Don't Hex and Drive (Stay a Spell #2) - Juliette Cross Page 0,89
me. And that was bad. Dangerous. I kept telling myself I couldn’t hook up with him again. He was too…too Devraj.
I stood at the end of the bar next to Charlie while JJ tended to customers. Meeting at the Cauldron gave me a sense of security that calmed my nerves.
“Okay, that’s him.” I bumped Charlie with my elbow. “Remember, the signal is, if I tap my fingers on my knee three times, you come save me with some family emergency.”
“Got it, Blondie. Don’t you worry.” He turned sideways on his stool. “Ooo. He’s a pretty one. Go get him.”
He patted me on the behind, a little encouragement. My date, Christopher, was searching the bar, but stopped when he saw me. Whoa. Now that was a beautiful smile.
“Christopher?” I asked, knowing it was him. He looked exactly like his profile.
“That’s me.” He smiled wider, his dimples popping. Mercy. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isadora.”
He held out his hand so I shook it. A good shake. Pleasantly firm grip.
“Um, I saved us a booth over here.” I gestured to the corner near the stage. Nico was set up but wasn’t playing just yet.
We settled in, and I felt surprisingly at ease. Strange that it should be with a vampire that I felt most comfortable.
“Nice place,” he said, looking around. “Never been here before.”
“It’s my family’s place,” I admitted, deciding to be more open and honest with this date.
His blue eyes widened. “Really? That’s so cool.”
“Yeah. Me and my sisters own it together. I do the bookkeeping for both the Cauldron and Mystic Maybelle’s next door.”
“That’s a great setup. A family business. Or businesses, actually.” When he chuckled, it was a pleasant, rumbly sound. “I’m an architect for a larger firm, which isn’t always that great. I imagine the family business is rewarding, even if it’s hard working with your sisters sometimes.”
“True, it is. What firm is that?”
“Bentley and Marks. We’re based in Kenner actually. Do mostly commercial work for Metairie and Kenner.”
Wow. A well put-together guy who answered my questions and everything. This date was going amazingly well. And still, I didn’t feel that spark of attraction, that undeniable chemistry that I’d hoped for.
“Hey, Iz.” Belinda sidled up to us. “What can I get you two?”
Christopher turned to me. “What do you have good on draft?”
“The Witch’s Brew is really good.”
He turned to Belinda. “I’ll take that then.”
“A glass of Chardonnay for me,” I said.
“Any particular brand?”
“JJ knows what I like.”
While she marched off, I caught Devraj sitting at the bar next to Charlie. He was turned sideways on the stool, one hand wrapped around a tumbler of what looked like JJ’s Blood Orange Old Fashioned. He was listening to Charlie, but as if he knew my eyes were on him, he looked directly at me. I held for just a second, then turned away, a little shocked to catch such a somber expression on his face. Last time, he’d found my whole dating thing amusing.
“You alright?” asked Christopher, reaching across the table and touching my hand.
I drew back on instinct.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “You just looked upset.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s nothing.”
Nothing but the realization that seeing Devraj sad made me suddenly very sad. Was Mr. I-Could-Charm-the-Panties-Off-Anyone more interested in me than I’d thought? Maybe something with the case had him looking that way. Maybe it had nothing to do with me.
“You sure?” asked Christopher.
“Absolutely. So tell me about blood-drinking,” I charged ahead. “What’s that like?”
“Wow. So we’re just going there right away.”
“Yep.” I wanted more answers about this side of the vampire, and Christopher could give them to me. “We are.”
He laughed, dimples popping, which was endearing as he fiddled nervously with the napkin in his lap. Note to self: a blushing vampire was adorable.
“Can I be totally honest?” he asked, chin down as he peered up beneath long eyelashes.
“I prefer that.”
He shifted anxiously and set his clasped hands on the table. “It’s a lot like sex actually.”
“For the vampire or for the blood host?”
“For both.”
“You’ve been both?” I asked curiously.
I’d never thought of a vampire being bitten as well, but of course anyone could serve as a blood host. Humans were just more open to the idea.
“It’s very intimate,” he said. “And pleasurable. For both parties.”
Belinda strode up and set down our drinks. “Here we are. Enjoy!” She smiled and sauntered off just as Nico settled behind the mic, hooked his guitar strap over his shoulder, and started to play. I recognized the soft tune of a familiar song.