Mr. Jarvis screamed again.
This couldn’t be going any worse.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jarvis! I’m so sorry.”
Driven by insatiable thirst, Heaven was too strong and determined. Mr. Jarvis was alive, but not for long. As he sank to the floor, Heaven still feeding, someone knocked on the front door.
Tyrone. “Fuck!” I yelled. I couldn’t let him see Heaven drain the life out of this sad little man. With no recourse, I grabbed the closest object I could find, the Thomas Kinkade painting Heaven hadn’t let me burn. Sunbeams and a heavy wooden frame would have to do the trick. My hands sizzled as I grasped the painting in a firm two-handed grip.
“Sorry, Heaven!” I said, as I brought the popular American wall art down on her head. She immediately slumped over. A trickle of blood ran down her face where the frame cut her forehead.
She’d be fine in a few minutes, but Mr. Jarvis wouldn’t.
Tyrone knocked again.
Before opening the door, I shut my eyes and took a second to collect myself. With the door open a crack, I snuck out onto the rotting porch. I knew for a fact it happened to be another one of Mr. Jarvis’s issues.
“Hey, handsome,” I said in an overly bright, nothing-to-see-here greeting.
“Hey. You ready?” He glanced down at my outfit. “You look…delicious.”
So did he. The smell of fresh blood in the air already had me in sensory overdrive.
“You need a coat?” he asked.
“I’m…I’m so sorry, but is there any way we could do this tomorrow?” I was obviously ready for our date in my adorable hot-chocolate-drinking outfit. With downcast eyes, I said, “Heaven still isn’t feeling well. She needs me. Rain check?”
“Are you sure? We could bring her back some soup…”
“Actually, I think I might need to take her to the hospital.” This was half true.Someonewas going to the hospital. Just not Heaven.
His brow furrowed. “Do you want me to drive?”
I shook my head. “It’s a female thing. Can we meet tomorrow night instead, same time?”
“Sure.” Tyrone had the look of someone who’d been disappointed but was polite enough not to make anything of it.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
For a hot second we stood awkwardly. It felt wrong to send him away with a wave, and I wanted more. We hadn’t had a date yet, but I was ready for the goodnight kiss, a little something to tide me over. The scent of blood in the air wasn’t helping.
He must have sensed my thirst, and my own desire was reflected in his expression. “Is it okay if I give you a hug?” he asked.
In answer, I stepped into his arms and looked up into his warm brown eyes.
People talk about that new car smell, but new man smell is even better. Tyrone was all freshly cut pine and drugstore deodorant, and definitely something I’d like to take for a drive. It didn’t take any more than a glance upward to invite a kiss. He leaned down and I opened my mouth to taste him, earthy and wholesome and all male. It took everything I had not to take a little nip of his lower lip.
Someone inside interrupted the moment with a long, painful groan.
Pulling away, I said, “I better go. Tomorrow?”
He smiled, and I read the promise on his lips.
As soon as I slammed the door on Tyrone, I grabbed Heaven by the hand. She was still slumped over by Wayne, but just starting to come to.
As I helped her to her feet, her eyes glazed over once again with lust and hunger as she stared longingly at Wayne Jarvis. It was laughable. He looked like he wore a pocket protector, and here was Heaven brimming with lusty enthusiasm to lap up every last drop.
“Of all people! You can’t drain the inspector!” I shook my head with frustration. “Anyone else would have been better!”
