by V. Vaughn
"Oh." I smile and wonder how a girl who has just released her first book ended up with a manager already. "Lyndsey. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine."
He shifts in his seat, and that's when I notice the two plates of food in front of them that are almost full. Sebastian strikes me as the kind of guy who does polite, so I say, "My gosh. I interrupted your dinner. I'm so sorry."
As expected, he says, "No. Don't be." He waves his hand in dismissal. "We were getting full anyway." He leans his arm on the table as he moves closer to me. "Have you considered Lyme disease? Perhaps you were all infected by the same mosquitoes or ticks."
Kitty's response is too quick when she says, "I bet that's it!" The girl is a terrible liar. But when she looks at Sebastian with gratitude, she gives valuable information anyway. I think Sebastian is in on whatever happened. I also think he's too slick to give me the truth. It's time to cut my losses. For now.
I let out a fake sigh of relief. "You know what? I bet you're right." I stand up. "Thank you so much for your time." I paste on a big smile. "I'll let you get back to your dinner."
"You're welcome," says Sebastian.
Kitty says, "Great to see you again." Her words are hollow, and we both know it.
"You too," I say before I walk away, and I think I need to see my doctor as soon as I can.
7
Lyndsey
I return to my barstool and let out a big sigh. Liam sees me and comes over to ask, "Definitely a no-show?"
I nod. "Story of my life."
"I don't believe that for a second. You're way too attractive to be single." He pumps his eyebrows at me. "For long." He reaches for my half-full beer glass and goes to refill it. I probably should stop him, but I might as well enjoy a hot guy before I head back home.
When he returns, he sets the beer down and says, "I swear I don't flirt like this with everyone." He shakes his head. "There's something about you, Lyndsey. I know this is probably too fast, but I'm afraid I might never see you again, so here goes." He takes a deep breath. "I'll be done in a half hour. How about I take you out to show you not all men are slime?"
Liam is very sexy, and I'm definitely attracted to him too. Besides, a date with a hot bartender sure is a nice consolation prize for my unproductive evening. And he's right— because I don't come to Portland often, I might never see him again. I think about the fact I have to drive home to Port Porpoise tonight and say, "I'd like that. But since I'm driving, let's make it coffee."
Liam grins as if he's doing a mental fist pump. "Coffee it is." I discover I'm grinning too. He says, "I'm really glad you came in tonight, Lyndsey."
Considering the information I gathered earlier from Kitty and Sebastian, and that I met Liam, I say, "I am too."
I nurse my beer while Liam finishes up with work, and when his shift is over, Liam tells me to wait for him by the hostess stand while he goes to get his things. I grab a mint from a bowl on the counter, and the cellophane rustles as I open it. The older woman who is the hostess smiles at me. "Did you enjoy your meal?"
"Oh. I— " I turn to where Liam entered the kitchen. "I'm waiting for Liam."
She raises her eyebrows at me as she smiles, and my stomach tightens for a moment with the fear she thinks I'm another one of his hookups. She seems like the motherly type, and considering I have no intention of going home with Liam, I step closer to the woman. "Can I ask you something?" She nods. "Does Liam have lots of girlfriends?"
"No. Not at all." She leans in too and lowers her voice. "As a matter of fact, most of the girls who work here would give their eyeteeth to go out with him, but he never seems to date. You must be someone quite special."
"Good." The heat of a blush rushes to my face. "I mean, thanks. I wanted to make sure I wasn't jumping into a bad situation. You know?"
"Ready?" asks Liam, and I turn to him. He's changed into a black T-shirt and black jeans, and I have to refrain from licking my lips, because he's even sexier than before.
"I am." I follow him as he takes us outside.
He stops under the bright light that illuminates the door. He puts on a black leather jacket and shoves his hands in the pockets. "Feel like walking to the end of the pier and sitting for a while so we can talk?"
"Sure." Our feet tap out a hollow beat over the wood planks and I ask, "What kind of programming do you do?"
"Apps mostly. I figure out what people don't know they need and then create an app they can't live without."
