The Vampire and the Vixen (2 page)

“Rafe.”

“Shh.” His silken whisper skittered over her. “Let’s just pretend for a little while longer.” He lowered his head and his lips found hers.

Sweet heaven. His warmth enveloped her. Surrounded her. Urged her to yield to the tender brush of his masterful strokes. With a sigh she splayed her hands on his wide back beneath the cape and surrendered. Her lips parted and his mouth consumed hers. The taste of red wine, but richer, headier, lingered on his tongue. When she trembled, he pulled her closer, until the mounds of her breasts above the low neckline of her gown nestled against firm, hard muscle.

His lips trailed along the underside of her jaw. A delicious shiver rippled down her spine. He inhaled. “You smell so damn good.” He placed a searing kiss on the pulse in her throat. The blood flowed faster through her veins. His soft moan vibrated against her flesh.

His thumb brushed her breast through the satin of her bodice. The nipple tightened. A flash of white-hot desire burned into her womb, then drizzled lower. Her thighs parted to allow his leg to slip between hers. The wool of his pants was slightly rough against her bare skin.

The muted chatter from the main ballroom grew louder when the door to the balcony opened for a brief moment. But it was enough. Enough to send a lick of sanity to her passion clouded brain.

She wrenched her mouth from his. A tiny stab of loss pierced her when he allowed it. She ignored it. What was she doing?

She raised a shaking hand to her swollen lips. “I-I have to go.” Without a backwards glance, if she looked into his passion-clouded eyes again she’d change her mind, she wrenched the door open and stumbled inside.

The room buzzed with jumbled conversation. Michael Jackson’s
Thriller
reverberated through the speakers in the ceiling. They were back to monster music. Good.

She took a few steadying breaths, then peeked over her shoulder to make sure Rafe hadn’t followed her back in. She placed a hand over her heart in an attempt to slow its frantic beating.

“Oh good. You’re just in time for Arthur’s speech.”

Kelsey turned and Tracy handed her a glass of wine. She took a gulp. The tart taste slid down her throat and settled in her stomach, but did little to calm the jitters there. “Thanks, I needed that.”

“I saw you head out to the balcony with that sexy vampire.”

“It, um, was a little stuffy in here. I needed a breath of fresh air.”

“Right.” Tracy cleaved the word into two syllables. “Is that why you look all flushed and you have a love bite on your neck?”

“Oh God.” Kelsey draped her hair in front of her shoulders. She didn’t remember him biting her. Except in her fantasy. “Is it covered?”

“It’s fine.”

Kelsey glanced around. She fingered the hair hiding the mark. “I don’t know what got into me.” Could she blame getting caught up in the magic of the night? Taking on the character of her costume? Had there been a full moon?

“I wonder who he is.”

“I don’t know.” She winced. “Maybe he’s making a donation to the project.”

Tracy shook her head. “There’s something about him I can’t quite put my finger on.”

Sexy. Devastatingly handsome. Wickedly tempting. What couldn’t Tracy put her finger on?

The music abruptly cut off, and Arthur took his place behind the podium at the front of the room. He cleared his throat. “I’d like to thank everyone for coming out tonight and supporting us. Your donations will help fund the library’s programs for the next year.” He paused as applause filled the room. “This library has been in existence since our town was founded nearly a hundred years ago. Over the last twelve months, we’ve been working on a project that will lead us in a new direction. Everywhere you go people have access to things they want and need twenty-four hours a day. You can get fast food, do ATM banking, work out at the gym. Why not be able to come to the library? Beginning October 31, the library will be open twenty-four hours, seven days a week.”

Kelsey joined another round of applause. She grinned at Tracy. Months of planning were coming to fruition. As head of library programming, she’d been researching and developing programs for all ages to be offered during the new nighttime hours. Someday down the line, she wanted Arthur’s job of Executive Director. If the new nighttime offerings were a success, she’d be one step closer.

Something made the hair on the back of her neck prickle. She glanced up into Rafe’s eyes. He stood just to the side of the dais. Even from across the room, an invisible current flowed between them. If he was a possible donor, could their intimate encounter on the balcony be construed as a conflict of interest? As coercion? Quid pro quo?

