Page 14 of New Nebraska Home

“Thanks, guys.” I gave them each a wide smile, which Brock returned. Callum looked a little lost in his thoughts. He and Brock exchanged a loaded look I couldn’t read. It was a mix of apprehension and worry, with maybe a touch of desire.

Really, what was their relationship status? It wasn’t any of my business, and I knew not to pry, but I just wanted to know.

“I’m going to go to make sure that he doesn’t steal my new best friend. Some dude with muscles and a motorcycle will not upstage me.” Brock stood and went outside to hang with the others.

Part of me wondered if it was because he didn’t trust Malik, so he wanted to keep an eye on Leif, which I appreciated. Leif trusted Malik, so I trusted him. But having someone else looking out for the kid was never a bad thing.

“Is it wise?” Callum asked, startling me.

“Is what wise?”

“Allowing a shifter you don’t know to move in so suddenly. I can’t even tell what kind of shifter he is. Not all of them are all bark and very little bite, like wolves.” His tone was condescending and made my hackles rise a little. “There are shifters that are far more dangerous, even on their own. Bears, lions, even some rare ones, like alligators.”

“Are alligator and bear shifters more or less dangerous than a master vampire and a mouthy water elemental?” I asked, with a mock squint at him. Just because he was pretty didn’t mean that he had to talk down to me.

“Point taken,” he sat back for a moment and stared out of the glass back door. Leif was perched on Malik’s shoulders and trying to block streams of water that Brock was shooting at them. I had to admit, it was adorable. Even with Malik’s intimidating size and tattoos covering his arms, he smiled like a little kid. The second I met Brock, I knew he had that boyishness playful side in him. But it looked like it might have been unusual for Malik.

“Leif has always had this sense about people. I don’t know if it’s a supernatural thing because he’s half-Fae or what, but he always knows if someone has malicious intent.”

“Always?”

“Always,” I nodded. “When he was four, I went on a date with this guy, who I thought was sweet and kind, the proper gentlemen type. Leif begged me not to go, gave me the biggest tears you have ever seen. Eventually I agreed, and I canceled the date. About two weeks later, he was arrested for drugging and assaulting another woman who wasn’t as fortunate to have someone like my little brother looking out for her.”

Callum nodded for a moment. “Is that why you rented to us?”

“Yes,” I said simply, seeing no reason to hide the truth. “We had tons of different people interested in the basement, but you two are the only ones he approved. Until now. If he trusts Malik, so do I, unless Malik gives me reason not to.”

Callum nodded for a moment, then turned his attention back to the boys outside.

He stayed at the table, watching and lost in thought, so I picked the newspaper back up and looked at more wanted ads.

Almost all of them specified what species they wanted to hire. The gyms were all looking for shifters, wolves preferred, and many of the different power plants in the area wanted elementals. Even the police had a long list of species they preferred, but none listed humans. The only job posting I could find where humans were acceptable was working at the vampire diners.

The pay they were advertising was fantastic. When added to the income from the rent, I could work part time, to make ends meet and a little extra to put in a rainy-day fund.

There’s something really tempting about that, to be able to be home with Leif as much as possible, which was good, as his babysitter was one of the first to leave town.

“Callum, can I ask you a question? It’s a little awkward, but…”

His head snapped up as he met my gaze. His eyes were so intense they made shivers run up and down my spine. “Sure, you can ask.”

“What are vampires like with the donors at the diners and feeding dens and such, if you know? How do vampires usually treat their feeding sources?”

“Is there a reason you’re asking?”

“I need to work,” I said, like it was obvious.

“Well, I wouldn’t advise to take a job as a blood donor unless you are comfortable giving a lot more than just blood.”

“What does that mean? The job just says—”

“The job is giving blood, but blood lust and lust are very close for a lot of vampires. Some can get carried away and use their unique gifts—most vampires have at least a little power of persuasion—to make their donor more willing than they should be. Technically, the practice is frowned upon, but vampires who run these places all look the other way. Especially since most donors take the job looking for that experience.”

I was about to interrupt but he wasn’t finished.

“If you’re okay with a vampire touching your breasts or between your thighs as he drinks from you—”

His words cut off as I abruptly stood from the table. I moved to the refrigerator, opening it, letting the cool air calm the fire in my cheeks as I grabbed a pitcher of iced tea. It was a hot day, but Callum’s soft voice as he spoke of a vampire touching me had made the temperature in the room skyrocket.

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