Real Vampires Hate Skinny Jeans (37 page)

“What the hell is she doing in town?” Rafe took my arm and steered me toward his office.

“Ian contacted her. About her blood. She wanted to know what it meant.” I waited until we were inside with the door closed. “I talked to Aggie. Seems unlikely it means anything. It’s not the Siren blood that’s important.”

“Well, if you talked to Aggie, does that mean you found
out whether I’m under your spell?” Rafe moved close and slid his arms around my waist.

“Seems Sirens draw men to them with their song. I lost mine thanks to Achelous.” I sighed and gently took his hands off of me. “So any feelings you have for me, Rafe, are purely your own.”

“Never doubted it. But what about yours for me or any of the men orbiting planet Glory?” He frowned and sat on the edge of his messy desk. A few papers fell to the floor but he ignored them. “You say you love me. You love Blade. Hell, I’ve even heard you say you love the rock star. What does that mean to you, Glory? Seems to me you throw the word around a little too easily. Hell, you even love your new boots.”

“You making fun of me? You have to know this whole Siren thing has put me through the wringer.” Was I looking for sympathy? I could see by Rafe’s expression that I wasn’t getting any here. “And, for the record, I don’t love my new boots. I just bought them because they were on sale.”

“You know what I mean. Don’t try to deflect. This Siren thing is just the latest wrinkle in the Glory-go-round.” Rafe kicked a paper across the room. “Under a spell or not, I don’t like hanging around waiting to see how your love life falls out.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Maybe I’m finally ready to jump off the ride.”

“Rafe.” I wished there was something I could say to get our old friendship back where it belonged. But Rafe had his pride and I’d hurt it. Damn. “I hope that loan to Diana wasn’t just for my sake. To keep Lucky from moving in next to me.” I wanted to touch him, say something to ease the tension he was clearly feeling. “I can handle Lucky and her goons.”

“So I should just let you try?” Rafe moved closer. “Sorry, but I can’t stand back and wait to see if you really can handle her. The Glory I know and love isn’t exactly known for kicking butt.” He smiled wryly. “So much for jumping off the ride. Obviously I’m still yours whether you want me or not.”

I looked up into eyes that knew me too well, cared for me more than I deserved. I didn’t want to lead him on.

“I appreciate everything you do, have done for me, Rafe. But you have to stop it. If I have problems, they’re
my
problems and I have to deal with them. If I fail, then the fallout is on me, no one else.” I laid my hand on his arm. His skin was hot, shifter hot. God, but I felt weak where he was concerned, wanting to lean on him and let him take care of me. Even now, it was all I could do not to rest my head against his broad chest.

“Maybe I’m finally getting the message, Glory. You keep pushing me away, telling me to move on.” He stared at the ceiling, his jaw tight, then looked at me again. “I get pissed and feel like saying to hell with you. No woman is worth what you put me through. But then I see you and all those good intentions evaporate. Damn it, I keep thinking I’m right for you, that we make a great team. And someday you’ll realize that and decide my time will come again.”

“Rafe, I can’t—I won’t—” I shut up, not sure what to say to him. He was the best friend I’d ever had. He’d taken care of me, guarded me, risked his life for me. I did love him. And he was right. He wasn’t the only man I loved. The Siren in me didn’t seem to be built for monogamy.

“You are really blocking your thoughts. Maybe I don’t want to know what you’re thinking.” Rafe scrubbed his hands over his face.

“Maybe you don’t. I can’t make any sense out of this anymore.” I pulled his hands away to run my fingers over his jaw, so strong and masculine. “I’m a mess right now, Rafe. And one thing I need to do is straighten things out with Jerry. I’m going to Scotland. To let him know that he’s not under that Siren’s spell. I don’t know if that will make a difference to him, but it’s something I have to do.”

“Blade. He’s always first with you, isn’t he?” Rafe pulled me to him and, being weak, I allowed it. “I saw it up close for five years, Glory. I don’t like it, but I know you love him, really love him, and it’s not the new-boot kind of love.”

“Yes. Maybe I’m the one under a spell. Could Circe have done that?” I shook my head. “No, not blaming some goddess
for my own feelings. He saved me, Rafe. When I was about to starve. And he’s been my hero more than once. Just like you’ve been.” I kissed his cheek, the kind of kiss I would have given a brother.

“So we’re friends now.” Rafe hugged me and breathed against my hair. “I’ll take it and try to learn to live with it.”

