Page 46 of The Secrets She Keeps

“And what is that? That theyallhave poison fangs, and you should stay far, far away?” Mac asked, giving Powell a quick hug. As if they hadn’t just seen each other a few hours ago.

“Well, they do all have fangs and very witchy eyes, but devouring men is something they apparently do not do.Noneof them have had a date in the five weeks I have lived there. Not one of them. Well, except for the beautiful butmarried-for-eighteen-years Marcia, who was recently wined and dinedby her not-so-normal husband. Which…strange, considering. Men have stopped by—I helped Miguel chase some brothers off recently after they almost killed each other over little Cashie in my share of our driveway—but the Coleson Coven does not seem todateor pursue romantic relationships.A very skittish vampire coven? Pack? Pride? What does one call a family of gorgeous female vampires living next door?” Alex asked.

“Colesons. They call them…Colesons,” Mac said, scowling. “That vampire queen goddessHeatherone sent Luc’s latest letter back this morning with a nine-inch cartoon vampire sticker that lookedjust like herunder a speech bubble that said ‘leave us alone, Lukie-poo-poo, or your auntie Heather is going to ground you and put a hex on you—and your little Mackie Mac McBarratt friend too!’”

Mackie Mac McBarratt?Seriously?

“How do you know it was Heather?” Alex asked, then snickered.

“Shesignedit, you dork. Then that Rodriguez guy delivered it to my office personally with awarning.”

Powell laughed. Heather could be really, really funny when she wanted. And there was no doubt Mac set her off. Not like Daniel had, but enough that Heather was reacting.

It would be hilarious to see Heather versus Luc. There was no denying that. Almost as much fun as Heather versus Mac, come to think of it.

“I think Heather likes making things difficult foryouspecifically for some reason,” Alex said. “I think they had a meeting and plotted exactly how to do that as soon as they got back from Wyoming. They vote on things, you know.”

“He probably deserves it.” Powell turned back to the window. “But if you would like to go discuss it with her right now—purely for mine and Alex’s entertainment, of course—she just showedup at the park with Iagan and her girls, and it looks like some of her nieces.”

Just like she suspected would happen, Alex and Mac both went straight to the window. Alex scowled. “Kidnieces. Not Cara. Very funny, little-bitty Pow-Pow.”

So, so pitiful.

“Who else would be at a playground, Al? Well, come to think of it, I can imagine Cara playing at a playground with the kids. She really enjoyslife,” Powell said, looking again. “Yep. Cara’s out there. Look again. There she is. Frankie’s pushing her on the swings. I’m sure that’s her and not Cashlyn.”

Both her brothers were still staring out the window.

How utterly predictable. Oh, those boys of hers. Both of them were so droolly sometimes.

Wait a minute. Both?

Bothof her brothers were staring at Coleson women right now. Hmm. Her eyes narrowed. She studied her oldest brother for a moment. Was he on red alert right now? Was that drool on his chin?

Mac wasn’t fooling her at all. He wasenjoyingbattling with Heather over Luc. He probably greatly enjoyed the challenge of matching wits with a beautiful woman like Heather. Heather was very quick-witted and highly intelligent and snarky.

Then again, so was Mac.

Almost brilliantly so.

They reallywouldbe well-matched. Match of the century kind of thing.

Powell was almost certain of it. If it wasn’t for that whole despising each other thing they had going on right now. “Just…treat Heather carefully, Mac. I don’t think she’s fully up to dealing with Luc right now. I just don’t think she is. Considering. I think she acts like it, but she isn’t.”

“That, I do happen to agree with,” Alex said. “Heather’s really struggling now. The Coleson Coven is worried.”

“Luc and I have discussed a possible strategy where his Coleson vampire lady relatives are concerned. But I will not be discussing it with you all tonight.” Mac grabbed Alex by the shoulder. Turned him toward the kitchen. “I think Mom’s meat loaf is about ready. Al gets to set the table after he wipes off the drool.”

“But I want to go say hi to the neighbors,” Alex said, grumbling as always. “It’s just being neighborly.”

“You live next door. Be neighborly later. What have they done, put a spell on you? I think that’s Cara and Cashlyn, right? With Heather?”

Alex knew, of course. “Cara, Cashlyn, and Samia. Samia is the shortest one, except for Heather’s twin Joy. Joy is the really hot little blonde with the witchy eyes and the wicked laugh. She’s as diabolical as the rest, though. You should ask Joy out, Mac. Do the whole daddy thing, or something. Hook up with Heather’s beloved twin forever.”

“Nope. A smart man stays away from witches and vampires, bro. Stays away. It’s a matter of self-preservation.”

“Does anyone know who that kid with Brianna is?” Powell asked. Her brothers had grown up with the Clairesons, just as she had. “I have never seen her with a kid before.”

“Isn’t that a Coleson? She looks like she could be,” Mac said, looking. He was so easy to distract sometimes. “I don’t know how many smaller vampire creatures are attached to the vampiresses who live next door to our poor helpless ensorcelled brother.”

---