How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire las-1

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  "She has a valid point," Roman said.

  "I know what to do." She raised her hands, imagining the restaurant. "You rent an upper floor, like ten floors up, and put the drive-through up there. That way, you couldn't have real people getting in line."

  Gregori looked confused. "Ten floors up?"

  "Yes! It would be a fly-through window." Shanna burst into laughter.

  Gregori exchanged a look with Roman. "But we don't fly."

  Roman stood. "I think you have some good ideas, Gregori. Have Laszlo start on the formula for the… value meal."

  Shanna covered her mouth, but more giggles escaped.

  Roman gave her a worried look. "And begin research on a suitable rental property."

  "You got it, boss." Gregori slid the posters back into his portfolio. "I'm going out clubbing with Simone tonight. For research purposes, of course. I'll be investigating the most popular vampire hangouts to see what works best."

  "That's fine. Try to keep Simone out of trouble."

  Gregori nodded. "Will do. You know, she's only going out with me because she's trying to make you jealous."

  Suddenly Shanna didn't feel so giggly. She glared at Roman.

  He had the grace to look embarrassed. "I made it clear to her that I'm not interested."

  "Yeah, I know." Gregori started toward the door, then stopped. "Oh, I thought I'd arrange for a market survey tomorrow night at Romatech. Have a focus group of poor Vamps come in and fill out a questionnaire about the new restaurant. I'll spread the news tonight at the Vamp clubs."

  "Sounds good." Roman walked toward the door.

  Gregori glanced at Shanna. "Hey, you're good at this stuff. Would you like to help with the research study tomorrow night?"

  "Me?"

  "Yeah. It would be at Romatech, so you'd be safe." Gregori shrugged. "Just an idea. It would give you something to do."

  Shanna considered the alternative, which was hanging around Roman's house with the harem.

  "Yeah. I'd like that. Thank you."

  "Sure." Gregori tucked his portfolio under his arm. "Well, I'm off for a night on the town. This cape is cool, huh? Jean-Luc loaned it to me."

  She smiled. "You're looking hot, dude."

  Gregori strutted toward the door. "I'm too sexy for my cape, too sexy for my fangs. Too sexy." He whirled in a circle, then struck a disco pose with a hand pointing at the ceiling. "Too sexy!" He left with a flourish of his cape.

  Shanna grinned. "I think he enjoys being a vampire."

  Roman closed the door and returned to his desk. "He's a true modern-day Vamp. He's never had to bite in order to survive."

  She snorted. "You mean he's so young, he's completely bottle-fed?"

  Roman smiled as he sat behind his desk. "If you ever want to upset him, just tell him disco is dead."

  Shanna laughed, but when she looked at Roman, the tragedy of their situation jolted through her and abruptly cut off her laughter. How could their relationship ever work? She would grow old while he stayed young. She doubted she could ever have children with him or the normal life she wanted. And he couldn't make love to her without wanting to bite her. It was impossible.

  Roman leaned forward. "Are you all right?"

  "Sure," it came out a bit high-pitched and squeaky. Tears clouded her eyes, and she looked away.

  "You've been through an awful lot the last few days. Your life has been threatened. Your reality has been…"

  "Destroyed?"

  He winced. "I was going to say altered. You know about the vampire world now, but the mortal world is much the same as it always was."

  It would never be the same. Shanna sniffed, trying to hold back the tears. "All I ever wanted was a normal life. I wanted to set down roots in a community and feel like I belonged there. I wanted a normal, steady job. A normal, steady husband." A tear rolled down her cheek, and she quickly brushed it away. "I wanted a big house, with a big yard, and a picket fence, and a big dog. And…"

  Another tear escaped. "I wanted children."

  "Those are good things to want," Roman whispered.

  "Yes." She wiped her cheeks and avoided looking at him.

  "You don't think we have a future, do you?"

  She shook her head. She heard his chair squeak and ventured a quick glance. He was leaning back, staring at the ceiling. He seemed calm on the surface, but she could see the muscles rippling in his jaw as he ground his teeth.

  "Maybe I should go now." She stood on shaky legs.

  "A normal, steady husband," he muttered. He leaned forward, pinning her with a pair of angry eyes.

  "You have too much life, too much intelligence in you for a boring husband. You need passion in your life. You need someone who challenges your mind, who makes you scream in bed." He rose to his feet. "You need me."

  "Like a hole in my head. Or in my case, a hole in my leg."

  "I'm not going to bite you again!"

  "You can't help it!" Tears streamed down her face. "It's in your nature."

  He sat in his chair, his face pale. "You believe it is my nature to be evil?"

  "No!" She wiped her cheeks angrily. "I think you're good and honorable and… almost perfect. I know normally you would never want to hurt anyone. But when we're making love, there will come a point where you'll lose control. I've seen it. Your eyes glow red, and your teeth—"

  "It won't happen again. I'll drink a full bottle before making love to you."

  "You can't help it. You… you have too much passion."

  He clenched his fists. "There's a good reason for that."

  "You can't guarantee you won't bite me again. It's just… who you are."

