Page 19 of How a Vampire Falls

“Why?”

Leslie shook her head. How could he need an explanation for this? “I’m not worth anybody’s awe, Ryker. I don’t know why that needs to be said.”

He studied her a long moment. The little crinkle formed between his eyes while his mouth remained half-turned up. At last he nodded. “So I was thinking today you could be my tour guide.”

“Haven’t you explored by now?” After all, he’d had all night and all morning. He could easily cover the entire town in that amount of time.

“I walked around, but I didn’t have your perspective on the place.”

She spread her hands. “This is home.”

He shook his head. “I don’t believe that’s all you have to say about Harmony Ridge.”

But it was, in a way. She wouldn’t mind showing him around, of course, but she’d keep her expectations low. She didn’t typically need anyone else to love her town the way she loved it, but she hoped Ryker wouldn’t find it dull.

“You won’t get the full experience today,” she said. “I’m committed to be here until five, and most places close at six or seven.”

“And I assume the entire town is shut up tomorrow.”

“Everything but the diner. They open at one in the afternoon, after the owners are out of church, and they close at seven.”

“Good business sense.”

“Yeah, they’re always packed on Sundays. Where are you staying, by the way?” She should have thought to ask last night.

“The closest hotel. It’s about twenty minutes from town.”

“Oh, okay, good. So you researched our blood supply before you came.”

“Sure.” He cocked his head. “There aren’t a lot of options. Where do you get yours?”

“The hotel.” She laughed at his slow blink. “I’ve got a standing monthly order with them, as do my parents. I think it’s some sort of accessibility law that they have to be stocked at all times, in case a vampire books a room.”

Ryker nodded. “It’s a law.”

Of course he would know. “You’re probably the first vampire guest that hotel has seen in at least a year. I buy from them before their supply expires.”

“What about blood bars? Did my map search fail me, or is the closest one really a three-hour drive from here?”

“No failure. That’s the closest.”

Slowly Ryker shook his head. “Have you ever been?”

“Nah. Not really interested. For me, slaking is necessity. I’ve never thought of it as some kind of experience.”

“Same here. Food is enjoyable for me; blood is nutrition. I like the social aspect though.”

“Is that why you mapped the closest one?”

“Partly. Plus I like the security of knowing where the closest emergency access would be, no ordering required.”

Leslie had never thought much about the social element of a public space run by vampires for vampires. “Maybe we could go sometime. The cultural exposure might be cool.”

He grinned, and the effect was pure and dazzling. “I’d love to be the one to introduce you.”

For the next few hours, Ryker stuck around. He claimed the second camping chair behind Leslie’s table, which she’d set up out of habit in case Hannah stopped by. They made small talk that nonetheless added details to her picture of him, of who he’d been and what he’d been doing since college. He admitted a few of the cases he’d worked had ended up in the news. His role was one that never got publicity, so she couldn’t simply search his name on the internet to find out which cases he was referring to. But when she pointblank asked about the biggest case he’d ever helped solve, he clammed up.

“Will you tell me someday? When we know each other better?”

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