Biting Serendipity: April Fools For Love (Biting Love Short Bites Book 4) by Mary Hughes Read Free Book Online Page B

and went to work, optimism bubbling, waiting for the fireworks.
    Even Granny’s stripping seemed less like her trying to creatively maim herself on her underwear and more impish fun. As I ferried beer, I kept half an eye on her, half an eye on the bar where the refrigerator was, and mulled over how I’d set up the camera when I actually played what was sure to be a prize-winning prank at the church. Probably prop my phone on the organ, with a clear view of the low C bell.
    It wasn’t long until Buddy reached for the last olive, then bent and opened the refrigerator door to get more. I waited for the shout, trying to control my giggles.
    He shut the door, his face unchanged, full jar of olives in hand. Nothing. No scream, no shout, not even a moue of distaste.
    Hadn’t he seen it?
    The instant I could, without being too suspicious, I sneaked behind the bar and opened the refrigerator. No, there was my head…
    Something looked different about it. Sure, there were the fangs, but the cheekbones were too high and broad…I knelt to get a closer look.
    And shrieked. That was a real head in there. Broad cheekbones, blond… Cutter. My whole body went cold.
    “Miss Camille?” Buddy called from behind me. “Sera saw the…complication.”
    I was trembling on my knees when she came around the bar. “ Don’t mind that. ” Her voice echoed. “Cutter’s boss owes me money for the window, and for that stunt Cutter pulled the other night.” She shrugged. “I’m just making sure I get paid.”
    As she stood, I realized Thor was there, hovering with a concerned expression, and that he’d been there for a while. As if…he cared.
    “You all right?” He took my elbow and helped me to my feet.
    Wow. Cutter’s head was surreal, but Thor’s solicitude was freaky.
    “Yes.” Freaky, but surprisingly therapeutic. As his body heat cut through the cold shivers, I sighed. “I was trying out an idea for my April Fools’ Day prank. It, um, backfired.”
    “Ah. Your prank.” His tone turned brusque. “I’ll let you get to work then.” Whatever caring I’d imagined was gone now as he turned and walked away.
    Sighing again, oxygen suddenly being thin, I grabbed my tray and got back to work.
    A short time later, I was waiting to ask Buddy for a pitcher while he tapped glasses for Jenny.
    “Hey, Sera,” she greeted. As each came from his hand, she loaded her tray. “Did I hear you’re doing an April Fools contest prank?”
    Trying to but failing, I nearly said. But my being grumpy wasn’t her fault. “Yes. I have to. Camille picked me to represent the bar.”
    “I’ve always wanted to do one, but I’ve been too scared.”
    “Yeah, well, it’s a lot harder than it looks.” I grimaced in the direction of the refrigerator. Grimace wasn’t grumpy, right?
    “I’ll keep that in mind.” She picked up her tray and spun away.
    “A pitcher,” I said to Buddy, when her words hit me. “Keep it in mind for what…?” I turned, mouth dropping, and watched her hips swing as she sauntered around a table, delivering beers. Oh no. Surely, I’d misread that little saucy spin, that perky walk.
    She wasn’t going to play a prank just because I was?
    Was she?
    Jenny had mimicked me before, in high school—and nearly ruined her life. She was the major reason I cleaned up my act, so she wouldn’t get in trouble trying to be me. But now…
    What if she was copying my bad behavior again?
    While I waited tables, fumbling beers because my hands were like ice, I told myself I’d imagined that gleam in her eye. Bad enough I’d been scared half to death by my own prank. But what Goddess of Gotcha had I pissed off, that the one time I’d cut loose and had a little fun—because my employer made me, no less—might add a Jenny-size disaster, too?
    I was never having fun again.
    Gabriella phoned me. “How’d it go?”
    “The jar thing backfired.”
    “Crap. Okay, Abbie’s on it. We’ll get you another prank pronto.”
    “We’ll