Either way, she needed to think about her upcoming date, and not her magnificent neighbor. It took both a shower and a long breakfast, but by the time Carissa walked into work, the spring was back in her step. She wasn’t going to let Aden’s oddities bother her, but instead chose to focus on the sweet gesture of bringing her flowers and helping her find her key.
Grinning when she saw Carissa, Eleanor kissed both of her cheeks and hugged her tightly. “Sweetheart, you’re positively glowing!”
Carissa always looked forward to conversations with the older woman. Eleanor was witty and spry, with a no-nonsense mind and a loving heart. She loved her nana dearly, and knew it would be a sad day when Eleanor finally passed her the reins and wasn’t around as much as she used to be. Pushing that thought from her mind, Carissa widened her smile.
“I had a good morning, Nana.”
“And a good night?” Eleanor waggled her slate gray eyebrows at her granddaughter.
Carissa laughed. “No, Nana, not like that. I had a nice conversation, woke up to a bright and beautiful day, and now I’m seeing you. If I can’t be happy talking to you, what’s the point in anything?”
Eleanor smoothed down the front of her conservative business suit, and smiled at Carissa. “Well, you’re certainly full of lovely words this morning, dear.”
“Only for you, Nana, only for you.” She kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “Now, what are you in here for? You told me you were going out of town.”
The older woman patted Carissa’s hand. “Oh, I am, but I wanted to give you something before I forgot, and now I’m wondering if I should. I would hate to spoil your good mood.”
“Nana, you couldn’t. I’m too happy to let you.”
“I really hope you’re right, Rissa.” Eleanor pulled a small envelope out of her purse and handed it over. “Gwen mailed me the key to your shed, after you didn’t come home to get it yourself. She said you told her you needed it back.”
With a shaking hand, Carissa reached out and took the small pouch. She’d said no such thing, and her sister knew why. All of Ryan’s belongings were in that shed, and anyone who knew her would understand how compelling her curiosity would be. His work secrets were stored alongside his tools, hidden away in his laptop. She’d be unable to ignore them for long, and although she was mostly over his passing, it was a can of worms she wasn’t sure she wanted to open just yet.
Eleanor frowned at Carissa, her eyes clouded in sympathy. “Would you like me to hold onto it?”
Carissa took a deep breath, and fought back the tears. “No, Nana. Thank you, but I can handle it.”
“I know you can, dear, but I worry. I suspected Gwen wasn’t being truthful, but I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. I never would have brought the key to you if I’d known for sure.”
“It’s okay. Really. I’m going to have to go through his things eventually. It’s been a year, Nana. My life won’t wait forever, and if I want to move on, completely get over the accident and his betrayal, I need to do this.”
“Okay, sweetheart.” Eleanor leaned over and gave Carissa a kiss on the cheek. She walked away, but turned to look back when she reached the door. “Take care of yourself, Rissa. I’m only a phone call away if you need me.”
Carissa smiled, clutching the envelope in tense, clammy fingers. “Be safe, Nana.”
Chapter Eleven
On the night of her date, Carissa locked up at precisely eight p. m. and immediately crossed the street to Chicory Café, Jaune’s own little coffee shop and bistro. It was one of the only places that stayed open past dark, the doors shutting at midnight on the dot. She’d thought about backing out of her date multiple times throughout the day, but if Devin was human, then she didn’t feel like the night would be wasted.
With that thought in mind, she walked inside and hoped for the best.
An hour later, Carissa considered sneaking out through the window in the bathroom. Devin had to be the most self-absorbed assmonkey she’d ever met. His vocabulary was limited to I, me, my, and legs – hers – which he refused to stop ogling. He’d been making her skin crawl from the moment she laid eyes on him. Tall and muscular like Ophelia had said, he was easy on the eyes, but he was no Aden. He also couldn’t string two words together without the use of a dictionary.
Muttering under her breath, Carissa pulled her phone from her purse and sent Ophelia a short text:
Carissa: If you ever set me up on a blind date again, I’ll feed you to the alligators.
