her ironing board and smoothing out the lines. Thank God she did because all eyes were focused on her and she would’ve been embarrassed to present herself in such an unprofessional manner.
“Please welcome our newest neighbor, Alexandria Cartwright,” Mr. Hadley said after an abbreviated introduction.
He stepped off to the side while hands clapped and others said “welcome.” Nervous energy fluttered within Alexi as she took Mr. Hadley’s empty spot behind the podium. Facing the curious crowd, she inconspicuously placed her purse on the shelf. She’d given plenty of presentations to companies before and hadn’t felt so edgy. Speaking at length to a bunch of strangers was much different from standing in front of neighbors. Palms flat on the wood, she scanned the crowd for Greg. A familiar face would help calm her nerves. Regrettably, she didn’t find him or his roommate. She slid on her happy face and began her speech.
“Hello, fellow residents of Midnight Gardens…”
* * * *
Greg stood behind Phillip and an elf whose name Greg couldn’t recall. The elf lived at the front of the neighborhood if Greg remembered correctly. He smelled of fabric softener and the strong scent nearly made Greg sneeze. Phillip, on the other hand, lacked a scent and stood stiff as a two-by-four. Both men were Greg’s height and stared straight ahead at Alexandria. Between their heads and the few in front of them, Greg saw a glimpse of her. And she was beautiful with her wavy brunette hair draped over her shoulders.
He relaxed his arms at his sides as he listened to her soft, angelic voice. He stared at her pink lips as she spoke of walking the earth over three centuries and surviving on her own for over two and a half. Amazing.
Her eyes moved fast as she spoke. Greg wondered if she was scanning the crowd or committing the faces to memory. Between sentences, she paused as if she were taking a breath. Odd. Vampires didn’t need air. After hearing the occasional slip of the word “uh” a few times, Greg figured out the problem. She was nervous.
His heart thumped a beat faster. He wanted to step forward and smile at her, comfort her, reassure her she would be fine. If he could find a way to get around the people standing in front of him, he would. But there wasn’t any room for him to move without bumping into someone.
“Thank you for coming tonight. I look forward to getting to know you,” Alexandria said.
Greg stayed in his spot as people mumbled to each other and slowly disbursed from the gathering. The elf turned to leave while Phillip remained immobile. Greg peered around him and finally saw Alexandria from head to toe. Her cream-colored skin blended well with her white blouse and knee-length skirt. He scanned down her long legs to her feet. The vamp even wore white high heels. She looked classy, professional and confident. Greg wondered if she felt the same underneath her facade.
Most people headed for the bar, but a few strolled up to Alexandria and spoke to her. Greg watched her smile and the little movements of her head. She watched people intently as she spoke to them. Greg wondered if she was reading their minds. Longing to get closer, he stepped away from Phillip’s stiff frame. When he did, Alexandria’s gaze met his and he froze.
His mind went blank as he stared at her. He didn’t have a clue what he would say to her. Glad you could make it. Good speech. The words sounded corny. Damn it, what was wrong with him? All day, he thought about what he wanted to say and how he’d ask her out on a date. Now, he couldn’t recall anything. He lowered his gaze and stepped off to the side, out of the way of residents. He could ask her out another time when fewer people were around.
He took two steps toward the exit, then stopped. No, he couldn’t leave without saying something to her. If he did, she might consider him rude. Moreover, if he passed on this chance to ask her out, someone else might step in and do it.
“Please welcome our newest neighbor, Alexandria Cartwright,” Mr. Hadley said after an abbreviated introduction.
He stepped off to the side while hands clapped and others said “welcome.” Nervous energy fluttered within Alexi as she took Mr. Hadley’s empty spot behind the podium. Facing the curious crowd, she inconspicuously placed her purse on the shelf. She’d given plenty of presentations to companies before and hadn’t felt so edgy. Speaking at length to a bunch of strangers was much different from standing in front of neighbors. Palms flat on the wood, she scanned the crowd for Greg. A familiar face would help calm her nerves. Regrettably, she didn’t find him or his roommate. She slid on her happy face and began her speech.
“Hello, fellow residents of Midnight Gardens…”
* * * *
Greg stood behind Phillip and an elf whose name Greg couldn’t recall. The elf lived at the front of the neighborhood if Greg remembered correctly. He smelled of fabric softener and the strong scent nearly made Greg sneeze. Phillip, on the other hand, lacked a scent and stood stiff as a two-by-four. Both men were Greg’s height and stared straight ahead at Alexandria. Between their heads and the few in front of them, Greg saw a glimpse of her. And she was beautiful with her wavy brunette hair draped over her shoulders.
He relaxed his arms at his sides as he listened to her soft, angelic voice. He stared at her pink lips as she spoke of walking the earth over three centuries and surviving on her own for over two and a half. Amazing.
Her eyes moved fast as she spoke. Greg wondered if she was scanning the crowd or committing the faces to memory. Between sentences, she paused as if she were taking a breath. Odd. Vampires didn’t need air. After hearing the occasional slip of the word “uh” a few times, Greg figured out the problem. She was nervous.
His heart thumped a beat faster. He wanted to step forward and smile at her, comfort her, reassure her she would be fine. If he could find a way to get around the people standing in front of him, he would. But there wasn’t any room for him to move without bumping into someone.
“Thank you for coming tonight. I look forward to getting to know you,” Alexandria said.
Greg stayed in his spot as people mumbled to each other and slowly disbursed from the gathering. The elf turned to leave while Phillip remained immobile. Greg peered around him and finally saw Alexandria from head to toe. Her cream-colored skin blended well with her white blouse and knee-length skirt. He scanned down her long legs to her feet. The vamp even wore white high heels. She looked classy, professional and confident. Greg wondered if she felt the same underneath her facade.
Most people headed for the bar, but a few strolled up to Alexandria and spoke to her. Greg watched her smile and the little movements of her head. She watched people intently as she spoke to them. Greg wondered if she was reading their minds. Longing to get closer, he stepped away from Phillip’s stiff frame. When he did, Alexandria’s gaze met his and he froze.
His mind went blank as he stared at her. He didn’t have a clue what he would say to her. Glad you could make it. Good speech. The words sounded corny. Damn it, what was wrong with him? All day, he thought about what he wanted to say and how he’d ask her out on a date. Now, he couldn’t recall anything. He lowered his gaze and stepped off to the side, out of the way of residents. He could ask her out another time when fewer people were around.
He took two steps toward the exit, then stopped. No, he couldn’t leave without saying something to her. If he did, she might consider him rude. Moreover, if he passed on this chance to ask her out, someone else might step in and do it.
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