Page 52 of The Neighborhood Vampire

Alice Primrose sat alone at the bar with her head tilted and witch’s hat off-kilter. She held the left side of her head in her hand. Her elbow was propped up on top of the bar. She swirled her drink with her other hand. A cocktail mixture of cranberry juice and vodka—extra vodka—over ice in a rocks glass. She paused her twirling and took a sip. She set the glass back down and glanced at the rows of alcohol bottles stacked in front of her. A few were the wine bottles she had supplied.

“Not drinking the usual, I see,” a woman’s voice said from behind the bar.

A blonde woman captured Alice’s attention, her hands diligently scrubbing glasses in a sink. She placed the glasses down, one by one, on rubber mats to let them dry.

“Let me guess. Relationship troubles?”

“Good guess,” Alice said as she took another sip. “I needed something a little stronger tonight.”

Sam wiped her hands on a clean bar rag and moved closer to Alice. “Want me to deal with him? Or is it a her?”

Alice snickered. “No, I don’t need him to be dealt with, even if it is an enticing thought.”

Sam placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head. “Are you sure? I can be very forceful if need be.”

Alice's gaze surveyed Sam, carefully noting each delicate feature. Ez had a very strict dress policy for her clubs, and Sam was known for skirting as close to the line as possible. She wore a tartan style vest—which was probably a size too small—that hugged and highlighted her hourglass frame. She left a few of the top buttons on her white, collar shirt unbuttoned to give the patrons an eyeful . . . and Alice appreciated the view.

Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows. Ez preferred the sleeves all the way down, but Sam protested. She claimed they got wet when washing glasses. Alice knew Sam wanted to show off her colorful forearm tattoos.

Alice’s eyes lingered over every inch of her body. The way her wavy blonde hair fell on her shoulders as she tilted her head. Her hands placed on her curvy hips. The too tight vest. The tattoos.

I bet she’d be fun to date. A jolt ran down Alice’s spine at the thought. Maybe someday, but not now. Not after being recently scorned by her former lover, The Cheating Bastard.

“I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m just going to drown my sorrows in this vodka cranberry,” Alice said.

“Want an ear to listen?”

Alice sat upright on the barstool. “All right. I have a new rule. Never date a vampire. They suck. Literallyandfiguratively.”

“Why, Ms. Primrose, didn’t your mother ever tell you to stay away from those vampire boys?” Sam asked with a sly smile. “Or was it a vampire girl?” She batted her eyes.

“Boy. His name is nowThe Cheating Bastard.”

“Of course.” Sam crossed her arms, pushing her chest higher.

Either the vodka was getting to Alice or Sam was trying to flirt with her. Either way, it was bliss.

“He had this look that made me melt,” Alice said.

“Are you sure he didn’t try to enthrall you?”

“He didn’t need to. Curly hair. Sharp cheekbones. Tall. Muscles. I fell head over heels for him. It was all such a whirlwind. He told me he loved me. He said he cared for me. That I was special. All lies.”

“How did you find out?”

“He forgot his phone, and text messages started appearing saying, ‘The door’s unlocked. I’ll be upstairs waiting for you,’” Alice said with a slight slurring of her words. “I found out he took one of my Luck bottles. When he returned, I confronted him. He said it was a misunderstanding, but like I said, lies. I told him if I ever saw him again, I’d have my broomstick stab him right in the heart. And he left, and now I’m here . . . alone.”

Alice took another sip and continued, “Always alone. Never appreciated.”

Sam cupped Alice’s hand with her own. “Maybe you just haven’t found the right guy . . . or gal.”

Alice gazed into Sam’s eyes. Her stomach fluttered, and a tingle pulsed up her arm. Sam’s touch was electric. Maybe it was the vodka coursing through her or something else, but Alice didn’t want her to let go.

Sam continued, “I get off in a half-hour. Want to go do something fun?”

Alice smiled. “Yeah. I could use fun.”

“Great. It’s a date,” Sam said as she let go of Alice’s hand.

---