Real Vampires Live Large (14 page)

Oh, crap. Flo stood in the doorway to the shop. She looked brittle, the twist to her lips as close to ugly as my gorgeous roomie would ever get. I jerked my fingers out of his hand.

“Flo, Richard was helping me with a creep sent by Westwood. ”

Flo laughed and looked around. “The creep has crept away, I guess. Glory, your cell phone has been ringing. You might want to check your voice mail.” She nodded, like— See? I didn't just come out here to spy on my ex-lover and my roomie.

“Flo, I—”

“Carry on,
cara
. I couldn't care less what you do with Richard. But why you would be interested in this one when you have Blade . . .” A Gaelic shrug. “Whatever.” She turned on her four-inch heels and went back inside. The door slammed behind her.

“That was harsh.” I turned to Richard, but he was smiling, apparently not disturbed at all.

“Whatever.” He winked and strolled away, the picture of unconcerned male.

Great. I got to go in to a simmering roomie and a voice mail that might be from Westwood again. I'd had two since our phone chat. If I didn't know better, I'd swear Westwood was hot for me. Now there was something useful. I could play along, seduce him back into coming home for a little sack action, then bam!—bye, bye billionaire. I'd love to see Westwood on his knees begging for his dick or his life or whatever.

I opened the back door and met Valdez's glare. I'd been outside alone for exactly fifteen seconds. The lecture lasted ten times longer than that.

Ten

"I'm going alone and that's all there is to it.”

“Blade will just have to get over it.” I stopped brushing my hair and looked at Valdez. “Or he doesn't even have to know about it.”

“He'll know.” Will had been watching me get ready with interest.

When I'd emerged from my bedroom dressed to kill in a leather mini and red bustier, both dogs had perked up. Because they thought we were all going out. Not.

“I can keep my lips zipped, but the doodle dog won't. He's too whipped.” Will gave Valdez a look.

Valdez growled, his ears flat.
“I'll show you whipped.”

“Cool it, Valdez. I have a date. A date. Can you grasp the concept? It does not include taking along my pets, no matter how cute. Or protective. Or insane.”

Valdez snorted.
“What do we really know about this fireman? He could be on Westwood's payroll. When he gets you alone—”

“Steve is an arson investigator and a mortal. I can read his mind. He doesn't wear those special glasses and he's not working for Westwood.” He'd come by the shop one night while I'd been putting the finishing touches on pricing my new inventory. The dogs had behaved, barely. Flo had scoped him out, then dismissed him. It didn't take mind reading to know she thought mortals were too ordinary for her attention.

But I'd read Steve's mind and liked what I saw. He thought I was hot and he admired the way I was putting my business back together. Worked for me. I kind of looked forward to an uncomplicated date. One where I didn't have to block my thoughts. Or take along a pooper scooper.

“We'll be fine. We're going to a club on Sixth Street, just a few blocks from here. There will be other people around.” And we were going dancing. My toes tingled just thinking about it. Yeah, I did miss Blade, but he'd never been much for dancing and I absolutely love it. Steve said he was into the country western thing, part of the Texas experience I'd been determined to enjoy when I'd moved to Austin.

The buzzer sounded. He was here. I tied a red scarf around my neck, then hit the button.

“Steve?”

“Right. Should I come up?”

“No.” I glanced at the dogs. “I'm ready. I'll be right down.”

“I'm going on record. This is a bad idea.”
Valdez nosed my black leather purse.
“Take your cell, call Mainwaring if you get in a bind. You got him on speed dial?”

“Call Richard? Why not Blade? He could fly in from Africa to hold my hand.” I did have Richard on speed dial. Because we'd been having those computer lessons and needed to set them up. “I can handle myself, Valdez. I know you and Blade don't think so, but get over it.” I patted Will on the head. “Thanks for not nagging me.”

“No problem. A night off. Why would I object?” He looked at Valdez. “Let the doodle here obsess. I'm taking a nap.”

