Vampires and Vixens (Psy-Vamp)

by Lawson, Cassandra

  Justin looked like he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to strangle Caitlin or kiss her. When Caitlin turned her back on him, he smacked her ass hard and stormed out of the club. She nearly toppled over from the impact of his hand.

  “Prick!” Caitlin shouted after him.

  Trish had her hand on Isaiah’s arm and she kept telling various men that she was with someone. Isaiah didn’t seem to notice the exchanges, or her hand on his arm.

  Hannah made a grab for her drink, but Noah moved it to the other side of the table. She stuck her tongue out at him. He stared at her. It was easy to see why she fascinated his brother. In some ways he wished that his brother hadn’t met her first. He turned away, feeling guilty.

  “We should get going before Justin drives off and leaves us here,” Noah said trying to make a quick getaway.

  Hannah looked disappointed. It was obvious that she didn’t really want the evening to end. “Okay,” she said. “I’m glad we ran into you.” Her voice was a little slurred.

  “How are you ladies getting home?” Noah asked.

  Trish raised a hand. “Designated driver at your service.”

  “Well, then I guess I’ll see you later,” Noah said a little awkwardly.

  Isaiah tucked his phone into his pocket, mumbled a quick goodbye, and followed Noah out of the club.

  Chapter Ten

  Noah answered the door in worn grey sweat pants and a white t-shirt. His hair was wet and it looked like he had just taken a shower. “This is a pleasant surprise, but I think you might be a little overdressed for my humble abode.”

  Hannah smiled. Noah always made her smile. They had lunch together once or twice a week, and he’d helped her raise her Statistics grade. In the month that she’d known him, Noah had become one of her closest friends.

  “Nathaniel is changing his shirt before we leave, so I decided to stop by and say hi.” She tried to sound nonchalant about the visit.

  Noah crossed his arms over his chest, and gave her a suspicious look. “I don’t buy it, so you may as well confess your real reason for dropping by. Or did you just want to hear me tell you how beautiful you look in that dress?”

  She loved the dress. It looked like the Marilyn Monroe dress from The Seven Year Itch except it was a dark shade of teal. “Trish loaned it to me.” She gave a little twirl so the skirt fluttered out.

  “What’s the hidden agenda?” he asked again.

  “Why would you think I have a hidden agenda?” she asked sweetly.

  “You have that hand in the cookie jar expression.”

  “Well, there is something I wanted to talk to you about,” she admitted with a meddlesome twinkle in her eyes.

  He smiled triumphantly. “I knew it!”

  Her gaze moved from him to the bookshelf at the back of the living room. “I was just wondering what you thought of my friend Trish.”

  His eyes widened in shock. “Are you trying to play matchmaker for me?”

  “Why not? I know that you don’t have a girlfriend and Trish is really great. I have Nathaniel and I want you to have someone too.”

  He sighed. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I don’t like being the victim of matchmaking schemes. Trish is not the right person for me.”

  “I’m just trying to be a good friend to you.”

  He gazed at her with his usual warmth. “I know, and it’s really sweet of you to worry about me.”

  She studied him for a moment. “Are you gay, Noah?” She placed her hands on his arms which were crossed in front of his chest, and spoke in a supportive voice. “No matter what, you’re still my friend.”

  He uncrossed his arms, gripped her shoulders, and stared down at her. “It’s tempting to tell you yes, so you’ll stop trying to fix me up with your friends, but I get the feeling that you’ll start trying to find the perfect man for me then.”

  Her guilty expression was answer enough.

  “I’m not gay. I just prefer to find my own dates. Can you understand that?”

  She sighed, and then nodded. Her face lit up as an idea came to her. “Hey, Nathaniel has to go out of town next weekend. Would you like to do something on Friday?”

  “Sure,” he said. “Just let me know the details.”

  “You know, I could bring Trish on Friday,” she said casually at the door.

  “That’s a great idea,” he said with feigned enthusiasm. “Then you won’t need me to go with you.”

