EPOV

"Your blood was magnificent. I will want more of that."

"I happen to be using my blood right now. I'd rather not share," Sookie responded saucily.

"I will only take a little at a time. If you find yourself feeling a little 'drained' tomorrow, eat some red meat and pop some vitamin B."

"So, you want my blood. Anything else? Kidney? Right arm?"

"Sookie, vampires drink people's blood, we don't eat body parts." Silly human. Who would want an arm, of all things? "I would also like you to work for me."

"Work for you? In what capacity?" Sookie asked warily. I really wanted to taunt her. I wondered what job would really make her uncomfortable. Cleaning toilets? Gutting fish? Trying to sell perfume to unsuspecting people at Dillards? (The last time one of those women sprayed me with perfume, I snatched the bottle from her and squirted her from her well manicured toes to perfectly coiffed hair. I hope she still smells like that flowery crap.)

"I own a club in Shreveport."

"What kind of club?" Men would flock in to see her strip, but I didn't own that kind of club (way too much hassle) and oddly enough, I didn't want anyone else staring at her. Sookie looked quite worried. I grinned, a little.

"I own The Lyceum. Have you heard of it?" It was only the most popular club in Shreveport, possibly in all of northern Louisiana. I had human lackeys who did most of the day to day running of the bar, but all major decisions had to go through me. I also dropped in a couple of nights a week to look over the books.

Sookie visibly relaxed. "My brother Jason went there once. He said he paid $10 for a beer. Do the guys in St. Louis put a little something else in your Budweiser before they ship it to you? Gold flakes? Diamonds?"

"People gladly pay for the ambiance and I can afford to pay my employees well." I can also run money from some of my other businesses through the bar and no one is any the wiser.

"Do you interview all of your waitresses by attacking them in parking lots?"Sookie asked.

"I don't need a new waitress, I want you to read the minds of some of my patrons. We have some problems with fake IDs and idiots sneaking in drugs. With your unique talents, I think we could eliminate letting some of those people into my bar. And, you might enjoy it. I will pay you well." If reading minds in the bar goes well, I have thought of numerous ways a telepath could come in handy.

Sookie looked at me with a mixture of hope and skepticism. "If you do a really good job, I won't demand any of your blood." What did I just say? The most delicious human I have ever encountered is in my grasp and I am offering not to drink her blood. Next thing you know I will be crocheting doilies and collecting cats.

"And if I turn down your offer?"

"You will regret it," I responded without missing a beat.

"Regret it as in, I will have to put off getting a cell phone a little longer or regret it as in, I will writhe in pain and agony?" Sookie asked, turning a little pale. She didn't have a cell phone? She worked at a bar and drove home alone late at night without a phone? Shouldn't her brother put her on his family plan or something? I would have to add a company cell phone to her contract.

"Your Gran is getting on in years, I understand. Surely a good scare wouldn't be good for her aging heart?"

"You wouldn't!" Sookie yelled, her arms rigid at her sides, hands clenching into fists. Her fingernails must have been digging into her palms; I smelled her sweet blood and fear – lots of fear.

"Do you dare risk that I would?"

"No," she responded, looking at her shoes. Her shoulders sagged a bit.

I stepped closer and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She flinched. "Sookie," I said softly. "I am not asking very much of you. I will come by for you tomorrow night and you can give scanning my patrons a try."

She looked at me tearfully. "I can't make you any promises. Listening to people in a crowded room is hard. Even here at Merlottes I can get overwhelmed by the number of brains shouting to me. And I can only tell you what people are thinking at the moment, it isn't like I can look inside their heads for thoughts specifically about drugs or fake IDs."

"I'm only asking you to try," I said stroking her hair in earnest now. "If all goes well tomorrow night, then we can draw up a contract."

"If I disappoint you?"

"Then I'll have to be content with your blood." Her big blue eyes met mine. Yes ,Sookie, that is your choice – blood donor or telepath. Or both.

"Tomorrow night, I will pick you up an hour after first dark. If you don't want to alarm your Gran, we can pretend it is a date."

Sookie looked at me wearily. "My first date in ages is with a vampire who wants to drink my blood and use me for my telepathy. Yeah! My heart is all aflutter!"

"I look good and drive a nice car. All of your friends and neighbors will envy you," I responded with my most charming smile.

Sookie smiled back. "A wealthy, handsome man dating Crazy Sookie. Oh, the rumors that will circulate!"

I gently raised her chin. "They are all idiots. You are worth more than all of them put together." Way to keep your feelings to yourself there, Northman. Next I'll be holding her hand and carrying her books home from school. Do boys still do that?

She smiled and I gently kissed her forehead.

"Until tomorrow night, sweet Sookie," I said and moved to my car vampire speed – before anymore kind words found their way out of my mouth. I half expected for chunks of the sky to begin falling, or at the very least, my mouth to begin burning. I couldn't remember the last time I met a human I genuinely liked.

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