Real Vampires Have Curves (13 page)

“All men are beasts. That's my new philosophy and Westwood proves the point.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket. Should I listen to Blade's message? Not now. I was dead, well almost. The sky was getting lighter outside and I needed my bed and the blackout drapes in my bedroom.

I checked the deadbolts. “Let's go to bed. We'll talk about this tomorrow.” I looked down at Valdez. “You ready?”

“Fine.” I would deal with that macho mind-set later. I hugged Flo again. “I'm glad you got away from him. Valdez is right about one thing, you shouldn't go out alone after this. Westwood knows what you look like now.”

“I'll be careful.” Flo patted my back. When she released me, she had a puzzled look on her face.

“Sleep well.” I headed for my room.

“Wait!” Flo hurried after me.

Now what? I was too tired to think. I unzipped my jumpsuit and dropped it on the floor.

“I knew it! I smelled . . . Damian. You've been with my brother.” She grabbed my chin. “Bastard! Look at you. Mauled. Couldn't he bother to shave?” Then she saw my neck.

“You let him taste you?”

Valdez growled and I shoved him into the living room and slammed the door. Maybe he could hear through it, but I didn't need a third party observer right now.

“I didn't
let
him do anything, Flo. He forced me.” I heard Valdez's enraged barking. Great, now Blade would know. I rubbed the marks. I should have erased them immediately, but they'd be gone when I woke anyway.

Flo muttered something in Italian. “I hope you ripped off his man part and stuffed it down his throat.”

Now there was a visual to savor. “I should have. I certainly felt like it. Unfortunately it would probably grow back.” God, did we have to go into this tonight? “I handled it, him, Flo. Please don't get involved in this, okay?”

“How can I not? My brother attacks my roomie?” She swept her gaze over me. “You wear a thong for him. Pah! He deserves granny pants and one of your sexless sacks.”

“I didn't wear this for him. I wore it for
me.
And my sacks are all downstairs, for sale.” Unfortunately. I could have really enjoyed vegging out in something sexless right now. Instead, I rummaged in my dresser and pulled out a blue lace-trimmed nightie. “You staying for the show or heading to bed?”

Flo sighed. “Bed. This has been a horrible night. I am almost killed. My lover is a jerk. And my brother . . .” More Italian. “You can't expect me not to say anything, Glory. I would like to grind his fangs into dust. Let him try drinking Bloody Merry the rest of his days through a straw. Biting my roomie.” Muttering in Italian, she pulled open the door and slammed it behind her.

Maybe she'd cool off by evening. I dropped my underwear into a laundry basket and pulled on the gown. Valdez scratched at the door and I let him in before I turned out the light. I could tell he wanted to lecture me, but I sent him a stern mental message to just shut up and go to sleep.

I lay down then felt the bed shake as Valdez jumped up to settle next to my feet. I usually like my bed, but it was a slab compared to Damian's. What a hell of a thought to go to sleep on.

World War III had broken out in my living room. Barking. Shouting in at least three languages. Would anyone notice if I just stayed in bed with the covers over my head for, say, the next year?

But I was anxious to get down to the shop to count yesterday's receipts. And how had we done during the day today? I pulled on another vintage outfit and took plenty of time with my makeup. I used to get help with my stage makeup, but for every day I do it by feel. After decades of practice, I've got it down to a science. I added a little contouring to give me the illusion of cheekbones, then reluctantly opened my bedroom door.

Silence. All nations had either declared a cease fire or they'd killed each other. No such luck. Flo had collapsed on the love seat, her head thrown back as she stared at the ceiling. Blade glowered near the front door, in his fighting stance and wearing full Clan Campbell regalia. Damian lounged in one of the club chairs until he saw me in the doorway. He leaped to his feet and winked. Valdez trotted up to me representing Fido-land. He and Jerry stared at me as if I'd suddenly sprouted horns and a tail.

“What?” I strolled into the kitchen and pulled a Bloody Merry out of the refrigerator. This silence was even worse than the yelling had been.

