Hot Blooded (Tooth & Claw, #2)

by Heather Guerre

Instead of tall, dark, and handsome, he was middling height with closely cropped dirty-blond hair and the sort of face that was best described as “honest.” Broad cheekbones, heavy brow, blocky jaw. Deep crow’s feet fanned out from the corners of his eyes. What had probably been dimples when he was young were now matching grooves in each cheek. He wasn’t model material, maybe, but there was still something pleasantly masculine about his features.

He looked like a sturdy, corn-fed farm boy from a bygone era. Well, maybe that’s exactly what he was. The door suddenly opened, and there he was, the undead farm boy, in the flesh.

“And I’ve learned how much beauty there is in the night. Moonlight on still water. The city lights against the night sky. The quietness of the streets. And when you leave the city, go out into the country, there’s even more. Fireflies in the summer. The brightness of the stars in a winter sky. The presence of night creatures like foxes and owls. When I was mortal, I slept through all that.”

“You still need to take a break now and then. The kids miss you. They keep asking when they can see their Auntie Tesita.” Just like that, Tessa’s temper flared hot again. Babysitting your children is not a break! she wanted to scream at him. And don’t use your fucking kids as emotional blackmail! But she loved her niece and nephew, and didn’t want to say anything she’d regret, so she swallowed the words and forced herself to speak levelly. “Sorry, Rob. I’m already committed for Wednesday. Don’t you have a babysitter you can call?” “Yeah, I guess,” he sighed. Not one who’ll work for free, huh? she thought bitterly. “Alright, well, sorry about that. Anyway, I gotta start getting ready for work. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Why?” She could guess, but she wanted it out in the open. His expression softened, the tension falling away to reveal vulnerability that bordered on despair. “Because I like you, Tessa. You’re beautiful and sweet and clever. You smell like heaven and taste like paradise. I spend all my free time counting down until your next visit, and then I spend every visit despairing that soon you’ll leave.” Tessa didn’t know how to respond. She hadn’t expected anything beyond, I like you. Amos drew back, expression closing off. “That was too much. I’m sorry. I don’t…” He dropped his head back until it thunked against the booth divider and stared up at the ceiling. “Is it possible you could forget everything I just said?” “No,” she answered, watching Amos’s shoulders tense. “I don’t want to forget it. I like you too, Amos.” He lifted his head, brows raised, meeting her gaze. “And I would like to see you more often.” A hopeful, boyish smile tugged crookedly at his mouth, exposing the tip of one fang. “But you can’t keep following me at night,” she said firmly. The smile faded. “It’s creepy.” A stubborn look entered his eyes, but he didn’t argue.

Amos let out a slow breath, lowering his head until his forehead rested against hers. “I know.” He drew back, giving her space. “I’m going to court you properly, like you deserve. I’ve got literally all the time in the world.” He offered her a wry smile. Disappointment mingled with relief. She was glad that Amos wasn’t hurt by her reluctance, but a small part of her wanted him to push. It was contradictory and probably unhealthy, but she was so tired of being the one to make decisions all the time.

Amos watched her, his gaze occasionally dipping to the cleavage revealed by her top, before valiantly dragging back up to her face. She nearly choked laughing when he realized she’d caught him looking and his eyes went wide. Red suffused his cheeks. So strange to think that it was her blood doing that to him.

“One more quick question,” Ma said, “And don’t bite my head off. Are you working on Saturday?” “Saturday? Yes. Why?” “There’s going to be a party for Uncle Leo’s birthday. He’s turning sixty. Aunt Debbie booked a hall—” “Ma, why didn’t you tell me about this sooner? There’s no way I can get off work with this short of notice.” “Can’t you trade shifts with somebody?” “No. That’s not how it works.” “You’re not even going to try?” Ma demanded. Tessa pinched the bridge of her nose, unbearable pressure rising behind her eyes. “Try what? Ask to trade shifts with a coworker when it’s something that is not allowed at my workplace?” “How do you know if you don’t ask?” “Because there are established policies for time off and I can’t—” Tessa cut herself off. Why was she even bothering to explain? “You know what? No. That’s my answer: no. If the party starts early enough, I’ll pop in for a bit before my shift starts, but that’s the best I can do.” “All you do is work and sleep,” Ma argued. “You need to get out and see people!” “I was just seeing people last night and you were pissed at me for it!” “Because you left your brother hanging for a ‘friend’! Don’t think I don’t know what that means. A friend. I wasn’t born yesterday, Teresa.” Oh god. “So what if it was more than a friend? Would that be the worst thing? Or would you rather I spend the rest of my life alone so that I’m always available to babysit for Rob?” Ma didn’t respond right away, and that hesitation spoke volumes. With s...

But there was a reason Ma and Tía Carolina got on so well, and it wasn’t because of their understanding, supportive natures. They both saw themselves as the guardians of their families and felt it was their God-given right to be critical and controlling. And when the two of them got together, they amplified each other to a stressful degree. The easiest thing to do was to pay obeisance and then flee.

My family is exhausting and I resent them for it. And the resentment just keeps building, to the point where I can’t tell if I’m reacting reasonably when they piss me off, or if I’m freaking out over nothing.”

When they were alone together, he made her feel important, respected, valued, in a way that she hadn’t realized had been missing from her life, and that she had so desperately needed.