Blood of the Maple

by Dana Marie Bell

  “I was a witch, damn it!”

  Brian’s eyes lit up with reverence and sexual interest. “Ooh. They make the best Renfields.” He sat forward, all puppy ears and eyes. “Can you tell me what I need to know? Please?”

  “Well now.” He could practically hear Greg’s metaphysical hands rubbing together, his ego thoroughly stroked. Parker listened to the sound of his privacy shattering like a glass baking dish dropped from ten stories. “I think I can fill you in on the care and feeding of the world’s only vegetarian vampire.”

  “Veg—did you say vegetarian?” For the first time, Brian seemed unsure of himself.

  “Yes, he did.” Parker’s head collapsed against the back of the couch. “For the love of the Goddess, Greg.”

  “How did that happen? And why aren’t you dead of starvation?”

  Parker closed his eyes as Greg filled Brian in on his curse and the folly of not listening to his “Renfield.” By the time Greg was done speaking, Brian was making notes on his PDA and nodding furiously. “Want our witches to take a look, see if they can remove the curse?”

  Parker froze. “Can they do that?”

  “Sure. It’s one of the things we do, take care of each other.” Brian poked at his PDA again and closed it with a snap. “There are no guarantees, but it’s worth a shot.”

  Parker wasn’t sure what the ultimate price of that caring would be, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out. “I don’t know.”

  “I’ll double-check the witches for you. I won’t let anyone send you to a dark practitioner.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about that. We have some around town, but they’re watched constantly. I’m not sure they’d bother with you anyway, other than to mock you.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” Brian’s eyes gleamed, and Parker knew he was being laughed at. “But the grays and the whites might be willing to look at it for you.”

  Parker almost asked what the hell that meant but decided at the last minute he didn’t want to know. Besides, he could always ask Greg later, when the Renfield wasn’t around. “Let me think about it.”

  Brian nodded and made another note. “All right. So can you fill in your turning history for me? I have to file the temporary Renfield paperwork with the township.”

  Good grief, there was paperwork?

  “You mean you don’t know about Parker and Jessica—”

  “Don’t say it, Greg.” Parker sighed as the ghost laughed. Every time Parker mentioned his dame’s name, Greg lost it. It wasn’t her fault someone had named a cartoon after her. “I was turned in 1811 by Countess Jessica Le Lièvres, a noblewoman on the run from Napoleon—or so I thought. To her I was just a handy snack shack while she hauled ass across the continent. We spent almost a year together before she decided she wanted to keep me and turned me.”

  “Wow. I’ve heard of more brutal turnings, but that one?” Brian whistled.

  “It wasn’t that bad. Once we left France, we had a wonderful time. We went to Rome, Venice, Austria and even visited Russia. Jessica took care of me, taught me everything I know. Our relationship ended on good terms. I send her Christmas cards every once in a while.”

  “How did you meet Greg?”

  This time it was Parker who snickered, while Greg yelled at him to shut up. “The only thing I’ll say is it involved Mary Jane, a six-pack and the strangest urge to eat peanut butter and marshmallow bars.”

  “I was hungry!”

  “I am so worming that story out of you.” Brian chuckled. “So I need to hit the grocery store and stock up on what you need. I’ll pick up one of those diabetic lancet pens so you don’t have to deal with the skanky bagged crap I hear you’ve been adding to your diet. Any preferences? Peanut butter, maybe?”

  “Shut up.”

  “Green. Leafy. Maple syrupy.”

  Oh hell. Had he given Brian something to do? Did that make the man officially his roomie?

  Great. Now he had two people willing to mock him and order him around. Just what he needed.

  “Got it.” Brian tucked away his PDA. “Thanks for giving me a chance. And if you decide you don’t like me after a month, you can request a change of Renfield, and a new one will be assigned for a trial basis.”

  So he only had to live with Brian for one month? Brian didn’t have to tell him that. It was a mark in the man’s favor. “Thanks.”

