“Jewels? You mean like for me to borrow? Or to buy?”
“Borrow, but if you like them, I suppose you could buy them. I didn’t know which dress you were going to wear, so they’re coming by at six with a selection of things. Any idea which gown you’re leaning toward?” She took a seat next to Donna and had a bite of pie, instantly making a very happy face.
“I need to make that decision, don’t I? It’s going to matter for hair and makeup too.” She drank a little more of her coffee. “Tell you what. Let me finish this cup and this slice, and I’ll figure it out.”
“Sounds good. And this pie is amazing.”
“I know, right?” Donna leaned in a little. “Did you and Temo talk?”
“We did,” Charlie answered around a forkful of chocolate silk.
Temo picked his sandwich up. “It’ll go to my grave, boss. I swear.”
“Thank you. I know I have nothing to worry about. So long as Jerabeth is on the same page.”
“She is.” Charlie smiled. “It’s kind of nice to know we don’t have to worry about that aspect of things, though. I mean, with you and the sun. Not with Jerabeth.”
Temo snorted. “Don’t let Charlie fool you. She does worry about it. Or did. Every time I drive you anywhere, she texts me the time of sunrise.”
Donna laughed softly and looked at her admin. “Do you really?”
She lifted one shoulder. “I can’t help it.”
“That’s very sweet.” A door opened downstairs. “I think Neo’s up.”
A few moments later, soft footsteps coming up the stairs caught everyone’s attention.
Neo appeared, wearing a large man’s T-shirt as a nightgown. Undoubtedly Temo’s, which just added to the warm fuzzies Donna was already feeling.
Donna looked at her friend over the rim of her cup. “How’d you sleep?”
Neo smiled lazily. “Not bad. It’s a lot quieter out here than my place in the city. I don’t think I heard a single siren or car horn.”
Donna hadn’t considered that. “Maybe you should see if there are any vacancies in this building and buy a place.”
Neo’s grin took on a new shine. “Not sure I could afford a crib in this joint, but I’m not opposed to the idea.”
“You want some coffee? Or pie?”
“I had coffee downstairs. And what I really need isn’t pie, although that does look good.”
“We have what you need.” Donna tipped her head toward the fridge. “Help yourself. I’m going to feed right before the party.”
“Pierce?” Neo asked.
Donna nodded.
Neo shook her head. “I need to get myself an assistant.”
“No, you don’t,” Temo said quietly.
Neo’s brows rose. “Oh?”
He suddenly seemed to realize what he’d said. “I mean, for tonight. If you want…” He looked at Donna like he was asking for permission.
She shook her head. “What you do with your body is up to you. You’re both consenting adults.”
Neo took a deep breath as she faced Temo, the most curious expression on her face. Like someone had just given her a cake and said every slice was hers. “I’d be up for it. I’ve never had the blood of another supernatural before. I hear it can kind of supercharge you.”
Temo’s smirk said it all. “I guess we’ll see.”
Donna drained the last of her coffee. She thought about a second cup to go with a second slice of pie, but she’d already told Charlie she’d figure out what dress she was wearing. “Try to behave while I’m gone, all right?”
Neo laughed. “No promises.”
Donna put her cup in the sink and the pie back in the fridge and returned to her bedroom. First thing she did was open the drapes and let the light in. The rack of dresses was against the wall closest to the closet, the dresses she was still deciding on at the very front.
Taken as a whole, the rack looked like a peek into a showgirl’s closet. All glitz and glitter.
She sat on the chaise and stared at the gowns. What mood was she in? She wasn’t awake enough to really answer that, but she’d be lying if she didn’t admit to the nerves she was feeling.
It wasn’t the party. She’d been to plenty of them over the years where she’d had to put on a happy face and make small talk. And this one she actually wanted to go to. After all, Francine, Bunni, Dr. Goldberg, LaToya, and Meghan would be there, along with Neo, Pierce, Charlie, and Temo.
