Page 5 of The Psychic and the Vampire

“As innocent?” It was Ant’s turn to laugh. “No. Please don’t tell me your new friend thinks you’re an angelic sweetheart. Bridget, don’t do that to me. I won’t be able to last through the dinner without blowing your image.”

“No, Gregory doesn’t think that at all. He admires my intellect.” Bridget was blushing. “We met at the library. He offered to reach for a book on a high shelf for me.”

Ant stepped back and looked his sister up and down. In heels she towered above him at six foot. “And you believed that excuse? How cute is he. On a scale of one to five, how cute is he?”

“He’s not cute, he’s very handsome.” Bridget was blushing. “He told me he’s in his early thirties, and the men in his family all go gray early. That is a thing, you know.”

“What does he do?” Ant leaned over slightly and clicked his fingers. Able, who’d been avidly sniffing a patch of grass came flying back over to him. “Good boy.” Ant scratched his dog behind the ears – Able’s favorite treat. “You are a good boy. Come on to the car.”

“Gregory’s in finance,” Bridget said as she hit the key fob for her car, unlocking it. Ant felt a shiver run down his neck and grinned as he got into the car. His stalker might have to movefast to work out where they were going to dinner. “What are you grinning about? You’ve never found finance funny before.”

“What? Er…no and I don’t find it funny now. Hop in, Able.” Ant closed the passenger door behind his dog, and slid into the passenger seat. “I was just thinking about something else. Is Gregory the type to spend hours talking about his work? Only I can tell you now, if he is, then he’s not for you and we can skip dinner altogether. I have got a reading to do later, yes, for the police this time, and no, I’m sure no romance will be involved. I’m working with Mike Casey.” He closed his own door carefully.

“Why do the police think that psychics like you can only work at night?” Bridget got into the driver’s seat and started her car. “Don’t they realize you can read a scene just as well during the day and it’s often more comfortable for you.”

“Less people around?” Ant guessed. “I think in a lot of cases, especially if it’s a criminal case I’m helping with, the police don’t want the general public to know they are using a psychic unless that magic user gives them tangible evidence they can use. I don’t mind going out at night.”

“Still not sleeping well?” Bridget glanced at him and Ant could feel she was concerned.

“It comes and goes.” Ant shrugged. “That’s something else those students of the Mage Academy never learn either until it’s too late. Some scenes, or visions depending on the magic user’s skills, are not easily forgotten.”

“You can stay with me for a while if it helps.” Bridget touched his knee briefly.

“Then neither one of us would sleep,” Ant teased. “It’s fine. I have Able, and I get caught up on a lot of my reading when the dreams won’t leave me alone. Face it, I only have to see thetraumatic scenes. For my victims, they lived it and I’m sure that would be far worse.”

“Perhaps we don’t mention any of that in your first meeting with Gregory,” Bridget mentioned. “I think he’s a bit squeamish.”

“I know how to be quiet,” Ant said, mentally shaking his head. If Gregory was squeamish then he wasn’t going to last long with Bridget anyway. “Does he know about your love of horror movies?”

Chapter Four

Ant resigned himself to a long and boring hour as they met Bridget’s prospective beau at one of the local restaurants. It was a pleasant place. Ant and Bridget had dined there alone before and the food was always tasty, with generous portions, and the staff was friendly without being overbearing about it.

Gregory was already waiting for them – a tall, soberly dressed man who was definitely older than the early thirties he’d told Bridget he was. Ant made a mental note to explain to Bridget there were far more reliable ways of judging a person’s age than their hair color. The wrinkles on the neck were a dead giveaway, as was the small age spots on the back of Gregory’s hands.

“Doctor Channon, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Ant fought not to grimace as Gregory shook his hand in that firm “no-nonsense because we all know I’m in charge” way. He eyed Able, who was sitting by Ant’s leg. “Does that dog have to be here? I’m sure I’ve told you I have allergies, Bridget.”

“Bridget never said anything about it to me, but then we have been very busy lately,” Ant said quickly. Bridget’s face let him know Gregory had never said anything about allergies before. “It’s fine. Not everyone is comfortable around animals. However, Able goes with me everywhere and I make no exceptions to that. I’m happy to sit elsewhere and enjoy my meal on my own, while you two enjoy yours. If you’ll excuse me I’ll see if the owners have a spare table…”

“No. Wait.” Gregory clearly realized he’d overreacted, and he inhaled sharply. “My apologies, that was rude of me. I’m sure that… dog…won’t be any trouble. I just wasn’t aware you required the services of a support animal, Doctor Channon. Please, have a seat. Bridget, sit down. You’re hovering.”

Hovering?Ant quirked an eyebrow at Bridget. Her cheeks were bright pink, but her eyes were flashing, a clear sign she was not impressed with her beau’s behavior. He took the seat next to his sister and indicated for Able to sit next to him, instead of under the table which is where Able usually preferred to be. There was a good chance Gregory would kick Able and then claim the dog had bitten him. Gregory sat across from them.

“Now, then, I’ve already ordered for us. I’m sure you won’t mind. Doctor Channon, you were explaining about your support animal. How does he…”

“Excuse me,” Ant interrupted quietly. “Please tell me you didn’t presume to order food for me and my sister before we had even arrived. Is that normal?” He glanced across at Bridget who was shaking her head.

“Of course, I did.” Gregory was all teeth. “Honestly, this place does its best, but the food takes an intolerable time to arrive after ordering. I’ve personally never seen the point in people sitting around an empty table making small talk. Get in, order, eat, and get out is the only way to dine out in my opinion.”

“I see.” Ant could remember many long hours he and Bridget spent drinking, laughing, and enjoying a relaxing meal. Some of them at the restaurant they were in. “Can I ask what was ordered on our behalf?”

“I ordered Bridget the fish, lightly steamed with a naked salad.” Gregory leaned across the table and patted Bridget’s hand. “I know you don’t have a problem with the extra pounds you’re carrying, but we want to keep an eye on that figure of yours. As for you, Doctor Channon, I ordered you and me the special of the day – it’s a soup that is both filling, nutritious, and remarkably inexpensive for what goes into it. A definite win in my opinion.”

Ant couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He took a closer look at Bridget – she was clearly having trouble getting any words past her lips. “I don’t eat soup. Bridget doesn’t eat fish of any kind because she is actually allergic. You lied about your own allergies, you’ve lied to my sister about your age, you’ve presumed to order for a man you’ve never met before, and told my sister, in front of me, that you think she is overweight and to stop hovering, when she was simply waiting for you to move out of her way so she could get to her seat. Bridget, do you really need me to say anything else?”

“Oh, Ant, I am so sorry.” Ant could tell Bridget hadn’t decided whether she wanted to ream Gregory a new one or cry. “I didn’t know…”

“What have you got to be sorry for?” Gregory genuinely looked surprised. “The man is telling it like it is. A man after my own heart. Doctor Channon, seriously, all joking aside. Believe me when I tell you I have no interest in your sister at all beyond the opportunity of being able to meet you. Women never seem to understand the nuances of serious and intelligent conversation. You on the other hand, your work in the magical community and in particular with the extensive work you do for the police.”

---