  Brian stood, preparing to go. “Well, it was nice—”

  “Wait! Remember, Terri is bloody dangerous. If you see a crazy woman sprouting dandelions, run like hell, got it?”

  Brian laughed. “That will be more of a pain than you imagine, since a number of our inhabitants have sprouted something over the years. What does she look like? Can you sketch? I bet I could convince the sheriff to put up a Wanted poster if you like.”

  “Oh yes, brilliant idea. Not. Terri has killed anyone who’s tried to stop her.”

  “Other than Greg.”

  “Greg could protect himself.”

  “Damn straight.”

  Brian put his hand on Parker’s shoulder. Parker jumped as something passed between the two of them, something strange. Something that brought a look of warmth and satisfaction to Brian’s face. “Don’t worry. We take care of our own around here.” He stepped back, but the connection didn’t break. “Do yourself a favor. Let Amara Schwedler know about this Terri person. I have the feeling she’ll be more than interested in helping you.” Brian winked and sauntered toward the door. “Be back soon.”

  Brian shut the door, leaving behind one confused vampire and his little ghost too. “What the fuck?”

  “Welcome to Maggie’s Grove?”

  Parker rolled his eyes and headed back to the kitchen. “At least he didn’t bring me flowers and a fruit basket.”

  “Nope. Just his nubile young self,” Greg purred.

  Parker pretended to gag and stuck his fingers in his ears. “Lalalalalalala!”

  “Homophobic asshole.”

  “Lecherous old goat.”

  “You’re pissed because I never tried to bone you.”

  “Stay away from my man-bits, perv.”

  “You think he likes black men?”

  “Sure. But I think he likes them better when they’re capable of passing him the salt.”

  “Prick.”

  “What did I say about my man-bits?”

  “You might want to take your man-bits and aim them out the window.”

  Parker would have given Greg a look if he’d been able to see him. “Why?”

  “Amara is back.”

  Parker was out the back door so fast, not even Greg could keep up.

  Amara took a deep breath. A serene smile slowly crossed her face. On nights like this she always felt so alive with the beauty of the mountain above her, the moon shining its silver light across her garden, the crickets chirping their song of spring. She turned, only to find herself staring at a pair of fangs.

  “Hi.”

  Amara screamed and lashed out, punching the toothy trespasser right in the chest.

  “Well. That’s a greeting I’m much more familiar with.” Parker grinned and eased back until he was leaning against the fence. With a bemused look he rubbed the spot she’d nailed.

  “Sorry, but you scared the shit out of me.”

  He chuckled. “I noticed.”

  “You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that. What if I’d had a stake in my hand?”

  “I’d be dust in the wind?”

  Amara shook her head. Her heart was going a mile a minute.

  “You smell wonderful tonight.”

  Before she could think twice about it, Amara covered her throat with her hands. “I have the feeling I wouldn’t taste very good.”

  His grin turned feral, his fangs peeking out. “Someday I might be the judge of that.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “Who says I’d let you?”

  His shoulders shook. Was he laughing at her? He seemed oddl
y happy. “Has the town welcomed you yet?” Brian hadn’t been in Parker’s house as long as she’d thought he would be, but she hadn’t stopped to talk to him. Maybe the two men hadn’t clicked? It could be difficult for a vampire to find the right Renfield, but Brian was among the few she’d trust with someone she cared about. Too bad Dragos already had one, or she would have recommended he take Brian.

  He sighed, some of his cheer fading. “Yes, they have, in their unique way.”

  She didn’t want him to know she’d been spying on his house earlier. “Who did they send?”

  “Hmm?”

  “To be your Renfield. Who did they send?”

  He blinked, shocked. “Brian Cunningham.”

  “Did you like him?”

  “Was I supposed to?”

  Not quite the answer she’d hoped for, and his wary expression hadn’t changed. Maybe he was waiting to see if he’d bond with Brian? “He’ll take good care of you.”

  “So you approve of him?” She nodded, and something in him seemed to ease. “Then I’ll learn to live with him.”