“Damian brought your keys, Gloriana.” Blade fingered his broadsword. “He claims you left them in his bed.”

Damian grinned, obviously quite happy to drive Blade insane. And what was wrong with that, now that I thought about it?

I yawned. “Is that where I left them?”

Valdez woofed.
“You got a death wish, Blondie? Anybody,”
he glanced at Damian—“
anybody could have gotten hold of those keys. Besides, you never shoulda left me up here.”

I reached down to rub his ears. “Sorry, pup. When you're right, you're right. From now on, you can stay in the shop with me.”

“I should hope so. None of us need to take foolish chances.” Flo had finally found her voice. For a woman who usually chattered nonstop, she was being very subdued now that the shouting match had stopped.

“How are you feeling?” I moved closer and put my arm around her. “You look like hell.”

“Compliments. That's all I needed.”

To my horror, Flo welled up and fled to her bedroom. She slammed the door on a sob.

“Whoa. Was it something I said?” I looked at Damian. He shrugged again.

“I don't know what her problem is. She and Blade were busy yelling at me about those keys.” He strolled over as if to put an arm around me. I gave him a look that stopped him in his tracks. He threw up his hands. “Women!”

“It's not just women, Damian. Flo's obviously still upset about last night.” Could Damian really not know about his sister's near miss?

“Why?” Damian smiled at me. “Is my sister saying I shouldn't date her roommate? You won't listen to her, will you,
cara
?”

“You're not the center of the universe, Sabatini. This isn't about you. Florence has good reason to be upset.” Blade didn't seem surprised by the brother-sister thing. Of course he'd probably been reading minds right and left.

Damian looked at me. “All I know about is Gloriana's encounter.”

“What encounter?” Blade grabbed my arms and made me face him.

I wondered if I could sharpen the wooden spoon I'd seen in a kitchen drawer and use it to shut Damian's big mouth, permanently. Blade was on the protect Glory warpath now. Which I didn't need. Damian had better get a clue if he had any notion of getting something going with
me.

“Let me go, Blade.” I gave him a hard look. “I don't respond well to manhandling, remember?”

Blade stepped back and held out his hands. “Fine, but again, what encounter?”

“No big deal. A man wandered into the shop and had been with a vampire. I freaked because the vamp hadn't erased the man's memory or the fang marks on his neck. You know how I feel about blending.” I sipped my drink. “I sure don't want my shop to become a magnet for vamp wannabes.”

“It's that name.”
Valdez had decided to put in his two cents.
“I told ya, Blondie. You're just askin' for it.”

“Nonsense. The name is clever, Gloriana.” Blade gave Valdez a look and the dog lay down and lowered his head to his paws.

Clever? Wow. But maybe a little too clever if my shop turned into a Goth hangout.

“So what's wrong with Florence?” Damian glanced at her closed bedroom door.

“She's upset about Westwood, Sabatini. He shot at her last night. If she hadn't shape-shifted, he would have killed her.” Blade scowled at Damian like he should have been protecting his sister instead of frolicking in bed with me.

“Dios mio!”
Damian swore and strode down the hall to Flo's room. He jerked open the door and went inside. Italian. Loud Italian. He slammed the door so at least the volume was muted.

“Are you starting a relationship with Damian, Gloriana?”

I didn't owe Jerry an answer, but saw no point in playing games.

“I doubt it.”

“Then come home with me.” He stepped closer.

“Because Westwood's in town?” I moved away to sit on the love seat. “No way. I'm staying here. I'll take Valdez down with me from now on, but the shop had a great start. I think it's going to be a moneymaker.”

“You could open a shop like that in Lake Charles instead. I'd feel better if you were close.”

I sipped my Bloody Merry, grateful for the energy it gave me. Blade just stared at me. I was
not
caving. Even though I could practically
feel
his frustration.

