Page 60 of Blood and Bonbons

Shepard stood and came around the desk.

A second later, I found myself wrapped up in the best, yet most awkward, hug of my life. My cheek was nestled between two glorious pectorals as my hands hesitated at his sides. What the hell was I supposed to do with my hands? Touch him? Touch my boss while his heart thumped rhythmically under my ear?

“There is nothing for you to worry about,” he said, breaking through my unrelated panic. “I promise you’re safe here.”

“Um. Okay. Safe. I got it.” I gave him an awkward pat on the side, and he got the hint and released me.

“Sorry about that. You looked so…”

Did his eyes just dip to my chest? Damn it, this was Vena’s fault. She broke my brain with her Shepard talk.

“Worried,” he finished.

“Well, I was. I mean, I don’t know anything about vampires except that they’re rumored to be bloodthirsty killers.”

“It’s not a rumor. It’s true.”

“How do you–”

A knock on the door interrupted me, and Shepard gave me an apologetic look.

“Can we talk about this later?” he asked.

“Sure.”

I went to the door and was surprised to see Gunther there. He looked between me and Shepard, and I thought he even sniffed me as I walked past.

Once the door was shut, I paused to sniff myself. Nope, I’d remembered my deodorant. Weird.

From the top of the stairs, I saw Vena leaning against the railing below, grinning at Anchor.

“Looks like I should officially introduce myself,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’m Vena, your newestcocktail-slinging co-worker.”

Not liking the way she’d stressed the word “cock,” I hurried down the stairs.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you officially, Vena,” Anchor said a little formally as he took her hand and started to bring it to his lips. My mouth dropped open at his old-world charm, and Vena’s lit with giddy excitement.

Not good. Not good at all.

At the last second, Anchor pulled back.

“Why do your hands smell like–?” He shook his head and dropped her hand. “Never mind.”

Panting, I reached the bottom and swatted her hand down before she could sniff it herself.

“We’ll be right back,” I said, flushing in embarrassment and steering her toward the restrooms. I waited until we were inside before rounding on her.

“What were you doing? You can’t flirt with him anymore. You’re working together.”

Vena waved away my comment with one hand and sniffed the other.

“Do you think he could smell the sheep scrotum? I mean, I washed.”

“Focus, Vena. The staff is off limits.”

She snorted.

“Hell no. Anchor officially has my attention now. I need to find out what else he can smell, and I know right where to put my hand.”

---