Chapter Two
Jesse had been pacing his small place, walking one end of the cottage to the other and back again. He didn't know what to do. All he wanted to do was forget Tanya ever existed. Unfortunately, that didn't seem like it would be possible. Throwing a punch at the wall, he watched as it produced a satisfying crack and plaster rained down to the floor. He wasn't used to this... obsession. He needed to clear his head. But first, he needed to hear her voice again. He picked up the phone and quickly dialed the number that had popped up on the screen when she'd called him earlier.
-
Tanya blinked a couple times and shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs from it. Why was she even thinking of him?He was nothing to her. She reached in her bag and pulled out the phone. Seeing the number displayed she took a deep breath and clicked the button, pressing the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
-
The phone started ringing on the other end and Jesse quickly hung up. Feeding the obsession would just make it worse. He tossed the phone in his pocket, grabbed his keys and headed out the door. Maybe a night out, and some dinner would make him feel better and more able to think. Locking the door behind him, he went around back and uncovered the car sitting there. In this area, one didn't drive these types of cars lightly, but he was heading out of town. Pulling the tarp off, he exposed the bright red Dodge Viper he kept under there. Tonight was a night for the top off, going at top speed before finding a nice dinner companion.
-
"Ms. Johnson? This is Adam Carlson, your landlord?" the voice on the other line spoke timidly.
Tanya closed her eyes and had to think a moment. Oh yes, she had given her name as Tanya Johnson to rent the apartment. "Yes, Mr. Carlson. What can I do for you? I left you the last months rent and the keys on the counter in the apartment."
"Yes, thank you. I was calling to find out what address you'd like me to forward your deposit money to. You didn't leave a forwarding address."
Tanya sighed. Always with the details. She rattled off the P.O. Box they had in Alaska.
"Thank you Ms. Johnson. I will send that out immediately."
Tanya hung up and sighed. As much as she didn't want to talk to Jesse, she had hoped with some part of her that it would be him on the other line. It was stupid. She put the phone once more in her bag and turned to go up the stairs to the house. She would change and then maybe she would go for a drive. She needed to get her mind focused on something other than a guy she had just met once.
Tanya dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a blue cotton tank top. Throwing on a pair of flip flops, she hurried down the stairs and out the door, grabbing the little bag with her keys and her phone on the way. She had hastily scribbled a note to the others telling them she would be gone for awhile. She jumped into the Denali and took off at top speed down the driveway. She turned the stereo on, letting the pounding beat dull the images of a beautiful pale face with red eyes and a dark mop of hair.
-
Jesse turned up the stereo in the Viper and headed toward the coast. A nice drive along the ocean might clear his head. Along the way he sang along to the songs that came on the radio. Satellite radio had been something he was glad they had invented. Tons of channels with such a myriad of music tastes, there was bound to be something for every mood someone might be in. Watching the miles fly by, he tried to keep his mind on the road. Unfortunately it kept wandering back to a place he didn't want it to go. Forcing himself to clear his mind, he saw the exit for a sea side town and took it.
He came into Brunswick and started his search for a parking spot. It would be easier to find dinner on foot. Sliding the sports car into a spot downtown, he put the top up then stepped out, unfolding his tall form from the car. He ran his hand through his hair, trying to tame it into some semblance of order after having the wind blow it all over. Giving up, he locked the car and started walking down the sidewalk. He had been to this town before, once or twice, though not lately. A few blocks up from where he had parked was a bar that had live music most nights. It might be a good place to look.
He found the bar suitably packed. The artist on stage was just finishing up his set, and Jesse took the opportunity to slide into a seat off to the side. He did enjoy music, all types as it were. Sitting in the shadows, his eyes didn't stand out so much, though they were nearly black with thirst. The smell of the living blood pulsing through the veins of the throng of people in the bar set his throat on fire. He watched as the musician packed up his gear and some of the patrons dispersed for a bit of fresh air outside the door before the next set.
