Chapter 2

“Honey, can I ask you something?”

Jason sensed an anxious tone to Merry’s question. He folded the newspaper he’d been reading and watched her in the kitchen. “Sure, darling. You can ask me anything.”

“Well, first, before I ask that, can you sample this sauce? I’m making your favorite.”

He jumped up from his chair. “Lasagna? For lunch?”

She grinned. “Yup.”

He strolled behind the granite counter to where she was stirring her famous pasta sauce. Something was up. She didn’t need him to taste the sauce. She definitely wanted something, and he suspected a bribe. Just the same…

She scooped some sauce into a spoon and held it out for him to taste. As always, the aromas themselves were making his mouth water. The tangy tomatoes and sweet cheeses mingled with the garlic and herbs she always added…mmm, perfection.

“That’s fantastic. Now, what did you want to ask me?”

She set down the spoon and placed her arms around his neck. “You know how you let Dottie and Ralph live here rent free for a while?”

“Yes…but that’s because Ralph was the maintenance man. Now Jules is the super and getting free rent.” What’s the little tease up to?

She cozied up to him and her baby bump brushed his cock. He suspected it wasn’t accidental, but he wasn’t about to complain.

“Uh-huh. And you know my biological father Sly lives around here, but his place is really…” She seemed unsure of herself. Jason wasn’t used to seeing her like this.

“Really what?”

“Substandard. Dark, dank, musty…He deserves better. After all, he’s family, just like your aunt and uncle are.”

Ah, here it comes. Jason had expected something like this. So, his sweet wife wanted her biological father to live closer to her. He had never found out exactly where the guy lived. At one point, Jason thought he might be homeless, but he was too well dressed and groomed.

“So, I was wondering…Now that Roz and Konrad have moved out, and my old apartment is free…and it’s so tiny. Really only big enough for one person…”

He could see her struggling. Should he help her out and say what he knew she wanted to hear? Or should he just let her squirm a while?

She was laying little kisses along his jaw and neck. Her lips were so soft and warm. Yeah, I’ll definitely let her convince me.

As she continued her seduction, he glanced over her shoulder at his living and dining rooms in the open, airy penthouse. She had made his sterile place a home. The all-white walls were now a warm neutral tan shade. She had redecorated with more comfortable furniture, fitting his long legs. A beautiful painting of a falcon in flight stood proudly on the mantle over the fireplace. She’d given him the painting for his birthday.

“Well, what do you think? Can I invite Sly to be our next resident in 1B? That’s not saying he’ll accept, but I’d like to—”

Jason put a finger over her lips. “Shhh…You know I can deny you nothing. If you want Sly to move into 1B, go ahead and ask him.”

She squealed and hugged him hard. “Oh, thank you, Jason. I just knew you wouldn’t mind.”

He chuckled. “I never said that, but if it’s important to you, I can live with it.”

She punctuated her thanks with kisses all over his face.

When he stopped laughing, he lowered his voice and said, “Now, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Will that lasagna keep for about thirty minutes?”

She smiled up at him coquettishly. “You know what I love about you?”

“What?”

“Everything.”

Sly strolled over the hardwood floors, taking in the space that Merry wanted to give him, rent free. There were pros and cons to this arrangement. Large bay windows faced the street, and even though it was dark outside at the moment, sunlight would stream in during the day. The place was chilly with the heat turned off but still warmer than the basement.

His vampiric senses picked up a party going on in the nearby brainiac college’s frat house across the street. Something he didn’t notice in his basement. That could become annoying depending on how often geeks partied.

He had been on his way to Morgaine’s apartment when Merry stepped off the elevator next to the cellar door. She didn’t seem to mind his presence in the upstairs hallways. In fact, she seemed pleased to see him there. He knew she wanted him in a real apartment, but he had little need of one.

“Think about it, okay? I feel just awful that my own father is stashed away in the basement when we have a perfectly good empty apartment for you.”

“I appreciate that, Merry, but I don’t have a job, so no way of paying rent.”

“But that’s just it. You don’t have to pay rent. My husband owns the building and professional athletes sure as hell don’t need the money. I already asked him if it was all right, and he said yes.”