I wasn't about to stay and listen to the dogs yammer at each other. I grabbed my purse and shawl and headed down the stairs. Steve waited at the outside door. He was dressed in jeans and a Western shirt that showed off his lean build. The black cowboy hat looked well worn, like he might actually
be
a cowboy. Very cute.

“Ready?” Steve grinned when he saw me. “You look great.” He eyed my high-heeled boots. “You sure you can dance in those?”

I took his arm. “Hey, I danced in Vegas in heels higher than this. Now let's go.”

We walked down the street toward the busier, rowdier section of Sixth Street where the clubs were doing a booming business. Saturday night. I was reopening my shop on Tuesday and things had come together pretty well. I'd decided I deserved a night off and had jumped at the chance when Steve suggested it. Steve asked me about my gig in Vegas and I trotted out some of my better stories. By the time we got to the club, we were both laughing.

“What can I get you to drink?”

There it was, the awkward moment when I had to either claim to be AA or offer to be the designated driver or something. Instead, I smiled and let him order a rum and coke for me. Why not? I didn't have to drink it and I was tired of being different. You know?

Before the drinks even arrived, we were on the dance floor. Steve was a great dancer, slow or fast. We did the Cotton-Eyed Joe, the swing, then two-stepped the perimeter of the dance floor, my fingers in Steve's belt loops, his hands warm on my shoulder and waist. The night flew by. I didn't feel a single negative vibe and I wasn't so oblivious that I didn't scan the place a time or two or three looking for thuggish men in tinted glasses. Maybe Westwood hadn't had time to replace Mitch. I didn't care. I was having fun.

I laughed off Steve's concern that the ice had melted in my drink and let him order me a second one. That one I eventually managed to exchange for an empty on another table when Steve hit the men's room. By the time the band played its last set, I felt really comfortable with Steve. Comfortable. Unfortunately, even during slow dances, with his strong arms wrapped around me, there was simply no chemistry. Not on my part, anyway.

Steve rubbed my back and nuzzled my neck when the lights were dim, but I felt
nada
. Well, not exactly
nada
. Fresh blood pulsed through Steve's veins. Hot AB negative! Smelling so utterly delicious that I had to fight to keep my fangs in.

“Time to go home.” I smiled and picked up my purse. I'd turned off my cell phone as soon as I'd left the apartment. No way was my complicated life going to intrude on this evening.

“How about breakfast? We can hit an IHOP or Denny's. My car's parked not far from here.”

I stepped into the cool night air and wrapped the black shawl I'd brought around my shoulders.

“I'd love to, but I'm pretty tired. Maybe another night.”

Steve grinned and grabbed my hand. “That's what I like to hear. Another night.” He leaned down and kissed me. Just a sweet, getting to know you kiss. It wasn't bad. Or great. I pulled him toward my end of the street. We had about six long blocks to walk. Nothing for a vamp, but a vamp in high heeled boots . . . ? I was leaning on Steve by block three. Unfortunately he took it as encouragement.

“Come here.” He pulled me into a dark parking lot between two cars and pushed me against a black Lexus. Yeah, I wasn't really into the moment if I was noticing the make of car behind me, was I? He kissed me, a deeper kiss that involved tongues and hands roaming a little too freely. I couldn't blame the guy. I'd been sending signals all night that I enjoyed his company. Too bad it was his dancing that turned me on. And his sure to be tasty blood.

I pulled back and looked into his eyes. What I felt was bloodlust. Well, it beat the hell out of no lust at all.

“Steve.” My voice was low and I had him under the whammy in seconds. He just stood there, his arms still around me while I leaned in and sniffed. I shouldn't, but who could resist clean male skin, the hint of an aftershave that I liked and that damned AB negative? I was in before you could say, “Bite me.”

Ah, the taste, the heat, and that quivering down low that was damned near orgasmic. I felt him slump against me and reluctantly pulled back. The poor guy should at least be able to walk home. I licked the puncture wounds to close them then gave him a thank you kiss on his very yummy neck.

