Welcome to the Neighborhood (6 page)

“Which is something I should do.” Charley pushed her seat back and stood.

“Please don’t leave on my account,” Greg said, wondering if he’d interrupted a juicy conversation.

“It’s okay, my rear is numb and I really do need to talk to a few people here.” She stepped around Corey. “I’ll catch up with you two later.”

“Have a seat,” Corey said as Charley disappeared in the crowd. “Have you seen Alexandria come in yet?”

Greg circled around the table and sat in the chair Charlie vacated. “No, haven’t seen her.”

“Maybe she’s one of those that believe in being fashionably late.”

“Maybe.” Greg sighed. “Sylvia’s here.”

“Uh-oh. Has she seen you?”

“Oh, she’s seen me. I was talking to Mr. Hadley when she made her appearance. Fortunately, he offered to get her a drink.”

“Good time to bail.”

“Which is exactly what I did.”

“Have you heard about the Radfords?” Corey asked excitedly.

“What news?”

“Vickie is pregnant with twins.”

“Really? That’s great. James must be very happy. Is he here?” Greg scanned over faces in the crowd.

“No, just Vickie. He’s on the road again.”

“Seems like that werewolf is always on the road.”

“Charley thinks he’ll quit his truck-driving job and find a different one when the twins are born.”

“I’m sure Vickie would like him to get a job closer to home, especially when she’ll have two werepups to care for.”

“Yeah, probably.” Corey fidgeted with his cup on the table, rocking it. “You know, we’ll outnumber the others here after the twins are born. Charley thinks Mr. Hadley might not allow any more werewolves to move into the neighborhood.”

The notion Mr. Hadley would refuse any supernatural creature from moving into Midnight Gardens seemed absurd. For starters, the neighborhood catered to nonhumans only. Secondly, the acres of free land to roam attracted shifters, faes, elves and werewolves more than any other supernatural. Mr. Hadley liked to make money. He didn’t seem like the discriminating type.

“Is that what you were talking about when I arrived?” Greg asked.

“No, we were talking about Phillip.”

“I saw him walk in.”

“It’s odd how he never shows up to these gatherings, but now that we have another vamp in the neighborhood, he makes an appearance.”

“He’s curious about her. We all are.”

“Some more than others,” Corey said, smiling.

Greg withdrew his cell phone and checked the time.

“She’s late,” Corey said.

Greg pressed his lips together as he returned the phone to his pocket. Twenty minutes late was not a fashion statement. He began to wonder if Alexandria had decided to stay home.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mr. Hadley said, his voice amplified by means of a microphone.

Corey and Greg exchanged looks. “I guess she’s here after all,” Corey said.

People rose and headed toward the front. Greg teetered from side to side in his chair, trying to see through the mass of bodies. The podium in the corner was too far and the crowd too close together for him to get a good view.

“May I have your attention please,” Mr. Hadley said and the voices started to silence.

Greg scooted his chair back so fast it nearly tipped over, but he saved it.

“Where are you going?” Corey asked.

“To get a closer look.”

“You’ve already seen her up close.”

“Yes, but I’d like to speak with her.”

Greg squeezed between Corey’s chair and another occupied one before stopping at his roommate’s side. He tugged on the cuffs of his long-sleeved shirt. He’d dressed businesslike with a pressed, button-down shirt and dark pants, hoping his professional appearance might impress Alexandria.

“She has to give a speech first.”

Greg heard Corey’s words but they didn’t register. Greg longed to see Alexandria. He’d waited long enough and now that she was in the same room, he couldn’t resist the magnetic pull to get close to her.

“Ladies and gentleman…” Mr. Hadley repeated.

Greg teetered from side to side. Although he was a tall man, he could only see brief glimpses of Alexandria’s face through the gaps between bodies. Those quick looks were enough to accelerate the beat of his heart.

“I’ll be back,” Greg said.

Not delaying another second, he headed for the crowd near the podium. Nervous energy and excitement rushed through him. He wanted to gaze into her pretty eyes, watch her and listen to her voice. Okay, maybe he’d sneak a peek at her breasts too. His cock twitched and he tried to ignore it. The woman captivated him unlike any other ever had. He had to talk to her. And he would as soon as she finished her speech.

