Page 5 of Fangs and Fudge

Vena flipped through the book. “I was hoping for more time off.”

“I doubt there will be a huge crowd. Some of our regulars will be too afraid to come.”

“What about the nosey people who want to see the crime scene?”

“As long as they tip well, I don’t care.” I nudged her. “I’m starting the show.”

Vena glanced up at the TV for a second before her gaze returned to the book. She flipped through the pages and tsked. “Isn’t there a glossary in this thing? Do they expect me to read it from front to back to get the information I’m looking for?”

“I don’t know, but it looks like there is going to be drama in the house,” I said, watching as the show teased an upcoming fight scene. “I normally don’t like fighting, but they’re all glistening and muscle-bulging.”

Vena peeked up from the book and was entranced by a shirt being ripped from the hottie. “Damn,” she breathed, book forgotten.

I smiled, knowing “research” was no longer a priority. While I did want to find answers regarding any side effects from a vampire feeding, Vena and I could use a little mindless entertainment for an hour. We deserved that much, at least.

Unfortunately, the hour flew by, and my escape from reality ended on a cliffhanger.

“I hate when they do that,” I said, taking our plates to the kitchen.

“It’s so you are eager for the next episode.”

“I’d be eager either way,” I said. “The guys in this season are mouthwatering.”

“Anchor is that mouthwatering. He’d make great babies.”

“Stop,” I warned.

“Anchor’s not even here to hear me,” Vena said.

Perhaps watching The Other House wasn’t the best idea before a shift. It was hard enough getting her to curb her hormones around Anchor without the added pre-shift eye candy.

“I asked Shepard how long he thought we’d have Anchor on our couch,” I said as I put our dishes in the sink. “He thought a few weeks.”

“You won’t hear any complaints from me,” Vena said.

“You’re forgetting what having them around means. No getting into trouble.”

She groaned. “You mean no hunting.”

“Probably.”

“So we need the vampires gone and Anchor, that delicious hunk of puppy chow, off our couch. Good thing I have some light reading to help that along.” I heard the books thump down on the dining room table and shook my head.

“Good thing,” I echoed.

I used the spare time before work to research and write up a spin on a cannoli cupcake I wanted to try making before we both had to change for work and head in early.

Buzz was waiting by the back door when we pulled into the employee parking.

“Shepard called everyone in,” he said as we got out of the car. “There’s already a line in front.”

A meow from under the dumpster drew my attention, and I squatted down in my pencil skirt to look at the black cat.

“It didn’t go home yet?” I asked as I peered at the familiar cat.

“If it’s a stray, that might be its home,” Buzz said.

It did that weird one-eye-at-a-time blink that cats managed, and I straightened to glance at Vena.

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