  She was charmed her opinion carried such weight. “Have you been to MM Night yet?” She blushed. Of course he hadn’t been yet. He’d only moved in two weeks ago. His nearness had flustered her.

  “What’s that?” He stepped forward and took her hand. She allowed it, surprised at how right it felt. The only other person who’d touched her so easily was Glinda. She hadn’t realized until now how much she missed that.

  “MM Night is Monster Movie Night. The whole town gathers once a month and puts on an oldie-but-goodie. Then we ridicule it relentlessly and laugh our asses off at how much Hollywood got wrong.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “It is.”

  “When is the next one?”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  “Excellent.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. Butterflies danced through her at the touch of his lips. His faint British accent rolled through her, warming her from the inside out. “Then it’s a date.”

  She blinked up at him, shocked. When had she agreed to go out with him? She wasn’t that dazzled by his voice. “Date?”

  He bowed. “I look forward to seeing you. Good night, my sweet.”

  She opened her mouth to argue, but he kissed the back of her hand again, effectively filling her stomach with those damn butterflies. What on earth was wrong with her? She never had trouble telling a man no.

  She watched him walk away, drawn to his strong shoulders and sculpted ass. “Oh boy.” She drifted back into the house and curled up on top of the covers, barely remembering to kick off her shoes first. The memory of Parker’s touch lingered as she tried to drift off.

  She had a date. With someone who didn’t have to be blackmailed first.

  It shouldn’t have surprised her when she smiled, but it did.

  Chapter Three

  “I have a date tonight.”

  “The pretty next door? What did you do, use your freaky vampire powers and cloud her mind until she said yes?”

  Parker ignored Brian’s choked-off chuckle. Already Brian and Greg had teamed up against him, damn them, and it had only been a day. “No, I did not use my freaky vampire powers. I used my freaky British powers. I speak, and women fall in droves.” He struck a dramatic pose and waited.

  “Yeah, they do. Fall on their asses laughing.”

  Brian looked up from the mail he was sorting. He’d taken over the kitchen table temporarily until Parker could get him a desk. No way was Brian taking over his. Parker had everything exactly the way he wanted it, so the Renfield would need his own workspace. “I’ve always been a sucker for an accent.” He shivered and waggled his brows. “There’s something about a man drawling naughty words in an Aussie accent while he—Ahem. Never mind.” Brian bit his lip and fingered the mail. Parker didn’t want to know what Brian was remembering. It might scar him for life.

  Greg’s low snarl made Brian grin secretively. Brian buried himself back in the mail, but not before Parker caught his quickly hidden look of satisfaction.

  Why Parker was getting mail all of a sudden was a mystery, since he’d had none since he moved in. Maybe the city council had held on to it until his lackey—er, Renfield—was properly in place. While Parker slept, Brian had quietly moved into the bedroom next to his office. When Parker had gotten up that evening and headed to the kitchen in nothing but a pair of boxers, Brian had already been sitting at his kitchen table and flirting with his ghost.

  Parker smoothed his hair one last time, eager to begin his date. “How do I look?”

  “Edible.”

  Parker rolled his eyes as Brian once more choked off a laugh. “Thank you. I think.” Greg had never commented on his looks when he was alive. He wondered if Brian’s presence had anything to do with the change. “What time does MM Night start again?”

  Brian looked at his watch. “You have half an hour. Do you need a bite before you go?”

  “Might not be a bad idea. I wouldn’t want to try to munch a philodendron on the way. Might confuse my date.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” Brian pulled out a bottle of maple syrup and poured it into the blender. The familiar routine sent a pang through Parker. He remembered Greg standing just so, smirking as he prepared Parker’s nightly meal. “Carnations or roses tonight?”

  “Roses, I think.” Parker snipped some leaves and added them to the syrup.

  Brian picked up the lancet pen and pricked his finger with practiced ease, then added a few drops of blood to the mixture. “Anything else?”

  “That should do it.”

  Brian put the lid on the blender. “Look, there’s something you need to know about Amara.”

