"That was disappointing." Lucía let out a tired sigh.
Standing at the entrance of Bennet's flower and herbal shop, she was frustrated. And who could blame her? This was the only place in all of Hertford where she could find the special supplies she needed to hunt that werewolf. Not everyone kept aconite in their inventory, after all.
Lucía certainly had not expected the place to be completely overrun with work because of the cursed funeral for the town's young sports star. The irony was grotesque. Jonathan Blackthorn had been killed by a creature, and the only shop that sells the flower she needed to avenge him was too busy decorating his grave.
Still, Lucía did not hold it against the woman working the counter. The mature woman with warm brown skin and long, perfectly maintained wavy hair looked like she had stepped out of a shampoo commercial. Clearly, she was doing the work of three people. And from what Lucía had heard, she was also a single mother.
"My willingness to forgive her has absolutely nothing to do with how attractive she is." Lucía muttered to herself without conviction. "Damn. I really do have a problem." She admitted a second later. The biggest drawback of her condition was that her medication only suppressed the symptoms, not everything else. It was obvious she had way too many hormones and pent-up tension.
Trying not to dwell any further on her unmet needs or her sudden interest in older women, Lucía patted her cheeks to clear her head.
Clap. Clap.
"Next stop." Her gaze wandered until it landed on a small crêpe shop. "Yep. That's exactly what I need. Eat the problem away." With a shrug, Lucía went off to do exactly that.
"That hit the spot." One delicious berry crêpe later, Lucía found herself once again unsure of where to go. Ignoring all the glances her striking appearance attracted, she glanced down at her outfit and decided to return to the inn to change into something more durable. She needed gear suitable for what she had planned later that night.
Fifteen minutes later, Lucía opened the door to her room at Cassidy's inn and used her foot to kick it closed behind her. Her hands were full. Turns out the innkeeper was right when she said she did not mind renting out the room at a discount, since Lucía would end up spending the money anyway. In her arms, she now carried an entire collection of handmade soaps, lotions, and shampoos crafted by the innkeeper. The same ones she had used during her shower the night before, just in different scents.
Having placed the items on the table, Lucía moved to unpack her bags and find something to wear. "Hmm. I might have more than one problem." That was her comment as she looked over the clothes on her bed, none of which were remotely inexpensive.
Work gear made sense. It had to be made from high-quality, durable material. But there were also many dresses and coordinated outfits in very specific styles that she wore depending on her mood. Even the underwear was made of fine designer fabrics, which was particularly extravagant considering the odds of anyone else seeing it were zero.
"Well, a girl's gotta spend her money on something." With that justification and another indifferent shrug, Lucía dropped any attempt at changing her habits.
"Leather pants, ready. Thick socks, ready. Reinforced combat boots, ready. Bulletproof vest... probably overkill. Red blouse that matches her skin tone perfectly, ready. Jacket with style and lots of pockets, ready." Lucía took a look at herself in the mirror and was fully satisfied.
After tucking a few things into her pockets and filling the hidden compartments in her outfit, she grabbed her tool bag and headed to her motorcycle. A satisfied smile curled across her lips at the sight of her beloved machine parked outside, radiant and fierce as ever. "All set." She said once the bag was secured.
One quick glance at her watch dampened her mood. There was still too much time before her planned outing. Sure, she could go to Old Tom's Pub now, but that would mean waiting nearly three hours for Katherine's shift to end. That would make her look like a sad little stalker loitering there the whole time, staring at the redhead.
With no good ideas and no clear destination, Lucía retraced her steps and walked into the café attached to the inn. Might as well enjoy a snack. After saying that, she ordered an extra-large milk coffee and two slices of berry cheesecake.
For some reason, the berries reminded her of something else. Or rather, someone. And a thought that had no business being there. Her desire to taste those reddish lips. Lucía kept eating until her plate was clean. Then she set down the fork and pretended she had not thought about it. Satisfying her appetite would have to be enough. Any other cravings were off the table.
Ignoring the crush she definitely did not have, Lucía finished her coffee in a few steady gulps, letting the bittersweet flavor cleanse her palate and her thoughts. "Let's see if I can secure a friend and a medium before the day is over." She said as she paid the bill. Her mind was already refocusing on the mountain of tasks she had to handle before her brief stay in Hertford came to an end.
As expected for a pass-through town like Hertford, the nightlife was nowhere near as lively or noisy as in big cities. But Lucía preferred it that way. In her opinion, it was less toxic and much less irritating. Not that she could enjoy clubs or anything similar anyway. They were far too overstimulating for her particular sensitivities.
And there she was, right at the northeastern edge of town, just a short turn off the road that would have taken her all the way to London if she had stayed on course. Old Tom's Pub was cozy, for lack of a better word. A new and well-kept establishment that tried to imitate the traditional atmosphere it once had before burning down in a fire. Lucía liked the place, although perhaps it was her taste for greasy comfort food and good beer.
Judging by the nearly full parking lot packed with mid-range family vehicles, it was safe to assume that a decent number of tourists and travelers were currently inside, looking to recharge before continuing on their journey. The good news was that there was still parking available for her motorcycle. The bad news was that poor Katherine was probably working at full capacity.
Just as Lucía had guessed, the moment she walked through the pub's doors, she was greeted by a cacophony of noise and an overwhelming mix of aromas. Shouting, laughter, arguments, and children demanding attention. Meat sizzling on the grill, potatoes bubbling in the fryer, and what was likely a shepherd's pie baking in the oven. Lucía felt slightly dizzy for a moment.
Then came the tempting scent of craft beer, which helped make things more bearable. The faintest hint of strawberry carried through the air and brought a satisfied smile to her lips without her realizing it.
Lucía's boots creaked against the wooden floor as she walked with purpose and conviction toward the bar. A few heads turned in her direction, although she could not tell if it was because of her presence or something else.
Her throat already longed to be soothed by the finest barley-based drink. Her stomach was eager to throw more fuel into the fire. Her mind began arranging the conversation she was about to have with the redhead. An offer, an alliance, and maybe a bond. And as for her heart... only Lucía knew what it truly desired in that moment.