The Vampire’s Redemption

“I’m good,” Danielle said. “You?”

“I’m so much more than good.” He smiled the brightest smile she had ever seen blossoming on his lips.

She took her seat at the table, sitting on the chair that he pulled back for her. She watched him, transfixed by this new side of him.

“We also have appetizers,” Michael announced. He went over to the kitchen area of the room and returned with a tray that he carefully set down on the table. “Polenta croutons topped with mushrooms, melted cheese, and a spray of parsley.”

Danielle stared at him. For someone who claimed to only eat meat, he sure seemed to know his way around vegetarian dishes. “You made these? I’m impressed.”

Michael looked momentarily embarrassed. “Actually, Eli did.”

Danielle frowned. “Just as he made the stew?” she asked, his earlier words registering.

“Yes.”

“And yet he’s not staying for dinner?”

“Why would he stay for dinner? This is a date.” Michael appeared to be genuinely confused.

“Because he made all the food,” Danielle said, in a way that made it clear it should have been obvious.

“Oh.” Michael chuckled nervously. “He did it as a favor to me. I’ve long forgotten how to cook.”

Danielle stared at him in curiosity. “What does that mean?”

To her surprise, Michael only shrugged. “Never mind. Try one.”

She decided to let it go for the moment. She didn’t want to risk disrupting Michael’s newfound openness with questions that might send him running back behind that wall he always seemed to keep erect between them. Danielle reached out to pick up one of the croutons. As soon as she bit down on it, a wonderful combination of flavors exploded in her mouth.

“These are fantastic!” she cried, with her mouth full. She flushed and hastily lifted up her hand to cover her mouth. “Sorry,” she muttered, swallowing. “I got excited.”

Michael laughed. “Do you always get this excited about food?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. Yes, I do.”

He nodded. “I get it. Nourishment is a wonderful thing.”

That was also an odd thing to say, but Danielle resorted to let this one slide as well.

The dinner went on pleasantly. Despite his professed love for red meat, Michael ate the vegetarian stew and seemed to enjoy it. As it turned out, Eli had also thought of dessert, in the form of dark chocolate mousse spiced with a powder of chili peppers.

“Isn’t this supposed to be aphrodisiac?” Danielle asked with a grin when Michael set the small bowl in front of her on the coffee table.

They had moved to the living room, where a fire burned in the fireplace despite the warm weather.

Michael smirked back at her and took his seat next to her on the couch. “Eli was never one for subtlety.”

The dessert was just as delicious as the rest of the dinner. It was creamy and puffy in just the right amounts, and the dark chocolate was to die for.

“Eli should be a chef,” Danielle commented as she all but scraped the bottom of the bowl with her spoon. A little voice in her head was telling her that she should probably eat with less voracity, but she silenced it quickly; if Michael couldn’t take her love for good food, then they simply weren’t meant to be.

Michael, however, seemed absolutely unfazed by the unabashed appreciation Danielle was showing towards the dishes Eli had prepared for them.

“He is,” he said of his friend. “He works at a restaurant in downtown L.A.”

“You must give me the address.”

Michael laughed. “I will.”

They were quiet then. Somehow, for some reason, silence settled over them. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It was intimate, and it enveloped them like a warm blanket. Although neither of them would have been able to say exactly how it had happened, who had moved first, they soon found themselves entangled together on the couch. Michael’s arm was around Danielle’s shoulders, and Danielle’s head was nestled comfortably in the crook of Michael’s neck.

Danielle stared at the flames, watching as the fire licked at the air and burned away the oxygen. It was hypnotic, and it allowed for her thoughts and feelings to bubble to the surface. The fire seemed to invite her to be honest with herself and with the world around her. Silently, she came to terms with all that she felt—she accepted her worry for her best friend, and she accepted the fact that she had indeed fallen for Michael, a near-stranger who was only going to be in town for a short while before he would walk out of her life as easily as he had entered it.

“What are you thinking about?” Michael’s voice was a rumble by her ear, as close as it was to his throat.

Danielle didn’t look away from the flames and shrugged. “Nothing, really,” she lied. “Just letting my mind wander.”

Michael began to run his fingers through her hair. It was a very personal gesture, and it soothed her. “You’re worried, aren’t you?”

Danielle craned her neck a little to look up at him. “About what?”

“My brother, being out with your friend.”

Danielle cringed inwardly. Was she that obvious? She reluctantly lifted her head off Michael’s shoulder and sat up straighter to face him. “A little,” she admitted.

Michael arched a blond eyebrow. “Only a little?”

Danielle cringed again. Busted. “Am I that transparent?”

Michael smiled a knowing smile. “Actually, you’ve been very discreet. But I know you don’t trust my brother. And I don’t blame you,” he added quickly when Danielle opened her mouth to protest. “Who would trust him after the speech he gave you?”

Danielle hesitated for a moment, and then she decided that, seeing as they were already on the subject and that he was the one to bring it up, she might as well tell the whole story. “It’s not about that,” she said.

Michael frowned. He watched her suspiciously. “What do you mean?””

Danielle licked her lips nervously. “He…” She sighed. She couldn’t do it. How do you tell the man you love that you think his brother might be no good? “Never mind.”

“No, tell me,” Michael said. “Please.” There was no animosity in his request, no defensiveness in his voice; he really wanted to know.

Danielle hesitated again. “You’re not going to like it.”

“It’s okay, I didn’t think I would.” Again, there was no hostility in Michael, no aggressive protectiveness of his brother. He genuinely wanted to hear what Danielle had to say, even if he knew it would be nothing good.

Danielle took a deep breath. “There’s something off about your brother,” she finally blurted out.

Michael blinked. “Off?” he repeated. “What do you mean, off?”

Danielle pushed her dark hair away from her face in frustration. How was she ever going to put this without sounding completely crazy?

“I don’t know,” she began carefully. “I can’t explain it. It’s a feeling, really. Like he may be…” She trailed off, unable to say it.