  Brian’s concern was worrisome. “What’s wrong?” Parker was ready to dash next store and check on her.

  “She’s…different.” He sighed. “Look, not everyone in town likes her. She’s—damn it, how do I say this?”

  “Please tell me she’s not crazy.”

  Brian rolled his eyes. “No, far from it. But Glinda kept her kind of isolated, and she’s had a rough time because of it. She doesn’t have a lot of friends, despite being one of the sweetest women I know. I don’t claim to understand what Glinda was thinking, but I do know she adored Amara, so she was trying to protect her somehow.”

  “Was Amara in danger?” Parker leaned against the countertop and stared out the window at the Victorian.

  Brian tapped the top of the blender. “Glinda never married or had children of her own. She was pretty old when Amara came into her life, and she saw Amara as her daughter. It’s possible she was protecting her from a threat that wasn’t real. Of all the people I know, Amara is the one I trust most to take care of herself, but you’ve seen her. She looks like a stiff breeze would blow her away.”

  “Has anyone laid a hand on her?” Parker’s beast rumbled, ready to shed blood for her.

  Brian bit his lip. “Not that I’m aware of.” He sighed. “Look, I just thought you should know you might encounter some problems when you go out tonight.”

  Parker smiled viciously. “No. I won’t.” He’d make sure Amara had the best time possible tonight, even if he had to bang a few heads together.

  “If you say so.” Brian hit Liquefy, stifling any further conversation until the loud sounds of the blender died down. Brian poured the concoction into a mug and handed it to him with a flourish. “Drink up.”

  Parker took the first sip. “It’s good.” He swallowed some more, enjoying the energy that raced through him. “Thank you.” Brian flushed with pleasure. “You’ve done something like this before.”

  Brian smiled. “Usually they want my neck, not my blender skills. But yeah, I was a Renfield for another vamp, however he decided he’d rather have someone else.”

  “Why?”

  Brian cupped his hands in front of his chest. “My tits weren’t big enough.”

  “Ah.” Parker finished off his drink and rinsed out the mug. “Will yo
u be at MM Night?”

  “I certainly will. I promised to show Greg around town afterward if you don’t need us.”

  Parker blinked. “Really?”

  Was Brian…blushing? “Really.”

  “All right, then.” Parker hoped his astonishment wasn’t written all over his face. “I’m off to pick up Amara. Do me a favor and put the blender in the dishwasher before you go, and I’ll see you later.”

  “Bye, Parker.”

  “Have a good time. I know I will.”

  Once again he’d swear Brian was blushing. “Oh dear.” Parker left and headed toward Amara’s, determined to put the vision of Brian making out with thin air out of his head. He didn’t understand how a relationship between them would work. Greg was completely dead, not mostly dead like Parker. They couldn’t hold each other or make love to each other.

  Greg’s heart was going to get broken, and Parker didn’t know how to prevent it.

  Hell. Greg would have to figure it out for himself. If Greg had met someone who was willing to overlook his handicap, who was Parker to interfere?

  Maybe he’d even met that one he’d spent his whole life looking for and never found. If that turned out to be true, Parker would happily live with comments about his ass for the rest of his days. Hell, he’d turn the Renfield so both men would be with him for eternity. He grinned, pleased with the thought that he’d never have to go through losing Greg again.

  He walked up to Amara’s door and paused. If he were capable of it, his palms would have been sweating. “I have a date.” An entire herd of moose stampeded through his stomach. For a moment he wondered if Brian had slipped some cactus into his nightly meal.

  He checked around, using all his senses. He had to keep Amara safe, which meant doubling his efforts to keep Terri away from her. If Terri found out how much he wanted Amara, she’d find a way to make the woman suffer.

  Instant rage, familiar and deadly, filled him at the thought of Terri touching her. His beast would rip the witch limb from limb if anything happened to her.

  He rapped on the door and did his best to ignore the disturbing urge to hunt Terri down and keep her from ever placing a cursed hand on Amara.