He took the hint.
After her bath and play with Clooney—the affectionate name she’d given her vibrator—Corey slipped on silky pyjamas and went into her small living room. Later, she’d have cheese and crackers, that would do for dinner.
She straightened a stack of books Dolly must have knocked, then flicked on the pink-shaded table lamp. She went to draw the curtains, block out the encroaching night, but stopped mid-draw.
What the hell?
Standing on the pavement, right beside her gate and beneath a streetlamp, was a tall, broad police officer. His shirt stretched over his wide shoulders, his hands were clasped behind his back, and his spine was straight as he appeared to stare across the street.
She recognized him.
She scooted to the front door, unhooked the chain, released the latch, and hauled it open.
“Sergeant McWilliams, what on earth are you doing?” she snapped.
Flynn turned round, his face in the shade of his cap, and surveyed her, taking his time about roaming his attention over her gray silk pyjamas. Head to toe.
She frowned and glanced downward. Her nipples were peaking forward, pressing on the thin material. Quickly, she crossed her arms.
“Just keeping watch, ma’am.” His Scottish accent was broad and sexy.
“Under whose order?”
“It was a joint decision.”
“By whom?” Her frown deepened. She was the one supposed to give out the orders.
“The four of us. Your new team, ma’am.”
“I don’t need watching over.” It was all she could do not to stamp her foot in frustration but she knew she was too old to do that.
He nodded at the gate. “Permission to enter your territory.”
“What…? Yes, come in.” She glanced left and right, hoping no nosey neighbors were watching and wondering what was going on with a copper on her doorstep. She liked to keep herself to herself, her profession her business, otherwise she’d be bothered with all manner of ridiculous complaints and minor misdemeanors.
He opened the gate—it squeaked—and walked up the short path.
When he was right before her, she got a better look at his face, thanks to the light shining from her hallway. His eyelashes were pale, the same shade as his hair.
“I do not need nor want you standing outside my house, and certainly not in uniform.”
“There is a killer on the loose, as you well know. It’s best to not take risks.”
“What risks?”
“He might come here. To your home.”
“You think I’m a target? His other victims have been men, out alone.”
“None of us are prepared to take that risk with you, ma’am.”
“I don’t think that’s your decision, it’s mine. And I’m perfectly fine here alone. Have been for years.”
“That was before a bloodthirsty shifter hit town.”
“The chances of me running into him, tonight, when I am staying in, are infinitesimal.”
“The chance of me becoming a vampire was also infinitesimal, ma’am, but that wee incident happened.”
“Shh, don’t say that word out here. Come in.” She stepped back and held the door.
He raised his eyebrows. “You are happy to invite me into your home?”
“Yes.” She hesitated. “Unless you want my blood, then no, I’m not at all happy.”
“I wouldn’t bite you without permission.” He stepped past her, filling her small hallway. “I’m a vampire of honor.”
“So you would…if I asked.”
He licked his lips, and his gaze seemed to float to the curve of her neck. “Hell yeah, what kind of man would I be if I said no?”
“A normal one.” She shut the door. “Actually.”
He chuckled. “I suppose I asked for that.”
She went into the living room.
He followed.
Sitting and tucking her legs beneath her, she said, “I’d offer you a drink, but Cooper says that’s not on your to-do list.”
He inclined his head, gathered his uniform trousers a little at the thighs, then sat on her squishy flowery chair. He looked ridiculous in it with his huge hands curled over the arms and his knees bent up.
“What is on our to-do list,” he said, his eyes narrowing, “is to catch this killer and keep you safe.”
“Why are you so worried about me? Do you know something I don’t?”
He smiled, just a little. “DI Corey Tatum.” He paused as if savoring her name on his tongue. “Corey, you have just become the most important woman in our world. It is our job to worry about you, care for you, and ensure your safety and happiness. It’s a big, bad city out there.”
The most important woman in their world.
The thing was, she believed him. It was the way he’d spoken with such conviction.
She grabbed a cushion with an embroidered bumblebee on it and held it over her front, hiding her nipples as best she could. “I know what goes on on the streets of London, Flynn. I’ve been around a while, too, you know.”
“Not as long as we have.”
“Well, yes, I get that.” She paused and reached for her wine. “So how long have you been a vampire, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I don’t mind you asking.”
“But you mind other people asking?” She couldn’t help it if her detective brain kicked in whenever someone answered a question by begging another.
He was quiet for a moment. “We’re working as a team, and like I just said, you are very special and important to us, which puts you in an altogether different place to other people.” He held one hand up, high, as if that was where she was in his estimations.
“I’m sure there are other DIs who could have taken this case on with you.”
He shook his head. “No, there was only you. Henry agreed with us on that.”
“So you suggested me?”
“Yes. We’ve watched you from afar.”
“I’ve never seen you, any of you.”
“We try to be as inconspicuous as possible, until there’s a case for us to work on. They can be decades apart.”
“So you have time to put your feet up.” She took a sip of wine.
“We like to keep busy. There’s always something to do at the Order.”
“I’m curious about this Order.”
“You are curious about many things, I like that about you.”
She set her wine aside, waiting for him to go on.
“Would you like me to answer your first question?”
“Yes, please.” She knew how Cooper had become a blood-drinking vampire; it wouldn’t hurt to know how Flynn had come to his fate.
“I was born a Pict in the time of King Bridei the Third, and raised north of the Firth of Forth.”
“So when was that exactly? Forgive me, I’m not that good at Scottish history.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to be. It was in the seventh century. Scotland was a wild place with much terrain unusable, unpassable, and a dangerous coastline.”
“Okay.”
“I served my king, clan, and fellow people in the Battle of Dunnichen to fight King Ecgfrith of Northumbria.”