Harlow let out a growl and thought over where he could meet the cupcake of a vampire. Charity was right. He did not trust Foxx enough to let the man know where he lived. “Fran’s on 25th, outer right corner of the lot,” he barked out.
“The grocery store?”
“Yes,” he grunted.
“Fine, I’ll let him know.”
“He’s British. What if he drives on the wrong side of the road?”
She scoffed. “Foxx has been in the States longer than you have been alive. I doubt it’ll be a problem.”
Harlow groaned. “Fuck!”
When Charity started to laugh in earnest, he hung up, cursing again.
* * *
Foxx hummedas he brushed his teeth. Staring in the mirror, he smiled at himself. Ah, he looked so cute in his fuzzy bee onesie pajamas—cute and warm. Looking good was important…but not as much as staying warm. Foxx hated the cold.
He was just finishing up and wiping his mouth with a towel when his phone went off. Snatching it up, he answered without checking who it was.
“Hello, Foxx speaking,” he said brightly.
“Well, aren’t you a breath of sunshine this grand morning,” Charity said with a delightful chuckle.
Truth be told, Foxx was not a morning person…but it wasn’t exactly morning for him. “Afraid, in this case, I haven’t been to bed yet,” he admitted with a laugh. “But good morning, beautiful. How can I assist you today?”
She giggled. “Ah, sweet as apple pie, aren’t you? I’m afraid this is not a social call. You’ve been assigned your first case! Congrats.”
Foxx barely contained his squeal of excitement. “Really?!”
“Yes, darling. I’ve already called Harlow. You’ll be going on a short little road trip together. I’d suggest using that time you have him trapped to bond a little.”
Ohh, bonding time! Perfect! His mind instantly went to a different type of bonding…the type that involved both of them being naked. Shaking his head, a small smile on his face at his wayward thoughts, he asked, “How long is the trip? Who’s driving?”
Charity hummed. “It’s a four-hour trip. The sun will be rising soon, so you’ll have to take your vehicle. The information that I was given did say you had one, correct? If not, we can always rent.”
Right, the sun would rise in about an hour. Foxx would get a bit crispy if he let its rays hit him without UV protection. He wouldn’t combust. It wasn’t instant fire, like in some of the ridiculous old movies. His skin would first turn red, slowly becoming the worst sunburn imaginable before it started to actually burn. The process would take a few hours before he’d be smoldering. A few painful hours, that is.
“I do have a car. And it is up to code to protect my kind from the sun. Does Harlow not have a vehicle?”
She snorted. “Harlow, the special person that he is, has yet to coat his windows.”
“Ah, I see,” Foxx murmured. “So, I assume I am to pick him up then?”
“Yes, you’ll find him on 25th Ave, at a local grocery store called Fran's. You should find him in the outer right corner of the parking lot.”
Foxx blinked in confusion. “A grocery store?”
“Sorry, he’s a bit secretive about his house's location. Not many people like him, and well…he’s been in this job for twenty years, Foxx. A lot of people want him dead.”
He blinked—twenty years? He had figured Harlow had been on the job for a while, he just had that feel about him. But that length of time told Foxx that the man knew what he was doing. He wouldn’t have survived that long if he didn’t. So, him being hesitant to give a vampire he just met his address made sense. “I get it. Hunters aren’t generally a paranormal creature’s best friend.”
Charity chuckled. “You got that right. Anyway, get packed up. Maybe take a few nights worth of clothing, as you never know how long these cases will last. And don’t forget to pack your laptop, and whatever weapons you are legally allowed to use for now. I actually suggest you start keeping a to-go bag ready, to save time in the future.”
“Will do. And I’ll keep that in mind for the future. Is there anything else I need to know? Anything case related?”
“Oh right.” She laughed. “The case. Well…all I have for you at the moment is the location, which is a city in Missouri called Horns Valley, and that it’s a group of wannabe hunters. But everything is being gathered together, and it will be waiting for you both in an email once you arrive at your hotel. The room has been booked already. Usually, when we know where we are sending you, the guild will try to book something, so things go a bit smoother. Anyway, get packed and then head out to get your big grump of a partner. He should be there waiting for you by 6:30.”
