Page 15 of Bonded By Blood
That was the last time Brianna had bothered with love, in any form.
Most of the time she didn’t even give it a thought. But every now and then she did get lonely. It was unavoidable.
However, she realized as she stepped from her car and laid eyes on Joe’s patiently smiling face, that niggling sense of loneliness she’d become accustomed to seemed to dissipate in his presence. In a way she hadn’t felt in decades, maybe longer.
“I thought you might be the punctual type,” Joe said as he moved to greet her, a teasing shine in his eyes.
“It’s only polite to be on time when one makes plans,” Brianna replied, stepping up onto the sidewalk and just slightly into his personal space.
Joe grinned, tucked his hands into his jeans pockets, and glanced beyond them toward the opening of the park. “I know we technically talked about this, but are you sure this is what you want to do?”
Brianna smiled at his concern. “I brought a parasol,” she said. “I’ll be fine.” She indicated the presently-closed item in her hand.
Joe laughed, the sound low and rumbly. “An actual parasol? I didn’t know anyone still made those.”
“Of course they do,” Brianna replied. “You just have to know where to look.” She released the snap and popped it open with practiced ease as the overhead clouds moved past the sun. Her skin tingled only for a second before her manufactured shield settled into place. “There, see? I’m good to go.”
“I guess you are.” They started walking, side-by-side, and a few seconds passed comfortably before he asked, “What made you want to go for a walk, anyway? Is this your favorite local park?”
The park in question was in a smaller community outside the city proper of Sacramento. It wasn’t the biggest, but it was also a little quieter and a little cleaner as a result. Brianna had actually only been to it twice before, when Kendall was younger, but they were fond memories.
“Hm, I suppose you could say that,” she replied. “But mostly I thought it would be good to do something outside. Kendall’s always accusing me of being a shut-in, and I’m ashamed to say she’s not wrong. I thought a walk around the park could be nice.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Joe said. “And the weather’s cooperating. Hopefully my company won’t put you off the idea next time.”
A laughing smile bubbled up from Brianna’s chest. “I doubt that very much.”
A jogger wearing wireless earbuds and listening to some overly-synthesized music passed by them, and Joe moved closer to her. He’d done it in the interest of making room on the path, but Brianna noticed he didn’t bother stepping away again once the jogger had moved on. She flexed her grip of the parasol’s handle, as if her hand were sweaty or restless. Which she wasn’t. She was only even thinking about it because of the memories she’d been reflecting on during her drive over.
“I know this isn’t my business,” Joe said, his voice low as if he were worried about eavesdroppers. “But … does Kendall live alone?”
The question caught Brianna off-guard enough to sharpen her focus. She furrowed her brow. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m guessing you know about the new serial killer situation,” he said. “You probably know better than I do if it’s actually a vamp, or if they’re just playing up the theatrics. Either way, so far the killer’s targeted people who’ve been alone, at night. And I thought, if it really is a vampire, that might increase her risk.” He scrubbed at the back of his neck. “Not that it’s my place to be worried, I know. Sometimes I stick my nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Brianna smiled, but kept her gaze forward. This man is exceptional. “Yes, she does,” Brianna said. “Sometimes, anyway. She has an apartment in the city, but also a room in my home. She tends to split her time between them.” She paused, reached over with her free hand, and slipped it into Joe’s. “Also, I appreciate your so-called nosy concern. It’s sweet.”
He curled his fingers around her hand and turned his head a little to the side to grin at her. “I’ll remember that.”
Something inside her warmed at the expression on his face and the feeling of his hand folded around hers. She said nothing, not sure what she should say at all, and merely returned his smile before forcing her gaze forward. He brought out something different in her, something unfamiliar. Or, at least, so deeply buried she didn’t recognize it anymore.
“You’re being careful, too, right?” Joe asked quietly.
Once again, his question scattered her thoughts. All at once she was reminded of how he’d asked her, after the incident in the market, if she was okay. If she was emotionally all right. Twice in just under a week he’d expressed what most would consider ridiculously unnecessary concern for her. She wasn’t used to that. Not at all.
Brianna subconsciously held his hand a little tighter and said, “I’m a shut-in, remember? If the killer wants me, he has to get through a bunch of other vampires to get to me.” She grinned, because she knew he’d understand, and added, “Including Jasen.”
Joe laughed. “Good point.” He threaded his fingers with hers as he said, “But you’re leaving the house from time to time to meet up with me, like right now. So when you do that, you’re being careful, right?”
Brianna looked down at their hands. Her skin was predictably a bit paler than his. Her arm slimmer, her hand smaller. She couldn’t help but think they fit nicely together, both physically and visually. She swallowed heavily. “I am,” she said.
He gave her hand a squeeze and rubbed his thumb gently over her skin. An action that simple shouldn’t have given her such inappropriate desires.
But for the rest of their walk, while they talked casually and occasionally dodged passerby, part of Brianna couldn’t get past a sudden and insistent need to be closer to him. She wanted to feel more of her skin pressed up against his. She wanted to know what kind of a kisser he was, and would he shy away from kissing a woman with fangs? For that matter, in all his interactions with other beings, had he ever slept with one? If he hadn’t, was it because he didn’t want to? Somehow, from the way he continued to hold and sporadically stroke her hand, she doubted that was it.
Or was she reading too much into things?
“So, what next?” Joe asked as they approached the parking area. “I would suggest dinner, but I don’t know if that’s actually appealing to you.”