 Blair tried to memorize the stranger’s features without being obvious. He had sandy reddish hair—a much lighter version of Forge’s very dark mahogany—that was neatly trimmed with a stylish cut. Thanks to vampire vision, he could see the guy’s eyes were dark blue, very unlike the bright, vibrant blue of Forge’s eyes. Blair pulled a shirt off the rack and pretended to scrutinize it by holding it out toward the light from the window. The guy was taller than Blair, but not as tall as Forge. He looked in healthy shape, but not overly athletic, and wore glasses with brushed pewter frames. A month ago, Blair would have found this man very attractive. Now all he could do was compare the man to Forge and wasn’t surprised when Forge’s features were much more preferable. He returned the shirt and moved across the store, rifling through packages of socks, then picked out a pair of sunglasses. A quick glance over his shoulder confirmed the man was still watching him like a hawk. Blair made his purchases, putting the sunglasses on as he left the store, hurrying past the man and making sure not to look at him. Two doors down was an outdoor apparel store. Blair ducked in and again, the man loitered outside. This store was two floors, so after spending a few minutes browsing the first floor, Blair proceeded up the steps. The man stepped inside and stayed on the first floor, where he would likely have a good view of the second floor. Blair picked out a denim jacket. On a table near the stairs was a locked display of hunting knives. Blair considered buying one of them. “Now I’m nuts,” he mumbled. “What do I need a knife for? I’m a damn vampire.” After purchasing the jacket, Blair decided to go to the local electronics store. Being followed and not having a phone was freaking him out. Good selection or not, Blair needed a phone. As he walked, he kept glancing around but didn’t spot his follower. The store, though small, was well stocked. Blair got caught up in examining his options and started when he felt someone behind him. Blair turned, expecting a salesperson. Instead, it was the man who’d been following him. “Are you knowledgeable about these things?” the man asked, a smooth smile warming his face. “I… yeah,” Blair said. The guy looked geeky, but he wasn’t or he wouldn’t have to ask a stranger in a store about a smartphone. Human bodies make a lot of noise. Forge’s off-the-cuff statement screamed in Blair’s head. Pay attention to what a body does. There was the distinct sound of fluid rushing through the man, but no heartbeat. He gave off none of the heat a vampire, human, or werewolf would have, though it varied from creature to creature. Moose was hotter than them all. “I think these people work on commission. Ask them.” Blair pushed past the man. He’d need ID to get a phone activated anyway. Blair was at the store exit when the thought hit him that the man hadn’t drawn a breath. Or exhaled. He hurried from the store to the parking lot. Blair unlocked and scrambled into Lucas’s Jeep. He saw the man sitting on a bench not too far from the lot. Ben had written down directions to the police station. Blair glanced at the paper as he drove. Half a mile from the electronics store, the man was standing at a street corner, watching the Jeep. Blair’s heart was racing in his chest by the time he reached the police station. The enclosed garage had a big sign over the entrance informing him authorized personnel only. Blair doubted having sex with a detective gave him authorization, even if he was said detective’s soulmate. The visitor’s lot was out in the open, between the main building and the employee parking garage. There were security cameras everywhere, and Blair wondered if he was tense enough to show up. He spotted the man on the sidewalk in front of the station. Blair hurried up the steps and into the building. Once inside he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. There was a desk with thick glass separating it from the room Blair stood in. He stepped up to it and smiled at the officer on the other side. He hadn’t done anything wrong, or broken any laws, and still he was nervous when he asked, “Is Detective Forge here? Or Dr. Coate? I’m a friend, Dr. Coate lent me his Jeep. Sorry to bother them at work.” Blair would clearly never make a good criminal, he blathered out everything. The officer, an older man with a wide, grayish mustache, smiled broadly. “Dr. Coate is like that. Good guy. He’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. They were out on a call. I’m not sure if they’re back, but you can wait here, and I’ll check. What’s your name?” “Blair Turner.” “Got some ID?” Blair’s heart sank, and his panic ramped. “My wallet was stolen. Detective Forge knows about it.” Electric Candle is available in eBook. paperback and through Kindle Unlimited.    
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