love to try my hand at it."
"Yes, but not right now," Katerina inserted, with a mock frown, wagging her finger like a stern teacher. "We need to find you an apartment, and a car." Her golden eyes sparkled with the enthusiasm she brought to every project.
Becca bounced in the back seat, her ebony hair swaying with the movement. "Yes! I would like to see how purchasing a car is done. One day, in the future, I will want to have one." She bit her bottom lip. "Some day, anyway. When I learn to drive. Later. Much, much later."
Katerina grinned. "What, you're not wanting to get behind the wheel of a car and drive on the freeway right now?"
Harper watched with concern as all the color drained from Becca's face, leaving her honey-gold skin ashen. "Are you alright?"
"Oh yes, I'm fine." Becca's voice quavered slightly. "It is only the thought of driving, myself, that throws me into a panic."
"I totally get that," Harper agreed.
"Okay, here we are," Katerina announced, pulling up to the front of a smaller, but very nice, apartment complex. It was all mellowed red brick and ivy, with neat white shutters framing sash windows. The morning sunlight caught the brass numbers beside each door, making them gleam. Neat cement walks dissected a lush, grassy yard, and flower beds overflowed with summer blooms, their sweet fragrance drifting on the breeze.
The three of them exited the vehicle and stood a moment, taking in the peaceful scene. A butterfly danced past, its orange wings a flash of color against the brick.
"It is very pretty," Becca approved, her face brightening as she studied the well-tended gardens.
Katerina pointed past the buildings toward a dense line of trees. "Look, it backs onto those woods." The forest stretched into the distance, promising miles of natural trails and the kind of solitude Harper's fox nature craved.
"All these apartments have two bedrooms, central heat and air conditioning, dishwasher, yada yada," Harper recited from memory. "They have two downstairs apartments available, and one upstairs one"
"Laundry room?" Katerina asked.
Harper consulted the paper in her hands. "Nope, there's a stacked unit in each apartment. Also, wi-fi and cable are included in the rent."
"Sweet."
"I want to look at the upstairs apartment," Harper said, first looking around to be sure no one was in hearing distance. "I want to be able to be free to Change into my fox, and not have to worry about drawing the blinds or curtains every time."
Katerina grinned, her golden eyes sparking with mischief. "That's understandable. People would be pretty surprised to be walking by and see a fox looking out at them. Though you'd make an adorable window decoration."
