“‘The donuts are but a front,’” Jessica said, echoing Nathan’s earlier statement. “And it didn’t look like there were any in stock when we were there before, anyway. Which is kind of ironic, when you consider the place is called Endless Donuts.”
“Yeah, and it’s too bad, too,” Dara sighed, “because I’m starting to get really hungry.”
“Ooh, I’ve got some snacks I can bring with us,” Lucy volunteered, and stood up. Then, with a wavering smile, “That is regular snacks. With a lowercase ‘s.’ Dara, do you want to help me?”
Dara got up and joined her by the kitchen cabinets. Together, they packed grocery sacks with crackers, granola bars, and drinks, while Aaron, who’d still been wearing his sweatpants, went into the bedroom to change into jeans. After that, the group split up again, climbing into separate vehicles and returning, caravan fashion, to the Endless Donuts storefront—this time to summon the violent minion of a vampire and interrogate him until he cracked. Lucy guessed she’d gotten over the absurdity of her current situation, because she didn’t feel like giggling about it anymore.
To be sure, the situation was still absurd. She’d just decided to stop dissecting it so closely, or even thinking about it so much, and simply accept that, for the time being anyway, she was Lucy Booth, Vampire Hunter.
Chapter Fourteen
In the donut shop, Kiefer and Nathan closed the window blinds and stacked all the chairs and tables out of the way, clearing the floor. Kiefer, who’d brought the requisite supplies from his apartment, set up everything he needed to perform his magic. Reading from a tattered spell book, he recited the incantation and completed the ritual in only a few minutes.
“Now we just have to wait for the scumbag to show up,” he said, brushing his hands together. He stationed himself near a window, periodically peeking around the blinds to see if anyone was coming.
Lucy and Aaron, meanwhile, retreated to the long counter running along the back of the room. “Um, I guess you can’t eat anything,” she said ruefully, rummaging in one of her grocery sacks, “but there’s some water in here if you want it. Nathan said vampires need to stay hydrated.”
Aaron waved away her offer. “I’m okay right now, thanks.”
Lucy hauled herself up onto the counter. She twisted open a water bottle and ripped open a granola bar. “So, um, how are you feeling?” she asked him.
He tucked his hands into his jeans pockets and smiled up at her, his gorgeous hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. “Oh, you know. Like a vampire bit me. But otherwise I’m fine.”
She grinned. “I actually have no idea what that’s like, but okay.”
His smile faded as he studied her. “I’m really glad you don’t. Take my word for it, it’s no picnic.”
“I’m sure it isn’t, Aaron, but you’re going to be okay.”
Doubt was evident in his expression, but he said, “Well, if I am, it’ll be all thanks to you.” He glanced over his shoulder at Nathan and Kiefer, who were conferring next to the shop window. When he turned back to Lucy, his eyes were filled with sincerity. “Thanks again, Lucy, for taking care of me the past few days. For finding these guys to help me.”
“Jessica found them,” she reminded him. “But yeah, of course. I told you I’d help you. That’s my job, isn’t it? To assist?”
His mouth tugged up on one side. “Even when the vampires start attacking? I don’t know. Something tells me most people would’ve either called the men in white coats to come get me, or they would’ve just run away shrieking. And I wouldn’t have blamed them for it, either. This goes way above and beyond the call of duty—for anybody.”
Lucy took a bite of granola bar and chewed thoughtfully. It had never occurred to her to do either of the things Aaron had just mentioned. She could no sooner have abandoned him than if it had been Jessica she’d found injured and huddled in the dark. It wasn’t only because she was attracted to Aaron, either. He was her friend. She cared about him. And no matter what happened—or didn’t happen—between them in the future, she needed to know he was going to be alright after all this.
“You know, I’m seeing a whole different side of you tonight,” he said.
Lucy looked over to find him still watching her, a pondering expression in his eyes. “You are? Different how?”
“Tougher,” he said. “Brave.”
Brave? Lucy thought. Me? She wasn’t so sure. If she were brave, she would bring up what was on her mind right now. She would ask Aaron if he’d meant everything he’d said in his voicemail, or if he even remembered leaving it. Instead, she only smiled noncommittally, nibbling another piece of granola bar.
“Hey, tell me something,” he said, and laid a hand on her knee.
Lucy felt her leg tense up, all her senses suddenly going on high alert. “S-sure. What is it?”
Mischief sparkled in his eyes. “While I was over at your place, did you get into bed with me and cuddle, or did I just dream that?”
She laughed. “You must’ve dreamed it. I slept on the couch, like I’d said I would. Or at least I tried to. I didn’t get a lot of rest.”
“Too worried?” he guessed.
She nodded.
“That I’d wake up and bite you in the night?”
“Mm…maybe a little. Mostly I was worried you wouldn’t wake up at all. Or that I wouldn’t find some way to help you.”
“Ah,” he said, “okay.” He ran his finger over a frayed spot on the knee of her jeans, making her entire body tingle.
Lucy gulped. “Are you disappointed it was just a dream?” she asked, surprised at how coquettish she sounded all of a sudden.
“No. I’m actually really glad it wasn’t real.”
“Oh,” she blinked. “Why’s that?” She hoped he wouldn’t say Because the idea of sharing a bed with you grosses me out, Lucy, duh.
He