I chuckle as I think about the game I see so many people at the coffee shop playing on their phones. "Like Candy Crush?"
He laughs too. "Mine aren't quite that involved. One of my most successful ones is for picking the best New England microbrew for your tastes."
"Yeah?" I bump against his shoulder. "Do you make a lot of money from it?"
"Not enough to quit the bartender job, if that's what you're asking."
We've reached the end of the pier, and Liam lowers himself to dangle his feet over the edge. I sit beside him as he asks, "What do you do to pay the rent?"
Small waves lap at the support posts below us. "I work in a coffee shop in Port Porpoise in the summers and teach snowboarding in Vermont in the winter."
"Nice." He pauses for a second. "I might be too geeky for you."
I wonder if he's right, considering his pale skin tone. It's important for me to be outdoors, and it may not make sense to start a relationship with someone who doesn't enjoy it. "You spend your days holed up in a dark room full of computer monitors?"
"No." He leans into me. "But I'm more of a night owl. This is the time of day I prefer to be outside."
"Really? What do you like to do?"
"Walk the beach. Hang out on a boat in the water." He leans in and takes a deep breath as if he's inhaling my scent. I reflexively move back, and he says, "I'm sorry. I'm not a creep. It's just that your sc— shampoo smells so good."
"Oh." I think about the hair products I use. "Coconut."
"One of my favorite scents." He licks his lips. "And flavors."
"You are such a flirt."
His voice lowers in tone. "I can't help myself around you, Lyndsey. Like I said before, there's something irresistible about you."
I remember the hostess told me he doesn't date, and I'm tempted to believe Liam's blatant line, but something is making warning bells go off in my mind. "You said something about coffee." I move away from him to rise up to my feet. "Does that offer still stand? Because I could use one before I drive back home."
"I just freaked you out by moving too fast, didn't I?" He stands up and sighs. "I'm sorry. I don't date much, and now you see why."
I feel like a jerk for making him feel bad, and I say, "I'm not freaked out, but I need to be perfectly clear about what I want. I'm not a hookup kind of girl."
"Totally cool. That's not what I want either." He gives me a sheepish smile. "I probably shouldn't admit this to you, but I've never had a one-night stand."
My jaw drops. "Really? Wow. Not even in college?"
"Nope. I like to think it's because I'm in touch with my feminine side."
I chuckle. He's not like most guys I meet, and his awkwardness is appealing. I place my palm on his chest as I say, "You're adorable, Liam."
He glances down at my hand and then tilts his head at me. "Can I touch you back?"
I nod as I step in closer. "I'd like that very much."
Liam grips my arms lightly. "Good. Because there's something I've wanted to do since I first sm— saw you at my bar."
I think he wants to kiss me, and I definitely want to kiss him. "Yeah?" I lift my face up to him, and that's when I notice his eyes flash with something not quite real. I stiffen just before he launches himself at my neck, and I gasp when I experience the sharp pain of his teeth puncturing my skin. I open my mouth to scream, and then my world goes black...
8
Maggie
"Lyme disease?" I ask Sebastian. I have to admit it does sou
nd like a plausible reason for Lyndsey's weak condition. "You're quick on your feet." I slide halibut on my fork and savor the buttery hazelnut flavor when I take a bite.
"Now you understand why having friends is so dangerous for you."
I frown as I recall Alexander telling me that my friends wouldn't have any idea they'd been fed on. "Do all people you— " I glance around and lower my voice, "Don't most of them notice the blood loss?"
He shrugs. "I don't usually encounter them afterward. I try not to get personal."
"Hmpf." I scowl at him. "Except when you're teaching me a lesson."
His knife scrapes on his plate as he pushes the remaining food around to make it look like he's eating. "People like Lyndsey are exactly why I had to."
He does have a point. Lyndsey sure is tenacious about finding out the truth. "Lesson learned." I don't think she's done, though. Lyndsey's one smart cookie, and I doubt she was satisfied with the information she got tonight. "I don't think she's done yet. Do you?"
