The Vampire’s Redemption

“I suppose not,” Stephen conceded. “But anyone who turns off vampire hunger can’t be hiding anything good. And we’re here to stay out of trouble,” he said pointedly.

Michael gave him a grin that he knew would be infuriating. “I’m only buying her a drink,” he said, as innocently as he could. “I’m going to talk to her a little, and then I’m going to come back here and I’m never going to see her again. That is, provided that I can figure out what’s what in only one date.”

Stephen rolled his eyes. “You’re impossible. Fine, go,” he said, exasperated. “But know that if you get yourself into one of your situations, I’m not pulling you out this time.”

Michael winked at him. “Sure you are.”

He walked past Stephen and squeezed his shoulder as he went by, grinning at his brother’s long-suffering sigh.

In the kitchen, Eli was busy making dinner that he would eat out of hunger and that Stephen would chew on out of politeness. The smell of cooking meat filled the room. Michael’s stomach didn’t grumble and his mouth didn’t water.

“I’ll be back later,” he announced.

Eli turned around and gave him a worried look. “You’ll behave?”

Michael rolled his eyes. “For God’s sake, what’s with everyone tonight? Yes, I’ll behave. I’m not here to cause trouble.”

“It’s just…people still know me here, you know?”

“Yes, I know. Don’t worry, none of your high school girlfriends are going to end up on my menu. But if you’d be so kind as to point me in the direction of any high school douche that might have bullied you…”

Eli cringed. “God. Just get out of here and try not to kill anyone.”

Michael grinned and all but flew out of the small but very pleasant house they had rented on the green, conveniently isolated outskirts of town. He thought about simply running to the place where he was supposed to meet Danielle, but he figured it would draw less attention if he drove there instead.

He climbed into his extremely old, extremely beat-up black Mustang and drove onto the road and later on into the very much-reduced traffic. He still wasn’t too fond of driving—or of cars, for that matter, which was why such a gorgeous model like the car he was driving was also so unkempt. He knew everything that helped to keep up appearances was a good thing, but he still didn’t see why they simply couldn’t move around relying solely on the powers that were given to them.

It was nice to think about something else other than Danielle for a change, even if it was something as trivial as his issues with modern transportation. Soon, however, his thoughts drifted back to that blue-eyed wonder that made his hunger disappear.

*****

Danielle could not remember the last time she had been this nervous. It wasn’t just that she hadn’t been on a date in what felt like ages, it was also that a) she wasn’t quite sure whether this was an actual date, and b) it was with the strangest, most beautiful man she had ever encountered.

There was something about Michael. It went well beyond his striking looks, and Danielle had been trying to put her finger on it since the night she had met him, with no success whatsoever. Now, as she sat at a table in the already busy pub, she told herself that she would get to the bottom of it by the end of the evening.

“So when’s your date getting here?”

Danielle rolled her eyes. She could actually hear the grin in Jack’s voice, and sure enough when she looked up, her friend was giving her the biggest smirk.

“It’s not a date.”

“Isn’t it?”

Danielle hesitated. “I don’t know. Anyway, he should be here any minute now.”

Jack’s eyes darted to the main door. “He better not stand you up.”

Danielle groaned. “Thank you, I hadn’t even thought of that.”

“Sorry.” Jack gave her a contrite little smile. He patted her shoulder and went back to his work at the bar.

The next fifteen minutes felt like an eternity, and Danielle passed the time looking around nervously and tearing her paper napkin up to shreds. When Michael finally stepped through the doors of the pub, her heart jumped to her throat. She took a deep breath and willed herself to calm down.

Michael spotted her easily and walked up to her table with that easy stride of his that had so impressed her the first time she saw him. Danielle noticed quite a few heads turning and numerous pairs of eyes casting hungry stares up and down Michael’s figure, and while she knew she couldn’t blame them, she also couldn’t help the pang of jealousy that hit her.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“That’s okay.” It wasn’t quite okay. Danielle hated to wait, and she especially hated it when she was this nervous.

But then again, just one look at Michael’s perfect features and kind smile was enough for her to forgive him completely. Up close, with only the surface of the table separating them, Danielle noticed just how impossibly green Michael’s eyes were. Had they been that shade of emerald the first time too? And how had she not noticed before?

“You’ve been waiting long?”

“Not long.” Danielle lied, of course; those had been the longest fifteen minutes of her life, even though she still couldn’t figure out why.

Michael flashed her a smile that told her he had just seen right though her but he appreciated her politeness.

“So, what’s good here?” he said, picking up the menu. “You were telling me about some great burgers?”

“They are,” Danielle said readily.

Five minutes later, one of the waitresses came over to take their order. They both ordered burgers, although Danielle’s was a veggie one.

Michael arched a blond eyebrow at that. “You’re a vegetarian?” he asked, surprised.

“Yep,” Danielle said. “Is that a problem? Are you going to lecture me about protein?”

“God, no.” Michael chuckled. “But you should know, I’m an avid meat eater.”

“I’m fine with that. As long as you’re conscious of where your meat comes from.”

“Oh, believe me, I’m very conscious.” Michael handed his menu back to the waitress with a smile that clearly dazzled her. “I’ll have the cheeseburger, darling, please.”

“How do you like your meat? Rare, medium…?”

“The rarest you can make it.”