6

Alexi stood to the side of the podium while Mr. Hadley gathered everyone’s attention. She held her small purse behind her as she scanned over the faces staring at her. A quick slip into a few minds revealed they were curious about her. A few made pleasant comments on her attire, which eased her anxiety a little. She was late because she’d spent too much time trying on clothes and searching for the right outfit. On the ninth change, she found the perfect combination–a white blouse with a white skirt. Unfortunately, the clothes had an ungodly amount of wrinkles and she didn’t have a dryer to fluff them. She spent an additional fifteen minutes setting up her ironing board and smoothing out the lines. Thank God she did because all eyes were focused on her and she would’ve been embarrassed to present herself in such an unprofessional manner.

“Please welcome our newest neighbor, Alexandria Cartwright,” Mr. Hadley said after an abbreviated introduction.

He stepped off to the side while hands clapped and others said “welcome.” Nervous energy fluttered within Alexi as she took Mr. Hadley’s empty spot behind the podium. Facing the curious crowd, she inconspicuously placed her purse on the shelf. She’d given plenty of presentations to companies before and hadn’t felt so edgy. Speaking at length to a bunch of strangers was much different from standing in front of neighbors. Palms flat on the wood, she scanned the crowd for Greg. A familiar face would help calm her nerves. Regrettably, she didn’t find him or his roommate. She slid on her happy face and began her speech.

“Hello, fellow residents of Midnight Gardens…”

* * * *

Greg stood behind Phillip and an elf whose name Greg couldn’t recall. The elf lived at the front of the neighborhood if Greg remembered correctly. He smelled of fabric softener and the strong scent nearly made Greg sneeze. Phillip, on the other hand, lacked a scent and stood stiff as a two-by-four. Both men were Greg’s height and stared straight ahead at Alexandria. Between their heads and the few in front of them, Greg saw a glimpse of her. And she was beautiful with her wavy brunette hair draped over her shoulders.

He relaxed his arms at his sides as he listened to her soft, angelic voice. He stared at her pink lips as she spoke of walking the earth over three centuries and surviving on her own for over two and a half. Amazing.

Her eyes moved fast as she spoke. Greg wondered if she was scanning the crowd or committing the faces to memory. Between sentences, she paused as if she were taking a breath. Odd. Vampires didn’t need air. After hearing the occasional slip of the word “uh” a few times, Greg figured out the problem. She was nervous.

His heart thumped a beat faster. He wanted to step forward and smile at her, comfort her, reassure her she would be fine. If he could find a way to get around the people standing in front of him, he would. But there wasn’t any room for him to move without bumping into someone.

“Thank you for coming tonight. I look forward to getting to know you,” Alexandria said.

Greg stayed in his spot as people mumbled to each other and slowly disbursed from the gathering. The elf turned to leave while Phillip remained immobile. Greg peered around him and finally saw Alexandria from head to toe. Her cream-colored skin blended well with her white blouse and knee-length skirt. He scanned down her long legs to her feet. The vamp even wore white high heels. She looked classy, professional and confident. Greg wondered if she felt the same underneath her facade.

Most people headed for the bar, but a few strolled up to Alexandria and spoke to her. Greg watched her smile and the little movements of her head. She watched people intently as she spoke to them. Greg wondered if she was reading their minds. Longing to get closer, he stepped away from Phillip’s stiff frame. When he did, Alexandria’s gaze met his and he froze.

His mind went blank as he stared at her. He didn’t have a clue what he would say to her.
Glad you could make it. Good speech.
The words sounded corny. Damn it, what was wrong with him? All day, he thought about what he wanted to say and how he’d ask her out on a date. Now, he couldn’t recall anything. He lowered his gaze and stepped off to the side, out of the way of residents. He could ask her out another time when fewer people were around.

He took two steps toward the exit, then stopped. No, he couldn’t leave without saying something to her. If he did, she might consider him rude. Moreover, if he passed on this chance to ask her out, someone else might step in and do it. And that bothered him. He didn’t want to give another man the opportunity to get close to her. Inhaling a deep breath, he decided to walk right up to her and find out what fate had in store for him.