  "I give you my word. Here." Using a pencil, he dragged the silver cross and chain across his desk.

  "Put this on. I won't even be able to embrace you, much less bite you."

  With a sigh, Shanna looped the chain around her neck. "I guess I need silver ring toes and a pair of silver garters. Oh, and a silver belly ring and nipple rings."

  "Don't you dare pierce your beautiful body."

  "Why not? You did."

  He flinched.

  Jeez. Now she was hurting him. "I'm sorry. I'm not handling this well."

  "You're doing fine, but you've been through too much lately. All that giggling with Gregori—I think you're feeling a bit… shaky right now. You should get some rest."

  "Maybe so." Shanna lifted the crucifix to examine it. "How old is this cross?"

  "Father Constantine gave it to me when I was ordained."

  "It's lovely." She pressed it against her chest and took a deep breath. "Connor told me what happened to the monks. I'm so very sorry. You have to know it wasn't your fault."

  He closed his eyes and rubbed his brow. "You said we were different, but we're not. We're so much alike. You feel the same way about your friend who was murdered. We have an emotional connection and a strong psychic one, too. You can't ignore that."

  The tears threatened to overflow again. "I'm sorry. I do want you to be happy. After all you've been through, you deserve happiness."

  "So do you. I'm not giving up on us, Shanna."

  A tear slipped down her cheek. "It would never work. You'll be young and beautiful forever. And I'll grow old and gray."

  "I don't care. It doesn't matter."

  She sniffed. "Of course it matters."

  "Shanna." He stood and rounded the desk. "You will still be you. And I love you."

  CHAPTER 22

  Ten minutes later, Roman teleported to Radinka's office at Romatech.

  She looked up from her work. "There you are. You're running late. Angus and Jean-Luc are waiting in your office."

  "Fine. Radinka, I need you to research something for me."

  "Sure." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her desk. "What is it?"

  "I think I should buy some new property."

  "For another facility? That's a good idea, what with these Malcontents going around, blowing things up. By the way, I went
ahead and ordered a transfer of synthetic blood from your Illinois plant."

  "Thank you."

  Radinka picked up a pen and legal pad. "So, where do you want the new plant?"

  Frowning, Roman shifted his weight. "It's not a plant. I need a… house. A big house."

  Radinka's brows lifted, but she scribbled his request on the pad. "Any specifications, other than big?"

  "It needs to be in a nice community, not too far from here. Picket fence, big yard, big dog."

  She tapped the tip of the pen on the pad. "I don't believe dogs are normally included in the purchase of a house."

  "I'm aware of that." He crossed his arms, irritated by the amusement on Radinka's face. "But I'll need to know where to buy a big dog, or maybe a puppy that will grow into a big dog."

  "What kind of dog, may I ask?"

  "A big one." He gritted his teeth. "Get me some pictures of different breeds. And different houses for sale. I won't be the one making the final selection."

  "Ah." Radinka's smile widened. "Does this mean things are going well between you and Shanna?"

  "No, they're not. I'll probably end up using the house as a rental property."

  Radinka's smile withered. "Then perhaps this idea is premature. If you push her too fast, she might run."

  She might run anyway, Roman thought with a groan. "More than anything she wants a normal life and a normal husband." With a grimace, he shrugged one shoulder. "I'm not exactly normal."

  Radinka's mouth twitched. "I suppose not, but after fifteen years at Romatech, I'm not sure what normal is anymore."

  "I can give her a normal house and a normal dog."

  "You're trying to buy normalcy? She'll see through that."

  "I'm hoping she'll see that I'm trying to make her dreams come true. I'll try to give her as normal a life as I can."

  Radinka frowned, considering. "I think what any woman really wants is to be loved."

  "She has that. I just told her that I love her."

  "Wonderful!" Radinka's smile faded once again. "You don't look very happy."

  "That could be because she ran from my room, crying."

  "Oh dear. I'm not usually wrong about these things."

  Roman sighed. He'd often wondered if Radinka was truly a psychic, why the hell didn't she foresee the attack on her son? Unless she'd also foreseen that Gregori would become a vampire.

  Radinka tapped her pen on the legal pad. "I am certain she is the one for you."

  "I'm convinced of that, too. I know she cares for me very deeply, or she wouldn't have—"

  Radinka raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to finish the sentence.

  He shifted his weight. "If you could look for a house, I'd appreciate it. I'm late for a meeting."

  Radinka's mouth twitched once again. "She'll come around. It'll work out just fine." She swiveled her chair to face her computer. "I'll start house hunting right away."

  "Thank you." He headed out the door.

  "And you'll need to fire your harem!" Radinka called after him.

  Roman winced. They were a big problem. He'd have to give them financial support until they could make it on their own.

  He strode into his office. "Good evening, Angus, Jean-Luc."

  Angus jumped to his feet. He was back to wearing his usual green and blue MacKay tartan. "Ye took yer time getting here, man. We have to deal with these bloody Malcontents right away."

  Jean-Luc remained seated, but raised a hand in greeting. "Bonsoir, mon ami."

