Read You’ll Understand When You’re Dead: Broken Heart Vampires Book 12 for Free Online Page A

Williams.”
    He reminded her a little too much of Norman Bates. His eyes were a dull brown, his teeth yellow, and his hair stringy. The jumpsuit he wore was stained and threadbare. She didn’t like his vibe at all.
    “Do you need help?” she asked. “Because I can send you to a good afterlife counselor.”
    “You wanted to date me,” he said. “Here I am.”
    What the hell? Another ghost suitor? Ugh.
    “You’re dead,” said Natalie.
    “So are you, toots.”
    He did not just call me toots. “No, I’m undead. You’re actually dead.”
    “Who cares? I don’t see why you’re complaining. You asked for dead guys.”
    “I did not.”
    “I’m doing you a favor,” he said, flashing a yellowed smile. “Do you smoke?”
    “No,” she said. “Vampires don’t have the lung capacity to inhale.”
    “Damn it. I’d kill for a Marlboro .”
    Natalie wondered if he really had killed someone for cigarettes. Tony’s face narrowed to a point, and his eyes were small black beads. She had the feeling that being nice wasn’t going to get rid of him.
    “Go away,” she said.
    “I ain’t leaving. This town is a dump, but it’s better than limbo.” He leered at her. “You wanna do it?”
    “Hey, shithead.”
    Natalie and the ghost turned. Queen Patsy stood there, hands on her jean-clad hips, her irritated gaze on Tony.
    “Hey, toots,” said Tony, turning his leer on Patsy. “You wanna do a threesome?”
    “You are delusional.” Patsy lifted her hand.
    To Tony’s surprise he was yanked upward.
    “Back to where you belong, creep.” She made a pushing gesture, and a small black hole appeared. Tony cried out as his ghostly form was sucked into it. Then the hole closed.
    “Thanks,” said Natalie. “I wish I could do that trick.”
    “You just have to marry a blood wolf and become queen of the vampires,” said Patsy. “Easy peasy.”
    Natalie laughed.
    “Mom!” came a chorus of children’s voices. Patsy snapped her fingers. “I was so close to escape.” She turned toward the four children and the man with moon-white hair coming toward her. As much as Patsy pretended to grouse about motherhood, Natalie knew how much she loved her family. Patsy waved good-bye and joined her brood.
    Natalie was no longer in the mood for a shaved ice, so she returned to the booth.
    The girls were staring at her open-mouthed and wide-eyed.
    “What happened?” asked Kimmie. “You get in a fight with your invisible friend?”
    “Ha, ha.” Natalie waved off her daughter’s concerns. “Don’t worry about it. He was a confused ghost who Patsy sent back to the other side.”
    “What did he want?”
    “To date me.”
    Jenny gasped, and then slapped a hand over her mouth. Kimmie had gone pale. Natalie eyed both of them. “Seriously, you two. What’s going on?”
    “Nothing,” said Kimmie. “We promised Tilda we’d help her.” She grabbed Jenny’s arm and dragged her away.
    Natalie stared after them.
    Teenagers. Sheesh.

Chapter Five
    M ATT HAD GOTTEN dunked three times into the pudding tank thanks to Jessica Matthews. When his hour was finally over and Damian arrived, he struggled out of the vanilla goop. Jessica held up her iPhone and took a picture of him.
    “Victory is mine,” she yelled. Then she ran off before he could properly kill her.
    Pudding coated every inch of his body.
    Darrius took pity on him. The back seat of his car had been tarped up for this very reason, so Matt crawled in back and dripped like a slow-melting snowman on the way home.
    By the time he showered, dressed and got into his car, another hour had passed. He was eager to get back to Natalie. Something inside him ached for her. His libido, probably.
    Natalie was packing up when he arrived at the booth.
    “You’re done?”
    “The fireworks will start soon, and I’m nearly sold out of everything. But I did save you an apple pie.” She picked it up and showed him, her smile wide and happy.
    Then she was knocked sideways.
    The pie flew