Adventures of a Vegan Vamp: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery by Cate Lawley Read Free Book Online Page B

aching hunger that seemed to have taken up residence in my gut.
    And then I’d slept like the dead. An unfortunate turn of phrase, perhaps, but the one that came to mind at eight thirty when I was awoken by a pounding on my apartment door.
    I blinked blearily and couldn’t even stir up an ounce of shame over the strewn glasses, bags of donation clothing, and oddly placed boxes throughout the room. If you knocked on my door without warning, you deserved an eyeful of chaos.
    I rolled out of bed surprisingly limber and completely ache-free. The day was looking up. I glanced down at my nightwear. The kids’ T-shirt I’d picked up the night before had seemed appropriate at the time—and it had fit. In the light of the day, the giant mouse hugged my barely A-cup breasts in a somewhat salacious and completely inappropriate way. But it still made me want to do a little dance. I didn’t have any boobs at all yesterday.
    Maybe I wouldn’t waste away into nothingness after all.
    I glanced to make sure I had bottoms on—check—and opened the front door.
    A tall guy with a little bit of dark scruff stood in the doorway. He had broad shoulders, but just normal-guy broad, not the variety that required hours and hours of dedicated gym time.
    “Guy with the hot date. Nuts.” The words tumbled out.
    “Yeah, that didn’t go to plan.” He eyed my clothes. “You didn’t answer when I called, so I came on up.”
    The security in the building was supposed to be really good. Then again—I was moving, so not quite so troubling. I’d have to mention the issue to Mrs. A, though.
    “What was your name? I don’t think I got it last night.” I opened the door wide, inviting him inside.
    He took a look around and then walked in. “Is this your usual look?”
    “I’m moving. And might have had a little too much caffeine last night.”
    He grinned. “I told you about that. Any hallucinations?”
    I gave him a squinty-eyed look. “You could have said. But yes. Unless ghosts are a thing, I was hallucinating left and right.”
    He tipped his head, neither affirming nor denying the existence of ghosts.
    “Nooo.” I crossed my arms. “Spill. Because if Great-Auntie Lula is planning to hang around a lot, I’d prefer to be prepared.”
    He examined the room, then said, “No spirits, and I don’t think any ghosts have been in here lately either. I’m Alex.” He extended his hand.
    “No ghosts, huh?” I stuck my hand out.
    When he shook my hand, I’d swear he flinched. But sometimes when you think the lights are flickering, you just blinked. This was probably the same.
    “Who do you work for?” I asked.
    “Myself. Do you mind if we chat while you get dressed? Or in the car?” He put his hands in his pockets. “I have some work to do later this afternoon.”
    “Ah.” I glanced down at my clothes. Not exactly suitable for an outing. But as luck would have it, in my semi-deranged state the night previous, I’d had the foresight to pick up a few things that fit better than basically every other item of clothing I owned. “What’s the dress for this place?”
    Alex had on jeans and a plain, fitted T-shirt, but who knew if that was indicative of appropriate attire. Then again, l didn’t have many options. A wraparound dress or jeans and a T-shirt.
    He shrugged. “Whatever you like.”
    I went in the bathroom, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and generally cleaned myself up. Although it was becoming increasingly clear that vamps didn’t share the same hygiene requirements as humans. I didn’t seem to actually sweat. Bizarre.
    Another bizarre fact, intermittent starvation notwithstanding: I still had long, wavy, healthy hair. My skin had changed, but my hair was basically the same. I threw it up in a ponytail, and then dressed in the jeans and T-shirt. A little lipstick, my handy All Stars, and I was ready to go. At least my shoes still fit.
    I was energized—but who knew how long that would last.
    “Ready,” I said as I