“Yes, honey. He’s a good friend.”
The way Edmund’s smile bloomed made her heart stutter, but she ignored that, too, and went on cooking Their voices drifted in to mix with the sizzling of butter, the conversation muted but animated.
“Is it true that vampires die from shifters’ blood?”
“It’s not necessarily poisonous. It just doesn’t taste good. But yes, some do feel sick upon ingesting your blood.”
“Is it true that vampires turn to dust under the sun?”
“Now, that’s a big lie. We don’t turn to ashes. But our skins do burn. Some vampires can tolerate the sun better while others can’t even last seconds under it.”
“Is it—”
“Archie,” she called out mildly. “Don’t ask about their feeding.”
“I don’t mind telling you about my feeding, big man,” Edmund said, humor in his tone. “But your mother is right. It’s not a topic for breakfast. Speaking of breakfast…hey. You should have breakfast, too.”
His voice was so close now, a breath away from her ear. Tingles ran up her spine at his presence behind her, and she fought the urge to turn around and face him.Dangerous,her mind acknowledged.
“I’m coming,” she said out loud, then hated how dirty it sounded in her head. Luckily, they were already preoccupied with their new topic as she stood on the other end of the island counter and ate her breakfast.
“I’m so full,” Archie announced, pleased. “Mama, I will go clean my room now.”
“Sure, honey.”
The boy sprinted away, then paused to whirl at Edmund. “It was nice meeting you.”
Edmund smiled and watched him go. “That’s a lovely boy.”
Joy swelled. “He is. I didn’t know you were good with children.”
He shrugged. “I’m good with people who have no motives. Do you have a shower?”
A picture of him undressing and getting cleaned up as water sluiced down his skin had her hands trembling. She nodded.
“Of course, we have a shower. Your bedroom has all the amenities.”
“Thank you. You are the best.”
The praise floated in the air even when he wandered off, but not before he insisted on washing plates and loading them in the dishwasher. She went for laundry next, using the time to avoid him as much as she could, checking in on Archie when the boy needed his bath. On the dot, she answered Charlie’s call.
“You don’t need to babysit him today.”
“Are you sure?” Relief was visible in Charlie’s tone, signaling that was why he was calling all along. “I can bring him to Aunt Lena.”
And risk him coming up here, seeing Edmund, and asking all kinds of more mature questions?
“No. It’s fine. Archie will stay with me.”
“What about work?”
“I have some errands for Billy,” she said, indirectly answering it. “And I will drop Archie off with Aunt Lena if it’s needed. Where areyougoing?”
“School activities,” Charlie replied quickly—too quickly. “With a group. Just a small group. My friend needs help with her work.”
Suspicion rose. So did amusement, but she held off on the queries and wished him fun. Minutes later, the smell of tomatoes had her sprinting to the kitchen, where she found Edmund and Charlie peering at a pot on the stove.
“How long until it’s done?” Charlie asked.