Page 22 of Shift in the Blood
“I spoke to Carina.”
“And?” I had to be missing something.
“She’s not on board with my new life plan.” Clara took a deep breath.
I could smell her floral scent. She’d put on perfume the night before, something with a base of roses. It was kind of old-fashioned for someone her age, someone in their mid-twenties. I’d bet my left fang it was her mother’s. Or grandmother’s.
But it suited her. She was strong, and willing to take risks, but there was a soft side to her. Kind of like a caramel chew. Hard chocolate on the outside, gooey center.
Good lord, did I want to take a bite of her. In so many ways. I felt my body stir at the thought, and stopped such thoughts before they got more involved.
“You need to talk to her face to face. These things never go well over the phone.”
She sighed. “No, they don’t seem to, do they? She’s in between classes now. I’ll go over after she’s back.”
“What time?”
“Sorry?”
“What time do you think you want to go to your… apartment? House?” I had no idea where she lived. Neville had tracked her down online in order to arrange our meeting last night.
“Apartment. After four. Why?”
“I brought you here, and didn’t get your car from the museum. You’ll need a ride.”
“Oh, I didn’t take a car. I took the light rail.”
“I’ll have…” I stopped. I couldn’t send Neville. He was with me today. Shit. I needed to find a Neville for Clara. We weren’t leaving until after dark to meet with Popov. “I’ll have my driver bring you.”
“Look at your posh self.” She gave me a weak smile, trying to cover how much the conversation with her sister upset her.
My thoughts regarding her sister weren’t very charitable. Clara had carried the burden of a parent for many years. She didn’t deserve to be given a bunch of shit when she was doing all of this not for herself, but to keep her sister safe.
I hoped, though, that some of this was for Clara. That she saw the benefits to her. That she… wanted to be with me, in some fashion.
“Very posh. Neville will take you there, and bring you back when you’re ready. Would you like to see the house? It will help you to decide where you want your rooms to be.”
Clara nodded, not speaking.
I opened the door for her, and then walked beside her, forcing myself to slow. In my home, I didn’t bother disguising how fast I could move.
Her heart raced, her mind still full of her sister.
“I have most of the windows blacked out, for my comfort. But you are free to change that once you decide where you’d like to be.”
“I can choose anywhere?”
“Outside of my rooms, of course.”
A brief smile. “Can we see the studio first?”
“You have two options. There’s a cottage out back, but there is also room in the attic.”
“Lead the way.”
I loved that she was picking herself up, and getting on with business. I understood that. She was strong. A strong woman. A strong partner.
If she chose to be.
