Time flies when you’re having fun, and by the time Ruby had recovered, they were only fifteen minutes away from the brownstone. Unable to return the favor until they were in Bennett’s apartment, Ruby wasted no time returning it on the sofa. She then returned it on the floor, and eventually, she returned it on the bed. It wasn’t all one-sided. Bennett gave as much as she received, and before the clock struck twelve, both drifted off to sleep. A short time later, Ruby woke up to the sound of fireworks exploding over Boston, and blinking away the blur, she found herself alone. A moment later, Bennett came into the bedroom carrying two mugs.

“I know New Year’s is normally celebrated with champagne, but I was in the mood for some green tea. Is that all right?”

“Yeah, that sounds good,” Ruby said, reaching for the mug. “Thanks.”

“I’ll be right back.” Bennett set down the other mug, and Ruby was not at all surprised to see her go into the bathroom to brush her teeth.

“Do you do that every night?”

“What?” Bennett said, coming back into the room.

“Blood.”

“It doesn’t have to be at night, but yes, once a day unless it was coming from someone’s vein. Then I could go longer without it.”

“That’s the potency thing you were talking about.”

“Precisely,” Bennett said, rearranging some pillows before climbing back into bed.

Bennett took a sip of her tea, looking at Ruby as she did. Noticing lines plowed across the woman’s forehead, Bennett set her mug aside. “Problem?”

“I was just thinking about Desiree and Eliza,” Ruby said, turning to Bennett. “They are seriously not nice people, and if that’s the type you’re attracted to, I can’t help thinking you see me the same way. That kind of hurts.”

“I don’t see you the same way, and Desiree and Eliza weren’t always as they are now. Do you honestly think I could have fallen in love with either of them if they were?”

“You were in love with them?”

“Yes, at one time I was.”

Ruby took a sip of her tea as she thought about what Bennett had said. “How many times have you been in love?”

“Does it matter?”

“Not really. I’m just wondering.”

Bennett took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Nine times,” she said, only to shake her head a second later. “No, that’s not right. It was eight.”

“Who were they? Are they still around?”

“Some are, and some aren’t. Warrick is dead, of course, and I can’t say that I was ever truly in love with him, not in the way I was in love with the women, but I did care for him deeply.”