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On one hand, she really would prefer to work days, so what harm could there be in trying? On the other hand, the more the vampire interfered in her life, the more complicated things might become. She blew out her breath. “Edith Johnson—tall, salt and pepper hair. Her office is down that hall on the right.”
    He winked. “I’ll be right back.”
    She half expected him to simply disappear, as he had the night before, but he turned and walked away, the muscles of his back rippling under his tight shirt, the faded seat of his jeans molding to his ass.
    Before she could stop to consider how sexy she found him, the children called her name and it was her team’s turn. Unfortunately, two of the children began arguing over the answer and one of them, Tommy, an eight-year-old with impulse control issues, among other things, physically attacked the other child. She interceded, restraining him in the way they were taught, his arms crossed over his chest, held from behind in an embrace as she spoke calming words.
    He thrashed against her with more strength than she might guess a child of his size would have and she struggled to contain him.
    Charlie appeared suddenly at her side, as if he had traced there rather than walked. His fangs were slightly elongated, which frightened her. She jumped back, taking the boy with her. “Everything’s all right, Tommy. Take it easy. Breathe,” she soothed.
    “Look at me, Tommy,” Charlie said.
    “No, don’t!” she snapped, her heart racing.
    Her panic only fueled the boy’s and he freed one hand, which smacked her in the face. She caught his wrist again and pulled it to his waist. This situation was getting worse. First of all, if the other counselors showed up to help, she had Charlie’s presence to explain. Second, she didn’t trust him not to hurt the boy or cause trouble.
    “I can calm him,” Charlie said, sounding annoyed.
    “I just want you to get the fuck out!” she snarled.
    Tommy thrashed about, her anger fueling his fit.
    Charlie’s hand snapped out and wrapped a fist in her hair, pulling her head back.  “Do not speak to me in that tone.”
    Her eyes widened in fear.
    “Apologize, or I will punish you right here in front of all these kids.”
    The idea of him humiliating her in front of the children made her so furious her head nearly exploded. She glared daggers at him. “I hate you,” she said, shaking her head. “I really do.”
     
     
    He hadn’t meant to make things worse. When he’d seen Sasha struggling with the boy, an irrational protective urge had surged, even though she had a handle on the situation. His fangs had lengthened for a fight and he had flashed immediately to her side.
    Now, though, he had only succeeded in pissing her off. And he’d issued a threat, which meant he would have to follow through. Probably not his wisest move. “Now, Sasha,” he said, lifting his eyebrows in warning.
    “Vampire, vampire, vampire,” the boy repeated, thrashing harder.
    Sasha’s eyes flared and she shot a frightened look at him.
    He must have seen the fangs. He crouched beside the boy, catching his face to hold him still and capture his gaze. He sent messages of calm and erased the idea that he was a vampire.
    The boy sagged in Sasha’s grasp, as if exhausted by his fit.
    Sasha glared at him. “Get. Out.”
    “Apologize.”
    “Apologize,” the boy repeated.
    “Fine. I’m sorry. Now will you leave?”
    He looked at her for a moment. This had not gone the way he had hoped. He dematerialized, tracing to The Black Cat, a bar on Congress Street, owned by a werewolf named Garrett. The seedier paranormals hung out there during the week. On weekends, it was packed with twenty-something humans in skimpy clothes dancing to live music. A trio of decent vampires owned and managed a different nightclub down the street, but ironically, they didn’t love the paranormals hanging around, catering to an upscale mortal crowd. The Black Cat served as home base to