Page 9 of Her Vampire Hero

Rook chuckled, the sound sending a pleasant shiver down Jenny's spine. "I'm afraid Hollywood has given you some misconceptions about vampire life. No coffins, I assure you. Just a very dark room and some high-quality blackout curtains."

Jenny accepted the cup of tea with a murmured thanks. She took a sip and was surprised by the complex blend of flavors that bloomed on her tongue.

"Wow," she said, genuinely impressed. "This is actually really good. What is it?"

Rook smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "My own special blend. A mix of Assam black tea, cinnamon, and a few unique ingredients. It's quite popular among our nocturnal residents."

"You make a mean cup of tea."

"High praise indeed," Rook said.

She looked over at his cup. “You’re not drinking the same thing as I am. What do you have?”

“A more specialized blend."

Jenny raised an eyebrow. "Please tell me you're not drinking blood out of that cup."

Rook's expression turned serious. "No, but it's a substitute I created that allows me to avoid drinking blood altogether."

Jenny leaned forward, intrigued despite herself. "Really? How does that work?"

As Rook explained the intricacies of his tea blend—a combination of rare herbs, some light magic, and a lot of trial and error—Jenny was captivated. There was something about the way Rook spoke, the passion in his voice when he talked about his creation, that was utterly irresistible.

"You basically hot-wired your own biology to run on Earl Grey instead of O-negative. Talk about a high-octane tea party."

Rook's lips curved into an amused smile. "I assure you, my 'engine' runs much smoother than any jerry-rigged contraption. And I'd like to think my blend is a bit more sophisticated than Earl Grey. It wasn't an easy process, I assure you. There were dark times before I found this solution."

The shadows in Rook's eyes hinted at a past that was far from pleasant. Jenny felt a sudden urge to reach out and comfort him.

He paused, and a mischievous glint replaced the sadness. "High-octane tea party, though? I rather like that. Perhaps I should put it on the menu. 'Rook's High-Octane Blend: Guaranteed to Revive Even the Most Lifeless of Immortals.'”

He really was attractive. Jenny found herself looking at his mouth and wondered what it would be like to kiss him.

"Well," she said, clearing her throat, "at least you found a way to make it work. That's more than a lot of people can say, supernatural or not."

Rook's gaze softened as he looked at her. "We all have our struggles, I suppose. But enough about me. How are you finding Beastly Falls? I hope the town hasn't been too overwhelming."

Jenny snorted. "Oh, you know, just your average day. Yoga with a tree person, shopping with a werewolf's girlfriend, adopting an abandoned car. Totally normal stuff. I don’t know how I’m going to last a whole week."

Rook's expression turned serious. "Jenny, I know this situation isn't ideal. But the town doesn't bring people here without reason. You have a soul mate here. Someone who needs you."

Jenny set down her cup with more force than necessary. "Yeah, well, maybe the town should mind its own business. I had a life, you know. A career I've been working towards for years. And now I'm supposed to just give that all up because some magical matchmaker decided I need a supernatural boyfriend?"

Rook flinched slightly at her words, and Jenny immediately felt a pang of guilt. It wasn't his fault she was in this situation, after all.

"I'm sorry," she said, softer this time. "I know you're just trying to help. It's just frustrating. I really need this job, and my past relationships haven’t been anything to write home about."

Rook reached across the table, his cool hand covering hers. The touch sent a jolt of electricity up Jenny's arm. "I understand. Truly, I do. When I first came to Beastly Falls, I was lost. Angry. I thought I knew what my life was supposed to be, and this town turned everything upside down."

Jenny found herself leaning in, drawn in by the intensity in Rook's eyes. "What changed?"

A small, almost shy smile played at the corners of Rook's mouth. "I found something I never knew I was looking for. A home. A purpose. And maybe you will too."

The air between them seemed to crackle with tension. Jenny was acutely aware of Rook's hand on hers, of how close they were sitting, of the way his eyes seemed to see right through her defenses. 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 pulled away, clearing her throat awkwardly. "Yeah, well, we'll see about that. I've still got an interview to get to, supernatural shenanigans or not."

Rook withdrew his hand, and Jenny immediately missed the contact. "Of course," he said, his voice carefully neutral.

---