[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

your business and his. He motioned for Trish to
step back into the room.  Food s on the way.
Might as well get comfortable.
Trish did not look forward to being closed back
up in the cramped room with Remy. He was
coarser than most of the men she knew, not that
she knew many outside of work and family. His
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High Heels and Bloodsuckers
grammar was rough. The fingernails on his
oversized hands looked chewed off but clean. His
clothes were also clean but worn. He d left the
faded brown plaid flannel shirt untucked and it
hung down over his barrel torso.
He sat in the only chair the room had to offer,
leaving Trish to make herself comfortable on the
unmade bed. She found it hard to look
comfortable in an unfamiliar hotel room while
sitting on a mussed bed, especially with someone
like Remy sitting across from her. Not that she
found him particularly attractive, yet his mere
presence filled the room with more than just his
size. He exuded an earthy air of self-sufficiency
and ease within his own skin. While Trish fought
not to squirm, not to give in to the antsy feeling
that crawled over her, he looked as comfortable as
if he sat in his own living room.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence,
Trish abruptly stood and started making the bed,
beginning at the far side of the bed from where
Remy sat. He got up to help as if it were the most
natural thing for a man his size to do. His motions
mirrored Trish s, and they put the bed in order
within minutes.
A knock at the door announced the arrival of
Randolph, who carried a picnic basket and a
grocery store plastic bag.
 Randolph is my second, like Eric s yours,
49
Casey Pendelton
Remy explained.
 Ma am. A kind smile lit up Randolph s round
face as he handed the basket and bag to Trish.
 My wife didn t know what you liked to eat so she
sent a little bit of everything. She also sent some of
my daughter s clothes. Remy said you d be
needin a change. They might be a little big on
you, but I suspect they ll do until you can get back
home. Hickory Creek doesn t have a mercantile.
Trish felt her face go red again as she adjusted
the sheet a little higher with her free hand.  Thank
you, Randolph. Thank your wife for me, too. I ll
see to it your daughter s clothes are returned.
Randolph left and Trish spread the feast out
before her. Ham sandwiches, fresh tomatoes,
potato salad and apple pie. Trish s mouth watered
as she took a bite of the sandwich before
remembering her manners.  Please, help yourself.
I m famished.
 Thank you, but no. Can t stomach food since I
turned a few years ago.
 Eric said eating was a choice with vampires.
 It depends on the lineage. Stalworth vamps
can eat. Our sire felt he could gain more power on
a blood diet so his preference passed down to his
offspring.
 I m sorry. I didn t think. You seem so& 
 Human? I m human, just not a living one.
Makes no difference. I always ate too much
50
High Heels and Bloodsuckers
anyway. His smile made his eyes light up until
they twinkled.  You ll turn, too, I expect. Most do,
after a time. The blood craving gets too strong.
Makes you do foolish things. Besides,  til you do
you ll continue to age. No point in growing old if
you don t have to.
 How did it happen? How did you turn?
 Randolph s daughter Lizzie was just a little
thing. She d gotten herself lost up near Cavern
Lake. The search party I led found her on the far
side of the lake, clinging to a tree like it was her
last hope, and it was because there was a black
bear at the base of that tree just waitin to turn her
into dinner.
 When Lizzie saw me, her grip slipped and she
started skidding down the tree. Well you know
how it is with us. We ve got a lot of speed and
strength so I thought I could take on the bear
 efore it got to her. I grabbed that bear around the
middle and hung on for all I was worth, not
noticing he had brought along a friend to his
picnic. I got swiped across my back before I knew
what d happened. I let go of the first bear to find
myself in the middle of a bear hug between the
two.
 Lizzie made a beeline to the rest of the search
party, but the bears did a good job of killin me
before the men carrying the guns could get them
off me. So that night, my wounds healed and I
51
Casey Pendelton
turned full vampire. Happens that way with living
rulers. We retain our natural lives  til a mortal
injury takes away our choice. I ve even heard
some of them commit suicide to force the change.
Anyway I haven t had a solid meal since.
 Is Helen s ham as good as always? Smells
good.
Trish swallowed, then responded.  Excellent. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]