“I haven't lived close to you in decades, Jerry, and we've always had hunters to deal with.” I held up my hand when he opened his mouth to argue. “I know. Westwood's more high tech than the others, but I'm sure not abandoning my shop to chase you to Lake Charles and hide inside your casino. Sorry, Jerry. You mean well, but I'm staying.”

“If you won't go there, I'll have to come here.”

“What?” I put down my can.

“You heard me. I'll move here, to Austin.”

“You'd really do that? For me?” This was serious. “What about your business?”

“I've already had offers. I'll just sell it.” He sat down on the chair across from me, his elbows on his knees as he stared at me.

I stared back. Seeing him in his plaid always reminded me of other, more primitive times. Some of them pretty damned good. If only he didn't look so absolutely hunky . . . Not a factor.

“You aren't going to do this for
me.
Uproot your life. Forget it.”

“I'm not going to forget it. Besides, I was ready to move on.” He sat back and crossed his legs. Naughty man, he'd flashed me. And did I look? You bet. His family jewels were just as impressive as the rest of his package.

“You sure you want to come to Austin? It's totally unnecessary. I have my own life. Friends.”

“So do I. Mara will be happy to come with me. She's obsessed with taking out Westwood.”

“Of course. This is about Westwood.” Thump. Well, there went
my
ego. Time for a strategic retreat. I glanced at the clock and got to my feet.

“It's been swell, but I'm going downstairs now. You can wait for Damian and Flo to come out if you want. But I've got a business to run.” I hurried into the bedroom to grab my purse and keys. Valdez sat next to the door with his leash in his mouth.

“I know. You're coming.” I turned to Blade who, ever the gentleman, had jumped to his feet. “My day worker, Lacy, has been on duty by herself since six this morning. I probably need a third person, a third shift. I don't know yet. Maybe I should close from six in the morning until noon.” My mind raced with possible solutions.

Better to think about business than the man who stood so close I could have reached out and touched his face, a face which looked freshly shaved. It would be smooth except for the occasional rough spot, that mirror thing again. I remember shaving him, back in the day. He'd loved the attention and had showed his gratitude in some very clever ways . . . No, I was getting sidetracked. Business. I had to relieve Lacy.

Blade stepped even closer. “You're serious about this store, aren't you, Gloriana?”

“Of course I am. I'm finally getting why you've always owned your own places.” Blade has a string of businesses all over the world. He'd start one, decide to move on, then keep a percentage while he set up something else in a new location. No wonder he's rich. “I'm sure you'll make a profit when you sell your casino.”

“Yes, I will. But I don't give a damn about that.” He brushed my cheek with his thumb. “I'm worried about you. You're in danger here, Gloriana. Please be careful.”

I fiddled with Valdez's leash to keep from leaning into that touch. No, I was
not
that needy.

“Thanks for your concern. But I'll be okay.” I patted Valdez's head. “I've got my guard dog, Damian's security system complete with panic button, and my friends.” I smiled and pocketed my keys Damian had left on the coffee table. Leaving my keys had been careless of me, but I'd been so upset . . . I narrowed my eyes.

“Wait a minute. Last night.” I stomped my foot. “Don't. Ever. Speak. Into. My. Mind. Again.” I punctuated each word with a finger stab into Blade's hard chest. He didn't even flinch. Which made me
really
want to hurt him.

“It was an emergency. Valdez reported that Westwood was here in Austin and that Florence said the shop was closed when she came home. She was worried when you weren't upstairs either.” Blade grabbed my hand and held onto it when I tried to wrench it free. “I didn't know where you were, Gloriana.”

“And you have to know where I am every minute of every day? Why not just lock me in the Campbell dungeon?” I looked down at his hand which had tightened around mine. “Oops. I forgot. You lost the keys to the dungeon when you called your father—”

“That's enough. I'm only trying to keep you safe. It's my obligation.” I swear if a vamp could stroke out, Blade would be on his way to intensive care.

And I wasn't far behind him. Obligation? Not exactly a declaration of undying love. And wasn't I an idiot to want one? After all this time? I took a breath and looked down at my hand, just about mangled by his.