“Thanks.” I sighed and pushed back. “Now what about that check for Diana? Where did that money come from?”

“It tore a hole in my savings. But I wasn’t about to let Lucky have a reason to come back to Austin. She’s nothing but trouble. Why is she here anyway? What about her father and his rules?”

“He died and she took over the family business. Apparently she’s doing a good job if that demo with Diana is any indication. She did get her payment.” I stepped away from him. “And you’ll get your money back. Diana and I will have a little chat. As her friend maybe I can help her get her financial house in order, get into a twelve-step program if this is an addiction to shopping. Shoe sales?” Of course I had new boots myself and then had come up short when I was scrambling for plane fare. Lucky for me I seemed to always have a man handy when I needed bailing out. Diana had too much pride for that. Why didn’t I? It was something for me to think about. And I got a queasy feeling that it was a conversation with myself that was long overdue.

“We can both help her.” Rafe smiled. “She has no idea what she’s in for now that I hold her note. I’m going to be looking at her books, making sure she pays off the rest of Lucky’s loan ASAP. The sooner all ties with that bitch are broken, the better.”

“Good.” I glanced at a clock on his wall. “I need to go. I’m heading over to see Ian now.”

“Why?” Rafe opened the office door and the loud music after the quiet in the well-insulated office was a shock. But the steady beat made me want to dance. At least Achelous hadn’t managed to kill my love for music.

“I want to get a few things off my chest. Yes, he helped
me find out what I was. But he also lied to me about a few things.” I walked toward the front door, Rafe by my side.

“Be careful. How are you getting to Scotland?”

“Ray’s chartering a plane for me. Can you believe it?” I said it like it was no big deal but Diana’s words were haunting me.
Only whores asked their lovers for money.
I hadn’t asked. But what was the difference, really? I’d accepted quickly enough when it had been offered. Like I usually did. Money, favors, bodyguards. Rafe was staring at me, probing my thoughts and coming up empty. I kept a carefree smile on my face though it was becoming harder and harder to do.

Rafe shook his head. “Are you sure you don’t have us all under some kind of spell, Glory? I swear the things you get men to do for you boggles my mind.”

“Yeah. It’s nuts, isn’t it? But Ray insisted. He hopes, I think, that Blade will slam the castle door in my face. And it might happen.” I managed a shrug, like my entire future happiness didn’t hang in the balance.

Rafe leaned against the door frame. He cocked an eyebrow. “A charter flight is a little steep for a ‘friend’ to pay for. Or is there more going on now?”

“Never mind.” My face was hot. “Got to go.”

“No, you don’t.” Rafe examined me closely. “Shit, you did it. Finally slept with him, didn’t you?”

“Can you blame me? The guy’s like my fantasy man, Rafe!” Yes, I sounded defensive.

“The surprise was that it took you so long.” Rafe had a rueful grin. “Come on, Glory. The guy pursued you hard and fast. I knew how you felt about him. You were a fangirl. A total groupie.”

“Oh, yeah.” I flushed again. “I’m sorry.” I squeezed his arm, hating the way he looked so serious standing there. “Guess I’d better go. Bye.” He didn’t say another word as I hurried out the door.

When I got outside, I stopped and took a minute. Rafe. I would never have a better friend and I hoped he could find someone to make him happy so I didn’t feel so guilty…

“Get over here before my guy drags you by your hair.” The voice came out of the dark alley next to the club.

“I thought you had a date.” I strolled over to where Lucky and her two henchmen waited. “Aren’t you going to be late?”

“I believe in making a man wait for me. It gives me an edge.” Lucky raised a coral-painted nail. “Now let me tell you something, Miss Thing. You think you’re all that with your statue trick but I’m serving notice. I’ve had feelers out to find a way around that. I’m taking you down. You hear me? No one messes with Lucky Carver and gets away with it.”

“I’m shaking.” I raised my hands and did mocking jazz hands.

“You should be.” Lucky jabbed her fingernail into my chest before I saw it coming. “Bitch. You owe me. We had a contract and I want it honored.”

I was all set to vanish out of there, when I felt an arm around my neck. Damn, her vampire bodyguard had been too quick for me. Aggie had warned me that you couldn’t dematerialize if someone anchored you in place with a touch.

“You really don’t want to do that,
chica
.” He growled it in my ear, his voice low and slightly accented. Hispanic. Probably one of the vamps who’d immigrated here from Mexico. That explained his dark good looks.

