Page 67 of Wanted: Vampire's Assistant
“We have several stops to make.” I swung my arm through his, and we started down the sidewalk again.
Coming out of a shop ahead of us was the blond from the tea shop those months ago. She still looked perfect, while I looked like a bedraggled kitty chew-toy, but eh, semantics. She had multiple bags on her arms and was chatting noisily on the phone with someone.
She stopped when she noticed Mesmer and I. Her eyes were a chilly, pale blue. They were so cold I involuntarily shivered. Until just a moment ago I’d been perfectly cozy and warm in my coat, gloves and beanie, but I felt ice cold now.
She scoffed as she looked me up and down. “But you’re so grungy and plain! What on earth does he see in you?”
Grungy?
Plain?
Seriously?
I kept my face impassive. “I’m assuming that’s a rhetorical question?”
She made a sound of disgust and barreled past us, slamming into me hard as she did, which, If I hadn’t been arm in arm with Mesmer, would have knocked me flat.
Mesmer reached one long arm out to stop her, but I patted his side and he let her go. It wasn’t worth my time. I hated drama.
I watched the paragon walk away and then eyed Mes in gratitude.
“Thanks for letting me handle that myself.”
He nodded. “She hurt you. I can call Sheriff Finn and file a report against her?”
“If she continues, we will, but I’m content to let it be for now.”
He nodded. “If that is what you want.”
“Yes.” I sighed, then shook it off and resumed our walk to our first destination. “So, Mes, do you have someone special in your life?”
Mesmer looked at me incredulously.
“What?” I laughed. “It’s okay for friends to ask that of each other, right?”
“Have you been reading thatHow to be a Friend for Dummiesbook again?”
I could feel my cheeks turn pink. “Noooo!” I fanned my face with my free hand desperately. “I don’t have a book like that!”
“Hah!”
“So, is that a yes?” I asked, ignoring his snooping into books he shouldn’t know I had.
Mesmer sighed. “No. No one special in my life.”
“Do you want someone special?”
He thought about that for a bit. “I’m in my eighty-third year. I would like to find a partner I can share my life with. But I worry about her safety with me. My job is dangerous. My world is dangerous. How can I bring someone into my life, and ask her to share it with me, when I know there is a good possibility that my job will spill over into my life and put her in jeopardy?”
I blinked. “First, wow, that’s the most words I’ve heard you put together, like, ever. And second?” I thought for a bit. “Mes, life is full of dangers. I know it’s cliché, but I can literally get hit by a bus and be gone tomorrow. So can this mystery woman of yours.” I looked up at him. “Look at Draven and I. I’m in danger, and I know he regrets that, but I also think when weighed up against us being in each other’s lives, or not being in each other’s lives, we choose to be grateful we’re together, despite the circumstances. Because I’ve done the whole alone thing. And I can tell you it stinks. Having someone special in your life makes all the difference.”
And wow, had I just sounded like aHallmarkcard. I scrunched my nose at him. “Sorry for the sap.”
Mesmer laughed.
I skidded to a stop on the walkway and gaped at him. “You laughed.”
Mes shrugged, a happy glitter in his dark eyes. “It happens from time to time.”
