Page 22 of Her Vampire Hero

Jenny pulled back slightly, meeting Rook's gaze. "So what happens now?"

Rook's expression was a mix of joy and apprehension. "Now we figure out what this means for us. For our future."

The word 'future' hung in the air between them, heavy with implications. Jenny thought about her life before Beastly Falls, her plans and dreams. They suddenly seemed pale and insubstantial compared to the connection she now felt with Rook.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Jenny said honestly. "But I do know that I want to figure it out with you."

Rook's face lit up with a smile so bright it nearly took Jenny's breath away. "I want that too," he said, leaning in to kiss her again.

Chapter Seven

The sun beat down on Jenny's back as she leaned over the Camry's engine, sweat beading on her forehead. She wiped it away with the back of her hand, leaving a streak of grease across her skin. The familiar smell of motor oil and the rhythmic clanking of her tools against metal grounded her, even as her mind wandered.

Three days had passed since that night in Rook's tea shop. Three days of wild lovemaking for hours when the tea shop should have been open for business. No one in town complained, though.

She felt a connection so deep it both thrilled and terrified her. Her hands moved on autopilot, tightening bolts and checking connections while her thoughts swirled with memories of Rook's skin against hers, his gentle smile, the way his eyes lit up when she entered a room.

She was in love.

She found a soul mate.

She could choose to change Rook’s life.

But she would have to completely change hers to do it.

She shook her head, trying to focus on the task at hand. The Camry was coming along nicely. Another day or two, and it would be ready to hit the road. To take her away from Beastly Falls. Away from Rook.

The thought sent a pang through her chest, sharp and unexpected. Jenny straightened up, stretching her back and looking around the quiet parking lot. Her gaze landed on the town's border, barely visible in the shimmering heat haze.

Almost without conscious thought, Jenny found herself walking towards it. Her feet carried her across the asphalt, past the eerie welcome sign, right up to the invisible barrier that kept Beastly Falls separate from the outside world.

There, just beyond the barrier, sat her beloved Volkswagen Beetle. Jenny's breath caught in her throat. It looked so close that she could almost touch it. All she had to do was take one step forward, and she'd be free. In a few days, she would be free to drive away, to chase her dreams, to live the life she'd always planned.

Jenny's hand reached out, hovering just shy of the barrier. She could feel a slight tingle against her palm, like static electricity. She knew Rook was her soul mate. How could she leave him?

How could she stay? Her whole life was out there.

And yet, the interview she'd been racing towards when she first arrived was long past. She'd missed her shot at that dream job. Why not give this—whatever it was with Rook—a real chance? Jenny's hand dropped to her side. She turned away from the barrier, from her old life, and walked back to the Camry. There was still work to be done and a few more days to decide.

As the sun began to set, Jenny packed up her tools. She'd made good progress today. The engine was purring like a kitten, and she'd even managed to buff out most of the scratches on the body. A few more touch-ups, and it would be good as new.

Just as she was locking up the toolbox, a cool breeze brushed against her neck. Jenny smiled, not needing to turn around to know who it was.

"You know," she said, "for a creature of the night, you're not very stealthy."

Rook's rich chuckle sent shivers down her spine. "Perhaps I wasn't trying to be stealthy. Perhaps I simply wanted to admire the view."

Jenny turned to face him, her heart soaring at the sight of him. Rook’s eyes roved over her appreciatively, not seeming to mind the grease stains on her clothes or the mess her hair had become after a day of work.

"Like what you see?" Jenny teased, striking an exaggerated pose.

Rook's smile widened, revealing a hint of fang that sent a thrill through her. "Always," he said, his voice low and full of promise.

He closed the distance between them in two long strides, pulling Jenny into his arms. His kiss was hungry, passionate, leaving her breathless and weak-kneed.

When they finally broke apart, Jenny blinked up at him, dazed. "Wow," she breathed. "Hello to you too."

Rook's arms tightened around her waist possessively. "I missed you," he murmured against her hair.

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