“To lead us in this venture,” Arthur continued. “I’d like to introduce you all to Rafe Alexander, the new Executive Deputy Director of Nighttime Operations.”

Horror flooded Kelsey and rooted her numb legs to the spot. Rafe wasn’t a possible donor. He was her new boss.

Chapter Two

Monday evening, Kelsey gathered her courage before walking into the library’s conference room. After Arthur’s heart-stopping announcement at the fundraiser Saturday night, she’d fled the banquet hall like the hounds of Hades were on her heels. Which might have been the case.

She’d had the rest of the weekend, and a long, long Monday to dwell on the colossal error in judgment. How could she have been so stupid to kiss her new boss? Now it was time to face the music. Or at least face Rafe.

Her heartbeat quickened.

He’d called his first project meeting, and it wasn’t like she could refuse to attend. All her hopes of a promotion rested on the outcome of the new nighttime programs. Since he was in charge, there was no avoiding him.

Maybe he wouldn’t remember. Right. And maybe pigs would sprout wings and soar past the clock tower across the square outside.

She took a final fortifying breath, and pulled open the door. Rafe looked up from the folder on the table in front of him, and his gaze met hers.

Sweet Moses. Even without the Dracula costume he was still commanding. Sexy. Tempting.

Ignoring the instant flash of heat, she looked away and smoothed a strand of hair back into its simple twist. She slid into the vacant chair next to Tracy and risked another glance at Rafe. His dark eyes watched her intently. Intimate secrets shone in the deep depths. His gaze dropped to her lips. Hers lowered to the faux wood grain of the table. She gulped.

He remembered.

A tingle shimmied down her spine. She remembered, too. Gentle but insistent hands. Firm lips. The heady flavor on his tongue. Languid heat flooded through her.

“Did you two talk about what happened at the fundraiser?” Tracy muttered out of the corner of her mouth as she passed a stack of papers to Kelsey.

She took the top packet and passed the rest to her left. “God, no. I haven’t talked to him, period.”

Tracy eyed him.

“Stop staring,” Kelsey hissed.

Rafe cleared his throat and the room fell silent. “Let me begin by telling all of you how happy I am to be a part of this project. And thank you for meeting with me in the evening. As the nighttime director, I’ll be working nights, and I’ve already gotten into the habit of sleeping during the day.”

A few chuckles met the statement.

“So first things first. Sherry is going to take pizza orders.”

The efficient assistant held a pen poised over the paper in front of her. “Okay, give them to me.” She jotted notes as those gathered around the table stated their preferences.

Kelsey avoided looking at Rafe, instead keeping her gaze cemented to the packet in front of her. But she couldn’t avoid the scent of his aftershave lingering subtly in the room. Or how his very presence filled the small space and made her achingly aware of every move he made. She twitched when Sherry spoke his name.

“Rafe? Anything special for you?”

“Nope. Anything but garlic works for me, and it looks like we have that covered.”

Beside her, Tracy stiffened. “Oh.”

“What?” Kelsey whispered.

“Nothing. I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay, so let’s get started,” Rafe continued. “Just so we’re all on the same page here, I’d like to briefly go over what each of you has been doing on the project and what my expectations are for you in the future. I promise I won’t keep you here too late. I know many of you have families to get home to.”

Appreciative nods and murmurs swept the group.

“Kelsey?”

She wiped sweaty palms on her skirt. “Yes, Mr. Alexander?” Could he hear the tremor in her voice?

His lips quirked. “You’ve been working on developing programs for the new nighttime hours?”

“Yes.”

“Excellent. Let’s set up a time to discuss that further tomorrow or the next day. Also…” His gaze captured hers.

And held it. For much longer than proper. Heat flooded through her. She wet dry lips. He tracked the involuntary gesture.

Someone cleared their throat.

“Since I won’t be here during the day.” Rafe went on as if he hadn’t been caught staring at her. “I’d like you to be my liaison with Arthur. Would you be able to adjust your schedule to be here from one to nine? If so, then you can step in as Assistant Director.”

