Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case: A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost Book 1) (5 page)

He nodded.

I jumped out and tried one of the rusty doors. It opened smoothly, not at all like it was on the verge of decaying off its hinges. But then all those cars in the lot had to belong to someone, right? So where were those people?

I went inside and figured out the answer on my own. Past the rows of machinery and worktables dusty with disuse, a buff dude in a black suit stood guard next to a shiny steel elevator. Had to be a doorman.

The odors of dust and grease accompanied the utter stillness of the place. I gave the doorman a little wave. “This is Insomnia, right? Bridget from Howler’s sent me.”

To my relief, he smiled. “You got the right place.”

“Thanks. Let me tell my driver he can go.” My driver. That sounded so fancy.

I gave the Ryde guy a thumbs up that all was well and headed back inside to the snazzy freight elevator and the built doorman. There was a keypad by the buttons, but maybe the doorman punched in the code. Or maybe he turned over the code once I forked over the price of admission. Hmm. I wondered if he had access to the restricted elevator in the warehouse. But now wasn’t the time for that. “Is there a cover?”

He nodded. “Fifty.”

That was a little steep. “No discount for women?” Even the clubs in the NP had ladies’ night.

He smiled. “That is the discount.”

“Got it.” I reached into my jacket pocket, not sure I had that much cash on me. “Do you want to see ID too?”

“You smell like elf and your ears confirm it, so we’re good there.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been told I ‘smell like elf’ before. I hope that’s a good thing.”

His eyes took on a feral gold gleam. Probably shifter of some kind. “It’s not a bad thing.”

Was he flirting with me? That was…new. And sort of fun. I pulled out the wad of cash I’d tucked in my pocket. I had two tens, a five and a couple singles. So much for covering the cover charge, but that’s all I’d had in my wallet. I should have asked my dad for some petty cash before I’d left. I sighed. “I don’t have enough cash for the cover. Do you take credit cards?”

“Put her on my account.”

I almost jumped. The voice had come out of nowhere. And what a nice voice it was, sort of softly Irish and a little gravelly.

The doorman stiffened, his nod as respectful as a nod could be. “Done, Mr. Garrett.”

I turned to see who Mr. Garrett was.

My first guess was Johnny Depp’s taller, cleaner cousin, but last I checked, Mr. Depp didn’t have fangs. I didn’t need to be hit with a snowball to know what that meant. Garrett was a vampire. And an incredibly gorgeous one at that.

He looked exactly like a vampire should look, as far as I was concerned. Lean and broody, his wavy, black hair curled around his face in little points to highlight the dusting of stubble covering his strong jaw, the hollows of his sculpted cheekbones, and his incredible piercing eyes. Tiny silver hoops hung from his ears, and his black dress shirt was unbuttoned more than was civil, allowing silver chains and the pale vee of his chest to peek out. The only spot of color on his outfit was the long ivory scarf hung around his neck, like he’d just escaped an insufferable opera.

I swallowed and found my voice. “Thank you.”

He smiled, showing off those fangs a little more, and held out his hand. “My pleasure. Greyson Garrett, at your service. And you are?”

Mesmerized by a voice that sounds like silk drawn over steel and dusted with the lilt of the Irish.
I reached to shake his hand, but he captured my fingers, turned my palm down and brought my knuckles to his mouth, brushing his warm lips over my skin while his eyes gleamed silver and arrowed into me.

Tendrils of heat curled through me, and my mind went blank with sensation. Was this some kind of vampire magic? He’d asked me a question, but I had no earthly idea what he’d said, just that he smelled like cinnamon. I knew it was wrong to want to lick someone I’d just met, but the urge was definitely present.

“Hi.” I somehow kept my tongue in my mouth.

His grin widened. “Hello. Your name?”

Oh yeah. My name. Who was I again? “Lilibeth Holiday.”

“Lilibeth.” The way the word rolled off his tongue, I almost wished it was the name I actually answered to. “Shall we?”

He could have asked me to do just about anything right then, and I would have said yes. “Sure.” In a genuine Christmas miracle, I remembered my manners. “And thank you again, that was very kind of you to take care of the cover for me. I have the money, just not on me. I’m happy to pay you back.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Greyson nodded at the bouncer. “Chet, if you would.”

The doorman leaned over and punched a code into the keypad next to the elevator. The whirr of gears echoed through the warehouse, and the down button lit up blue.

When the doors opened, we stepped in, and Greyson pressed the only button on the panel. Fortunately it was a quick ride that required no small talk, but allowed me to enjoy his hotness close up. It didn’t disappoint. When the doors reopened, I shifted my gaze to the club. My mouth fell open in wonder.

Insomnia was so cool it made the North Pole look steamy. I did my best not to gawk, but the place was gorgeous. Dark and moody, industrial and sleek, but lush at the same time. Leather seating, brushed metal accents, lots of blue neon, water features, floaty white drapery, and the occasion blast of a smoke machine.

“This place is like a dream.”

Greyson stood at my side, nodding. “That’s the idea, I suppose. Insomnia and all.”

“Oh, right.” Proximity to vampires apparently cost me some IQ points. How many more, I had no idea, but I was willing to risk it.

“Buy you a drink?” he asked.

“I should probably be buying you a drink.”

“Perhaps. But I’m guessing you don’t get the Nocturne Falls employee discount.”

“You work for the town?” That was interesting.

“Sometimes.” He tipped his head toward the bar as he started walking toward it. “Come.”

And I did, following him to a cozy half-round booth on a side wall that offered a perfect spot for viewing most of the club. A reserved sign sat on the table, which he ignored.

I sat but gestured at the placard. “Is that for you then?”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

I laughed. “I like your attitude.”

“And I like you. There aren’t many fae in town.”

