Rylie Cruz 2 - How to Date a Vampire (27 page)

“Well, I have news for you. Jack was fully
turned today.”

“What? We both have vampire boyfriends
now?”

“Where are you?” I asked as I turned the
ignition.

“I’m on my way home now.”

Within a few minutes, we pulled up to our
building. As we made our way on the sidewalk, Danielle and Dave
strolled hand-in-hand toward us. Despite the bad past forty-eight
hours, I couldn’t help but smile. The fairy and the werewolf had
been a good match. They had that giddy, getting-to-know-each-other
glow.

“Rylie, we wanted to thank you.” Danielle
waved at me.

“I’m surprised to see the two of you
together so soon. It isn’t even date night yet.”

“We came by to thank you. We know it’s early
on, but I never met anyone I had this much in common with,” she
said.

Score one for the matchmaking werewolf.

“I’d just listened to your message when Dave
called me,” Danielle said, smiling at Dave. “We talked for about an
hour and got along so well that we decided to meet right away.”

“I have to tell you, Rylie, you’re a genius
when it comes to matchmaking,” Dave said.

Yeah, tell that to Lily. I didn’t think
she’d agree with that statement. Danielle stroked Dave’s face and
he practically melted on the sidewalk. Maybe I needed to take a
hose and spray those two down with some cold water. It was a little
early to declare success, but as long as they were happy for the
moment, then I was happy, too.

“Please keep me updated on how things are
going.”

“Oh, we will,” Danielle said.

Only if it was good news though. Bad news I
didn’t need to hear.

“I’ll expect an invitation to the
wedding.”

Dave chuckled. “You got it.”

I watched the happy couple as they walked
away hand-in-hand.

With any luck, they would be a happily ever
after story.

“See, you really are Miss Match.” Jack
touched my nose with his index finger.

“You remembered,” I said as we continued
toward the building.

“Of course I remembered, you didn’t think
I’d forget, did you?”

My smile must have been from ear to ear as I
shook my head. “No, I didn’t think you’d forget.”

I’d told Jack that my nickname had been Miss
Match and that was what made me decide to open the dating service.
I couldn’t believe that he’d remembered something I’d only told him
in passing.

Somehow, I’d managed to get Jack inside even
with his weakness. At least his wound had almost healed by the time
we made it in the building. He was looking much better already.
Helping Jack deal with his new life probably wouldn’t be easy, but
I’d give it my best shot. “I must look terrible,” Jack said. “I
guess you're stuck with a vampire now. Whatever that means.”

“You look as handsome as ever. Your skin is
getting some color back, still pale, but some color. And I think
I'll love being stuck with a vampire.”

“I don't know if I'll ever get used to how
all this paranormal stuff works, but I wouldn't have it any other
way.”

“I'm glad you brought me into this crazy
paranormal world.” He touched my cheek, then brushed back a strand
of my hair.

“You really are crazy if you're happy about
being involved in this craziness.” I shook my head.

“I guess I am.” He laughed.

“So I guess I'm going to need a manual on
how to date a vampire.” Jack had teased me that he needed a manual
on how to date a werewolf. Now it was his turn. How he kept a good
attitude about this, I had no idea. I was born a werewolf and I
wasn’t sure how I would have reacted if I was in Jack’s
situation.

He laughed again then winched as he held his
side.

“Sorry. You poor baby.” I leaned down and
pressed my lips to his.

Jennifer walked through the door. “Oh,
sorry. Am I disturbing the lovebirds?” she chirped. Stephen stood
beside her.

For a newly turned vampire, he didn’t look
bad. He had that same pale look as Jack. And he looked as if he
hadn’t eaten in days. I still felt bad about what had happened to
him. The vampire had turned Stephen as well. So now, Jennifer and I
were both dating vampires. Maybe we could share relationship tips
for dealing with the undead. I couldn’t help feeling guilty about
involving everyone in this paranormal mess.

I was surprised Stephen hadn't arrested me
on the spot after I’d gotten him turned. He didn't seem all that
upset, surprisingly. I guess he was too lovestruck with Jennifer to
worry about it. Or weak from fighting his overwhelming craving for
blood. How he couldn't worry about something as drastic and life
changing as that I'd never know. But everyone handled things
differently. So it was just his way, I guess.

Jennifer helped Stephen into a chair. “What
can I do to make you feel better?”

He shrugged his shoulders and leaned back
against the cushion.

“What are you guys up to?”

She shrugged. “I don't know. The vampire
said Stephen would be hungry for blood and for him not to fight it.
He gave me this number to call for blood.” She touched her head.
“I'm not feeling so well.”

“Is that why you came home?” Jennifer rarely
got sick. I moved closer and touched her forehead. “What hurts?” I
asked.

“I just feel kind of hot, like maybe I have
a fever. It feels as if something strange has taken over my
body.”

“She’s burning up with fever.” I held my
hand to her forehead.

Jennifer’s eyes held a strange glow, almost
red.

Before I could help Jennifer, shouting
caught our attention and I moved over to the window. Suppressing a
growl, I breathed in deeply. Hell’s bells. Did Lily have nothing
better to do with her time?

When I heaved open the window, Lily yelled
up to me. “So what do you say? Will you be my maid of honor?”

About Rose Pressey

Rose Pressey enjoys writing quirky and fun
novels with a paranormal twist. She’s always found the paranormal
interesting. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained
fascinates her.

When she’s not writing about werewolves,
vampires, and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating
cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and
listening to oldies from the fifties. Yeah, she loves Elvis. She
can’t help herself.

Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of
Kentucky with her husband, son and two sassy Chihuahuas.

www.rosepressey.com

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