Free Kiss of Death (The Briar Creek Vampires, #1) by Jayme Morse & Jody Morse by Jayme Morse Page A

problem finding girls. Why couldn’t he just
leave the one he wanted – Lexi – alone?
    “Lexi?” He called into the House of Mirrors,
his voice echoing. “Are you in there?”
    After waiting a few minutes with no response,
he went back outside and scanned the crowd.
    His stomach growled. Deciding that Lexi had
probably already headed home, he walked back towards Dave and Julie
so they could grab some food.
     
    ****

Chapter 7
     
    Lexi’s eyes fluttered open and she felt her
head throb. Looking up, she noticed a pair of deep blue eyes
staring into her own. Gabe was leaning over her.
    “Where am I?” She asked. “What happened?”
    “You got hurt in the House of Mirrors. I
don’t know what happened, but you cut your forehead up pretty
badly. Your hair’s all bloody.”
    Sitting up, Lexi pressed a hand to her head.
Her fingers felt wet. She glanced at them, finding that they were
covered in blood. “Should I go to the hospital?”
    “No, I already took care of it for you.”
    “Oh, you carry a first-aid kit?”
    “Yup, at all times.” He grinned at her, his
eyes sparkling. “It comes in handy when there’s a damsel in
distress.”
    “Where’s Dan?” Lexi asked, not sure why the
guy who had brought her here was nowhere in sight. She was
beginning to think that maybe their kiss had scared him off.
    Gabe shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    “Were you the one that was in the House of
Mirrors with me?” she asked, backing away from him. “How did you
find me?”
    “I went into the House of Mirrors, and you
were there unconscious on the ground. I wasn’t the one who did this
to you, if that’s what you’re trying to imply.”
    Lexi breathed a sigh of relief. Why had the
thought even crossed her mind in the first place? Gabe may not like
her the way she wanted him to, but that didn’t make him an evil
person.
    Standing up, he grabbed her around the waist
and lifted her off the picnic table. His hands were strong, and his
touch made her heart flutter. Maybe he wasn’t interested in her,
but at least he came to her rescue when Dan hadn’t.
    “Come on, let’s get you home. It’s getting
late.” Gabe said, leading the way to the parking lot. Lexi
followed, reluctantly.
    When they reached his Jeep Wrangler, he
opened the door and helped Lexi climb into the passenger seat. She
took a whiff of the air, noticing a metallic smell combined with
Axe body spray.
    “Sorry if the car smells like gasoline. I do
auto repair work part time after school, and sometimes the scent
likes to travel with me,” Gabe said, answering her unasked
question. He glanced over at her. “So, do you remember what
happened? I highly doubt that you hurled yourself at that
mirror.”
    “Not at all.” Lexi sighed. “I wish I knew
what happened. The last thing I remember was going into the House
of Mirrors to look for Dan and then I woke up, and you were leaning
over me.”
    “Oh. So, you and Dan, huh? Never saw that one
coming.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “I just didn’t realize you went for the
douche bag jock type.”
    “Yeah, me either. It never seems to work out
with my type.” She looked over at Gabe, who seemed to have caught
her jab at him as he raised his dark eyebrows at her. “What were
you even doing at the carnival anyway? You seemed pretty intent on
not going.”
    “I got hungry. You know Briar Creek. We have
one Burger King, way over on the other side of town. I was in the
mood for funnel cake,” he said, his eyes focused on the road. He
poked her in her stomach. “If you want me to be completely honest,
I just thought I might find you here.”
    “Then why were you so against going with me
in the first place?”
    “Last year’s carnival left me with some
memories I wish I could forget.” Lexi stared at him intently,
waiting for him to continue.
    He must have gotten the hint that she
wouldn’t let this drop now, because he continued, “I witnessed
three people die. Horrible, horrible deaths, Lexi.” He