“I’m elven, not fae, but we get confused a lot.”

“My apologies. An elf then. And I suppose you should know that I’m—”

“A vampire. I figured that out. The fangs were sort of a giveaway.”

His mouth pursed into the most positively kissable shape. “I was going to say Roma. We were called gypsies in the old days. But that’s not so popular a word anymore.” He winked. “And also, yes, a vampire.”

A server came to take our order. I got another mojito, while Greyson ordered whiskey.

I waited until the girl left then asked, “Why tell me you’re Roma before telling me you’re a vampire? And actually, I would have guessed Irish.”

“I assumed you knew I was a vampire, but I told you I was Roma in case our magic isn’t compatible. And I am Irish.” He winked. “You can be both, you know.”

I grinned. “So you have magic? Outside of being a vampire?”

“Oh yes.” He leaned back, and his fingers went to a black leather cord entangled with the silver chains around his neck. “Quite a lot.”

As someone who had quite a lot of magic myself, I was curious what his magic might be. I’d never thought of vampires as being more than that. “Show me.”

He smiled and presented his hand as if asking for mine. “I can read your palm and tell your fortune.”

I laid my hand in his, and his fingers curled around my wrist, touching the bracelet that was hiding my identity.

His eyes widened, and his grip tightened on my wrist. “You aren’t who you say you are.”

I did my best not to react. “Why would you say that?” I’d have never guessed Roma magic would supersede elf. I felt a little trapped.

His eyes narrowed. “I see another woman in your place.”

I laughed it off and eased my arm away to show off my bracelet. “I think you touched my bracelet. You probably saw a woman with dark blue hair and gray eyes, right?”

He nodded, still looking unconvinced.

I smiled. “That was my friend Jayne.” Close enough. “She gave me this bracelet and put a good luck charm in it.” I figured he’d appreciate the good luck bit.

He stared at the bracelet, and then his face broke into a smile. “That’s a good friend.”

“We’re very close.” I guess he believed me, but he didn’t seem eager to try telling my fortune again. Too bad. It had been a good excuse to hold hands. “What do you do for the town?”

“I fill in as the VOD a few times a week.”

The server returned with our drinks, put them on the table then left again.

“What’s the VOD?” I sipped my mojito. It was really good. So good I was a little worried about how fast it might go down. Good thing I’d eaten.

“Vampire On Duty.” He lifted his glass to mine. “Here’s to new friends.”

“New friends.” I clinked my glass against his. “Then you’re one of the characters who walks around and takes pictures with tourists?”

He nodded.

“But you’re a real vampire.”

“That’s the beauty of living in this town. You can be yourself, and the tourists think it’s part of the act.”

“I’d heard that, but I guess I didn’t really get what that meant.” I poked at a piece of mint with my straw. “That explains why I got so many compliments on my ears.”

His smile went sly. “They are exceptionally nice ears.”

“Thanks.” I blushed. Like, actual heat rose up in my cheeks. I pushed the drink away. I needed to focus. “I have another question for you.” Anything to change the subject.

“Sure.”

“Do you know the toy store in town, Santa’s Workshop?”

“Yes. You work there, right?”

“How did you know that?”

“They only hire elves.”

“Oh. Right. So do you know the elevator that’s part of that building? The one for town employees only?”

“I do.”

“Where does that go?”

He smirked. “You ask a lot of questions.”

“I’m a curious sort.” I did my best lash fluttering in hopes of a real answer. “So where does it go?”

He laughed, a nice deep chuckle. “I can’t tell you.”

Which meant he did know. “Or you’d have to kill me?” My smile froze, then melted off my face. That probably wasn’t a good thing to say to a vampire.

He shook his head slowly. “Or I’d have to explain to the Ellinghams why I violated the non-disclosure agreement I signed prior to my employment.” He squinted. “You don’t honestly think vampires kill people, do you?”

I shrugged sort of noncommittally. “No. But you could, right?”

“Yes,” he hissed. “And so could you.”

I’d struck a nerve. I put my hands up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. You’re the first vampire I’ve ever met. I don’t know much about any other kind of supernatural besides elves. Except for college and some trips here and there, I’ve pretty much lived my whole life at the North Pole.”

His brows shot up, accompanying his look of disbelief. “As in the North Pole at the top of the world?”

“Yes. No. Sort of. It’s the magical North Pole. You can’t really get there unless you’re a winter elf and have…clearance.” Like flying reindeer. Or you knew where one of the portals was.

His good mood returned. “You’re forgiven. I suppose you have more questions about vampires then?”

I did, actually, but I liked Greyson. I didn’t want to wear out my welcome with him. “It’s okay. We can talk about something else.”

He nodded. “You’re a winter elf then. See? I’m learning too. What does it mean to be a winter elf?”

I lifted my hand, aimed my fingers at him, and sent a small flurry of snowflakes in his direction.

He laughed again, louder this time, and sat up straight. “That’s very impressive. What else can you do?”

I could fill the whole place with snow, freeze him solid, shoot icicles like bullets, and all sorts of other things. But I was Lilibeth Holiday, average winter elf, not Jayne Frost, exceptionally talented winter elf and heir to the winter throne. I had to cool it. Pun intended. “That’s about it. Unless you’d like your drink chilled a little more.”

He wiggled the glass back and forth, rolling the spherical ice cube against the sides. “I’m good for now, thanks.”

“What other kinds of supernaturals live here?”

“All kinds. Name one, I’m sure they’re represented.”

“That’s crazy. In a good way.” I scanned the club, studying the faces. “And everyone in here is a supernatural, right?”

“Right. Unless someone’s brought a human guest, but that’s rare.”

I sipped my mojito. No point in letting good rum go to waste. “What was the doorman then?”

“Chet’s a black bear.”