She understands. She’ll go along with it because she understands how vampires operate.
Jade put her drink in one of my car’s cupholders. “So…can we go, now?”
“Only after you give me a moment to tell you just howdeeplyI feel for you,” I said.
Jade leaned into her door so she could eye me with the suspicion usually afforded to snakes.
Whoops. It seems that was too much for her. Better retreat—for now.
“Forgive me, I’m still figuring out my way around this seduction.” I flashed her a smile, then put my drink in a cupholder before shifting the car into reverse and starting the drive to Tutu’s.
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Jade
Ikept waiting for Considine to say something more flirtatious on the way to Tutu’s Crypta & Custodia, but he seemed content to drum his fingers on the steering wheel and shoot me the occasional smile.
Considine’s seduction attempts didn’t bother me. I believed he was genuine in his pursuit, and the more he went about it, the more I realized he was trying to go at my speed. His approach was methodical but slow, with the occasional sly, hidden advance like buying my latte.
What kept me tensed was that despite identifying that this situation wasn’t going to blow over, I still hadn’t figured out how to react to the seduction.
Elder vampires didn’t fall for vampire slayers. There was no knowledge base for me to work off.
I have lived my life running on standard operations. I would really appreciate a self-help book on vampire relationships right now. Maybe a presentation with pointers to take home and research.
“Relax, Jade,” Considine said, startling me. “I won’t push—I can tell you’re at your limit.”
I scooted deeper into my car seat. “Thanks?”
Considine cracked another smile, then focused on driving.
I guess…I’m supposed to just experience it?
The idea felt weird. I was trained to be proactive. But in the end, all I could do was try to be a suitable partner, keep up with my friendship goals, and rejoice that in discovering Considine was Connor I hadn’t lost my closest Magiford relationship.
I sipped at my gingerbread latte—mostly to give myself something to do so I didn’t just sit there in absolute awkwardness. By the time we pulled up to Tutu’s and parked on the street, I was feeling a little more relaxed.
Considine sipped his drink while I tried to casually look up and down the street, using the car’s various mirrors.
“I see two day shift task force members,” I said. “In uniform, a block up.”
A male werewolf wearing the winter version of the task force’s gold trimmed, navy blue uniform, and an extremely grumpy looking wizard wearing a thick navy-blue parka that had the task force patch on the shoulder, a matching hat, scarf, and mittens cradling a purple flame of fire stood on the sidewalk.
The wizard shouldn’t have been openly using magic, but I’m pretty sure it was for heating purposes. Going by the singed hole in the werewolf’s right sleeve, he’d already tried stopping the magic display.
Considine set his drink back in the cupholder. “Ahh yes. Looks like they have a hidden task force member, too. The leprechaun, across the street.”
I didn’t look immediately—just in case Gisila had goons watching the street and they’d noticed Considine and me.
When I finally looked over, I saw no leprechaun. “Where?”
“He’s shaded, standing behind the giant bush planted next to the wall of a large human bank,” Considine said.
I finally spotted the lump huddled behind a large pine shrub. He occasionally peeked out, clutching a task force radio and wearing a wool peacoat and a fur hat that buckled beneath his chin.
“I see him. The department is certainly making a show of protecting Tutu’s, even if Tutu herself doesn’t seem concerned,” I said.