“Well, look who's enjoying a little pre-dawn snack.” The male voice spun me around. Familiar. The freaking voice in my head that had given me migraines.

“You.” I disentangled myself from Steve and propped him against the Lexus. “Who the hell
are
you?” Head clear. No headache. Feeding had given me a surge of energy, like I could conquer the world or at least this scum-sucking vampire.

“Answer me. Who the hell are you and why are you bugging me?” I stepped away from the car and got into his face. Maybe not my smartest move. He was a big guy. Good looking and much too much my type. Dark hair, dark eyes, great build and a dimple in his chin. There was something about that dimple . . . He didn't touch me, just smiled like I amused him. Okay, now I was really mad.

“I'm not surprised you don't remember me. I made sure you wouldn't. Nothing like dumping a woman and then having her bugging the hell out of you.”

“Excuse me?”
I
did the dumping not the other way around. This guy was obviously delusional.

“Let me show you something.” He grabbed my hand, strong enough that I couldn't wrench it away even though I damn sure tried.

“Let me go, asshole.” For the first time, I wished I'd listened to Valdez. An attack dog would be mighty handy about now.

“Gloriana.”
I heard the guy's voice in my head and thought about blocking him. But I wanted to know who or what he was and what he wanted.
“Remember this.”

I was up high, on a bed surrounded by . . . flowers. Sweet smell, but the noise! A band played a college fight song. Thousands cheered. The bed jerked and swayed its way down a corridor between skyscrapers.

“Where are we?”

“New York City, Gloriana. 1969. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. You and I, bed buddies.”

Naked bed buddies. He laughed up at me when I sat up and pushed out my breasts. Not happening. But the sunlight, the cold, crisp air and the shouts of the crowd sure as hell
felt
real. So did the rush of doing the wild thing while thousands cheered.

“You'd think they would stop the parade, try to arrest us.” A snowflake drifted down and melted on my breast. I shivered and grabbed a blanket just as the float lurched to a stop.

“Do you want to add a cop to the mix?” He grinned and snatched the blanket away. “You won't need that. I can keep you hot.” Another man appeared beside the bed, this one in full uniform swinging a nightstick.

“You two are under arrest. Unless I can have a piece of that.” The cop's night stick stroked my bare bum. The crowd cheered again, obviously pro-law enforcement.

“No, lover, lose the cop, you're more than enough for me.” I kissed him and the policeman disappeared. The crowds groaned and the band segued into “Hail Britannia.” “Ooo,” I murmured when he grabbed my ass and pushed into me. “You do know how to please a woman.”

“Always.”

Snow came down harder,
I
came harder. He was right. Who needed a blanket?

“What does this float represent anyway?”

He grinned and pointed upward. A banner waved above us. “Make Love, Not War.”

“We're protesting Vietnam?” Now I noticed that our headboard was a giant peace sign made of red roses and white gardenias.

“Got to love the sixties, especially when a vampire flies under the draft radar.” His fangs slid across my shoulder. “Wave at the crowd, baby. We're New York's answer to John and Yoko.”

The band broke into a Beatles medley. “All You Need Is Love.” The crowd sang along.

A turquoise parakeet landed on the brass footboard and began preening.

“You up for a threesome?” He nodded and the bird morphed into a tall brunette with disgustingly slim hips and perky C cup breasts. She was naked, of course. The crowd went wild and the band started “A Little Help from My Friends.”

I dove under the blanket. “No, thanks, I want you all to myself.”

He pulled me up for a big kiss, then rolled me under him. I saw the bird disappear into what was practically a snowstorm. Nothing could cool off my lover, though. He surged into me again and again. Orgasm number three hit me, but who was counting?

“How long do you want this to last?” he whispered against my neck. His fangs pierced me and another orgasm rocked me and the float. The band found its groove on “Love Me Do.”

“Forever.”

I shivered, suddenly back in a dark parking lot in Austin, Texas, in an entirely different century.

“That's when I decided we were over. Hate clingy women.” He squeezed my hand. “Even sexually adventurous ones.”