“Oh, I’m sure he was real enthusiastic.” Sly smirked.

“Actually, he said I can have anything I really want—and I really want this.”

“Sounds like you’ve got him wrapped around your little finger.”

She shrugged. “Is that so bad?”

His space behind the false wall was completely dark—like a tomb. This place would have to be darkened artificially, with shades or blinds. He had no need for a kitchen since he was on an all-liquid diet. And as far as a place to store his stuff? He purposely hadn’t accumulated much. He liked a Spartan lifestyle. All he owned fit in a cardboard box under his cot. Mostly photos and newspaper clippings. He had a change of clothes in case what he was wearing became dirty, but the laundry was right there.

“Please?” She begged. “I’ve come to love my vampire father. You’ve had such a raw deal in life, it’s about time things started going well for you.”

Aw, shit. His daughter loved him. That’s all it took. He put an arm around her shoulder and kissed her hair. “It looks like you have us both wrapped, sweetheart.”

Her expression brightened. “Then you’ll take it?”

He sighed. “Possibly, but I have my pride and I won’t just allow myself to sponge off my daughter and son-in-law. That means I have to get a job.”

Merry bit her lip. “I guess. There’s no rush though. I’d rather you find something you enjoy doing. Don’t just take a job to pay your rent. It’s totally unnecessary.”

“That’s good, because it might take a while. I don’t even know where to start looking. Most job interviews take place during the day.”

“Maybe you can freelance—doing something you’re good at.”

“Like?”

Her face fell.

Yeah, she can’t think of anything either.“Look, I might take you up on your generous offer, but I don’t want to commit to it just yet. This is something I hadn’t considered until ten minutes ago, and I need a little time to adjust.”

“Sure. How about if I look for you tomorrow night? Will you be around?”

He smiled. “I’m always around. Right now, I’m going up to Morgaine’s apartment, but unless she wants me to come up again tomorrow night, I’ll be out front or in the basement.”

“You and Morgaine are friends?” Merry asked in a hopeful tone.

“Yes. Why?”

“Oh, nothing,” she said in a sing-song way.

Sly looked at her crafty expression. “You’re not trying to play matchmaker are you?”

She put a look of innocent surprise on her face. “Of course not!”

“Good, because I don’t need ‘help’ in that direction.”

She put on a fake pout. “But you’ve been alone for so long. I only want you to be—”

He placed a finger over her lips. “I didn’t say I wasn’t open to a relationship with her. I just said I didn’t need any help.”

Merry hugged him. “In that case, I’m glad. Go get her, tiger.”

Morgaine opened her door, delighted to see Sly standing there.

“You look surprised to see me.”

“Not really, it’s just that I usually know when someone is coming to the door and somehow you snuck up on me. Come in.” She grinned.

“Yeah, I’m told I’m good at sneaking up on people. I need to find something else I’m good at, though.”

“Really? Why?”

“Merry wants me to move into one of the vacant apartments.”

“That’s great! It’s about time you joined the party.”

“Don’t tell Nathan there’s a party or he’ll move out.”

They laughed and he smiled at her, warmly. She and Sly understood each other. He seemed like one of the few who “got” her. She pictured the two of them curled up on the loveseat in front of a roaring fire. Wouldn’t it be nice to finally have that kind of soul-deep companionship?

“As nice as it sounds, that presents a problem,” Sly was saying. “How am I going to pay for it since I’m unemployed and getting a job isn’t easy—especially with my limitations?”

At that moment, the phone rang.

“I’ll get it,” Gwyneth called out from the kitchen, then ran to the desk, which was at the far end of the living room.

“Oh, I didn’t realize your cousin was here.”

Morgaine shrugged. She just came over to borrow a couple of ingredients for a spell. Well, let’s sit down so I can take a look at your gums. You sound a whole lot better today.”

“Yes, the metallic taste from the silver is fading and I can retract my fangs again.”

“I figured that since you’ve been saying your s’s.” She chuckled. “You were kind of cute yethderday, though.”

He laughed. Sitting on the sofa, he patted the spot next to him.