The sweet smell of lilacs wafted closer to him, and he looked up to see a girl, probably barely twenty one, standing at the other end of the table from him. He could smell the alcohol she had consumed so far and thought to himself how stupid she was. She was going to get herself killed tonight for her bravery in approaching him. Of course while all this was being thought in his head, he was smiling at her. "Can I help you?" he asked politely.
The girl gave him a wide grin. She was pretty, he supposed, with long dark hair and deep brown eyes. He could see the pulse beating at the side of her throat and his throat, which was already on fire, became even more painful if possible. "You looked lonely, all by yourself over here. I'm Sophie," she replied.
"Jesse," he replied. "And I'm not lonely anymore," he said with a wicked looking smile.
Sophie giggled. "Do you come here often?"
Jesse almost laughed out loud at the blatant pick up line, but instead smiled. "Not often. I'm only in town for a little while, and I heard this was the place for hearing local music."
She nodded. "mmm-hmm. My friend is performing tonight."
Jesse had to be careful with this one now. He should have known she wouldn't be alone. She would be stupid to be. "Has she performed yet?" he asked, to be polite.
"No, I think there is one other person on before her." She frowned as if trying to remember.
"So where is your friend?" he asked casually, all the while scanning the packed bar to see if he could pick out someone who might be looking for her.
Sophie bit her lip. She tried to do it quickly, so he wouldn't notice, but he caught the glance around the bar. "She is in the back getting ready for her set." she said, though she didn't sound confident about it.
He wondered if she thought he would like her friend better. Right now he didn't care about either one, he wanted to sink his teeth into her neck. He forced himself to get up slowly, and smile sweetly to her. "I think I'm going to go outside for some fresh air before the next performance." He had to get away from her, or have her come with him, otherwise he would be creating a huge problem for himself very soon.
"Oh... oh okay." she looked a little sad.
Bingo. He had her. "I could use the company," he said, giving her his best non threatening smile.
Her answering smile was brilliant. "Okay, sure!" she said. Stupid girl.
-
After taking care of his dinner date, he had walked back to his car, whistling. He didn't exactly like taking a human's life, but what else was he supposed to do? A nagging voice in his head said there was something he could do, but he pushed that thought out of his mind. What good could it serve? He was a vampire, and as a vampire, he survived off of human blood. That was the way of things.
Unlocking the car and climbing in, he backed out of the parking space and headed toward the highway that bordered the ocean. A moonlit drive down the coast before heading back toward the cottage was just what he needed. Maneuvering out of downtown, he passed couples out for a late night stroll, enjoying the balmy night. Tonight this bothered him for some reason, and he sped away, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Soon he was watching the water on one side of him as he drove. The moonlight spilling down created a beautiful scene and at the next turn off, he nosed the car off the highway and headed toward the beach. When he reached a place to park near one of the public access beaches, he glided into it and reached into the back seat. He always had a duffel bag back there with drawing supplies. You never knew when you would come across a beautiful scene to draw. Grabbing it, he walked toward the water and plopped down in the sand, drawing the waves coming in, the moonlight bleaching the scene bone white. However, when he looked at his finished picture, he found that he had added something to it. A woman sat, her back facing him, looking out over the water, but he would know the hair tumbling down in the wind, and the curve of her shoulders and back anywhere. Tanya.
-
Tanya drove toward the coast. Maybe the smell of the salt water would calm her. The closer she got, the more restless she became to just walk the beach. When she reached the public access beach, she parked her SUV, thankful to see only one or two cars still in the lot. Probably kids having a bonfire. She climbed out of the truck and locked it up. Slipping her flip flops off, she padded barefoot onto the sandy path that led to the waters edge.
The feel of the Pacific as it washed over her feet cleared Tanya's mind, though not of the one thing she would have liked to forget. All around, thoughts of him came, and she couldn't understand why she was so worked up over him. She had met him once for crying out loud! And he had as good as admitted he'd been stalking her. So why would she want to even see him again?
Because, a voice said in her mind, he is the most beautiful man you've ever met. And he challenges you in a way you haven't been challenged before.
Sighing to herself, Tanya sat down at the waters edge, and let the waves wash over her feet, the wind lightly blowing her hair about her face as she puzzled that answer out.
