Animal Attraction by Tracy St. John

blood?” Gerald asked in a casual
tone.
    Levi’s face split in a grin. “Come on
in.”
    He shoved the door with its inset panels of
glass wide open. I stepped into the entryway, appreciating the wood
planked flooring and walls with ceiling molding. A cherry table
with beveled mirror overhead allowed me to check my appearance.
Patricia gazed back at me, her demeanor as cool and calm as she’d
ever displayed. Satisfied that my glamour was well in place, I
admired the Van Gogh print on the opposite wall. Yes, Levi had
certainly moved up since quitting his tenure as a motorcycle
gangbanger.
    Levi waved us towards the back of the house.
A lighted doorway showed he’d been there before our arrival. “Come
on back to the kitchen. I was about to grill myself a steak. I’ve
got an extra if Kitten wants some.”
    Gerald had his own insult ready to go. “I
never refuse steak, Pup. Thanks.”
    I put my hands on my hips and scowled at the
pair. “Am I going to have to listen to you two do this the whole
time?”
    They looked at each other, sizing up. Levi’s
eyes sparkled. “Probably,” he decided.
    Gerald smirked. “Yeah.”
    Levi turned and headed towards the kitchen,
his bare feet not making a sound on the gleaming wood floor. Gerald
followed, padding silently in flip-flops despite the cold outside.
Shifting plays heck on shoes, particularly if one turns into
something with claws. Most weres go barefoot when possible.
    I followed the pair, my ankle boot heels
clicking along as I shook my head at the agreed-upon sniping to
come. Despite the digs they aimed at each other, I sensed a growing
camaraderie between Levi and Gerald. And why not? They were both
outsiders even in the legions of Fulton Falls’ shifters.
    As we stepped into the spacious kitchen with
its light gray granite tops, Levi said, “I take it we’re going to
discuss missing shifters?”
    I went to the kitchen island with its
diner-looking vinyl and chrome barstools and had a seat. “Tristan
has developed an interest in the case.”
    “It’s a good thing you stopped by. I’ve got
some new information.” Playing the good host, Levi spoke to Gerald
who perched on a stool next to me. “Coffee? Tea? Beer?”
    “Coffee’s good.”
    “Can I offer cream without being insulting?”
The roguish gleam had yet to disappear from Levi’s golden brown
eyes.
    Gerald grinned and patted his dark chest,
exposed by the open neck of the shirt he wore. “Like everyone with
good taste, I only take it black.”
    I groaned. “Oh for heaven’s sake.”
    The men laughed at me. Gerald pulled a couple
of bottles of BP9 from his jean jacket pockets and set them in
front of me. I opened one, certain the two goofballs were going to
push me to my limits with their jibes.
    Meanwhile, Levi had the grill insert on his
stovetop sizzling hot. He pulled a couple of bloody steaks ...
didn’t my mouth water to see all that red ... and tossed them onto
the grill. They hissed violently like snakes ready to strike. I
pulled in a deep breath, enjoying the smell and wishing vampires
could digest food. I knew that if I tried to eat anything solid I
would instantly regurgitate it back up. I was so out of luck and
made a face at my bottled blood. Bummer.
    Levi shoved a cup under the spout of a pod
coffee maker. I’d loved coffee when I was alive. The heavenly smell
joined that of the seared meat, reminding me of all the good stuff
I missed out on. I started to feel grumpy.
    Levi turned the steaks. He grabbed the cup of
coffee and set it down in front of Gerald before putting on another
cup. The coffee maker gurgled as he plated the slabs of meat and
set them on the kitchen bar. While he got hold of knives and
flatware, Gerald eyed his plate with undisguised delight.
    “Nice,” his said in an admiring tone. “I can
still hear it mooing.”
    “No veggies?” I asked, my voice
disapproving.
    Levi looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Do
we look like werebunnies to you?”
    He grabbed