Ophelia: I guess your neighbor doesn’t seem so weird, now, does he?
Carissa: You mean to tell me this was a set up?
Ophelia: Ding, ding. Of course. Now, go find your neighbor.
Dropping her phone back into her bag, Carissa shook her head with a weak chuckle. She should have known. Ophelia had mentioned knowing she had a new neighbor – on the same night her nana had. Now she wondered if they were working together to set her up, and if either of them knew about Aden’s odd eyes. Actually…
She retrieved her phone.
Carissa: How much do you know about my neighbor?
Ophelia: I don’t even remember his name, honestly. Ask Eleanor.
Carissa: I’ll be sure to. And, Phia, I meant what I said about blind dates. No more.
Ophelia: LOL! Date your neighbor and I won’t.
Carissa: Fine. I’ll think about giving him a chance. Later. Right now I have to wiggle my size twelve butt through the bathroom window at the café, and it’s all your fault.
Ophelia: LMAO! I’ll be by in a minute with some Crisco and a crowbar.
Carissa: Bitch.
Ophelia: Jerk.
Laughing, Carissa tossed her phone back into her purse and eyed the window. She hadn’t been joking when she told Ophelia she was going to go out through the window. She did not want to go back out and face Devin. At least she’d already paid for her coffee. She’d regret leaving it, but not having to deal with Mr. Ex-Footballer Assmonkey was worth the sacrifice.
After slinging her purse over one shoulder and across her chest, she assessed the window. It didn’t look like it was actually too small for her – or at least not small enough for the Crisco and crowbar. Rolling her eyes, Carissa lifted the glass, and using the nearby counter for leverage, hoisted herself up and onto the ledge. With a grunt, she swung around to shove her feet through the opening. She slowly slid the rest of her body – only getting her butt stuck for a moment – through the window, where she proceeded to land, crouched, in the back lot
One of the baristas stood beside the building, puffing on a cigarette, grinning.
“Bad date?”
Returning the smile with a chuckle, Carissa told her, “You have no idea. I think I’d have had a better time watching grass grow.”
“Ooh, that does sound horrible.” She slid the tip of the butt against the brick building, knocking off the ember before tossing the end into the trash. “Tall guy, black hair, sitting by the front window?”
“That’s the one.”
“Where are you parked?”
“Across the street at Baby Steps.”
“Give me about two minutes, Sugar, and make a dash for it. I’ll keep him occupied for you.”
Carissa grinned wider, her eyes finding the lady’s name tag. “Tressa, you’re an angel. The next time you’re in the store and the blue Durango is in the parking lot, ask for Carissa. I’ll give you seventy-five percent off your next purchase.”
Tressa chuckled. “It’s a deal.”
Aden’s heart thumped to life as soon as the first rays of moonlight struck his window. He climbed from his resting place in the little hidden space under the floor in his bedroom, and immediately headed to take a shower. As the hot water sluiced down his back, he remembered a time when eating was the first priority. Now he could postpone his first meal for an hour, sometimes more, but he didn’t try to push it. He’d gone too long, once, and almost attacked a wandering neighbor. If Daniel hadn’t been with him that ni
ght, there’s no telling what could have happened, and all the neighbor had wanted to do was find his missing dog.
Aden shook his head. He was more careful now. The last thing he wanted was to hurt or be discovered by the mortals in the area. With the upcoming war, he had a feeling that was probably going to happen anyway, and the possibility weighed heavily on his soul. He wasn’t much of a fighter when he was mortal, and that hadn’t changed a wink since he was changed. He preferred talking and negotiation, because those things didn’t usually cost anyone a limb.
Usually.
Aden cut off the water with a quick twist of his wrist. He wrapped his waist in a towel, but didn’t bother looking in the mirror as he used another to dry his hair. His reflection would be distorted, so it would be pointless. He tossed his hair towel into a basket behind the door and trudged to his bedroom to get dressed. Before long, he was ready and headed toward the kitchen.
