“What are you looking so happy about?” Tessa asked. “Did you win the lottery or something?”
“Better.”
Tessa groaned. That dreamy look in Jileen’s eyes could only mean one thing. “Who is he?”
“Shh. His name’s Luke Moran. He’s a vampire hunter. And he’s in the kitchen mixing martinis.”
“What? Jil, this was supposed to be girls’ night. We were going to binge on pizza and brownies and watch the new Iron Man DVD. No men allowed.”
“I know, I know,” Jileen whispered. “But I met him at the pizza place earlier tonight and we started talking and I told him about your near-death experience and he said he’d really like to meet you . . . and . . .” She shrugged. “So sue me, I’m weak when it comes to hunky guys with big biceps and blond hair.”
“How could you tell some stranger what happened to me?” Tessa asked, trying to hang on to her temper. “I’m trying to forget it.”
“I know. I’m sorry. But wait until you see him!”
Tessa glanced at her faded jeans and Avengers sweatshirt. “If I’d known you were having company, I would have worn something a little more appropriate.”
“You look fine. Come on.”
Heaving a sigh, Tessa let Jileen drag her into the kitchen.
“Luke Moran, this is Tessa Blackburn. Tess, this is Luke.”
It was easy to see why Jileen was smitten, Tessa thought as she exchanged pleasantries with Luke. He was tall and quite handsome, with a shock of ash-blond hair and dark brown eyes.
Tessa and Jileen sat at the kitchen table while he poured drinks for each of them.
The table was already set with plates and napkins. Jileen opened the large pizza box in the center of the table with a flourish. “Dive in,” she invited.
They made small talk over dinner. Tessa was content to let Jileen and Luke carry the bulk of the conversation until it turned to vampires. Luke, it seemed, had arrived in town only a few days ago, drawn by a story on the national news about the recent deaths in Cutter’s Corner.
“How long have you been a hunter?” Tessa asked. “It seems like very dangerous work.”
He nodded. “It is that, but it’s exciting, too.”
“From what I’ve seen, I’d hardly call it exciting,” Tessa said. “Tell me, does someone pay you to hunt vampires?”
“You bet! There’s a hefty government bounty on their heads. Of course, you can only get proof of death on the young ones,” Luke explained. “Fledgling vampires don’t wake up when you stake them and they don’t disintegrate unless you drag them into the sun, so it’s easy to get proof of death. Ancient vampires immediately turn to dust and ash when you destroy them. Unfortunately, the government won’t accept a pile of ashes as proof.”
Shuddering at the grotesque images his words had conjured, Tessa pushed her plate aside.
Noticing Tessa’s discomfort, Jileen said, “This really isn’t the kind of conversation to have over dinner. Has either one of you seen the new art exhibit at the museum?”
* * *
“I think I’m in love,” Jileen confided later, after Luke had gone home.
Tessa shook her head as she placed another glass in the dishwasher. “Jilly, you’re always in love.”
“I know what you’re thinking. I just met him. It’s too soon to tell. Yadda, yadda, yadda. But he’s . . .”
“Different.” Tessa grinned. She had been down this road with Jileen a dozen times before.
“All right, I can’t blame you for what you’re thinking. But I really think it’s different this time.”
“Well, for your sake, I hope you’re right.”
“Enough about me. Have you heard from Mr. Gorgeous? You’re still going out with him tomorrow, right?”
“I guess so.” Tessa bit down on her lower lip.
“You mean he hasn’t called to confirm?”
“I never gave him my number,” Tessa admitted sheepishly.
“What? Girl, you really are out of practice, aren’t you? Rule number one: Always make sure he has your number, even if you have to write it on his—”
“Stop! I get the picture.”
“Well, make a note of this, too. I expect a full report of your date first thing Sunday morning.”
“Yes, Mother dear.”
Grinning, Jileen walked Tessa to the door. “Maybe Andrei Dinescu is your Mr. Right. Did you ever think of that?”
* * *
By Saturday afternoon, Tessa was as giddy as a teenager getting ready for her first date. She changed clothes three times before deciding on a pair of black skinny jeans and a pale pink sweater. She put her hair in a ponytail, then in a French braid, and then brushed it out and let it fall around her shoulders. She put on a pair of black heels. She put on flats, then put her heels on again.