Page 4 of Bonded By Blood

Chapter Two

Brianna was sure of it now. The human in front of her, Joe, knew she was a vampire. She’d suspected that he knew the moment their eyes met, just from the way his heartrate had increased and his pupils had dilated. This time, there was a subtle undercurrent of fear emanating from him, too. No. It wasn’t true fear. It was more like … recognition. He knew what she was and what she could do to him.

Yet he stood his ground, as it were. One hand was semi-tucked into the pocket of his slacks and the other rested casually on the handle of the shopping cart. He faced her, looked her straight in the eye, and calmly declared that he was, in fact, friends with the local werewolves.

She had to admit that impressed her. He had no way to know exactly who she was, or he certainly wouldn’t have maintained his composure, but regardless, for a human, that was something. For a person educated enough to spot a vampire at first sight, and to call a werewolf friend, he had to know there was traditionally bad blood between the species. He undoubtedly knew the wolves weren’t supposed to enter the cities—that had been part of the subject of the call she’d overheard, after all. Then there was the glimpse of a scar she could see on his throat, behind the collar of his coat. Indicative that perhaps he’d had his own unpleasant run-ins with one of her people.

He had more than enough reason to deny the claim and attempt a retreat.

“I like your honesty,” she said. “Most men in your position would have lied and run away.”

His lips twitched. It struck her again that she liked the shape of his face when he smiled and the way his amusement reflected in his golden-brown eyes. “I don’t like to lie,” he said. “So I try to only do it when it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Even if telling the truth could get you hurt?” Brianna asked curiously. She had no intentions of hurting him, but he didn’t need to know that yet. If he hadn’t already guessed it on his own, at least.

His expression became serious and she found she liked that, too. “I would never lie about my loyalties to save my own skin.” He paused, tilted his head a fraction, and shrugged almost imperceptibly. “Or, you know … the other thing.”

Brianna felt her lips lift with an amused smile. She very much knew, of course. “In that case, that makes you a rare man in this time, Joseph.”

He cringed and held his hand up, palm out. “Joe, please. I’ve had enough formality for at least a month.”

“Says the man in the business suit.” Not that it didn’t look good on him. Black slacks, black jacket, ivory button-down shirt underneath. The top two buttons undone. Very simple, a little cliché, quite appealing. He was rather out of place in the casual bulk foods store, but then, so was she. Although she felt out of place most anywhere.

His amusement returned and a low, short-lived chuckle followed as his arm lowered. “You’ve got me there. Came straight from a work thing. I don’t normally dress like this.”

Something like a small, short laugh bubbled up from Brianna’s throat and she looked away. Her gaze settled on the contents of Joe’s cart. She couldn’t believe she was conversing with this stranger. It was so unlike her!

“See something you like?” Joe asked.

Brianna arched a brow toward him. “I beg your pardon?”

He stared at her for a couple of heartbeats before breaking into a wide, slightly lopsided grin. Waving the hand formerly on the handle into the body of the cart, he said, “In here, I meant. I have to put it all back otherwise, so if you want any, help yourself.”

“Oh.” Of course that was what he meant. Thank goodness Kendall isn’t here to laugh at me for that one. Brianna drew a breath and actually examined the bags and boxes of chocolate, and S’mores supplies, contained within. She wasn’t huge on sweets, but an occasional chocolate was nice. Kendall liked certain brands. Even her mother had a favorite or two. I am here. Her gaze alighted on a cream-colored package and she snatched it up. “A cookies and cream chocolate bar?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve never had one,” Joe said. “They’re delicious.”

Brianna looked over at him but held onto the small bag of flavored chocolates. “I haven’t, actually. The truth is I tend to be… Kendall sometimes calls me a ‘homebody’.” She also sometimes called Brianna a hermit, but Brianna wasn’t about to repeat that.

Joe pursed his lips as if he were holding in a laugh. From the light in his eyes, she suspected he was. “That’s a shame. You should fix that. The world’s not that bad.” He offered a casual shrug. “As long as you stay off social media.”

This time Brianna let a small laugh show on her face. “Social media is horrible, but sort of fascinating. I’m terrible at it, though.” She looked down again at the candy in her hands. “Does it actually taste like cookies and cream?”

“I mean, everyone has a different answer for that,” Joe said. “I think they get it pretty close, personally.”

Brianna studied the bag. What could it hurt? It wasn’t as if she couldn’t eat real food. “I think I’ll keep this, then, and decide for myself.”

“Oh my God, Bri,” Kendall declared, interrupting the conversation in classic fashion. The carton of cookies she’d insisted on coming to the store for in the first place was held in one hand. “Let the poor guy shop!”

Joe laughed. “Turns out my shopping trip’s been cancelled, actually. So I’ve been talking her into trying new things.” He gestured out, toward the bag of candy bars in Brianna’s hands.

Kendall’s eyes went wide. “Are you serious? You’re gonna try those?”

“Why not?” Brianna challenged, feeling oddly defensive.

Kendall beamed. “Not ‘why not’, try ‘why not years ago?’ This is great!” She turned her attention back to Joe. “Can I bum your cart? I mean, like, whatever’s left after you take what you don’t want for yourself?”

“Kendall,” Brianna said. “That’s a little overboard, don’t you think?”

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