His evening drink in hand, Aden stared through his front window at the deepening night. The air crackled with energy, filling his living room as the wind picked up outside. A storm was coming, and something…more. Aden downed the last of his blood, and set the cup in the sink. Carissa wasn’t home, and his gut twisted, the warning strong: danger. The strange feeling was pronounced, compounded by the sudden appearance of the slate-gray storm clouds that hovered above the area. Even for Louisiana, a storm moving in that quickly wasn’t natural, and he was willing to bet money it had something to do with the upcoming war.
After a brief argument with his conscience, he did a quick internet search on his phone to discover where she worked. Whether Carissa trusted him yet or not, she was going to get an escort home. He refused to sit back and watch an innocent mortal pay the price for something that didn’t involve her. Besides, if he played his cards right and kept her safe, maybe she wouldn’t freak out the next time his eyes glowed. Grinning, Aden left his house. There was only one way to find out.
Carissa did as Tressa asked, counting slowly until the two minutes were up. Then, with a wary glance at the cloud-darkened sky she made her way around the corner of the building, her steps faltering when she looked across the street and saw Aden standing against the door of her SUV. His hands were tucked in his pockets, his body relaxed.
Carissa resisted the urge to look through the café’s front window as she made her way across Main Street, praying Tressa had been able to successfully distract Devin. As she got closer to Aden, though, she forgot about her crappy date. Aden’s hair was pulled back in a short ponytail, and strands whipped around his face in the sticky wind that heralded the arrival of yet another thunderstorm. Thunder boomed. The first bright flash of lightning highlighted the deep red of his t-shirt, and sent her shadow ahead of her to meet him. He glanced up at the sky, then back down to her, frowning.
“Do you not own an umbrella?”
She pressed the button on her key fob to unlock the doors and let her gaze wander down to his empty hands. “Do you?”
“Touché.” He smiled and stepped away from her SUV. He pulled her door open as she crossed the asphalt. “I was out for a walk when I saw your car.” He reached up and scratched his ear. “I made things awkward, and we didn’t say goodbye last night, so, uh, I just wanted to say hi. Maybe redeem myself a little…?”
Carissa raised an eyebrow. He looked so uncertain and uncomfortable. She tilted her head to the side. Alien, vampire, or radioactive superhero in disguise—she was almost convinced it didn’t matter – and he was certainly a better choice than the assmonkey. She usually had a good sense about people, and he didn’t strike her as someone with bad intentions . He looked tough, his corded muscles filling out his clothes and highlighting the rather large bulge in his—she snapped her eyes up to his face with a jerk, her face heating.
“Well, hi,” she mumbled, praying he hadn’t noticed her wandering gaze.
If he did, he was smart enough not to comment. He smiled and pointed to Baby Steps. “I guess you work here?”
She placed her hand on the door, tossing her purse onto the passenger floorboard. “Actually, I own it. Almost. My grandmother is in the process of passing it to me. I got off early tonight and went to Chicory Café for a date – don’t ask – I’d rather forget.”
He was standing so close she could smell him over the rain-charged air. His scent was earthy, dark, and enticingly male. She wanted to hop into her Durango and go home, but she also wanted to talk to Aden. Sure he’d startled the mess out of her, but if she was honest with herself, that only made her more curious about him. Maybe if she could get him to trust her, he’d tell her the truth. It was certainly worth a shot.
Aden chuckled. “I won’t say a word.”
She climbed into her seat and buckled in, slanting him a small smile. “Would you like a ride? The sky will fall any time now.”
“A little rain doesn’t scare me.” The lightning flashed close, and brighter than a million-watt bulb. Aden laughed nervously. “That on the other hand…why not?”
Carissa closed her door as he rounded the vehicle to enter on the passenger side. She cranked the engine as he climbed inside and shut his door. With a crack of thunder that shook the vehicle, a sudden deluge of water poured over the SUV. Carissa turned her windshield wipers up as fast as they would do, but it barely made a difference. The rain was so heavy all she could see was water.