No, her nerves were because this was her first foray into vampire society as the new governor. She wanted to make a good impression.
The right impression.
So what was that?
She wanted people to like her. To think she was capable. Smart, intelligent. A good choice for the job. Unlike her first meeting with Fitzhugh and the Russians, she didn’t want to come off as intimidating. What was the opposite of that? Warm. Fun. Approachable.
Which of those dresses said all that?
Her gaze kept going to the red one. She hadn’t even shown that one to the girls when she’d been trying on dresses. Had seemed too much somehow. Too bold. Too over the top. Too exuberant.
She got up and walked to the rack, her hand caressing the gown’s silky fabric. This wasn’t the kind of dress a woman wore to disappear, that was for sure.
She didn’t want to disappear. Not now. Not ever.
She wanted to make a statement. She was here to stay.
She pulled the gown off the rack and hung it so it faced forward.
The dress wrapped the body until the hips, where the skirt suddenly became an abundance of fabric. The slightest breeze would send that skirt into a dance of its own.
Everything about the dress made Donna think about the glamour of old Hollywood. It was an aesthetic she admired. A little vampy, but sexy in a way that had class. It was the dress of a powerful woman.
She quickly tried it on and looked in the mirror.
Tonight, it was Donna’s dress.
With a smile, she changed and went back out to the kitchen. “Charlie, I’m wearing red.”
Charlie looked up from her laptop. “You mean that wine one?”
“No, it’s a different dress. I didn’t show it to you guys because I thought it was too much. But now I think it’s just enough.” Donna grinned. “I’m wearing red.”
“Sounds good. Can’t wait to see it.”
“Me either,” Neo said. “I’m wearing purple. Not that you asked.”
“You’re going to look amazing,” Donna said. “But you always do. You have great style.”
Neo touched her chest with her fingers. “You really think so?”
“Absolutely. It’s edgy and funky and completely your own. You are a woman that knows who she is.”
With a sly smile, Neo leaned back on the counter. “What about Bunni?”
Donna hesitated. Neo and Bunni went together like peanut butter and glass shards. “I don’t think Bunni’s really found herself yet. But she’s young and—”
“So am I,” Neo said.
Donna nodded. “But you have more maturity than she does. And a lot more self-confidence. When a woman finds the self-confidence to do hard things in life and to stop caring what others think—and what society thinks—that’s when you level up as a woman. Bunni hasn’t gotten there yet.”
Neo smirked. “I don’t think she ever will.”
“She might not,” Donna said. “Not every woman does. But good friends, encouraging friends, they can help. And Bunni has those.” Donna gave Neo a pointed look. “She could always use more.”
“Yeah, yeah. What about Francine?”
Donna rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “You already know the answer to that one. Francine is the epitome of a realized woman. Look at her. She’s not only living her best life, she’s living it large enough for several women.”
Neo snorted. “And you haven’t even seen her place or met Lionel.”
Charlie hugged her laptop to her chest. “I can’t wait to meet F
rancine.”
Neo glanced over. “She is something else. There is no one like her. Certainly no other vampire like her.”
“What’s Lionel like? I’m pretty interested to meet him,” Donna admitted.
“He’s very handsome in that kind of European playboy who had money but lost it all because he’s too generous sort of way. Like Francine said, he’s a musician. I’m sure he’ll play tonight. He usually does. Maybe with his band, maybe just him at the piano or with his acoustic guitar. Hard to say. But he’s so incredibly sweet to Francine.”
“Well,” Donna said, “he saved her life.”
“He did,” Neo agreed. “But he’ll tell you that she saved his. That’s just the kind of guy he is.”
Charlie’s brow crumpled. “How old did you say Francine was when she was turned?”
“Eighty-four,” Donna answered.
“And how old is Lionel?”
Neo shrugged. “He’s been around awhile. He was probably in his mid-thirties when he was turned, and that was a couple hundred years ago.”
