AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It looks like pure joy,” I said dryly, studying the bottle. “You’re sure this won’t have any weird side effects on a vampire?”
“I’m your grandmother. Would I do anything not in your best interests?”
I eyed her knowingly.
“My side hustle is my own problem,” Grandma Betty said briskly. “Worry about yourself, darling.”
A knock on the door interrupted our conversation. Grandma Betty disappeared to answer it. A few minutes later, she returned with company. I just about choked on a bite of pancake when I recognized the hulking figure standing in my grandmother’s bright, happy, sunny kitchen.
“Dom?” I managed. “What are you doing here?”
“Good to see you too,” he drawled easily. The vampire wore jeans and a soft looking sweater and looked completely out of place in a retirement community. He would give all the grannies a heart attack just by walking down the street. “I came by to check on you.”
“Check on me?” I swallowed, then scalded my mouth with a sip of coffee. “I don’t understand.”
“I think we can all understand a little better if this fine gentleman sits down and joins us for breakfast.” Gran burst to life, her figure so petite she was barely visible behind Dom’s hulking form. “Sit down, Mr. Vampire.”
“This vampire doesn’t need food,” I said darkly. “He eats people for breakfast.”
“That’s a bit hostile.” Gran eyed me like she was trying to tell me something.
For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what.
“Coffee sounds good,” Dom admitted. “It was quite a drive without my chauffeur.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not your chauffeur.”
“A good thing, too. I wouldn’t be around for much longer with how liberally you use the gas pedal and how rarely you use the brakes.”
“Isn’t this banter titillating,” Gran chirped.
“Gran.”
“I meant scintillating,” Gran corrected. “Getting senile in my old age.”
I stared at the ceiling in dismay. Grandma Betty was the least senile person I’d ever met. She said what she meant—and she’d meant exactly what she’d said.
“Thank you for the invitation, Grandma Betty,” Dom said in a voice that was practically a purr. He was laying on his vampire charms thick. “Coffee sounds wonderful.”
“Perfect! Let me fix you a cup of my joyful blend.” Gran eyed me, but I still wasn’t picking up what she was throwing down.
It only clicked as Gran bustled over and deftly swiped the jar of golden Happy Hex that was on the table. The woman moved so fast, I barely saw her uncork the bottle and dump it into the cup before she grabbed the carafe of coffee and poured the hot liquid on top.
She kept up a constant chatter the whole while as a distraction. I was pretty sure Dom hadn’t noticed that my grandmother had spiked his morning coffee.
“Here you go, honey.” Gran handed over the cup to Dom, bustling him to sit at the table. “I’m going to leave the two of you to enjoy your breakfast in peace. I’ll be out in the garden if you need anything.”
“There’s no such thing as peace when it’s me and Dom in a room,” I grumbled.
“Sounds like fun,” Gran said as she exited.
“Dom.” I reached out on impulse as he raised the cup of coffee to his lips. “I think maybe you should—”
“Before you say anything, I need to talk to you.”
I’d meant to tell Dom that I didn’t think he should drink the cup of coffee. I was having misgivings about letting my grandmother “Happy Hex” the vampire. Maybe it was time to call a truce for my own safety. Maybe I should just move on. Put the past behind me, including my apartment, and start fresh. Daisy would understand.
But Dom’s words threw me for a loop, and I forgot all about the potion in his cup. “Talk to me? About what?”