A thrill shot through her. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Excellent. I’ll get the necessary paperwork to HR.”

“I didn’t think a decision had been reached about the assistant direction position,” Ryan said. He shot her a narrow-eyed look from across the table. It was no secret he’d also been hoping for the promotion.

Rafe didn’t look up from his notes. “I just made one.”

“I guess if you’re sleeping with the boss…” Ryan muttered.

Kelsey stiffened. Apparently her behavior at the fundraiser hadn’t gone unnoticed. Her hands trembled as she tapped the papers on the table until all of the edges aligned. Did people really think that’s why she’d gotten the job? How could she blame them? More importantly, if that was the only reason Rafe had given it to her, she didn’t want it.

The meeting continued around her in a blur. Luckily, she knew the ins and outs of the programs she’d developed like the back of her hand and was able to answer any questions directed her way. With ironclad willpower, and her fingers clenched around the seat of her chair, she managed to avoid looking at Rafe.

They took a quick break when dinner arrived to load their plates, then resumed. Although Kelsey had been looking forward to a slice of her favorite deep-dish pizza all day, the knot in her stomach rendered the thick, cheese-filled pie nearly tasteless.

At eight o’clock, Rafe tossed down his pen. “Okay, folks, that will do it for the night. I think we’re off to a good start here. If you need anything, let me know. During the day, when I’m not here, your first line of contact is Kelsey.”

She ignored how the sound of her name on his lips caused her legs to quiver. And she ignored the glare Ryan sent in her direction.

“If neither of us are here, leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Anything else?”

When no one replied in the affirmative, Rafe nodded. “Then have a great night everyone.”

In small groups, pairs, or singly, the conference room emptied until only Rafe, Tracy, and Kelsey were left.

Tracy stood, then looked down at Kelsey when she remained sitting. “Are you coming?”

“In a minute. I need to—” her gaze flicked to Rafe, whose head was bent over his work as he wrote on the papers in front of him—“do something first.”

Tracy looked at Rafe, too. “As soon as you’re done, I need to talk to you about something.”

“I’ll come find you when I’m finished.” With no one else in the room, Rafe had to have heard their conversation, but he didn’t look up from his task.

“Okay. Don’t be too long. It’s important.”

As soon as Tracy left, Rafe set down his pen. “What’s on your mind, Kelsey?”

Why did it sound so damn…good…when he said her name? Toe-curling, knee-weakening good. “Why did you give me the Assistant Director’s job?”

If the question surprised him, he didn’t show it. “You have the most experience. You were in line for the promotion.”

“Ryan was in line for it, too. So why did you pick me? If it’s because of the other night…”

Rafe quirked an eyebrow. “The other night?”

Her face heated, but she raised her chin. “I don’t want people thinking I got this job because of…what happened between us at the fundraiser.”

As the daughter of a well-known District Attorney she’d grown up with people having the impression she was handed anything she wanted in life. She’d decided on a career far outside her father’s sphere of influence, and intended to make something of herself on her own merits. Not because she had a famous father. And not because she’d made out with the boss.

He sat back in the padded leather chair and steepled his hands. A gold signet ring adorned his left pinkie. His black sweater stretched tight across his broad shoulders and chest, outlining well-defined muscles. “Ahh. Is that what you think?”

Kelsey stared at the white board behind him. The faint shadow of another meeting’s previously erased notes shone in the glare of the florescent lights. “I don’t know what to think.”

“Look, I chose you for the position based on your job performance and the recommendation Arthur gave me. I told him my decision last week. Ask him yourself.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “You don’t know anything about my job performance.”

“I do from your personnel file.”

“Oh.” She should walk away. Decline the job. But she’d wanted it for so long. Been working for it for so long. Could she believe him? Trust him?

More importantly, how in the world would she be able to work with him when she was so…aware of him? The tension zinging between them was a palpable thing in the room.

She nibbled her lip. “People saw us. They’ll think the only reason I got the job was because—”

“Then prove them wrong.”

“What does that mean?”

“Prove you’re the best person for this job. I gave it to you because of your qualifications. Now show me, and everyone else, I was right.”