Page 5 of Her Vampire Hero

"If I don't, what?" Jenny demanded.

Rook sighed. "If you don't, you can go.”

“A whole week? I’ll miss my interview.” Jenny's knees went weak, and she stumbled back into the shop. Rook caught her arm, steadying her, and she was too shaken to even protest the contact. "This can't be happening," she muttered, collapsing back into the armchair. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I burned all my bridges to get it. I don’t have anything to go back to if this fails."

Rook knelt beside her, his cool hand covering hers. "I'm truly sorry, Jenny. I know this isn't fair. But I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to help you navigate this."

Jenny looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of deception. But all she saw was sincerity and a depth of emotion that took her breath away.

"Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why would you help me?"

Rook's thumb traced small circles on the back of her hand, sending shivers up her arm. "Because I know what it's like to feel lost and alone in this town.”

Jenny's heart skipped a beat, and she swayed closer to him. Rook's gaze dropped to her lips, and for a moment, she thought he might kiss her. Part of her—a larger part than she cared to admit—wanted him to.

But then reality came crashing back in, and Jenny jerked away. "I can't do this," she said, standing abruptly. "This is all too much. I need time to think."

Rook nodded, rising gracefully to his feet. "Of course. I understand." He paused, then added, "There's a bed and breakfast just down the street. Esme Red's place. She's a kind woman—a werewolf, but don't let that put you off. She makes an excellent breakfast."

Jenny laughed weakly. "Right, because that's the weirdest part of all this. A werewolf running a B&B."

Rook's lips quirked in a small smile. "You'd be surprised how mundane some aspects of supernatural life can be. Immortality doesn't exempt one from the need to pay bills, after all."

Jenny shook her head, a hysterical giggle bubbling up in her throat. "God, this is insane. I'm standing in a vampire's tea shop, discussing werewolf bed and breakfasts. What even is my life right now?"

Rook's expression softened. "I know it's overwhelming. But I promise you, Jenny, you're not alone in this. Whatever you decide, whatever happens in the next seven days, I'll be here to help you through it."

Something in his tone made Jenny's heart flutter, and she found herself believing him despite her better judgment. She took a deep breath, centering herself. "Okay. Okay. I can do this. It's just seven days, right? I've rebuilt engines in less time than that. How hard can finding a supernatural soulmate be?"

Rook's lips twitched. "That's the spirit. Though I would caution against approaching it like a mechanical problem. Matters of the heart tend to be a bit more unpredictable."

Jenny snorted. "Please. Give me a complicated engine over feelings any day. At least with an engine, I know where all the parts go."

She headed for the door, then paused, turning back to Rook. "Thank you," she said softly. "For saving me from Cujo back there. And for... well, for not being a total creep about all this."

Rook bowed slightly. "It was my pleasure. I look forward to getting to know you better over the next week."

As Jenny stepped out into the night, she couldn't help but feel a little thrill at his words. Which was ridiculous, of course. She was here for seven days, not to find her soulmate, no matter what this weird sentient town wanted. And even if she did find him, she wasn’t about to fall for the first pretty face that showed her kindness. Even if that face belonged to quite possibly the most attractive man she'd ever seen.

The street looked different now that she knew the truth. The quirky shop names and impossible architecture took on a new significance. This wasn't just a theme park or an elaborate prank. This was real. All of it.

Jenny hugged herself, suddenly feeling very small and very alone. But then she remembered Rook's words, his promise to help her, and she felt a spark of something that couldn’t possibly be the beginnings of a romance.

She spotted the B&B Rook had mentioned—a charming Victorian-style house with white wooden siding and red trim. A sign on the manicured lawn read, "Red's Bed & Breakfast," in cheerful cursive.

As Jenny approached, the front door swung open, revealing a plump, grandmotherly woman with silver hair and warm browneyes. Despite knowing she was a werewolf, Jenny was comforted by her presence.

"There you are, dear. I’m Esme Red," the woman said with a smile. "I've been expecting you. Come in, come in. You look like you could use a hot bath and a good night's sleep."

Jenny blinked, surprised. "You were expecting me? How did you—"

Esme waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, news travels fast in Beastly Falls, especially when it comes to new arrivals. Now, don't you worry about a thing. We'll get you warm and dry, and in the morning, everything will look brighter. It always does."

As Jenny followed Esme into the house, she thought that Esme’s optimism was misplaced. How could anything look brighter when she was trapped in a supernatural town for seven days?

But then she remembered Rook's eyes, his gentle touch, and his promise to help her navigate this bizarre situation. Excitement fluttered in her chest and she felt tingles in places that hadn’t tingled in a long while.

Seven days. She had seven days to figure out how to get to her interview and navigate a town full of supernatural creatures. It was impossible, insane, and absolutely terrifying. She fell asleep that night dreaming of glowing eyes and the taste of spiced tea on her lips.

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