Vampires Among Us [Vampires Among Us 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

tell you the truth. And remember, she doesn’t know that we know that Shawn is one of us.”
    “I understand, Kevin. She seems like she is really lost right now, in need of a good friend and a little TLC. I’ll be glad to stick around and keep an eye on her. Do yourself a favor and pick up some red meat and leafy greens when you go shopping,” Jennifer responded.
    “Red meat and leafy greens?” he questioned. “What are you talking about?”
    Jennifer gave her brother a look of exasperation as if she were speaking to a two year old. “Kevin, I can smell the blood on her from a mile away! Have you been a vampire for so long that your memory fails you regarding human females?” When she glanced over to him, he could easily read the mischief in her eyes. “Do I need to explain to my big brother the whole birds and bees concept?” Kevin shot her a look, and Jennifer decided she had teased her brother enough. “I’m sure what she has gone through hasn’t helped matters,” Jennifer stated quietly, while getting lost in thought. “Anyway, a good steak will help bring up her iron level. Liver is supposed to be the best, but most humans I know refuse to touch the stuff. And I think I remember reading somewhere that leafy green vegetables are high in iron also.” Kevin chuckled lightly as he watched his sister wrinkle her nose in disgust at the thought of eating such repulsive things.
    He quickly reached over and embraced his sister. “Thanks, I shouldn’t be very long. However, I do need to return the bike back to the office and pick up my truck before stopping at the food market.”
    “Take your time. She’ll probably just sleep until you get back. I’ll stay here in your suite, just in case she wakes up while you are gone, though,” Jennifer replied.
    As Kevin walked into the local grocery store and clasped a basket, it hit him that he hadn’t been in one of these stores in close to forty-five years. In those days, they were about an eighth of the size these megastores were now. As far as he was concerned, a person could get lost in one of these places.
    He started heading down the aisles, attempting to figure out what to buy. Thank goodness his family did some entertaining with humans, and he found some of the snack foods that he had watched Rosetta set out at parties: chips, pretzels, carrots, and cucumbers. While he was in the fresh produce, he picked up a few apples and oranges. A sudden old yearning hit him for fresh-squeezed orange juice. He walked past the bin full of potatoes and picked several good-sized potatoes, as he remembered watching a television program in which the meal of choice seemed to be a thick steak and baked potato.
    He sniffed the air, turned, and headed in the direction of the scent of raw meat. He chose several steaks and then stopped, considering if he needed to purchase anything else. He remembered Erica always enjoyed drinking a Coke while they sat in the garden at school. Now, where in this blasted store would you find Coke? He stopped and politely asked a middle-aged woman shopping with her children which aisle the soda was on, and she pointed him in the right direction. He slowly walked around the store for the next few minutes, adding more items to his cart as he went. Forty-five minutes and five grocery bags later, he walked out to his truck. As he placed everything in the back of the truck, he shook his head in wonder. There was nothing like stepping into a huge grocery store to belittle a vampire. Who would have thought? And how in the world did humans brave such a place on a weekly or bi-weekly basis? The choices alone were enough to give him a headache!
    Kevin arrived home to find Jennifer camped out in front of the flat screen, watching a sappy love movie. He put the groceries away, and quickly transferred his blood supply over to Jennifer’s refrigerator. Thank goodness her suite was right next to his, so his meals were still easy to retrieve.
    As he reentered his living room, he asked Jennifer if Erica had been up. “No, Rosetta had me give her a pretty strong painkiller. She will probably be out the remainder of the night.” Kevin walked over and sat down on the sofa next to Jennifer. She looked over at him, and placed her hand on his knee as she continued. “Don’t wake her, Kevin. She needs rest more than anything right now.”
    Kevin glanced over at his sister and smiled. He and Jennifer had always enjoyed a close relationship, and he was happy to