  “Fine, I won’t try to set you up. It will be a group thing with Trish, Caitlin and Lydia.”

  His lips curled into a devilish grin. “Four women, and me, that sounds like something from my Christmas list. I may have to write a letter to Penthouse.”

  Hannah placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. “Very funny, Noah.”

  “You said it yourself, I don’t have a girlfriend so these kinds of fantasies keep me going.” He tweaked her nose. “So where are you off to tonight?”

  “Nathaniel is taking me to dinner in Monterey.”

  “Really?” He sounded surprised. “Have you and Nathaniel talked about your families?”

  “A little. I haven’t told him as much as I’ve told you, but I will,” she assured him.

  “Both of you should really talk about these things,” he said.

  “You’re just like the overprotective big brother that I never had.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

  A sick feeling came over Noah. He did feel an obligation to protect Hannah, but his feelings for her were far from brotherly. That realization made him feel like a real jerk. He cleared his throat. “If things keep going the way they are I’ll be your brother-in-law.”

  His casual statement obviously made her uncomfortable. “I’ve only been dating Nathaniel for a month. I think it’s a little early to talk about marriage.”

  He studied her face. “Things are going well with my brother?” he asked cautiously.

  “Of course,” she said too quickly. “I’m very happy with Nathaniel. He’s wonderful.”

  Nathaniel had come up behind her so silently that she nearly jumped out of her skin when he put his hand on her bare shoulder.

  She spun around and put her hand over her heart.

  “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “If you do that too often, I’ll have to put a bell on you,” Hannah teased.

  Noah laughed, but Nathaniel just looked confused. “I don’t think I’d like wearing a bell, so I suppose I should avoid startling you.”

  Hannah wrapped her arms around Nathaniel’s waist and hugged him tightly. “I think you would look very cute with a bell.”

  “Maybe a cow bell,” Noah suggested.

  Nathaniel finally caught on to the fact that they were teasing him. He kissed the top of Hannah’s head. “We should go soon.”

  “I’ll see you on Friday, Noah. Oh, and don’t forget our lunch date Wednesday,” she said as she turned to walk away.

  Nathaniel held her hand as they walked to his car. He wore a black dinner jacket with a teal shirt. After seeing her dress, he had insisted that they stop by his house so he could change into the teal shirt, because it complimented her dress. The man loved clothes. As usual, dark sunglasses masked his eyes.

  He opened the passenger door of the 1966 Shelby Cobra for her. Nathaniel had several cars. He loved cars more than he loved clothes, and this one was his favorite.

  “So what did Noah say?” Nathaniel asked as he slid behind the wheel.

  She didn't look at him. “He wasn’t thrilled.”

  “I tried to warn you,” he gloated playfully.

  “I haven’t given up yet.” Determination filled her eyes. “We’re going out on Friday and Trish is coming with us. Before you ask, yes Noah knows.” She smiled proudly.

  “How did you manage that?”

  She shrugged. “I made it a group thing with Trish, Caitlin, and Lydia, so it won’t technically be a date. We all met up at that club so h
e’s been out with them before.”

  “Ah, yes, the night that you nearly broke Noah’s nose.” He seemed very amused. “You’re a good friend to my brother, but Trish isn’t right for him.”

  She decided not to argue. “I’ve never been to Monterey before.”

  “You’ll love it,” he assured her. “The restaurant is one of my favorites. It’s so close to the beach that you can hear the waves breaking most nights.”

  Soft music played from the car’s stereo and filled the silence. Nathaniel liked classical music and some easy listening, so she knew what to expect in his car. He always preferred to focus on driving. As a result, they didn’t talk much on the drive there.

  It was another way he differed from Noah. When she climbed into Noah’s truck she never knew what type of music he might be playing. He listened to everything. On their last lunch date he’d been playing music from a local band called Limnus. The time before that he’d been playing The Black Eyed Peas, and changed to John Lennon for the trip back to the campus. The only time Noah was quiet during a drive was when something was bothering him. Very little seemed to bother Noah.

