When Roth strode past me as he headed for the door, I caught a whiff of him, inside and out. A faint, warm scent of soap, something that might have been pine needles, and underneath his skin, a hot, blistering font of strong blood. Delicious blood.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, eliminating the possibility of latching my fingers around his throat and pulling him in for a quick drink. “Yeah,” I said, very much aware of how my mouth was so dry. “Something nice and filling.”
Roth turned the doorknob, hovering at the threshold. “You boys need any more help, you just give me a call. Maybe I’ll see you around town. Your man’s got my number.”
It came bursting out of me, a defensive excuse. “He’s not my man.”
He gave me a strange smile, tilting his head. “Okay? Good to know. See you around, Sterling.”
The door clicked, and he was gone. I looked down at my hands. What the fuck was all that about? I’d been reduced to a blushing moron. He’d just come and gone like a thunderstorm. And what was all that business with the katana? Was it broken? Roth made contact with the blade like it was nothing. I stomped over to where it rested against the wall, touching the metal closest to the hilt with one finger.
I jumped. I screamed.
“Fucking hell,” I croaked, wrenching my hand away. “Okay. Still works then.”
The door clicked, then swung open again. I turned in place, hiding my hands behind my back, like I’d been caught doing something dumb, but it wasn’t Roth this time.
“Sterling?” Asher said, one eyebrow cocked. “What’s wrong with you? You look shocked.”
“Very funny, you little bastard.”
“Whatever.” He thumbed over his shoulder. “Who was the stud? Drove away in a truck.”
“Electrician. He worked so fast, it’s like it was nothing.”
Asher threw his hands up to the ceiling. “I didn’t even realize. The lights are back on. Sweet. Glad that’s done with.” Then he gestured at me. “But you look like hell. Didn’t Gil say to get dressed? He’s waiting in the car. We need to head into town.”
“Sure,” I muttered. I ruffled up my hair, still a little confused from meeting Roth, and definitely still a little disoriented from electrocution. Don’t try that at home. You need waking up, just make yourself a cup of coffee.
Asher wrinkled his nose. “Be sure to wash up a little, you look like hell. Can’t believe you let the electrician in looking like that.”
I bared my teeth at him. “Okay, Mom. Fine, Mom.”
“Brush your teeth, too. Yikes.”
Some ten minutes later – lightning fast for getting ready by my standards, believe me – I was dressed in a fresh shirt, fresh jeans, fresh everything. Blood had been washed off, teeth flossed and judiciously brushed. I reached for my jacket, then Asher and I headed out.
Our car was parked at the end of the driveway. Gil had one hand on the steering wheel, another pushing his phone against his ear, probably talking to his girlfriend again. He saw us coming, then gave me an impatient glare.
“Get in, loser. We’re going shopping.”
14
I sulked from the passenger seat, annoyed that Gil wouldn’t let me drive. At least I had shotgun. Or I earned it, after wrestling Asher out of the passenger side and throwing him bodily into the backseat. What good was having vampire strength if you didn’t use it to totally dominate the ones you love?
“Shopping?” I said. “I thought we were heading to the graveyard? We really need to have a chat with Everett’s spirit. Maybe we get to ask him why his house is such a massive pile of shit.”
Gil gave me a sidelong glance, then focused back on the road. “They’ve got a farmers’ market running in town right now.” The peaks of his cheeks reddened. “Prue mentioned it. Says we should check it out.”
I rolled my eyes, but silently relented. Prue was short for Prudence, Gil’s girlfriend, a coolheaded chick who happened to be a very strong fighter. I mention that because the two of them happened to meet during a fistfight. Long story.
“Don’t give me shit for it,” Gil growled.
I spread my hands out, stifling a grin. “I said nothing. Nothing.”
“This is a good opportunity for us to mingle with the locals, you know? Maybe we’ll pick up on some chatter, too. The murder near the cabin is fresh. People are probably talking about it.”
I sighed. “It’s not like we’re going to magically overhear some case-cracking information while we go around squeezing melons. But fine.” I sat up, excited. “Ooh. Speaking of squeezing melons, my girlfriend might be there.”