Page 16 of Only Human in Strangeville

One of the doors down the hallway clicked shut just as I stepped into the hall. Nimbus perked his ears, and I took a step in that direction, but no one was there. It was the first real sign of any neighbors that I’d seen. I never heard anyone. Packages showed up in the entry where the mailboxes were and eventually vanished, but otherwise, Oliver was the only one I saw here. He said that was normal. I thought it was weird as hell, but then, so was everything else.

Starting to wonder if I’d gotten in over my head choosing Beechworth, I shivered and went down the stairs. Oliver wasn’t in, but Nimbus got his hackles up at a particularly dark shadow in the stairwell behind us.

Uneasy after a long day, I hurried outside.

Nimbus found his favorite tree to potty by, and I let him take care of business. I’d brought water and a bowl for him, as well as his dinner.

Davin pulled up in his old truck just as Nimbus was finished sniffing around.

Hoping I could hide my unease with a smile, I went over to the curb where he’d parked while he got out.

“Hi, Hannah. How are you tonight?” Davin’s grin was genuine, but I thought I caught a hint of wariness in his eyes.

Shit, was the vampire joke too much? In this town? I wouldn’t have thought it would be, but maybe I’d been wrong.

“It’s been a weird day,” I admitted.

“Anything you want to talk about?”

“I got a job at that weird bookstore in the next town.” I didn’t feel like elaborating more.

Davin smiled. “Clare is a character. Harmless, mostly. Congrats on the job.”

“Thanks. So, where are we headed?”

“Let’s go for a drive, then I’ll feed you.” He led me back over to his truck and offered me a hand before scooping Nimbus up and putting him on the bench seat next to me.

We drove for a bit, with Davin doing his best tour guide impression. I was interested, but I couldn’t help being distracted by everything that had happened that day. The forest that bordered the northern edge of town was particularly beautiful in the late afternoon sun.

Davin interrupted telling me about some of the lakes hidden away in the trees, trailing off and glancing at me. “What’s wrong, Hannah? I can take you back any time you want.”

“Oh. Uh. Sorry.” Apparently, my distraction was obvious, or Davin was uncommonly good at reading people. “I don’t know.

He pulled over and put the truck in park before shifting so he could face me.

“Hannah, if you’re not comfortable, I’ll take you home.”

“It’s not you, Davin.”

His shoulders eased when I said that. It was completely true and, somehow, he believed me. I couldn’t help noticing the way his shoulders stretched his shirt as he twisted to look at me. The powerful muscles in his arms and the shine in his eyes. I wondered what it would be like to be held by someone like him. Kissed. Loved.

A faint smile played across his lips, as if he could read my thoughts. There was no way, though.

“I just had a weird encounter after a weird couple of hours at the bookshop. It’s nothing.”

“Tell me?”

I shook my head and relayed my story.

Davin’s brow furrowed, and he looked grave. “Hannah, are you planning on staying in Beechworth for long?”

“I’d hoped to stay here indefinitely,” I admitted.

He took a deep breath. “We need to get a mark or two on you as soon as possible.”

I raised my eyebrows. “What, now?”

“Were you joking in your text earlier about vampires?”

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