“Has he been in a band long?”
“Since the sixties, I think.” Neo gave her a look. “Why?”
Charlie narrowed her gaze. “What’s the name of his band?”
“Well, he reinvents himself every couple decades. The current band is called Bittersweet.”
Charlie swallowed, and her mouth fell open. “Bittersweet?” The word came out on a breathy mumble.
Neo nodded. “Why? What’s up? You have some issue with them?”
Charlie fanned herself. “His stage name is Leif Harker, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Neo said. “I think so. I’m more of a Kanye girl myself.”
Charlie slumped a little, leaning hard on the counter. “Oh. Oh my. I’m going to be in the same room as Leif Harker? I…I…I have to wear something different.”
Donna stared at her admin. “I’ve never seen this side of you, Charlie. Actually, I didn’t know you had this side.”
Charlie suddenly straightened. “I’m sorry. Please forgive all that.” She tugged her sweater down. “I will be absolutely professional this evening. You don’t need to worry about that. I will not—”
“Go all fangirl on him?” Neo suggested.
Charlie frowned. “I would never embarrass the governor that way.” She sniffed. “Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
“Nonsense,” Donna said. “You’re going. Does he have any albums out? You should take them. We’ll get him to sign them.”
Charlie gasped. “You think—no, I can’t do that. That wouldn’t be professional.”
“Really?” Donna made a face. “Because I happen to know Christina loves Bittersweet, and if I can get her something signed, I’m doing it. If you don’t want in on that, then—”
“No!” Charlie almost shouted. “I’m in. I’m so in.”
Donna grinned. Tonight was going to be more interesting than she’d imagined.
Chapter Thirty
Donna peered through the SUV’s window at Francine’s house.
A lot of the brownstones in Manhattan had been broken up into smaller apartments and only retained the ghosts of the great houses they’d once been.
Francine’s was not one of those, despite the basement apartment that had been her introduction to Lionel. No, this brownstone was a home in its entirety, all five floors of it.
The façade wasn’t as ornate as some of the other brownstones on the street, but it was distinctive. The brick was laid in such a way that it created arches and cornices over the windows. In other spots, a herringbone pattern was used for accent.
White marble sills and trim—or maybe it was limestone, Donna wasn’t sure which—stood out in sharp contrast to all the deep red along with black wrought-iron balustrades across the windows that formed decorative, shallow balconies. The only true usable balcony was on the second floor. It jutted a few feet from the house but ran the whole width. Two wrought-iron chairs and a café table sat at one end.
The building had a clean, charming, 1920s deco vibe that Donna immediately loved.
But what Donna liked best was how the interior was so lit up that every pane in every leaded-glass window sparkled with the warm, golden glow of celebration.
Music spilled out of the place, and black-capped valets stood at the ready to park cars for those who’d driven. Temo pulled up, then jumped out and handed over the keys. When that was taken care of, he opened the car doors for the rest of them.
Pierce got out first, offering Donna his hand, then he helped Charlie. She walked ahead to go in with Temo.
Donna took Pierce’s arm, and he leaned in. “Have I said how gorgeous you look this evening?”
“Only a handful of times.” She smiled. She knew she looked good, and she was happy about it. Looking good made her confident. She imagined that was universally true for most women.
India had done her hair in soft, flowing waves, and her makeup was appropriately dramatic for the evening. She felt like she’d just stepped out of a movie. Even more so with her very own Cary Grant beside her.
Pierce wore his tux, of course. Temo was in a charcoal suit, and Charlie had gone with an off-the-shoulder black gown that was simple but stunning. Donna had insisted she borrow a diamond bracelet and earrings from the selection of things the man from Van Marten’s had brought. With his approval, of course.
He hadn’t given it a second thought.
The eye-popping piece Donna had borrowed helped her Hollywood vibe. The ruby and diamond necklace was impossible to miss. The Van Marten’s rep had told her it was appraised at half a million dollars and had been worn to the Oscars.