Morgaine joined him and touched his chilly jaw. “Open wide.” Getting used to a vampire always being cold could present a challenge, but one easily overcome with the right vampire.

“Ohhh…sugar. Y’all are makin’ me so hot.” Gwyneth had apparently taken a call on the phone sex line.

Damn! Why didn’t she just offer to call back? What’s Sly apt to think?

He raised his eyebrows and glanced in Gwyneth’s direction, but with his mouth wide open, he couldn’t say much.

I wonder how long I can keep his mouth open and how quickly I can shut hers?Morgaine turned toward her cousin and hissed, “Gwyneth. Get off the phone.”

Ignoring her, Gwyneth said, “I’m gittin’ on my knees now. Open your zipper, darlin’.”

“Oh, Christ, no.” Morgaine slumped and felt her cheeks heat.

Gwyneth put her finger in her mouth and slurped around it.

Morgaine would have been fine with a black hole opening in the floor beneath her at that moment. But there was nothing she could do. She had to finish checking Sly’s mouth, and it was too late to pretend it was a wrong number. She’d just have to explain their business to Sly. His eyes were wide and fixed on Gwyneth. She doubted much of an explanation would be necessary.

As soon as she was satisfied that his gum was healing well, she leaned away and stammered. “I…um, I’m sorry about that. We, uh…We’re—”

“Professional phone sex providers?”

“Yeah.”

Sly chuckled. Just then Gwyneth mumbled around her finger. “Is that good? You want more? Or do you want to fuck me now?”

Morgaine slapped her hands over her face and eyes. She could feel her cheeks burning up. She must be blushing furiously. “Oh. My. Goddess.”

Sly sounded like he was stifling a laugh. The two of them sat stone still, listening while Gwyneth continued the phone call.

She was panting furiously. “Oh, yeah, baby. That’s it. Oh, y’all feel so good way up inside me like that. Oh, oh! Are ya’ll close? Uh-huh. I’m comin’ too, sugar. Right now. Aaaahhh, AAAAHHHHH, AAAAAAGGHHHHHHHHH!”

Sly and Morgaine collapsed in hysterical giggles.

“Oh, yeah…that was good, darlin’. Y’all call back soon, hear?” As soon as she hung up, she jammed her hands on her hips. “Did y’all have to laugh like that? I sure hope he didn’t hear the cacklin’. That ain’t good for business.”

Sly straightened up and apologized, but Morgaine held her sides, doubled over and laughed louder.

“What are y’all laughin’ so hard about? I didn’t have to take that call. I thought I was helpin’ you out. Maybe I shoulda let him go unsatisfied and lose us another customer?”

Morgaine waved away the giggles and calmed down enough to speak. “No, that’s okay. I’m not sorry if Sly isn’t.”

“Me? Sorry? Hell no. That was quite entertaining.”

Thank the Goddess he’s so easy going. Morgaine cleared her throat and composed herself. “Well, now that that’s over, can I make anyone tea?”

“I’d love a cup of sweet tea,” Gwyneth said.

Morgaine had hoped her cousin would say no and go back to her own apartment. She was, after all, just being polite by offering to brew three cups when all she wanted was tea for two.

“If you’re making some anyway, I’ll have a cup,” Sly said.

“Sure thing,” Morgaine laid a hand on his knee and proceeded to the kitchen where she filled the kettle and found the tea. Vampires warmed up from the inside out—that much she knew. You could tell when one had fed recently.

If that was the case, could a cup of tea warm his lips? His bottom lip was full and inviting. The rest of him was pretty appealing too. Dark eyes and hair on the longish side. A fit body that would never change…She wondered what kissing him would be like.

As she was waiting for the water to boil, she overheard the conversation in the next room.

“I hear y’all need a job, Sly. I know they say crime don’t pay, but I guess being a crime-fighter don’t pay much, neither.”

“Hell, no. It doesn’t pay at all. If I could handle daylight, I could enroll in police training, but I might as well think about flying to the moon.”

“Now don’t give up, sugar. The sun don’t shine on the same dog’s tail all the time.”

“Huh?”

“Means we all have some good luck, eventually. Where I’m from, people have to make their own way outa nothin’ all the time. My momma sells her quilts once a year at the big Apple festival.”

