Page 15 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
“Much appreciated.” I winked at her and glanced at Annabel. She was looking back and forth between me and her mother, her expression either disgusted or confused. I couldn’t quite tell. “Miss Annabel, it’s been lovely. I’m sure I’ll see you again before my stay is over.”
“Bye. I’ll see you later, and we can have a snowball fight then.”
Annabel’s mother licked her lips as she watched me get my bags from the car. I grinned at her again and gave her a nod. She opened her mouth as if she were about to say something else, but Annabel interrupted her.
“Mommy, why are you acting so weird?”
I pretended not to hear as her flustered mum tried to explain that she was acting normal, and Annabel needed to come inside.
I was well aware of the effect I had on women. I’d meticulously cultivated my playboy persona for years. He wasn’t the only part I knew how to play, but that personality was so deeply ingrained, sometimes even I thought he was real. Seduction had been a device in my toolbox for so long, wielding it was pure instinct.
Of course, it was more than a cultivated habit. I enjoyed giving women attention. Loved watching them light up, glowing with the pleasure of male admiration. Whether or not it led anywhere was irrelevant. It was the chase I craved, whether the prey was a beautiful woman or a thief who thought he could get away with stealing a priceless heirloom.
Life was a game, and one I enjoyed playing.
CHAPTER 4
Natalie
My body was still a little confused about my sudden return to the land of the living—a.k.a. not working nights. I woke up Saturday morning feeling a bit like I’d napped too long in the middle of the day. The good news was, a cup of coffee and a hot shower could apparently work miracles, and I no longer looked like a sleep-deprived panda.
After getting dressed and throwing a load of towels into the washing machine, I went in search of breakfast. The low hum from the fans in the basement had become our constant companion. It was mildly annoying, but at least we had water. Jason the plumber had fixed the problem, and Annabel’s cheerful suggestion that we all pee outside had not become necessary.
The green and red paper chain hung from a magnetic hook on the refrigerator. I had a feeling Annabel was not going to need any reminders to remove a link each day. She also had an Advent calendar that was the highlight of her morning, and this year’s didn’t even have candy in it.
I grabbed some eggs out of the fridge and glanced into the living room. Annabel was curled up next to Nina on the couch while they read a book together. It made me smile. I helped outwith my niece as much as I could, and we had a special bond, but I was happy to play second fiddle to my sister.
Nina had gotten pregnant with Annabel when she was only seventeen, and her boyfriend had bailed as soon as he found out. Spending her senior year growing a baby hadn’t exactly been the plan. But she and I had already learned the hard lesson that life is full of uncertainty.
We’d always been close, and the hardships we’d faced had only brought us closer. And even though Nina was young, she was a great mom.
After scrambling my eggs, I took them to the living room and sat in the armchair next to the couch. We’d scored a great deal on new-to-us furniture a few years before, finally replacing the worn-out couch we’d jumped on as kids. A few family photos hung on the wall and a wood stove sat in the corner.
“Wow, look at you,” Nina said.
“Look at me, what?”
“Awake and looking all bright and chipper. Are you wearing concealer?”
I scowled at her. “No. But thanks for reminding me that I usually look like garbage.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. It’s actually unfair how pretty you are even when you keep vampire hours.”
“What’s a vampire?” Annabel asked.
“They’re pretend monsters who only come out at night and drink people’s blood,” Nina said, making her voice sound spooky.
“Ew.” Annabel wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like blood.”
“Tell me about it, kiddo,” I said. “Once, at work, a patient came in with a gash on his forehead. It was only about two inches long, but the amount of blood coming out of his head was incredible. It—”
I stopped. Nina winced with horror, and Annabel’s eyes were wide. Both looked a little pale.
“Sorry.” I took a bite of my eggs. “He was fine. Just needed stitches.”
“Anyway,” Nina said. “How about another story?”
Annabel shut the book and hopped off the couch to take it to the shelf.