  The restaurant was very upscale. Nathaniel always took her to places her parents would approve of. It was probably why she felt comfortable with him. His world was similar to what she had grown up in. It was safe and familiar.

  Groups of people, dressed in their finest, stood outside waiting to get in. Older couples held hands and reminisced. Younger couples talked of the dreams they had for the future. Some couples spoke, in hushed tones, of guilt and fears of being discovered. Love was definitely in the air, be it old love, new love, or forbidden love.

  A man immediately made his way to the back of the crowd and shook Nathaniel’s hand.

  “It’s good to see you again Mr. Draksel. I hope that you have been well.”

  “Very well, thank you.” Nathaniel’s tone was formal.

  Hannah suddenly remembered Noah’s interaction with Maggie and it made her smile. She tried to imagine him here and it almost made her giggle. If she was dating Noah they would be back at his house, eating pizza and watching really bad movies. That thought made Hannah frown. Why on Earth was she thinking about what it would be like if she was dating Noah?

  “I will show you to your table now.” The man motioned toward the back of the restaurant, and that snapped Hannah out of her strange thoughts.

  Nathaniel nodded and then turned his attention to Hannah. His entire demeanor was still stiff, as he held out his arm.

  She took his arm and slipped into the familiar role.

  “Thank you,” Hannah said politely, as Nathaniel pulled out her chair.

  “Would you like your usual wine, Mr. Draksel?”

  “Yes,” he replied as he took his own seat.

  “I will get it now and have the chef prepare your food immediately.” The man hurried away from the table.

  She smiled at Nathaniel. “You must come here often.”

  “My father has a home nearby and this is his favorite restaurant,” he replied. “The owner always takes good care of us.”

  “Is your father in the area now?” she asked mainly to make conversation.

  He thought for a moment. “It’s possible. I haven’t spoken to him in a couple of weeks and he does travel a lot.”

  The owner returned to pour their wine.

  When he left, Nathaniel continued. “Perhaps we can arrange a time when you can meet my father, and I can meet your parents.”

  “Hannah?” At the sound of her mother’s voice Hannah’s head whipped around. She was certain that she was hearing things, but no such luck. Her mother stood right behind her, dressed in a conservative black evening dress with a white bolero jacket. Her purse was tucked tightly under her arm. As always, every strand of auburn hair was perfectly in place. Her green eyes held no emotion at all. “I thought you were attending college on the East Coast. Whatever are you doing in California?” her mother asked in a passionless voice.

  Hannah rolled her eyes. “I’m living with Lydia in California.”

  “Don’t roll your eyes, it’s very unattractive,” her mother scolded quietly. “Scott asks about you every day.”

  “I seriously doubt that,” Hannah muttered.

  “Don’t take that tone with me. Aren’t you going to introduce me to the young man?”

  Hannah did not reply.

  Nathaniel stood and bowed. “Nathaniel Draksel, and it is an honor to meet you, Ma’am.”

  “Victoria Montgomery. Are you any relation to Andrei and Phoebe Draksel?” Hannah could tell her mother had already guessed the relationship before approaching them. It was likely the only reason she was speaking to them now.

  “Yes, they are my Uncle and Aunt from my father’s side,” he replied.

  Hannah continued to eye her mother suspiciously. There was no doubt in her mind that the woman had purely selfish motives.

  “Don’t make that face, Hannah,” her mother ordered harshly and then turned her attention back to Nathaniel. “I apologize for her behavior. She does know how to behave like a lady. I really don’t know what gets into her sometimes.”

  Nathaniel’s features hardened into a mask of irritation. “Hannah always behaves like a lady.”

  “You don’t need to defend me to her, Nathaniel,” Hannah said confidently, and turned her attention to her mother. “How would you know whether or not I can behave like a lady? You’ve made every attempt to ignore me for as long as I can remember.” There was no way to disguise the bitterness in her voice.

  “Where is this hostility coming from?” Her mother’s voice was indignant, as she tapped her purse with gloved fingers.