“Only once a year? And she makes enough money to live on?”

“Well, not entirely. My daddy has a business too, but it requires a couple of ingredients they have to buy. Momma’s quilt money buys enough ingredients to keep daddy in business for the whole year.”

“So every year people know your mother will be there and show up to buy her quilts?”

“All the folks come down from the mountains with their wares, and rich city people show up and buy them. Beats the pants off of me as to why, but they do.”

“It sounds like a good arrangement. I don’t quilt, I’m afraid.”

“No, and you’re already livin’ in the city, but there’s somethin’ else you could make and sell to folks here. The thing my daddy makes.”

“Which is?”

“Moonshine!”

Morgaine heard the smile in Gwyneth’s voice. She had to be kidding, right? Was her cousin actually suggesting Sly set up a still?

“My daddy made the best moonshine and people came from miles around to get some. He got good money for it too. It’s sort of illegal, but that’s because of prohibition. It used to be illegal then, because alcohol of any kind was illegal. They never changed the rule though because the government would lose out on all the tax money. It’s cheap as woodchips to make.”

“Woodchips?”

“Just an expression. Cheap as woodchips at a sawmill. You don’t need woodchips to make moonshine. Just a still, cornmeal, sugar and yeast. After you distill it, putting it through charcoal turns it into good, safe-drinkin’ whiskey.”

“Interesting. It sounds as if you know exactly how it’s done.”

Morgaine was torn. Should she interfere? She probably wouldn’t have to. Sly would probably make some polite excuse not to get involved in something so illegal, or simply change the subject. Any moment now…

“I used to help him. I remember exactly how it’s done. You just put three pounds of sugar in a big bucket of hot water and stir it until all the sugar melts. Then stir in the yeast until that melt…”

“You mean, dissolves?”

“Yes, that’s the more proper way to say it. The heatin’ up part comes later. That’s where the still comes in.”

Morgaine scratched her head. …any minute.

“And do you know how to set up a still?”

“I sure do. If my memory needs refreshin’, I could probably look it up on the Internet. The Internet can tell ya how to do anything.”

Why was Sly still listening to Gwyneth’s hogwash? Morgaine knew he was a gentleman and all, but—The kettle whistled. As soon as she’d moved it off the burner, she heard him say,

“I could have people meet me after dark to buy it, I suppose.”

“That’s why I thought of it. They call it moonshine because people wait until the Sheriff’s in bed before they truck it out. O’course, our county sheriff was one of daddy’s best customers.”

Sly laughed.

Confused, Morgaine shook her head and poured the hot water into the teapot. She set everything on a tray to transport to the living room. Was he honestly considering that hairbrained idea?

By the time she reached them, it seemed as if Gwyneth and Sly were already hatching a plan.

“If I vacate my spot behind the false wall in the basement, maybe that would be enough room for the still, and it can stay hidden. I don’t want Merry to know about it.”

“Why? She’d never report it to the authorities,” Gwyneth said.

Morgaine poured a cup of tea and handed it to Sly, listening intently.

“I know she wouldn’t, but I don’t want to get her in trouble with her husband. The less she knows, the better.”

“I understand. What do you mean about a false wall?”

“That’s right. You’ve never seen my place. Have you?”

“I’ve seen the laundry room part of the basement. I know the other side’s for storage. I never really thought about y’all hiding behind a wall. I just figured maybe you was hold up in the corner with a bunch of boxes blockin’ the view of your coffin—or whatever.”

He chuckled. “Nope. No coffin. And I built the wall as soon as I knew I’d be staying a while. Konrad took me in initially, but I couldn’t take advantage of his hospitality long term. The old landlord never went down to the basement, plus it was almost completely dark, so for my purposes, it was ideal.”

“Can I see it?” Gwyneth asked.

He sipped his tea. “Sure. I suppose you’ll need to, if you’re going to figure out whether or not a still will fit in there.”

Morgaine couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Sly, are you seriously considering this?”

He shrugged. “Somehow I don’t think my voice is sexy enough to get in on your business.”

Gulp. Touche. There wasn’t much she could say to counter that.