Vampire Dreams

Chapter 5

    Angel woke up to the delicious fragrance of fresh coffee and pastries. Trying to remember if everything that had happened in the past two days was truly real. Rolling over she realized that she was not in her own apartment. The clock on the bedside table snapped her into reality. "Swoop, it's ten! s**t, I am so f*****g late!" Hitting the floor running, Angel realized she was naked and had no idea where her uniform was. Gathering up the sheet to wrap around herself, she heard the door open as she spun around. "You're awake, I was afraid you were going to sleep the day away." Angel looked at the man taking up the doorway to the room. He looked larger than life, making Swoop look so small as he held her in his arms. "Um...I don't want to sound ungrateful, but, where are my clothes? I'm late for work." Deacon crossed the room in what seemed like a fraction of a second, placing Swoop on the bed. Gently taking Angel into his arms and placing the softest of kisses on her head. "Angel, I have taken the liberty of calling the diner, to let them know of your ordeal. Jean is pleased that you are safe and gave you the week off to recover and collect yourself." 

    In true Irish fashion, Angels' eyes flashed with anger. "What!? Who the hell are you to call my boss? The ordeal as you put it, is my business and mine alone! You had no right! I'm never going to be able to pay my bills and rent this month!" Just as fast as her temper had risen, it subsided making its way for the tears to fall. "Angel, please do not cry, I was wrong...I admit that. If you need some financial help, I will help however I can. In fact if you want to stay here, nothing would please me more." "I can't stay here. I don't even know you!"

    "Okay, fair enough. What do you want to know?" "Well, I know your name, but what kind of work do you do? How old are you? Why are you so interested in me? I'm nobody special." "I have a very lucrative internet business. I broker sales of various items all over the world. I also own the Turning Page bookstore downtown. I am thirty-two years old and I find you utterly delicious." "Why? I am certainly nothing special, and you, well you look like you stepped off the cover of one of my books that I get at Turning Page!" "Yes, Angel I have seen you a few times at the store. I have no desire to be with a model or actress. They are not what I want. I want a woman that eats more than lettuce. A woman who is not afraid of some good honest hard work. You fascinate me, you remember to ask about the cashier at the store, Kim, who only worked a month before her mother became ill. Susan, the manager, told me. When that scum in the alley had you against the wall, you never gave up, that Angel makes you somebody." "How come you know so much about me and yet I have never seen you before?" "I keep a low profile. When I first saw you in the store, you seemed upset, I did not want to bother you. I inquired about you while speaking with Susan. She told me where you worked and that you come into the store often." 

    "Fine, I will stay here tonight only. I have to go back to work tomorrow or I won't be able to make rent. I am by no means taking money from you. I support myself, got it?" "As you wish." "Okay, now that is settled, can I have some clothes and where is the coffee?"