Мишель Роуэн - Fanged & Fabulous

I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could, Thierry did it for me.

“No, we are not involved in that way. I am simply concerned for Sarah’s future safety.”

I blinked as my breath caught in my chest. Right. Not involved. There it is, then. Veronique was right.

I tried to meet his eyes, but he wouldn’t look directly at me.

Nicolai laughed at that. “I believe Sarah has proven that she needs no one to look after her.”

“I disagree.”

“Of course you do.” Nicolai stared at him for a long moment before he spoke. “You owe me, Thierry.

Do not get in the way of this. Unless there is some other reason you wish to protect her?”

He owed him? What was that supposed to mean?

I watched Thierry to see his reaction. His face was so tense I thought it might shatter. His throat worked as he swallowed. He broke the staring contest between the two of them first.

“Of course Sarah can do as she likes,” he finally said.

I let all of it wash over me and ended up feeling dizzy. This was all happening too fast for me to properly register what was going on.

Nicolai wanted me to consider joining the vampire elders because he believed the rumors about me to be true. I wasn’t supposed to reveal that it was all a big misunderstanding, otherwise I would be killed so the reputation would stay intact. Got that. Crappy corner to paint myself into, to say the least, but I was on board with that.

Thierry didn’t refer to me in mixed company as his girlfriend or even hint that I was any more to him than an employee.

Not on board with that. But there were more important things to focus on at the moment.

I cleared my throat. “So you want my answer before you leave town.”

“That’s correct,” Nicolai said. “It is quite an honor to be asked. To be honest, I expected you to agree right away.”

He thought I’d jump right on the vampire bandwagon of rallying the troops by joining some organization

I’d never heard of? Who did I look like, Bob Hope?

What a mess.

Ever since being turned into a vampire, all I had wanted was my normal life back. For a short time, I even thought there was a cure for vampirism, which I pursued with great gusto. That ended in disappointment and betrayal. I was sick of being disappointed and betrayed. It seriously caused wrinkles.

I didn’t want this reputation. I didn’t want to be constantly hunted like a monster in a video game. I didn’t ask to be a vampire. So far, not too impressed with the whole deal.

I just wanted a normal immortal life with my six-centuries-old boyfriend. Was that too much to ask for?

And what did I have to do to get it?

Even if the rumorswere true, there was nothing Nicolai could say to persuade me to consider joining this

Ring thing. Nothing at all.

“If you agree,” Nicolai said, “we are willing to pay a salary of one hundred thousand dollars a year plus living expenses for your time.”

“One-fifty,” I said.

“Done.” He nodded, smiled, and downed the last of his drink, leaving the hundred dollar bill behind. “I’ll be in touch for your final decision.”

And then Nicolai, vampire elder and my potential new benefactor, strolled out of Haven as if all he’d come in there for was to have a couple of drinks.

Well,” I said after a moment. “That was interesting.”

Thierry glared at me.

I cleared my throat. “So you two are old friends?”

“Our history has nothing to do with what just happened here.”

“What did he mean when he said you owed him?”

He ignored the question. “Why did you just agree to his offer?”

“I didn’t. I’m thinking about it. What? I thought you wanted me to pretend to be tough.”

“I had no idea that he, of all the elders, would come here. And so soon.” He shook his head. “This isn’t right. I fear for your safety.”

“You said I’ll have bodyguards to keep me safe from the hunters. And Nicolai seems nice enough. He’d probably understand if I told him the truth.”

Thierry grabbed my arm and stared into my eyes with concern etched into his handsome features.

“Nicolai cannot know the truth. Ever. He is a very dangerous man, don’t let his charm fool you.” His frown deepened. “You should leave the city. Tonight.”

I pulled away from him. “Let’s not get carried away. I’m not going anywhere. Not yet anyhow.” I smiled. “However, it is so nice of you to be so concerned for the well-being of your employees. We really appreciate it,boss .”

He gaped at me for a moment. Then, despite all that had just happened, a smile twigged at his lips. “I see.”

“Well that makes one of us. Anyhow, I’ll do as you say. I’ll keep lying, and when Nicolai contacts me I will tell him I don’t want anything to do with his Ring thing. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bunch of drinks to make. George looks like he’s about to go postal. And I’ve had to go to the bathroom for the past ten minutes. I believe my bladder is only seconds away from exploding, so if you wouldn’t mind, boss .”

The small smile remained. “This is an incredibly serious and dangerous situation. And you choose to fixate on one small thing I said.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I shrugged and began to work on a stubborn stain on the top of the bar with a rag.

He sighed. “Sarah, if Nicolai knew the two of us are involved, it could have dangerous repercussions.”

“If he’s heard the rumors he already knows we’re together.Chad did. But whatever. Me. Bathroom.

Got to go.”

He sighed. “Fine. I have a few more phone calls to make, myself.”

“You do that.”

He opened his mouth to say something else, but then closed it, nodded, and turned away to disappear in the direction of his office.

I swallowed. I actually felt like crying right there in the middle of the club, but instead I took several long,

deep breaths.

Pull it together, Sarah, I thought.He was just trying to protect you. It didn’t mean anything .

I grabbed an ice cube and ran it along my forehead.

There, that was much better.

Well, not really, but I could pretend, couldn’t I?

Both George and the other waitress hurried over, both looking extremely pissed off for being kept waiting, and placed their latest drink orders. I got them ready before I hit the ladies room, did what I had to do, washed my hands, and returned to the bar feeling incredibly tense.

Maybe I should have stayed home.

Maybe I should have stayed in university and gotten my degree.

Maybe I shouldn’t have given up on acting after a few lousy auditions and that embarrassing feminine hygiene commercial I’ll never live down.

Maybe I never should have gone on that goddamned blind date that got me into this situation in the first place.

Hey, hindsight is always twenty-twenty.

It’s also always there to laugh at your mistakes while you duck under the bar to suck back a shot of tequila with a B-positive chaser.

I’d made a lot of stupid decisions. I never claimed to be a rocket scientist. I knew that. But there was no going back now and wishing things could be different, was there?

I stood up from behind the bar.

“So, what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?” a voice said from behind me.

I turned slowly around.

Michael Quinn leaned against the bar. He gave me a big smile.

A matching smile landed directly on my face. “What makes you think I’m nice?”

“You’re not?” he replied.

“To the right people I am.”

He cocked his slightly scruffy, dark blond head to one side. “Why does this conversation sound strangely familiar?”