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were mild. He hunkered in slightly and rubbed at his arms to ward off the chill, as he looked past Ruby's shoulder. The man was obviously surprised to see Zane standing there, making himself at home in Ruby's house. Usually friendly eyes hardened, for a moment.
"I didn't know you had company," Todd said.
"Yeah," Ruby said. "What can I do for you, Todd?"
"I won a drawing for a free dinner at Captain Ron's Seafood, and I thought you might like to join me." He waved a piece of paper that was clutched in his meaty hand.
"That's very nice, but I've already eaten," Ruby said kindly.
Zane wondered if Todd's interest was normal and sexual or abnormal and deadly. It was impossible to tell. He had been the one to deliver the anonymous present at the party yesterday, and he did seem to hang around Ruby's house more than he should, but that didn't mean he was in league with the demon. It only meant he was a creep.
"Tomorrow, maybe." Todd grimaced. "It expires on Wednesday, so I need to use it soon."
"I really . . ." Ruby began.
"We're busy tomorrow," Zane said, stepping forward and placing his arm around Ruby's shoulder. It was a pose that said, very clearly, mine. His eyes communicated the same, as they met Todd's. "You're going to have to find someone else to take to dinner."
Todd grimaced. His nose twitched, and he rubbed his hands along his meaty arms. "Do I smell coffee? It sure is cold out here."
Ruby was just about to invite the creep in when Zane reached past her to grab the doorknob. "Good night, Todd," he said as he swung the door closed. And locked it.
"That was rude," Ruby said, tilting her head back to look up at him.
"You're welcome. Now, tell me why you jumped out of your skin when the doorbell rang."
Ruby felt silly telling Zane that a dream had made her jumpy, but he did teach psychology, so maybe he could shed some light on the meaning of the vivid nightmare. All day she'd expected the dream to fade, as they usually did, but this one had stayed with her. If anything, it had grown more vivid in her mind, more real.
They'd cleared off the kitchen table, and she'd placed her contribution to the meal in the center of the table. Dessert tonight was Death by Chocolate Cake, her best seller at the shop, and a pot of freshly brewed decaf. Zane was eyeing the cake as if it might come to life and bite him.
"There are only two of us."
"You can take some leftovers home, if you can get past the fact that it's not at all healthy." She cut him a huge slice and put it on one of Aunt Mildred's favorite Christmas dessert plates, then cut herself a smaller piece. He poked at the cake with his fork as if he still expected an attack.
"Tell me about the dream that spooked you," he said, eyes on the cake.
Ruby took a bite to delay. She chewed slowly. Maybe if she told the dream aloud, it would sound silly and she could laugh and dismiss it and tonight she'd sleep well. She began, and as she told the dream it did not sound silly at all. By the time she was finished, she had chills all over again. She'd never sleep tonight!
Zane didn't make fun of her or make light of the dream, but instead listened intently. He didn't so much as take a taste of the cake, so when she was finished with the telling—the last bit being the sight of a fathomless black face sucking the very breath out of her—she reached for his fork and cut off a big piece that had moist cake, chocolate chips, white chocolate chunks, and thick frosting. When she led the fork to his mouth, he automatically parted his lips, and she slipped the cake inside.
Zane closed his lips, and an expression of sheer ecstasy flashed across his face. "Good God," he said, taking the fork from her and cutting off another bite, then taking a swig of hot coffee. "This is decadently delicious."
He was always so surprised when her treats tasted good. "Didn't your mother bake?"
"No. She did on occasion buy the generic brand lemon cookies or Twinkies, but I never developed a taste for either."
"Bless your heart," she said sincerely. He literally didn't know what he was missing!
He shrugged. "Your dream," he said, changing the subject. "It's quite interesting. Did you write down the details?"
"No."
"You should. Do so tonight before you go to bed," he instructed. "And if you have any more dreams like that, write them down as well."
"I hope there are no more dreams like that one, not ever again." She shuddered and sipped at her decaf, wondering if she'd sleep at all tonight.
"Dreams often have meanings we must take time to decipher. Yours was definitely unusual. I want to hear immediately if there are more like it."
"I'll call you at three in the morning again," she said, trying for a lighthearted tone.
