"You have very interesting features," she said, with her eyes at half-mast.
He approached her and lifted her chin. "If I could draw, you would be my favorite subject." She wouldn't meet his eyes. He could feel her unease and didn't want to add to it. "Let's go get my landscape off the wall."
***
As he headed into Fairhaven carrying the canvas, Jackson realized with a start that he had not fed all day. Normally he wouldn't go more than a few hours without thinking about his next meal, but Elisabeth filled his thoughts so completely, there was no room for anything else. Suddenly he felt famished.
He propped the canvas on the sofa and stood across from it with his blood cocktail. Sarah had evidently procured some blood today, because there in the fridge he had found a wine bottle full. He knew she would want to finish the bags first, but thought, Screw it. It was my idea and I'm really hungry. He took a sip and found the flavor actually pleasing. He added a little tequila this time, and the absence of the plastic improved the taste more than he expected.
He was sitting, reveling in the day and enjoying his new art treasure, when he heard Connor's car come up the drive. The two came in laughing and teasing each other. Sarah headed to Jackson and upon seeing the landscape said, "That's beautiful. Did you get it in Stockbridge?"
"No, it's Elisabeth's."
"What do you mean?"
"She's the artist, and she gave it to me."
"Oh my God!" Sarah stood directly in front of it. After a minute she said, "I cannot wait to meet this woman."
"Oh yeah, she's coming for dinner."
She let out a screech to wake the dead. Connor had gone into the kitchen for a snack and came running, "What's the matter?"
Sarah grabbed him, shaking his shoulders. "Elisabeth's coming for dinner!"
"Jesus Sarah, you nearly gave me a heart attack." Jackson chuckled. It was fun to see someone else deal with the adolescent.
She turned her attention back to Jackson. "What shall I make? Maybe a tenderloin. Do you know if she likes beef?"
Jackson smiled, remembering how she had almost polished off the prime rib. "Oh yeah, tenderloin will work."
"I'll do new potatoes and roasted root vegetables. For dessert, let's see. Something decadent and chocolate. What do you think?"
He took her hand and kissed it. "I think whatever you make will be perfect. By the way, your picnic basket was a big hit."
Sarah beamed. "It was romantic, wasn't it?"
"Very." He waited, expecting the questions to start, but she bit her lip. Skippy must have read her the riot act. Jackson gave him an appreciative glance and said, "My little girl is growing up." Sarah smacked him and headed to the kitchen to plan her menu. The two men were left alone. After a moment Jackson asked, "How are you doing with the whole vampire thing?"