“Ryan?”
“Rhyne.R-h-y-n-e.But I answer to Ryan, too.”
That got a snicker out of her.“I’m Grace.It’s good to meet you…again.”
Rhyne glanced down at her hand in his, and a cold barb streaked through him.Pulling his hand away, he apologized.“I’m sorry.I hope I didn’t hurt you.”
Grace checked to see what he was apologizing for.“Oh, that?Don’t worry about it.It’s a minor puncture wound.I didn’t put a bandaid on it this morning since it was already starting to heal.Hold on right there.I need to tell the others I’m taking my break.Meet me over in the waiting area, would you?”
He nodded, and she exited the office through the back way.
Rhyne stared at his hand.He’d felt the slight bump between her thumb and forefinger, and recognized it for what it was.In vamp language, it was called a “taste cut,” where a vamp sliced or punctured the thin skin there to draw a single drop for “tasting” purposes.Since there were fewer nerve endings on that part of the hand, the penetration would sting but not draw any intense pain.In this case, hers wasn’t so much a slice as it appeared to be a stab, as if Welsh had “accidentally” stabbed her with something to draw blood.It also explained why the guy had raised his right hand to his nose and sniffed it back at the house.He must have swiped his fingers over the wound when it happened.
Why had Welsh done it?Why did he have to taste her?Rhyne believed it had something to do with the man’s remarks yesterday.
“I would be happy just sitting downwind from her and inhaling her fragrance all night long.”
The smell of her blood—or more specifically, her blood type—had attracted him.
And then, overnight, Welsh had regained his color sight.
Just like him.
“There you are!”Grace almost cheered.“Come.The coffee shop’s this way.”
As she turned to lead him in the direction she’d pointed to, he caught a full whiff of her scent again.It was as strong and potent as it had been when he’d first met her.She was still on her menses, and that alone might explain why Welsh was attracted to her.
Might.
Rhyne gritted his teeth.He and the guys had been around many, many females during their menses.They were able to disregard the majority of them.So why were they both attracted to Grace?
“You don’t say much, do you?”
He grinned.“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.By the way, did your nephew like his color book?”
“He liked it.Thank you again for your help.”
They walked up to the counter together to place their orders.Rhyne pointed to the display case filled with sweets.“Add one of those cinnamon rolls, please.Would you care for something?”he asked Grace.
She held up two fingers.“Make that two cinnamon rolls, Heather.”
He paid for their coffees and snacks.Grace took the rolls and he carried their drinks over to a small table nearby.He waited until she’d added sweetener and creamer before speaking again.
“You’re probably wondering why I came to see you instead of Norris,” he began.
Her smile was infectious.“It did pass my mind.”
How the idea came to him, or where it originated, he couldn’t explain, but it sounded like a plausible excuse.
“Well, I’ve been talking to Norris about his job.What all it entailed and how difficult it was.I’m thinking about taking some classes over at the community college.After talking to Norris, I think I’d like to become a certified phlebotomist.”
“That sounds like a very good idea.But why in the world did you choose to be a phlebotomist?”
He chuckled.“I’ve been interested in blood and blood types for years, especially after I learned I have a very unusual blood type.”
“Really?What type?”