She didn’t know which celebrity neck this dazzler had graced, but she had a feeling the parties it had been to on Oscar night had been nothing compared to the one they were about to walk into.
Her crucifix and chain were discreetly tucked into her bra. She hoped that qualified as wearing it if a UV situation arose, which she couldn’t imagine it would. But still.
As they entered the foyer, a luxurious space paneled in green malachite and more white marble trimmed in gold, Francine met them.
She held out her arms. “Belladonna!”
“Hi, Francine.”
Pierce let her go to greet the older woman.
Francine wrapped Donna in a hug. “Don’t you look like the bee’s knees. So beautiful. I think you’re the best-looking governor here.”
Donna laughed. “Aren’t I also the only governor here?”
“Heavens no,” Francine said. “There are three others. Plus the vampire ambassador from France. Renard and his wife happened to be in town, and his people got in touch with my people, so I said why not. They all want to meet you.”
“Oh.” That was unexpected. But then, Neo had told Donna to expect just that. “You look incredible, too, Francine.” She was dressed in a cream-colored pantsuit and dripping in diamonds and cornflower-blue sapphires that made the color of her eyes pop.
“Thanks, honey.” Francine smiled up at Pierce. “Hello there, handsome.”
Donna grinned and waved Charlie and Temo over. “Francine, you know Pierce, of course, but let me also introduce my admin, Charlene, and the head of my security, Temo.”
Francine stuck her hand out. “Hi. So glad you could come.”
Charlie shook her hand first. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please, call me Charlie. And thank you so much for opening your home to honor the governor. It’s so generous.”
Francine winked at Donna. “She’s good.” Then she offered her hand to Temo. “I’ve already heard about you from a mutual friend. She’s upstairs, by the way, with Bunni, LaToya, and Meghan. Probably already surrounded by men, with that dress she’s almost wearing.”
Temo shook Francine’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you.” Then he looked at Donna. “Do you need me, or, uh…”
She tipped her head toward the stairs. “Go. Before there’s an incident.”
He nodded. “Thank you.”
<
br /> As he dashed up the steps, Donna turned back to Francine. “Who are the other governors here?”
She ticked them off on her fingers. “Fitzhugh, of course. Can’t have a party like this in his state without inviting him. Greene. She’s the governor of Ohio. And Showell, the Maryland governor. But listen, we have all night. There’s no rush. Besides, I want to introduce you to Lionel.”
Charlie let out a little meep but covered by coughing.
Francine hooked her arm through Donna’s. “We should get you a drink too. Do you like champagne? I adore it. And as circumstance would have it, Renard insisted on sending over ten cases of Dom as a thank-you for the invite.”
“Ten?”
Francine patted her arm. “That’s only sixty bottles. Well, fifty-four.” She laughed. “I put one case away for myself.”
Donna glanced back at Pierce and Charlie. “What do you say? Champagne?”
They both nodded. Donna raised her brows. “We’re all in for bubbly.”
The crowd meant it took a few minutes to navigate the stairs to the second floor. It opened into a beautiful, light, airy space of cream walls and a white marble floor accented with tiny black squares and matching black marble trim around the perimeter.
In the center of the room were two shiny black platforms. Each held a performer dressed in a Harlequin bodysuit. The woman, in black and purple, was a contortionist and continually bent herself into a variety of shapes. The man, in black and green, juggled glass orbs, occasionally taking a break from the juggling to wind them around his hands and body in such a way that made them appear to float.
All around them mingled one of the best-looking crowds Donna had ever seen. Her nerves, which had disappeared while talking to Francine, suddenly returned. “You’ve really outdone yourself, Francine.”
She grinned. “Wait until you see the fire-eater in the garden. He’s really something. And not just because he’s shirtless.” She laughed. “I’ve even got mermaids in the pool. You’ll see. Let’s get some champagne, and then I’ll give you the tour.”
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