Page 19 of Her Vampire Hero

And then, in a blink, he was gone. Jenny stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where he'd been, her skin still tingling from his touch.

As she gathered her tools and locked up the Camry, Jenny's mind whirled with everything that had happened. The easy conversation, the laughter, the mind-blowing kiss... and whatever that was at the end. It was all so intense, so unexpected.

She made her way back to her room on autopilot as her thoughts raced. By all rights, she should be freaking out. She'd just made out with a vampire in a parking lot, for crying out loud. Not just made out—she'd had one of the most intense orgasms of her life, fully clothed, in public.

But instead of panic, all Jenny felt was a warm, buzzing contentment. Being with Rook felt right. Natural. Like they'd known each other for years instead of days.

As she collapsed onto her bed, not even bothering to change out of her grease-stained clothes, her last coherent thought wasof Rook's smile and the way his eyes had looked in the moment before he disappeared. Like she was something precious, something to be cherished.

Like she might be his one true love.

The idea should have terrified her. Instead, as she drifted off, Jenny smiled and hoped she would dream about him.

Chapter Six

Jenny approached Rook's tea shop just as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The "Open" sign flickered to life, casting a warm glow on the cobblestone street. She paused, hand on the doorknob, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. Last night's encounter in the parking lot had left her feeling off-balance, and she wasn't quite sure what to expect.

The bell above the door chimed as she entered, announcing her presence. The shop was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of various teas and herbs. Jenny's eyes swept the room, searching for Rook.

"Jenny?" His voice came from the back room, followed by the sound of shuffling. "I'll be right out."

She made her way to the counter, running her fingers along the smooth wood. The shop had a cozy, intimate feel to it, with plush armchairs scattered around small tables and shelves lined with an array of colorful tea tins.

Rook emerged from the back, his hair slightly disheveled and his shirt half-buttoned. Jenny's breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. He looked softer somehow, less put together than she'd ever seen him.

"I apologize for my appearance," Rook said, a sheepish smile playing on his lips. "I'm afraid sunset caught me off guard."

Jenny waved off his apology, trying to ignore the flutter in her stomach at the glimpse of his bare chest. "No worries. I'm early anyway. I thought maybe I could help you set up for the night?"

Rook's smile widened, reaching his eyes. "That would be lovely. Thank you."

They fell into an easy rhythm, moving around each other as they prepared the shop for the evening's business. Jenny wiped down tables while Rook organized the tea selection for the night. The silence between them was comfortable, punctuated only by the soft clink of cups and saucers.

As Jenny finished with the last table, she turned to find Rook watching her, an unreadable expression on his face. "What?" she asked, suddenly self-conscious.

"Nothing," he replied, shaking his head slightly. "I’m just glad you're here."

The sincerity in his voice made Jenny's heart skip a beat. She moved towards him, drawn by some invisible force. "Me too," she admitted.

Rook cleared his throat, gesturing to the tea setup behind him. "Would you like to learn how to brew the perfect cup of tea?"

Jenny grinned, grateful for the distraction from the intensity of the moment. "Sure, why not? Though I warn you, I'm more of a coffee girl usually."

Rook clutched his chest in mock horror. "Sacrilege! We'll have to rectify that immediately."

He guided her behind the counter, positioning her in front of an array of tea canisters. "First," he said, his voice taking on a professorial tone, "we must choose our tea. What's your preference? Something bold and caffeinated, or perhaps something more soothing?"

Jenny considered for a moment. "Let's go with bold. I have a feeling I'm going to need my wits about me tonight."

Rook's eyebrow quirked up at that, but he didn't comment. Instead, he reached past her to grab a canister, his arm brushingagainst hers. The contact, brief as it was, sent a jolt of electricity through Jenny's body.

"This," Rook said, opening the canister and holding it up to Jenny's nose, "is a special blend of Assam and Ceylon black teas, with a hint of bergamot."

Jenny inhaled deeply, the rich aroma filling her senses. "It smells amazing," she breathed.

"The key," Rook continued, his voice low and close to her ear, "is in the preparation."

He guided her through the process, his hands occasionally covering hers as he demonstrated the proper technique. Each touch lingered a little longer than strictly necessary, and Jenny found herself hyper-aware of his presence behind her.

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