“You say that, but you were dating three women at once.That sounds like signing up for extreme exercise to me.”
“They all lived in different towns!”he whined some more, flopping onto his back, still panting for breath.
“And you really didn’t think they’d figure it out?Dude.Women are like the FBI and CIAcombinedwhen they get suspicious.No one is safe.You want a bowl of water?”
Feliks perked up a little.He looked like a dog begging for a treat in that position.“Maybe a hot dog?”
“Sure, I’ll put it on your tab.”Ross got out the bowl he stowed under the counter just for Feliks, poured some water into it, set it down, then went to fetch the hot dog.He was halfway to the food display case when the door chimed again.
Faster than the eye could blink, Feliks was up on his feet, hackles raised along his back, lips pulled back in a snarl.
Crap.Dodging around the snarling werewolf, Ross got a good look at the man(?) who’d just entered.He had the pale skin and perfectly pressed suit that screamed otherworldly.When someone was put together that precisely?They were usually a vampire or some sort of Fae.Ross didn’t recognize him, but that didn’t say much.He didn’t recognize a lot of his customers.Judging from Feliks’s reaction, likely vampire.The werewolves only seemed to have beef with the vampires.“Feliks, quit it.”
Feliks gave another snarl, fur growing impossibly poofier.The vampire arched one eyebrow at the werewolf, his hands still lax at his sides, for all the world like he was facing down a barking Chihuahua.Maybe to him it was.
Not about to let another fight break out in the gas station (Ross had made that mistake only once), he lifted a hand and smacked Feliks sharply on the nose.The werewolf jerked back in reflex, then sneezed violently, shaking his head.
“Stop,” Ross commanded firmly.“You know the rules.No fighting inside the store.You want to fight, you take it outside.”
“But—” Feliks sounded like a five-year-old denied a treat.
“No.”
“You don’t know who he is!”Feliks protested.
“He’s my customer.He’s inside my store.No fighting.”Ross upped his glare.
Feliks didn’t like it, and the vampire seemed amused by the exchange, if that little quirk around his mouth was any judge.He certainly seemed interested.He watched Ross like an eagle would a mouse.
Ross went back to fetching the hot dog, and when he presented it to Feliks—with ketchup and a dot of mustard, just the way the werewolf liked it—it was meekly taken and consumed without further argument.Feliks didn’t stay, though.He drank up the bowl, mumbled a good night, then slunk back out.
Ross breathed out a sigh of relief, fetched the bowl, and put it off to the side to clean later.He’d barely gotten behind the counter when the vampire moved toward him, feline grace in every movement.
“That was impressive,” the vampire informed him, voice smooth as honey.He was an interesting looking character, like someone from a romance novel.His burnished terracotta hair flowed in a soft wave to his collar, framing a narrow face that sported a close-trimmed beard.He was incredibly freckled, so much so that Ross would have thought him a ginger, but maybe there was a hint of red in his hair after all.The lights in here bleached everything, making it look blander than it was.“I’ve never seen a human wrangle a werewolf before.You do that often?”
“It’s called customer service,” Ross deadpanned.“Are you looking for something, sir?”
“Gas.The pump outside wouldn’t take my card, for some reason.”
“Pump 3?”Ross checked, not surprised by the nod.“Yeah, that one’s glitchy for some reason.Our tech guy is due tomorrow to fix it.I can run it from here.How much do you want?”
“Twenty dollars should suffice.”He handed over his credit card—black, Ross couldn’t help but notice—and then leaned in, curiosity all over his face.His gold eyes were penetrating and rather stunning to look at, even when narrowed as they were now.He inhaled deeply, frown deepening.“I don’t detect anything from your blood.You’re wholly human?”
Ross had gotten this reaction a lot.It still felt a little weird to be sniffed at, but practically everyone who passed through those doors seemed inclined to do so.He knew how to respond to it.“Nothing supernatural or magical about me.Sign here, please.”
The vampire took it and signed, signature loopy and distinct, unlike most modern signatures.“And yet you are unfazed by the supernaturals you encounter?”
“The ones who come in here to shop aren’t the type to cause trouble,” Ross answered simply.“They’re reasonable.And I’ve never seen anyone supernatural outside of here.”
“I’d lay good odds you have.You just didn’t recognize them as such.”
Ross considered that for a second.Nothing had ever leapt out at him before, but…well, that didn’t mean much, did it?“Could be.”
A smile on his face, the vampire introduced himself with a slight bow.“I am Glenn.May I have your name?”
“Call me Ross.Everyone does.”
Glenn smiled charmingly, his manner more of old-world etiquette than anything modern.It gave Ross the sense that he was much older than the thirty-fiveish he looked.“A pleasure, Ross.I think we’ll see each other again.”
