“That ain’t gonna happen, lady,” Gus said, taking a step closer. “What you did that night, what you did for us, you didn’t have to do, but you did. So, I’m telling you right here and now, you ain’t getting rid of me. Okay? You ain’t gonna scare me away either. We’re not stupid. My wife and I are pretty sure we know…well, we know what you are, and it is kind of freaky, I ain’t gonna lie, but we’re not afraid of you. You wouldn’t have saved us only to kill me now or…or eat me or…or whatever your kind does.”

Bennett’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “If you think you know what I am, then you know what I can do. There are literally thousands of books on the subject.”

“Yeah, well, a guy telling a woman she could suck him dry just didn’t sound right—you know?”

Bennett couldn’t help but laugh, especially since the man’s face was now crimson. “No, I suppose that wouldn’t have been politically correct.”

“But I’m…I mean, we’re right, aren’t we? You’re…um…you’re…um…”

“A vampire?”

Gus swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

“And if I were, what would you do about it?”

“Nothing,” Gus said, looking Bennett straight in the eye. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Cath and I don’t care about what you are. We care about you. We care that the woman who saved our kids knows she can count on us to keep her secret and help her if she needs help. Okay? No strings. No…no nothing. Just a couple of folks who want you to know that we got your back if you need it. Simple as that.”

“Things are rarely that simple.”

“You wanna bet?” Gus said, holding out his hand.

Chapter Five

“May I at least have the common courtesy of you listening to me when I’m speaking to you?”

Lost in her thoughts, Bennett shifted her eyes back to Max. Like most, he had adapted to the times. His once shoulder-length brown hair now was trimmed to the style of the day, and the frills and flounce of a gentleman born in the fifteenth century had long since disappeared, too. Gone were the linen shirts and jerkins, and hose of wool, replaced by the finest of fashion a man like Max could afford. As was Max’s preference, he was wearing a smoking jacket, the one tonight, burgundy velvet with leather lapels, and the neck of the silk shirt underneath was open to reveal a silver and blue paisley ascot, perfectly presented right down to the sterling stick pin.

“You were saying?” Bennett said before casually taking a sip of her drink.