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“I’m staying the day,” he said, answering the question she really asked. On a mutter, he added, “Least I can do.”

“Thank you.”

With an impatient gesture, Dominique pinned his hair behind his ears. “You are my guard, then? Here to prevent my escape?”

“This is your home, buddy. Trust me, you don’t want to escape it.”

“My home is on Saint Barthélemy. Does my family know I am here? I will need to contact them.”

Jackson glanced at Cassidy. Did she want to handle this one? She did.

“Your family believes you’re dead,” she said, wiping her hands on a towel. “For their safety, it’s better if they keep believing that.” Not to mention safer for him to believe they were all alive and well in their peaceful island paradise.

Dominique became still, and for a horrifying moment she feared he remembered what he had done the night he was turned—and since. Who he had killed—and how. Then a corner of his mouth tilted up. “Is everything coming out of your mouth complete bullshit?”

Oh, the things I could tell you that would spin your head, my love.But none of them found their way to her tongue. This day would pass. Somehow.

She tossed the towel down and went for plates. The abomination was ready to be served. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving,” Dominique said. “But not for this shit you have made.”

“Oh? Pray tell, what shit are you hungry for then?”

Jackson shifted a little, his coffee back on the counter.

Dominique looked between them, uncertain for the first time since waking.

“Well, I’m starving,” Jackson said. “So, how about we eat? Then we can talk.” He didn’t wait for a response before joining Cassidy, collecting utensils and condiments, and placing them on the breakfast table nestled in a bay window. He poured himself more coffee and filled two additional mugs. Also, three glasses of OJ. As Samantha had retreated to the guesthouse, the third setting was for the vampire who hadn’t eaten solid food in years.

“Did your little fury friends eat?” Cassidy asked casually.

“They did,” Jackson confirmed.

Dominique seemed to decide he was hungry. And not just a little. “This is atrocious. Are you familiar with salt,madame?” he demanded after the first forkful of rubberized eggs. But that didn’t stop him from taking a bite of the toast he had buttered and slathered with jam. Seconds later, his face rumpled with disgust as he tossed the bread on top of the atrocious eggs. “This tastes like nothing.”

Cassidy swallowed a mouthful of eggs and then stopped to watch, mesmerized. Seeing Dominique eat her cooking was something she never thought she’d see. Now she wished she had put more thought into her efforts.

Jackson shook his head in wonder. Then he pulled out his phone and pointed it at Dominique.

Dominique paused. “What are you doing?”

“Evidence,” Jackson said, capturing the wary vampire glower over the plate of human food.

Cassidy sobered. “You don’t think he’ll remember this?”

“No, I’m sending this to Garrett.”

“And who is this Garrett? Another supposed friend of mine?”

Cassidy opened her mouth and shut it again. Then she said, “He works for you.”

Dominique made a disgusted noise of sheer disbelief and shoved at his hair again. His chair scraped on the tile as he pushed it back, got up, and carried his plate into the kitchen to toss it, half-eaten contents and all, into the sink. Next, he tackled the fridge, pulling out more eggs along with herbs and mushrooms and a package of smoked salmon.

“I’ll wait for what he’s making,” Jackson said, pushing his own plate away. “Sorry, Cass.”

“No need.” She put her fork down and made use of her napkin. “It truly is awful.”

Jackson leaned on his folded arms. “I also owe you an apology for last night. For whatever you and Dominique may have…well…seen, I guess.”