* * * *

Alexi watched Greg disappear behind a group of neighbors chatting. The urge to run after him took her by surprise. She’d never pursued a man before, yet she couldn’t help the way she felt. When she’d noticed him during her speech, she relaxed and her heart felt at peace. Maybe her attraction to him had something to do with the fact he was gay or bisexual. Since he was involved with another man, she doubted he’d try to use her for sex. The reason seemed logical to her.

“It was nice to meet you,” Alexi said to the female witch named Charley and the elf named David. “Please excuse me, I see someone I need to speak with.”

Carrying her purse, Alexi slipped between the two and followed the path she’d seen Greg take. Her heels clacked on the hard floor and with each step her toes ached. The snug fit of her shoes encouraged her to slide them off and discard them. A task she’d perform later. She passed a group chatting and spotted the backside of a tall man with dark hair that reminded her of Greg. The man spun around and took a step, coming close to smashing her sore toes and bumping into her.

“Oh, hi, Alexandria,” Greg said, his eyes wide and expression one of surprise.

“Please, call me Alexi.” She gave him a smile. “Are you leaving already?”

“No, no of course not.”

“I want to thank you for what you did last night. I returned your items and met your roommate.” Alexi pressed her lips together and shifted her weight on one foot, hoping to ease the pain crawling up her leg. Damn the shoes.

“Yes, Corey informed me.” He glanced at the bar. “Would you like a drink? Or, do you drink?”

“I don’t drink much. My body absorbs any liquid content quickly, so alcohol has a strong effect.”

“Really? Does that happen to all vampires?”

“Yes, some like to drink much like humans do because of the effect. For me, a drink every now then is all I can handle. And right now I could use a glass of wine.” The liquor would take her mind off the needlelike pain shooting up her toes and spreading into her ankles and calves.

“Please…” Greg extended his arm. “Let me get one for you.”

Alexi headed for the bar with the pain in her feet getting worse by the second. She really needed to get rid of the shoes. Finding a spot at the opposite end, she set her purse on the counter and leaned forward. A robust middle-aged man wearing a green polo shirt stood behind the bar. After he served drinks to another customer, he stepped toward Alexi.

“A glass of wine and a beer, please,” Greg said.

“White? Red?” the bartender asked.

“Red, please,” Alexi answered. She always preferred red, and the sweeter, the better.

She turned her gaze to Greg as the bartender fixed their drinks.

“So, you don’t drink much,” he said. “What about food?”

“No, I don’t eat food. I tried it once a long time ago when I was still a young vamp. It tasted good, but my body rejected it.”

“Don’t feel bad. My body rejects food on occasion too,” Greg said, and she grinned. A sense of humor was always a plus for a man.

The bartender set their drinks on the counter. Greg claimed the cup while she lifted the glass. Sipping her wine, she surveyed the clubhouse. People sat at tables covered with white cloths in one half of the room. Men and women stood in groups, talking and holding plates or cups in the other half. A row of tables with food dishes backed up to a portion of one wall. Alexi didn’t smell anything since she’d cut off her sense of smell before she walked in the clubhouse. Selecting to use her heightened ability at will was a vampire trait she thoroughly enjoyed, especially in large gatherings. All the odors, food and human, might have made her gut churn in disgust.

She shifted her gaze to Greg. “Have you known many vampires?”

“I’ve met a few, but that’s it.”

Alexi held her glass and leaned against the counter. She lifted one foot, then the other. The pain in her feet eased for mere seconds, but those seconds mattered. She tried to hide what she was doing, but she grimaced when the pressure on her toes returned in full force.

“Are you okay?” Greg asked.

“My feet are a bit cramped in these shoes.”

“Well, let’s find a place to sit down.” Greg scanned the room quickly. “I see somewhere. Follow me.”

Alexi followed behind Greg with her drink and purse in her hands. With each step, pain shot through her feet and she clenched her teeth. Greg stopped at a round table with vacant chairs. He scooted one out from underneath the table and met her gaze.

“Please, have a seat.”

She did without hesitation. “Thank you.”

“I take it dancing is out of the question.” Greg sat next to her.

Grinning, she set her purse on the table. “I’m afraid so.”