"My jacket!" Sebastian suddenly blurts out, startling an elderly couple passing by.

Carmine swerves around. Yes!

"I would like my jacket back." Sebastian grins, revealing a set of straight pearly whites. "If you don't mind. It's my favourite one."

He gave a stranger his favourite jacket?

"Oh, of course. Of course. It's umm, back at my house though. If you wait, I can go get it and come back?"

"Do you live close by? How about I drive you home?"

Carmine bites her bottom lip. She doesn't want him to know where she lives.

It could be dangerous if Mother or Father ever saw us together or if he came looking for me. I'll just tell him to stop by one of the neighbour's houses. "Uh-Sure. I live about a five minute drive away."

Minutes later, Sebastian pulls up in front of Carmine in his white BMW. He unlocks the passenger side door and invites Carmine inside. Carmine settles into the plush leather seat and buckles her seat belt.

"Where to?"

"2850 Totem Drive." That house with all those weird Mormons.

Sebastian types the address into his smartphone and starts following the GPS directions. Make a right on Blendale Avenue...

"So. Just graduated high school huh?" He grips the steering wheel tight, staring straight ahead. He tries his very best not to sneak a peek at her bewitching face.

"Almost. The ceremony is in a few days." Carmine also trains her attention on the road ahead, attempting to count the dashed lines on the asphalt marking lane divisions.

"What are your plans after graduation? College?"

Carmine sighs, briefly filled with resentment. Her future lies in this small town. She's not going anywhere. Ever. "No...actually. I was just planning to stay here and find a job." Because family comes first.

"Oh okay."

This is so awkward, Carmine thinks. She tries to smooth out the fine creases on her dress. What am I doing, getting a ride from a strange man? Am I getting soft...? Feelings are dangerous things to have. Especially these kinds of feelings.

Carmine notices that he has the most adorable dimple on his left cheek. Snuggled up nicely beside those smooth, soft lips...

Sebastian lets out a small chuckle."I just realized...I don't even know your name yet!" He sneaks a quick look at his sexy rescuer. "How about we start over? I'm Sebastian."

Oh yeah. THAT's what his name is. Carmine glances in Sebastian's direction and replies, "Carmine. Named after the colour of blood." She points out the side window to a vacant parking spot. "And you can just park here."

Sebastian parallel parks with ease into the indicated spot. Then he unbuckles his seat belt and gets out of the car. He walks around the front and over to Carmine's side, opening the door for her like a true gentleman. "You have a beautiful and interesting name, Carmine. See you in a bit."

Carmine walks down a small side alley and then makes a right and sprints until she is in her own backyard. She smells breakfast cooking downstairs. Mmm. Bacon. After fresh blood, Carmine's second favourite food in the world is pork. Greasy bacon, breaded pork chops, deep fried pig's feet, pickled pig ears, braised butt cheek....Just imagining these foods make Carmine's stomach growl. She suddenly realizes she hasn't eaten anything all morning.

Carmine unlocks the back door and slips into the kitchen, stealing three fresh slices of crispy bacon from the warmer plate. Before Red can say a word, she runs upstairs to her room and locks the door.

Where did I put that jacket? Oh yeah. Carmine crouches on all fours and looks under her bed. Sure enough, Sebastian's jacket is there, wrinkled and covered with a fine layer of dust. Then there's Blake's bloody clothes. Gross. I need to get that cleaned A.S.A.P.

Carmine whips out the jacket from its hiding spot and gives it a good shake. A flurry of dust fills the air, making her sneeze. I hope Sebastian doesn't mind how dirty it is.

She bends down again and drags out the bag of Blake's bloody clothes. She peeks inside and the faint stench of crusty, dried blood makes her nose flare with want. These are too stained to clean. Should I burn them? Where would I do that? Crap. Sebastian is waiting. Carmine shoves the clothes back under her bed. I'll deal with it later.

Not wanting to raise any flags, Carmine stuffs Sebastian's jacket in her purse and hurries back downstairs.

"Where do you think you're going young lady?" Red asks, peeking out from the kitchen, her hands pointing a wooden spatula at her daughter.

"I need to do some school stuff. Be back later." Carmine runs out the door, sandals smacking roughly against her blistered soles.

Carmine returns to Sebastian's vehicle, slightly panting but feeling exhilarated. She hands over the jacket. "Thanks for lending it to me. It really helped."

Sebastian rolls down his window and takes back his zip-up. "No problem. Anytime."

After a few moments, Sebastian's voice breaks the pregnant silence. "Umm...I haven't eaten anything all day. Have you? Because I know this great little diner close by and if you wanted-"

Carmine's face lights up. "I'd love to."