"She'll go to the doctor and find out her red blood cell count is low. They'll give her iron pills and tell her to eat better."
I wish I could believe that would be the end of it, but something tells me Lyndsey isn't out of my life yet. "What if she figures out what happened?"
Sebastian's eyes widen the slightest as if I'm being foolish. "Do you have room for dessert?"
I let out a whoosh of air as I lean back and place my hands on my full stomach. "Eating out with you and Alexander is going to make me fat. I think two entrees is enough."
"You don't have to eat it all." Vampires can't eat food because it runs right through their system, causing them major gastrointestinal distress.
"Are you kidding?" I tried to set half of each meal aside to take with us, but Sebastian said not to. "My mother's voice is in my head, telling me not to waste it." I realize this is a chance to find out more about Sebastian's past, and I ask, "Were you ever short on money in your life?"
He smiles. "Next time, we'll only order one meal and say we're splitting it."
The champagne has made my tongue a little loose, and I lean close to him as I ask, "Why is your past such a big secret? I'm beginning to think you've done horrible things you don't want me to find out about."
"If that's your attempt to shame me, it's poorly done, Kitty." He's speaks quietly in his tolerant teacher voice. "I survived a great famine, my dear. You can't even begin to imagine that kind of hunger."
"Wow. Which one?" I reach for my champagne glass and recall what I learned in history class. "Was it the Potato Famine in Ireland? Is Hart an Irish name?" I finish the rest of my glass as I wait for his answers. Sebastian is quiet, and when I notice his eyes have hardened, I realize I went too far. "I'm sorry. You know my life story, and I know almost nothing about you. I can't help if my imagination gets carried away. Will you tell me the story?"
His expression softens. "You really want to know what my life was like then?"
I nod. "I do." I reach over and place my hand on his arm. "We're about to spend a month on the road together. I'd like to know you better."
Sebastian glances down at my hand, and he places his cold fingers over it. "I'd like that too, Margaret. I'll share some of my past with you."
The waiter comes, and I pull my hand away. Sebastian says, "Could you box up the rest for us, please? We'd like to see the dessert menu."
When the server leaves, I say, "I thought we couldn't take it. And didn't I just tell you I was too full for dessert?"
"We'll put it in the hotel fridge, and you can have your leftovers and dessert for lunch."
I smile at him. "Thank you."
When the dessert menu arrives, I choose cheesecake to be boxed up with the remains of our dinners, and Sebastian orders us two cognacs in heated snifters. I grimace at the idea of warm brandy, but he says, "The one for you will be sweet. I think you'll like it."
Sebastian has a knack for knowing what I'll like, and my excellent dinner is proof. "You're good at picking things for me, so I'm sure it will be."
"Like you said earlier, I know your life story. I thought it might be nice to enjoy the water view a little longer as I tell you a piece of mine."
When our cognacs arrive, I taste mine and discover it's very sweet and perfect for sipping. "This is nice," I say, and then I wait for Sebastian to begin talking.
He swirls his brandy snifter and inhales the scent before he takes a mouthful. I watch as his neck works while he swallows it, and then he lets out a sigh. "Alexander and I grew up in Ireland, and we did live through the Great Famine, or the Potato Famine, as you call it."
"Is that how you came to the United States?"
He nods.
I recall he said he became a vampire to save Alexander, and I think I'm going to hear about it. "What happened?"
"Alexander and I were two of thirteen children, and we lived on a farm." He smiles, and I think the memory is a happy one. I imagine what he and Alexander must have looked like as little boys. "When the potato blight hit, we suffered greatly. It was a major crop for us, but we could have survived doing without it if not for— "
He is silent for a moment before he closes his eyes and places his hand on his forehead as if he's in pain. I reach out and touch his arm. "Sebastian?"
When he gazes up at me, his eyes are glassy. "People do terrible things when they're desperate. A band of thieves attacked our farm." He grabs his brandy and gulps some down. "Alexander and I were in town getting supplies when it happened. We returned home to— " He closes his eyes again, and when he opens them, they're flashing with his vampire. "It was a massacre. Not an animal or human was left alive."
