Read Online Carol Shenold - Tali Cates 02 - Bloody Murder by Carol Shenold - Free Book Online

we know better. We had Mag.”
    I ignored his reference to the persistent ghost who’d haunted us at the end of the summer, trying to get me to solve her murder. But ghosts were one thing, however, and bloodsucking neighbors were another. I simply wouldn’t have it, much less have the boys drive people away with their nonsense.
    I jumped at the knock on the door.
    “I’ll get it. I’ll get it.” Both boys jumped up to race for the door before I could stop them. This would be good.
    They crept back into the room looking back over their shoulders. Sean spoke first, in a loud whisper. “It’s him. I didn’t invite him in but he’s waiting anyway.”
    “Sean, you have better manners than that,” I scolded. “Aiden, come on in and have a seat, I’ll be right there.”
    “Mom, you didn’t invite him in! Now he can come in anytime he wants. What are you thinking?”
    “I’m going out for a little while. If I hear about you two causing any more trouble or bothering anyone, including your grandmother or our neighbors, you won’t like the results.”
    Sean looked stricken. “It’s after dark. Nighttime.”
    “Since that’s never been a problem before, I don’t think it will be now. Mumsie’s here. Remember, no scary movies. I don’t want your imagination stuffed with anything more than is in there now.”
    Sean and Rusty exchanged glances clearly indicating I was a fool, already under the spell of the undead and doomed to follow the lead of an evil creature.
    “Remember what I said. I want you in bed by midnight. Sorry, Aiden. I think the boys are on a sugar high. They probably inhaled enough cotton candy for the entire town. They are a little out of control.”
    To my chagrin, I caught myself looking in the mirror on the landing to see if I could see him, and I did. He was a little out of focus but definitely there.
    I put my hand up as if to fix my hair. There was no way I’d ever admit to what I’d just done or to the comic book antics those two boys were up to.
    * * * *
    An hour later we were at a small Italian restaurant in Denison, eating one of the best steaks I’d had in a long time. Actually I was having a steak dinner while Aiden picked at a salad. In one corner of the country Italian room, two singers with acoustic guitars sang a mixture of western and pop songs. The girls’ close harmony filled the room, weaving around diners talking softly to each other. Wonderful scents of Italian spices, garlic, onions, created their magic. Candles flickered on each table to give a flattering golden glow to everything.
    He speared a piece of bacon off the top if his salad. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it. I caved for cotton candy and then a candy apple during the contest. I’m not any better than the kids. Now I’m stuffed. Not smart before inviting you to dinner.”
    “It’s okay,” I said around a mouth full of steak. “I’m enjoying it anyway. I hope the rare meat doesn’t gross you out. I love my steak rare. I don’t want a cool middle or for it to moo at me, but it’s so much more tender and flavorful this way, at least to me.”
    “Rare is absolutely the way to go”, he said, staring at the red juice on my plate.
    “Are you sure you won’t have some? I’ll share.”
    Aiden pulled his eyes away from my plate and grinned. “No thanks, I’ve had plenty, believe me.” When he smiled, I melted. He was so beautiful. Even though he was fair skinned, his dark hair looked just right—shoulder length, slightly wavy, shiny.
    Me, shallow? Yes.
    It was no wonder I was attracted to him. He was more gorgeous than some of the models on the covers of the romances Cass always read, because he didn’t have that plastic look. It wasn’t so much that I was drawn to him, but his magnetism overwhelmed me. I didn’t remember a physical allure as strong as this. I really didn’t know anything about the man except he showed up where I was and lived next door.
    And my son had some notion he was a vampire. I