Was I?“Just thinking about something for work I needed to get done today.”
“Don’t let me keep you. I’ll just sit here and stare at this million-dollar view. It’s no hardship.”
That was exactly the excuse I needed. “It’s only a few phone calls. I’ll meet you in the dining room.” I could time it perfectly.
“Sounds good.”
I left the grand room and stopped Winston on my way. “I’ll be in my study, let me know once he’s done eating so I can return.”
Winston understood. “Would you like me to bring you some blood?”
“That’s fine.”
I entered my study and shut the doors. Food was a tricky thing. I loved ice cream and had no issues eating it. It offered no nutrients, it broke down easily in my system, and I loved the sweetness of it.
Regular meals—beef, chicken, even soup, caused issues. Cramping and vomiting were not how I wanted to spend my night.
I worked for a little over an hour answering emails, returning a few calls, and finalizing some details for the gala I needed to attend in a couple of weeks. Sometime later, Winston knocked on my door to inform me dinner was almost done, and I left to join Sam.
“I asked Winston to keep a dish warm for you,” Sam said.
“Thank you, he brought it to me in the study while I was finishing my work.”
Sam smiled. “Oh, good. I would have felt bad if you missed a meal.”
“How was everything?”
He sat back and placed his hands on his stomach. “Amazing. The butternut squash soup and chicken pesto pasta were my favorite.”
I took the seat across from him. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
Sam narrowed his eyes. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Would I even be able to stop you?”
He chuckled. “Fair point. Why do you hate people so much?”
That wasn’t what I’d thought he’d ask. Actually, I realized I hadn’t known what he’d ask.
“I deal with people a lot; I moved here for the peace and quiet.”
Sam’s brows dipped. “So you hate people because of your own occupational choices?”
This was harder than I’d thought. I’d spoken to many humans in my very long life—why was Sam so difficult?
“When we choose a career, we don’t often know all the cons.”
He nodded. “That’s fair, I guess. But it doesn’t mean you have to be rude to people who are being kind to you.”
“Is this your way of telling me to be nicer to the people in town?”
“I’m suggesting it might be a good idea.”
If Vincent were here, he’d be laughing his ass off. “I shall try.”
Sam grinned, and that was the end of that conversation. The storm was weakening but the hour was getting late, and I wasn’t sure what time I’d be able to get Sam home. As if Winston could hear my internal conversation, he entered the dining room.
“Pardon, sirs. According to the news, the storm, while tiring, isn’t ending until the early hours. Taking Mr. Karis home may not be possible. Shall I make up one of the spare bedrooms?”
