“So, I would be quite…” Max stopped, clearing his throat as his eyes grew glassy. “I would be quite honored if you would take what I am offering for no amount of riches…no amount of riches could equal my gratitude.”

Chapter Fifty-Three

If it had been up to Max, Bennett, Lisa, and Ruby would have stayed the night; however, having won one argument, Max reluctantly withdrew his objections. Before the clock struck eleven on Sunday night, he bid the women farewell, and piling into Lisa’s car, they slowly made their way back to the brownstone. Six inches of snow had already fallen, and the forecast was for more to follow, so after Lisa was successful in her third attempt to get her car into the snow-drifted alley, they trudged inside.

When they reached Bennett’s apartment, Bennett turned to Ruby. “Did you want to come in?”

“No, that’s okay,” Ruby said with a slight shake of her head. “I’m going to head upstairs, pour myself a very tall drink, take a very long, hot shower, and then eat every piece of chocolate I can find.”

Bennett and Lisa broke into toothy smiles. “That’s a plan if ever I heard one,” Bennett said, unlocking her door. “Then I guess we’ll see you…um…when we see you.”

“Yeah, I’ll touch base with you later.” Ruby turned toward the stairs, only to turn back around. “Bennett?”

“Yes?”

“Those daywalkers tonight…”

“What about them?”

“Well, I thought I recognized—”

“The world, it seems, is a much smaller place than either of us imagined, Ruby,” Bennett said quietly. “Like you, yourself, have proven, daywalkers are masters when it comes to blending in amongst mortals or…or those we assume are mortals. She knew no more about you than you did about her until tonight, and I trust you will respect her privacy as she will undoubtedly respect yours. Yes?”

Ruby gaped at Bennett for several seconds before she found her voice. “Um…yeah, of course. I’m…uh…I’m just shocked.”

“As was she,” Bennett said with a snort.

“So…so she knew who you were from the start?”

“Of course. The Trinity comment and the suggestion I was a vampire is what she does. She’s extremely good at role-play, but the part about being your friend wasn’t acting. She truly cares for you, and since she knows me so well and she thought you were a mortal, she was honestly trying to sway you away from me.”

“You knew about that?”

“She texted me one night. She wanted to make sure I wasn’t planning to kill you.”

“Wow.” Ruby shook her head. “And here I thought I was good at role-play.”

“You were,” Bennett said, momentarily peering down her nose at Ruby. “And now, I think, Lisa and I will bid you good night.”

“All right. Good night, guys,” Ruby said, heading for the stairs. “See you later.”