A strange warmth clutches her heart and spreads throughout her body. The giddy feeling of doing something forbidden teasingly squeezes her stomach. This will be the first time she's ever had a normal interaction with a real man that didn't end with her sipping a cocktail of his blood. A man...not a boy, but a hot, young, warm blooded-

She likes the thought of that. After all, Carmine is exhausted from seducing filthy rats and playing mind games with losers. She can't help but feel the human side of her desperately craving friendship and pleasant, civilized social interaction.

As long as she doesn't get carried away, this will be a chance for her to have a tiny bit of fun. No one in the family has to know. It'll be her dirty little secret. Even she needs to live a little.

They drive to a 60s style, old fashioned diner on the other side of town.

Sebastian opens the door to Miranda's Diner and ushers Carmine inside. The robust waitress shows them to a booth. The seats are made of worn red leather with white stripes painted down the middle. She hands them each a laminated menu and asks, "Can I start you two off with something to drink? Coffee? Tea?"

Carmine's eyes pore over the menu. Bacon...She needs bacon..."I'll have a coffee to start."

Sebastian gives the older lady one of his heart-melting grins. "Miranda, how's my favourite waitress?"

"Better, now that you've stepped in," Miranda winks. "Is this your lady?"

Sebastian's eyes quickly flick over to Carmine and then back to Miranda. "She's- I just met her actually."

Miranda smiles knowingly. "Well, I'll grab this lovely lady her coffee and your usual chocolate milk."

"Thanks Mir." Sebastian turns his focus back to the menu and hides his face behind it.

"I think I'm ready," Carmine says after a few minutes. She looks up from the menu. "Are you?"

Sebastian's voice is muffled as he says from behind the menu, "Y-Yes. I think so. I mean I was thinking about number two but then figured number three is probably more bang for my buck and...well...okay I'll shut up now." He sets the menu on the table with an embarrassed smile.

Carmine lets out a musical laugh. "I'm getting a number three too. It sounds delicious."

"Are you sure? The portions-"

"I can eat a lot of food. Don't let my small size fool you. I'm an absolute glutton." For more than just bacon too. Carmine turns around to study her surroundings and sees Miranda walking back to their booth, holding up a serving tray with their drinks.

After setting down the mugs on coasters, Miranda flips open her spiral notepad and asks, "What can I get you two?"

Carmine and Sebastian respectively place their orders and in less than five minutes, two gigantic, steaming hot plates are plunked down in front of them. Number three on the menu is the 'The Working Man's Breakfast': two egg bennies, homemade hashbrowns, two sausages, four slices of crispy bacon and four triangles of buttered toast. Heaven. Just heaven on a plate.

"Wow. That looks so good," Carmine says, tearing into her bacon like a famished animal. "Tastes even better."

"Hey, no one's going to steal your bacon, you know?" Sebastian smirks, cutting into his egg benny with a stainless steel knife.

"You might steal it," Carmine retorts, quickly polishing off her fourth slice in under a minute.

Sebastian raises one eyebrow at Carmine's messy plate. "You're serious about your meat huh?"

Carmine flashes him a slightly wicked smile. "Dead serious."

"Well, don't be eyeballing my meat like that, it feels violated." Sebastian moves his plate closer the edge of the table, shielding it with his left arm.

Sensing his playfulness, Carmine pretends to make a grab for his bacon only to be stopped midair by his right hand. Sebastian's large hands wrap around Carmine's petite ones, gripping them tight. For a few seconds, he stares earnestly into her eyes, unable to pull his gaze away.

"Umm...You can let go now." Carmine feigns a croak. "Losing...blood circulation..." After Sebastian apologizes and quickly loosens his grasp, Carmine starts giggling. "I guess you're pretty serious about your meat too huh?"

It feels nice to be able to joke around with someone for no other reason than to just have some fun. Carmine suddenly realizes that this is probably the first time in a long time that she's actually enjoyed spending time with a human. A male one at that.

Sebastian starts laughing and soon the two are doubled over, clutching their sides. Carmine is the first to straighten herself up again. She wipes a residual tear out of the corner of her eye and then downs the rest of her coffee. "I'm glad I decided to save you earlier." The crazy thing is, she actually means it.

"I'm glad too." Sebastian gestures to Miranda for the check. "Listen...I don't want to presume anything...but if you're interested, I have a small favour to ask of you."

***Eeee Sebastian is such a cutie. What do you think? Ok, fan girl moment over now. Yes, he is a grown man who loves a good cuppa chocolate milk in the morning. Leave a star if you enjoyed this cute little chapter. PRE-ORDER the extended, fully edited version of this book exclusively through Amazon:
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B012LM7X18