“Yes, I do.” I focused on Lucky. I could still turn her into a statue.

“Freeze her and I’ll tear your pretty head off. Can’t heal from that, can you?” He chuckled then tightened his grip until I heard a bone crack in my neck.

“How do you like that, Glory?” Lucky strutted around me in a victory lap, her glee adding a bounce to her step. “Miguel, you are even better than advertised.” She slid a fingernail down his bicep.

“Touch me again, Miss Lucky, and I’ll let her go. You would make a fine statue, I think.” Miguel’s deep voice sent shivers through me and stopped Lucky in her tracks.

“Well, I guess I understand our relationship now.” She jerked her hand back. “Kill her? Or not? Hmm.” She tapped
her fingernail against her fangs, brought down by her excitement. “Consequences would be a bitch.”

“Damn right. There’s the council here for one. They’d hunt you down and terminate you for ordering the hit.” My voice came out hoarse as I tried to find some wiggle room, but Miguel wasn’t about to ease his grip on me. “And, Miguel, you’d be toast too. Burned and crispy in the morning sun.”

“Doubt it. I wouldn’t be here.” His cheek brushed my hair.

He smelled masculine with a spicy scent that I would remember if I met it in the dark again. I could feel his hard body pressed against mine and figured he was a good ten inches taller than I was and solid muscle. I might be able to outwit him but he obviously had skills. I’d been so proud of my new Siren status, but a clever vamp could still take me down if I wasn’t careful. I was truly trapped, my only option to think healing thoughts for my throat.

“Yes, I guess you would disappear, Miguel, you were hard enough to track down.” Lucky frowned. “I’m well-known, my business easy to find. It’s a nuisance looking over my shoulder all the time.”

“And it would be a shame to close this territory for you, Miss Lucky.” Nice that he didn’t seem too worried about taking me out. Guess it was true—I had no Siren magic working my wiles on men.

“True enough. And then there’s Glory’s fan club. All those men she’s enthralled with her Siren ways. They’d be after me for revenge too, I’m afraid. What a nuisance. Not that you couldn’t handle them, Miguel.” Lucky sighed. “But let this be a lesson for you, Glory. Your new power isn’t a match for a strong and fast vampire who knows what you can do and is prepared to deal with it.” She smiled at Miguel. “And I can afford to hire the best.”

“I’m releasing you now,
chica
. Will you behave? I must warn you, this freeze thing of yours—I know how to take it off your victims. So don’t bother doing it to Miss Lucky. And I will stay behind you, I think. As a precaution.
Entiendes?
”
Miguel slowly eased the pressure off my throat and I coughed, then reached up to rub my neck. Unfortunately Miguel kept his hand on my shoulder like the bastard knew I would disappear if he let me go entirely.

“Yes, I get it. Score one for you, Lucky.” Oh, how I wanted to put Lucky in her place. Her gloating was getting to me and I felt my temper rise. Miguel squeezed my shoulder.

“Don’t.”

“Miguel can read through any mind blocking too, Glory. Just like you can. Isn’t that a bitch?” Lucky laughed then and turned her back on me.

“Wait!” I shrugged off Miguel’s hand, surprised when he let me. “I want you out of Austin, Lucky. Forget that so-called contract. You got your down payment back in a timely manner. Our deal is null and void. How do you like that legalese? Why not go back to New York and your homies, where people appreciate your style? Here? We don’t like you and we don’t want to do business with you. That scene with Rafe should have convinced you of that.”

Lucky stopped and turned around. “You are one straight-up bitch, you know that?” She smoothed down her black cocktail dress, a little much for Sixth Street but mouth watering, and actually smiled. “I swear we could be friends if I didn’t hate you so damned much. I admire a woman who can stand up to me.”

“Yeah, well, you know why I won’t ever be your friend.”

“I know. And I’m getting really tired of Texas, if you want to know the truth. So as soon as I get with the handsome Scottish doctor, I’m ditching this place. Maybe I’ll leave Miguel here as my rep. I still have loans out that need collecting and he seems to have a natural talent for intimidation. A wonderful skill, don’t you agree?” Lucky smiled and nodded at him. Yes, he was still way too close at my back.

“Of course, Miss Lucky. I would be happy to be of service.” Miguel had a cadence to his speech that was almost charming. Too bad his power surrounded me and I wanted to run from him as fast as I could manage.