“Okay, so I have another question.” Ruby saw Bennett instantly tense, and Ruby held up her hands. “Only one more. I promise.”

Even though she didn’t care to admit it to Ruby, Bennett was enjoying the evening. The food was good. The company was easy on her eyes, and Ruby had mostly stayed true to her word. “All right,” Bennett said, taking a deep breath. “What is it?”

“Why did you make me promise not to pepper you with questions?”

“Because that’s what mortals do when they find out about someone like me.”

“You mean there have been other…um…mortals that know about you?”

“Didn’t you just promise not to ask any more questions?”

Ruby drooped in her chair, and grabbing her glass of stout, she drained what remained. “Yeah, I guess you’re right, but you’ve got to know that it’s kind of hard not to be curious about this. It’s not every day that you meet a…a…”

“Vampire?” Bennett said softly.

“Yes.”

“Then go to your local library. It’s positively overflowing with novels about my kind. There are even a few containing interviews.”

“I would, except those are fiction, and you don’t exactly fall under that category, now do you?”

Bennett finished her wine and placed the glass on the table. “No, I suppose I don’t.”

“I’m glad to see we agree on something,” Ruby said, waving down their server. “Did you want dessert?”

The abrupt subject change took Bennett by surprise, and she hesitated before answering. “No. I’m fine. Thank you.”

Their waiter appeared with their bill, and after gathering as many dishes as he could carry, he placed the check holder in front of Ruby before walking away.

Ruby reached for her purse, her cheeks growing red as she patted down her jeans. “Oh, shit.”

“Problem?”

“Um…you remember in the alley when I said I was getting my dinner?”

“Of course.”

“Well, it was leftovers, and I’d forgotten to get them out of the car. I wasn’t planning to go out, so all I grabbed were my car keys. My wallet is still back at my apartment.”

Bennett held back as much of her amusement as she could, but a tiny bit leaked out as she reached for the brown vinyl holder. She flipped it open long enough to read the bill and then set it on the table. “I suspect your hands will become quite wrinkly, washing the number of dishes it’ll take to pay that off.”

There wasn’t a bit of inflection in Bennett’s voice, and Ruby slouched in her chair. “Oh, you wouldn’t.”

Bennett’s chortle was throaty and devilish. She reached for her wallet, and pulling out a debit card, she slid it into the check holder. “Tempting, but no, I wouldn’t.”

***