"Oh my god. What did you do?"
"Alexander was only eight, and as much as I wanted revenge on the thieves, I knew I had to protect my little brother. We ran to a neighbor's farm, and they took us in for a while, but there were too many mouths of their own to feed, and we had to leave."
"How old were you?"
"Thirteen. But back then, I was old enough to be considered a man. I took Alexander to the city so I could find work, and that's where we heard about ships that would hire boys and men in exchange for passage to America."
"You were so young." I wrap my hand around the warm brandy glass. "What happened when you got here?"
"We landed in Boston, and I spent my days doing anything I could to make pennies in return, while Alexander was often left alone to play with other children. Of course, they were unsupervised, and it wasn't long until he got into trouble."
I lean in closer as he gets to the good part. "What kind of trouble?"
Sebastian downs the rest of his drink. "That, my dear, is a story for another time." He raises his hand to catch the attention of the waiter and asks for our check.
I feel as if he just cut me off, as a good TV show does to get you to watch the next episode. I'm tempted to press for more, but I think it's wise for me to take what I was given graciously. While patience isn't my strong suit, I think I'll be rewarded with pieces of Sebastian's past if I am.
After we pay and get outside of the restaurant, I stop for a moment to look out over the harbor and let the ocean breeze blow the loose strands of my hair away from my face. Sebastian says, "You enjoy the sea very much, Margaret."
"I do." I imagine the grief he must have suffered losing his family, and I don't have to be in love with the man to appreciate the ache my heart feels. I grab his hand and wrap my warm fingers around his cold ones, wishing I could take away his pain. "Let's walk to the end of the pier and enjoy the water a bit longer before we have to make the drive to Boston."
Sebastian squeezes my hand, and our feet thud on the wooden planks as we stroll into the darkness. I say, "Thank you for sharing with me tonight. I feel like I know you a little better now."
"Yes. I suppose you do." He glances at me, and the lights from the surrounding buildings allow me to see the small smile on his face. "If you truly want to know me, Margaret, that would make me very hap
py."
"Why wouldn't I want to know you? You and Alexander fascinate me. It's not every girl that gets to hang out with vampires." Sebastian lets out a low noise. We've reached the end of the pier, and I stop walking to face him. "It's more than that." I realize I'm no longer angry with Sebastian. "I care about you as a person."
Sebastian tilts my chin up with his finger, and I hold my breath because I think he wants to kiss me. My heart floods me with desire as I—
A thud behind me makes me jump, and I turn around to see what made the noise. Poking out of the shadows in the faint window of light is an object that— "Oh my god!" I race over to the person who has collapsed and drop to my knees. I immediately recognize the woman's face. "It's Lyndsey!"
I place my fingers on her neck to search for a pulse as Sebastian kneels down beside me. His voice is calm as he says, "I'll call 9-1-1."
Her skin is still warm. "I can't find a pulse."
"Damn it," mutters Sebastian, and he stands up. "No signal." He moves away as he stares at his phone to search for a connection.
Oh god. This can't be happening. "Lyndsey. No!" I remember I'm wearing the vial of Sebastian's blood that he said heals. I yank at it, and the chain scrapes at my face as I pull it over my head. The cork pops when I tug it out, and I place my hand under Lyndsey's head to lift it up so her jaw will open. "Please let this work." I pour blood in her mouth and hope some of it goes down her throat.
"Margaret!" Sebastian drops down beside me and grabs the vial from my hand. "Did you give her some?" His eyes are wild with an emotion I don't understand, because I don't know why he'd be angry.
"Yes," I say. "Do you think it will work?"
Lyndsey gasps and shoves at me as she sits up, choking. I fall back on my bottom and am about to get up when Sebastian picks me up and moves with vampire speed to whisk me away. He sets me down at the door of the limo and opens it. I ask, "What are you— " He practically tosses me inside, and I let out a cry as pain slices through my hip from hitting the sharp edge of a cup holder.