  “Why are you here?” Hannah asked.

  Her mother looked confused. “I’m having dinner with a friend.”

  “Not in Monterey,” Hannah interrupted. “Why are you at this table? You have never shown any interest in me, so I assume this has something to do with Nathaniel’s family.”

  Her mother’s icy composure slipped, and her face flushed slightly. “I am your mother, and you will not use that tone of voice with me.”

  “Can we please skip the games,” Hannah tried to sound bored. It was hard to pull off. “You sent me away to school as soon as you could manage it. Even when I was around, you either ignored me or criticized me. I just don’t want to do this anymore. I will never be the person you want me to be, and you are never going to care about me the way you care about your social clubs. Just tell Nathaniel what you want, and leave.”

  Nathaniel seemed uncomfortable. He cleared his throat. “Was there something you wanted to ask me?”

  Her mother looked from one to the other, and then worked to recover her composure. After a few deep breaths her fake smile was back in place. “Please tell your aunt that I send my regards. I hope to see her at the next ladies charity auction.”

  Hannah snorted, and then covered her mouth.

  “When I speak to her, I’ll pass along the message,” Nathaniel said, still sounding a little annoyed. “My aunt Phoebe prefers to avoid such events.”

  Her mother stood there, looking somewhat lost. Hannah felt no pity, felt no guilt, felt no desire to have her stay. What Hannah felt was nothing. That complete apathy is what made her sad. How could she feel nothing when she looked at her own mother?

  Finally, her mother looked down and coughed. “Well, I should join my friend. I will call you next week, Hannah darling.” With that she left.

  “Your mother seems . . .” Nathaniel paused to find the words.

  “Like a bitch,” Hannah suggested.

  Nathaniel blinked several times, and finally spoke. “I was hoping to find a more diplomatic way of putting it. She would probably get along very well with my aunt Phoebe.”

  “Can we leave?” Hannah asked. She suddenly wanted nothing more than to get as far away from her mother as possible. She took her napkin off of her lap and set it on the table.

  “What about our food?”
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br />   “Let’s go!” Hannah stood up and headed for the door.

  “Hannah!” he called after her.

  She stopped just outside of the restaurant, turned to him and smiled triumphantly. “I can’t believe I stood up to my mother.” She was bubbling with excitement. It made her feel daring. She grabbed the collar of Nathaniel’s shirt and pulled him toward her.

  “Hannah.” Her name was barely a whisper as his lips brushed against hers.

  Her tongue slid playfully across his lower lips, and Hannah suddenly found herself pressed against his hard body. She pulled back playfully and smiled up at him. It was then that she noticed her mother standing beside them, looking mortified.

  “Obviously, you have learned nothing about behaving like a lady.” Her voice was harsh, and judgmental. “I thought that I had taught you better than this.”

  “Better than what, Mother?” Hannah scoffed as she rubbed Nathaniel’s chest. “I don’t recall you ever teaching me how to seduce a man.”

  Her mother gasped. “I came out here to forgive you for your behavior, and I find you acting like a common tramp. Was it Lydia who taught you the etiquette of a street whore?” The fact that her voice held no emotion made the words sound even more offensive.

  Nathaniel started to pull away from Hannah, and she knew he was going to jump in to defend her, so she put her hand over his mouth.

  “I’m so sorry that I’ve disappointed you,” she said dryly.

  “You know what they say, Hannah. ‘Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?’ This young man is not going to marry you if you’re already having relations with him.”

  Hannah said only one word, “Moo,” and then she walked away, more free than she had ever been.

  Nathaniel caught her arm. “Give me just a moment to settle our bill.”

  Hannah nodded. “I’ll wait for you out here.”

  Nathaniel walked back into the restaurant, and caught Hannah’s mother as she made her way back to her table. “I’d like to have a word with you.”

  She smiled. “Of course. I’m so very sorry about that unpleasantness outside.”

  He took her hand in his and leaned forward. Her eyes glazed over slightly.