When he flicked on the lights, she stopped in her tracks and gaped. Oh boy. Don’t even get her started on the oven. He had a friggin’ Viking. From the subzero fridge to the enormous marble center island, and tall, white wood cabinets, she imagined Joanna and Chip Gaines would have a field day. White moldings and raised panel wainscoting decorated every wall. The exposed brick behind the stove added a casual elegance.
“This is quite the kitchen. Do you cook a lot?” she asked, desperate to take her mind off her pain.
She imagined he entertained his fair share of women here. What about his friends and co-workers?
“Not so much for myself anymore but for friends on occasion. Vampires don’t need to eat to sustain themselves as humans do. I mostly eat for routine, and of course, for pleasure. Let me get you something to drink.” Her breath caught from the intense look in his eyes. “Perhaps you’d like something from the wine fridge?”
“I could use something strong.” She walked to the island and took a seat at a leather barstool.
“I have just the thing.” He crossed into a sumptuous living room with a crème colored sectional sofa and two blue, silk-covered Chippendale chairs. Stacked with books, a glass coffee table was arranged in front of the couch.
After he walked to a wall of windows that led to a set of French doors, he checked the locks, glanced outside, and shut the blinds. “I don’t believe we were followed.”
She sighed and started to relax, trying hard to erase the bloody images of Salem from her mind. With his crazy driving, she would’ve been surprised—and kind of impressed—if anyone had been able to follow them. “Hmm, the first good news I’ve heard all day. Have you lived here long?” Everything looked so shiny and new, like he’d just moved in. But then again, in his line of work, he probably wasn’t home much.
When he turned back to face her, he appeared more at ease. Maybe being in his home made him less guarded. “I bought this place just under a year ago and did most of the renovations myself,” he said with a note of pride in his voice. “I lived in a much smaller apartment a few blocks away for years, but with gentrification, this area has changed a lot and become trendy. This place came on the market, and well, it held a certain intrigue. Before vampires came out in the open in the seventies, I was forced to move a lot. I wanted to finally make a home for myself.”
“I can see how you would.” She could relate. She’d been living at the coven since her mom died. While she considered it her home, it was high time to get a place of her own. “Did you decorate it yourself?” she asked, taking in the contemporary artwork and the tasteful knickknacks artfully displayed around the room.
“I have a decorator friend who put the place together for me.” He walked to a liquor cart and poured amber-colored liquid from a crystal decanter into two snifters.
A male that looked like him probably had lots of female friends falling all over themselves to help him in a pinch. She might not live in a luxury townhouse, or have a decorator on hand, but the things she treasured most revolved around family, friends, and her cat. She swallowed hard, and it finally hit her—Salem was never coming home. An unexpected explosion of anger and sorrow ripped through her and made it hard to breathe.
“Miss Howe? Are you okay? You got pale all of a sudden.” Before she could respond, he made his way back over to her and handed her a glass. “You should drink this. It’s Glen Livet.”
The liquid swirled in her shaking hands. “Thanks.” She took a long, slow sip. The scotch burned the back of her throat, and then, warmth spread from her head to her toes. “This is smooth.”
“It will help you sleep.”
“I could probably drink the whole bottle and still have trouble sleeping.” She prayed the images in her head wouldn’t keep her awake. She felt like a walking disaster, a danger to everyone and everything around her. “I have no idea what I’m going to tell Brooke’s family and friends.”
Lifting the snifter to his lips, he leaned against the counter. The man had amazing lips, full and lush, perfect for kissing. Where did that come from? It had to be the stress. “You have to be very careful what you tell them,” he murmured, breaking into her thoughts. “Are they local?”
“Her parents live in Philadelphia. Her younger brother lives here in Jersey. I’m sure he’s going to freak out when he doesn’t hear from her. They’re very close.”
“I would let them know what’s going on, just make sure they keep it very quiet for their safety, as well as Brooke’s. Feel free to give them my number. I’m sure they’ll have questions.” His gaze narrowed. “What about you? Is there anyone you need to call?”
Her fingers tightened around the glass. “I’m an only child. My dad’s remarried to a younger woman. I don’t see much of him these days. They live in the city, and you might say the new wife and I don’t get along.” She’d never forget the day he’d left, claiming he couldn’t handle her mom’s cancer like she’d chosen to get sick.
“No? I can’t imagine you not getting along with someone,” he said with a teasing smile.
“Hard to believe, right?” She shrugged and tried to play it off. “She’s only a few years older than me, so it’s kind of weird.”
“I see. I bet that is weird. How about your mom?”
She avoided his searching gaze and took another sip from her glass. The scotch must be doing the trick because her hands shook a bit less. “She died a few years ago.” She was surprised how easily the words fell from her lips. This was the first time she’d ever told Mulroney anything personal about herself. They didn’t exactly have that kind of relationship. Even now, talking about it made her throat tight. Tears threatened to spill over again, and at that moment, she wondered if the pain would ever go away. Maybe time couldn’t heal the wound but simply numbed the ache. She couldn’t save her mom or Salem, but she could save Brooke. She’d make sure of it.
“I’m sorry. Hell…I didn’t know,” he said, sounding sincere as he loosened his tie.
“My mom’s the reason I started my charity. Hope Club helps to raise money for families who aren’t able to pay for medical bills not covered by insurance. We’re not a huge deal yet, but we’re getting there.” This was so different than her typical interactions with him. She didn’t know what to make of this new exchange, but she was surprised at how easily she could talk to him.
His gaze seared her with so much intensity, it made her breaths shallow. Right now, she’d give anything to have Willow’s ability to read minds. For the first time since they met, she began to think this attraction might not be one-sided. But then why had he tried to ruin her reputation? “What?” She pushed her hair behind her ear, feeling self-conscious, and wished she could clear the heaviness in the air.
“Your charity sounds important, and the cause is certainly worthwhile.” His praise caught her off-guard, and she couldn’t mistake the note of admiration in his voice. As much as she hated to admit it, his words made her feel special. He bent his head so they were eye level. “I’m sure your mom would be very proud. If you put every bit of that moxie I see burning in your eyes into helping families in need, then I’d say they’re lucky to have you on their side.”
Her face flushed again, not used to receiving compliments from Mulroney of all people. “I appreciate that. Hold on, did you just say, ‘moxie’?”
He straightened. “Yeah, why?”
