Page 27
“I mean, I’m not opposed to, ya know, um, hanging out, short-term sort of dating… but… I don’t mean it like I’m against relationships because I’m into fooling around with multiple guys…” Bottom lip tucked between her teeth, her cheeks pinked as she laughed at herself.
The corners of his mouth quirked up. He looked away, resisting the urge to laugh out loud.
She tipped her head back and released a belly laugh. “That sounded bad. I mean, I’m a healthcare provider. STDs are no joke. And when you fool around… um. You know what I mean. It’s a… don’t make me explain it. I don’t do relationships. Period. No exceptions.”
“Okay.” He tipped a nod back at her. “Define relationship.”
She folded her arms over her chest, the black fabric of her dress hugging tighter and dipping lower.
Vann swallowed hard and flicked his eyes back to the road.
“I don’t have a precise definition. Like, a maximum of two or three dates. One for a meet and greet, two for… um… other stuff, and the third only if it was that good. Absolutely no standing dates or holding hands on evening walks, and especially no brunch or holidays. Casual, that’s it. Don’t ask me why, it’s complicated and nobody’s business.”
“Okay.” He slowed for the turn, and eased around the corner between a darkened plant store and a coffee shop with only a single safety light on behind the tinted glass. Pure devilry lifted one side of his lips into a wicked grin. “But this isn’t a date, because you’re not interested?”
“No, no, that is definitely not what I meant.” She sighed and glared ahead, her mood drifting quickly. “Look. I’ve had enough guys jump on board at the ‘no relationship’ thing, thinking that means meaningless sex, or they think I’m saying it to filter out the jerks, then they get attached and I’ve got to Teflon-up and they end up with hurt feelings—”
Damn, she was close to perfect. Vann twitched a smile, focusing on the road so he didn’t laugh out loud at the thrill heating low in his belly. It had been way, way, way too fucking long. “So I’m prophylaxis against relationship-seeking behavior from your colleagues?”
“If tonight goes well, I wouldn’t mind a real date with you. One.”
A subtle laugh vibrated over him. “A one-and-only date involving meaningful sex without attachment? Count me in.”
She laughed out loud and pursed her lips together. “Was that a yes, or…?”
“Yes.” He tipped a serious look across at her. “Seriously. If you don’t do relationships, that’s your prerogative, and I wouldn’t disrespect you by attempting to subvert that. Second—and I’m dead serious when I say this—my job is too dangerous for me to partake in relationships. I don’t put a cap on the number of dates like you do, but if I feel like one or both of us starts getting attached, I’m gone.”
“Oh.” She watched him instead of the flux of cars coming and going in the parking lot, all dressed for an expensive party. “That’s lucky for me.”
“What if tonight ends in meaningful but attachment-free sex?” Vann rotated the wheel and backed into a spot with a straight shot out. “Does that mean tonight is a date?”
Eryn took her purse from the floor and hooked the strap over her shoulder.
He climbed out, checked his phone was on vibrate, and closed his door to look over the car at her.
“I don’t want to waste a date on a work event.”
That real date wasn’t going to come fast enough. Vann might look thirty, tops, and would stay like this for another couple hundred years, but he had celebrated his fiftieth birthday a few months ago. The last time he’d had sex was…fuck, maybe a decade ago? He might explode on contact.
A handful of elegantly dressed individuals and couples were heading into the hotel, following the sign that pointed them toward the ballroom. From the belly of a Cadillac SUV, a couple with white hair and designer clothes stepped out. The man tossed the keys to the valet and cracked a joke about how much his car cost.
Fundraisers like this must be crucial for the overburdened hospital. Hopefully not for much longer.
Vann moved closer to Eryn’s side and whispered, “Should we walk in holding hands to make it look like we’re a couple? I mean, you said no handholding, but I’ve gone undercover on more than a few jobs.”
She nibbled the tip of her tongue and looked up at him. “Yes to handholding, but no PDAs. Just enough to Teflon me up against my very sweet boss.”
“Got it.”
Her spiked heels lifted her height closer to his, and—a rarity—he didn’t have to adapt his posture to reach her hand.
On fire at the simple, fake affection. They should have gone on a real date first, so he wouldn’t be so wound up at something as basic as holding hands.
Music and chatter vibrated the hallway before they reached the ballroom. Crystal glasses and silver platters clanged as drinks and appetizers were generously served.
Eryn squeezed harder as they stepped into the room. “I didn’t know Lost Beach had this many rich people in it.”
“My dad used to drag me to tons of shit like this. Not hospital fundraisers specifically, but various charitable events. Said it was important for people in our line of work to help the community however we can.” Hale wasn’t just about saving humans from demons. His dad ensured that the damage done was compensated. Parks rebuilt, foster programs funded. Few demon hunters did the same, despite having acquired embarrassing levels of wealth thanks to looting their kills… and, historically, extorting the victims they’d rescued.
