Shhiiit!
“Garrett said, and I quote, ‘For a leech, Dexter seems okay. I won’t stake him. Yet.’” She giggles.
“Thanks.” I blink, but the two lines of ash are still there. “Hey, listen, I’m exhausted, and I need to get to bed. I have errands to do later before work. Please tell Garrett I appreciate him extending an exemption to Dex and his guys for territory access.”
“Sure thing, hon. I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
“Yeah, he’s looking forward to meeting you, too. Maybe we can go out to dinner together one night this week.”
She laughs. “Youwanting to go out todinner? Holy hellballs, he reallyisa good influence on you.”
I blink—the ash is still there. “I trust him.” That’s absolutely the truth. “I’ve never met anyone like him.” I hope he can still hear me. “He hasn’t lost his humanity, like so many of them do. He’s not interested in doing anything except living his life and getting along. He’s a good man with a good heart.”
“I know, sweetie,” she gently says. “I already told you—I see you two together. Go get some sleep.”
“Thanks.” I end the call and slowly squat to get a better look at the ash, but just that simple act creates enough of a draft that it blows it away.
Squinting against the sunlight, I stand and turn, staring at my closet door. I don’t know what to do with him beyond just getting through today.
He gave me his danged wallet. The key fob to his rental.
His hotel room key.
He trusts me.
He’s a vampire, and I’m at a crossroads in my life. I don’t want his life endangered because of my crazy shit—including oh, now it looks like my dad’s still alive—but I don’t know how tonotbe afraid or how to accept this chance that he’s freely offering. He literally has everything to lose, including his life.
I have…well, nothing. Just me.
Forcing myself away from the window, I grab my clothes and head to the bathroom to change and brush my teeth. Unlike after a shift at work, I don’t want to take a shower.
I don’t want to wash his scent off me.
Once I’ve changed, I stop by the closet door. “Dex?” I softly call. “Are you all right?”
I hear nothing in reply.
Please let him be okay.
19
Eilidh
I sleep like shit.
My dreams are filled with nightmares. Of Dex bursting into ash in my living room. Of the massive dog-phantom attacking him and rending him into pieces. Of a band of renegade shifters bursting in and staking him while I beg them to leave him alone.
I startle awake several times in terror, gasping for air, my heart pounding.
Around 11:30 a.m. I give up trying to sleep and walk over to the closet. “Dex? How are you doing?”
Nothing.
No, I amnottempted to peek. After that little example of what could happen, he’ll be lucky if I don’t wedge my comfy chair under the doorknob and keep him hostage until it’s well past dark, just to be on the safe side. I mean, I’m certain he’s plenty strong enough to punch through the door like it’s tissue paper, but I don’t want to take a risk with his safety.
Oh, and my hair’s still black. So, I have that going for me, at least.
I have two texts on my phone, from Dexter’s guys John and Mark, making sure I have their room numbers and both their cell numbers, in case I have any questions or can’t find something. And they both assure me it’s okay to call them and wake them up. They’re in the same larger suite Dex is, comprised of several suites behind a main door. Apparently, he has that whole section of the floor to himself.