Carissa laughed and glanced at her passenger. “Perfect timing, huh?”
He smiled. “Yeah. I definitely wouldn’t want to be out in that.” He turned toward her in his seat. “I appreciate the offer of a ride, especially after last night.”
“You’re welcome.” She stared at the rain running down the glass, frowning. She wanted to ask him about his eyes, but she didn’t have the courage yet, so she settled on an apology. “I really didn’t mean to be rude.”
Aden gently placed his hand over hers on the wheel. There were no sparks this time, but Carissa’s skin tingled.
He looked down at his lap. “It’s no problem. I know I can be a little awkward. It wasn’t my intention to make you uncomfortable. Friends?”
Carissa stared at his hand for a moment. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her He didn’t seem like anything more than a normal human guy. A bit mysterious, yes, but she didn’t know him yet, either. Maybe her imagination got the best of her. With all Ryan’s occult talk, something must have lingered in her subconscious. Aden was much too normal and uncertain to be any of the things she thought. With a smile, Carissa turned her hand palm up and briefly grasped his before releasing it to place her hand back on the steering wheel.
“Friends,” she agreed.
The rain slowed, fat drops splattering the windshield, giving Carissa back her visibility. She checked to be sure her automatic headlights were on, shifted into drive, and pulled toward the parking lot exit. When she stopped at the road, she looked across the street. For a moment, she swore someone was standing in the rain. The figure was shorter and more round than her crappy date, but before she could get a closer look, the figure was gone.
Her brow furrowed, she asked quietly, “Did you see what I saw?”
He gazed across the street as well, his features tense, his eyes narrowed. By the look on his face, she knew his answer before he said it. “Yeah.” He turned those wary eyes on hers. “Was that your date?”
She shook her head. “No. He was taller and thinner. I don’t know who that was.”
Aden’s voice roughened, every syllable as taut as Carissa’s hands where she gripped the steering wheel. “I think we need to get you home, then.”
Carissa’s heart sped up, fear vibrating her body. She eased her foot down on the gas. “I can do that.”
She turned out into the street, and as she checked her mirrors, realized it wasn’t a moment too soon. The figure she wasn’t sure she’d seen stood in the glow of her tail lights—right next to where her driver’s side door had been moments before. The hair stood up on the back of her neck, and she had to resist th
e urge to test the Durango’s hemi engine.
She didn’t look in the mirror again until she pulled into her driveway, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw the road and sidewalks were clear. She and Aden hopped out simultaneously and made a mad dash for her porch through the pounding rain. They were soaked, but at least she was home in one piece. Aden had even grabbed her purse, which he handed her as soon as they reached her door.
Carissa grabbed her keys, trying to calm her trembling hands enough to place the key in the lock. Aden gently took the key from her and inserted it with ease. He pushed the door open, and gestured for her to enter before him. She did so with a grateful smile. She didn’t feel comfortable staying outside anymore. People didn’t move that fast. It wasn’t natural!
Carissa stepped into her entryway and flipped on the light. Aden remained on her porch, making no attempt to follow her. “Are you coming in?” she wondered.
Confused by his guarded expression, Carissa raised an eyebrow. It seemed the night would just get stranger. “Are you sure?” he asked her.
Carissa smiled. He looked even cuter when he was uncertain. “Of course I’m sure. What kind of friend would I be to make you walk back home in this weather?” She laughed. “Come inside, Aden. I won’t bite.”
Chapter Twelve
Aden watched the confusion spring up in Carissa’s eyes, and he was sorry for it, but an invitation was necessary. He nearly laughed when she gave in. She told him she didn’t bite, and the irony wasn’t lost on the vampire. She might not bite, but…
He did.
Aden suppressed a chuckle as Carissa dropped her purse onto the entrance table. She led the way to the kitchen, and he shook his head. That kind of thinking was going to get him into trouble one day, and he sensed she was finally beginning to trust him. Now wasn’t the time to go messing things up. She gestured for him to have a seat as she walked to the fridge. She pulled out a Coke for herself, and turned to him.
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