Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 48783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Damien changed course and headed for Greystone and Sons to wait for Cimil to magically show up. He needed to open the store anyway. There was a long line of grumpy customers anxious to pick up their alterations.
Damien pulled into his spot at the back and parked. “Maxton, I have a dark storeroom with a cot. You can sleep there if you like. I’ll wake you when Cimil shows up.”
“Very good.” They entered, and he showed Maxton where to take his nap. Damien then flipped on the lights, turned on the soft classical music—a little Chopin—and opened up the front.
Ah, how I missed you, shop. His sanctuary. His slice of civilized, manly respite.
The front door chimed. “You won’t fucking believe what he did, Damien!” MF stormed in, wearing torn jeans, those God-awful military boots, and a frilly Victorian-style top with a high neck. Sleeves torn off.
Sanctuary no more. “MF, I presume you are here to vent about Maxton, but—”
“That lying, manipulative, fucking vampire? You bet your ass! He offered to turn me this morning. Did you know that? And here I was, Damien, thinking he was my mate, that there was some sort of divine love for me in the universe. But no. He just wanted to make Cimil happy by turning me along with a long list of other names. Can you believe that crap?”
“You thought he was your mate?” When had this happened? Why didn’t she say something? He’d almost killed Maxton.
“Well, yeah. All the signs were there. He sucked my blood, and I came so hard that I forgot my name. And when he totally lost his shit last night, after vomiting out his guts from the roller-coaster ride, I stopped his hangry rampage. He came this close,” she held up her thumb and forefinger, “to snacking on some kids. But then I kissed him, pulled him out of it, and fed him.”
So Maxton lied. Did the tough, fearless vampire feel embarrassed about having feelings for MF? It was the only conclusion.
“But you say he’s not actually your mate?” Damien asked.
“No. He was just putting on the charm the entire time, making me think he liked me.” MF pressed her palm to her forehead. “I’m such an idiot, Damien. A bona fide bonehead. I really thought he was the one.” She sighed. “But I guess I got what I deserved. I mean, what was I thinking? I should’ve known better than to buy his act. It was exactly the same way Stewart Hedgeworth lured me to his hotel room.”
Damien did not like the sound of this story. Mostly because he knew it would end in a very ugly place. “I am sure it was very traumatic, MF. And it is something you should leave in the past.” Please say no more. I have endured enough drama this morning.
“I have. Mostly. But how can I ever forget? I was just this naïve, sweet young woman wanting to break free from my parents and see the world. No more hemp weaving. No more organic apples and canning jams. No more chickens and eggs and lavender sachets. Sure, they were making millions with their all-organic brands, and yes, I stood to inherit it all, but that wasn’t the life I dreamed of for myself. Then along comes this dark, seductive, exotic creature of the night, promising to show me the world and love me forever. All I had to do was hand myself over to him. And I did, Damien. I fell for his spiel. Hook, line, and sinker.”
“Wait. Did you just say you inherited your family’s multimillion-dollar enterprise?”
“Yes. Marv and Mary’s Organics. I ran their hemp clothing division. Mostly my designs, but eventually I had to hire help and just focus on the business.”
Damien’s jaw slacked. He was not into organics, but this brand was on every shelf, in every supermarket. There was even a shop downtown dedicated to their organic clothing.
“You told me your parents were poor hippies and made you sew your own clothes. That was how you learned.”
MF shrugged. “All true. Except for the poor part. They died very rich.”
“You said you were homeless.”
“And I was. I’d just sold my townhouse, wanting to upgrade to a house closer to the farm, when that vampire killed my folks. And after what happened, I couldn’t live at their place. Eventually, I sold it along with the company.”
“For how much?” Not that it mattered, but she’d been portraying the down-and-out lost child.
“I don’t know. A lot, I guess. I gave some to charity. But that’s not the point. I should’ve kept the company. I should’ve taken it over and guarded their legacy. But I was just too devastated over losing them. And it was all my fault, Damien. If only I hadn’t trusted Stewart. But I did. And here I am, falling for the same bullshit again.” MF sighed. “I am a stupid human.”