  "Have you decided anything?" Roman skirted his desk and sat.

  "The time for discussion is over." Angus paced across the room. "With the explosion last night, the Malcontents have declared war. My Highlanders are ready to strike. I say we do it tonight."

  "I disagree," Jean-Luc cut in. "Petrovsky is, no doubt, prepared for such a retaliation. We would be attacking his house in Brooklyn, leaving us in the open while they can take cover. Why should we give those bastards the advantage?"

  "My men are no' afraid," Angus growled.

  "Neither am I." Jean-Luc's blue eyes flashed. "This is not about fear. It's about being practical. If you and your Highlanders weren't always so hotheaded, you wouldn't have lost so many battles in the past."

  "I am not hotheaded!" Angus thundered.

  Roman held up his hands. "Can we take this down a notch? The explosion last night didn't hurt anyone. And though I agree that Petrovsky must be dealt with, I am reluctant to engage in an all-out war in front of mortal witnesses."

  "Exactement." Jean-Luc shifted in his chair. "I say we watch Petrovsky and his men, and when we find one or two of them alone, then we kill them."

  Angus snorted. " 'Tis no' an honorable way for a warrior to behave."

  Jean-Luc stood slowly. "If you're insinuating that I have no honor, I'll have to challenge you to a duel."

  Roman groaned. Five hundred years of listening to these two argue was enough to strain the best of friendships. "Can we kill Petrovsky first, before you two kill each other?"

  Angus and Jean-Luc laughed.

  "Since we are in disagreement, as usual," Jean-Luc said as he sat back down, "you will cast the deciding vote."

  Roman nodded. "I'm with Jean-Luc on this one. A full attack on a house in Brooklyn is going to draw too much attention. And it puts too many of the Highlanders at risk."

  "We doona mind," Angus grumbled as he returned to his chair.

  "I mind," Roman said. "I've known you all for a long time."

  "We are also limited in number," Jean-Luc added. "I haven't transformed a vampire since the

  French Revolution. And you?"

  "Not since Culloden," Angus answered. "But vampires like Petrovsky are still transforming men with evil hearts."

  "And thus, making more evil vampires." Jean-Luc sighed. "For once, mon ami, we are en accord.

  Their numbers are growing while ours are not."

  Angus nodded. "We need to make more vampires."

  "Absolutely not!" Roman was alarmed by the turn of the conversation. "I will not condemn more souls to hell."

  "I'll do it." Angus brushed back a strand of auburn hair. "I'm sure there are honorable soldiers dying somewhere in this world who would welcome the chance to continue fighting evil."

  Roman leaned forward. "It's not the same as it was three hundred years ago. Modern armies keep up with their soldiers. Even the dead ones. They would notice if some went missing."

  "Missing in action." Jean-Luc shrugged. "It happens. I'm with Angus on this one."

  Roman rubbed his brow, dismayed at the thought of growing another vampire army. "Can we table this discussion for the time being? Let's take care of Petrovsky first."

  Jean-Luc nodded. "Agreed."

  "All right." Angus frowned. "Now, we need to talk about the problem with the CIA and their Stake-Out team. There's only five of them, so we shouldna have trouble handling them."

  Roman winced. "I don't want them killed."

  Angus snorted. "I doona mean that. We all know ye're involved with the leader's daughter."

  Jean-Luc smiled. "Especially after last night."

  Roman was surprised to feel his face heat up. Shanna's reaction seemed to be wearing off on him.

  Angus cleared his throat. "I think the best way to deal with the Stake-Out team is to erase their memories of us.Timing would be important. We must do all five on the same night that we break into Langley to erase all their files."

  "A clean sweep." Jean-Luc smiled. "I like it."

  "I'm not sure it would work." Roman received surprised glances from his friends. "Shanna can resist mind control."

  Angus's green eyes widened. "Ye canna be serious."

  "I am. And what's more, I suspect she inherited her psychic abilities from her father. I also suspect the Stake-Out team is small because everyone on it possesses similar abilities."

  "Merde," Jean-Luc whispered.

  "Since they're working on an anti-vampire program," Roman added, "it would be o
bvious who would want to kill them."

  "And it would give the American government more incentive to hunt us," Jean-Luc concluded.

  "They're a bigger threat than I thought." Angus drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. "I have to think about this."

  "Fine. Let's take a break for now." Roman stood and headed for the door. "I'll be in my lab if you need me." He hurried down the corridor, anxious to get some work done on his formula for staying awake during the day. He spotted a Highlander standing outside Laszlo's lab. Good. Laszlo was still getting the protection he needed.

  Roman greeted the Scotsman as he entered the lab. Laszlo was sitting on a stool, gazing into a microscope. "Hi, Laszlo."

  The small chemist started and nearly fell off the stool.

  Roman rushed over and steadied him. "Are you all right?"

  "Yes." Laszlo adjusted his lab coat. All the buttons were missing. "I've been a bit nervous lately."

  "I hear you're working on a cheap drink for the poor."

  "Yes, sir." Laszlo bobbed his head, enthusiastically. "I'll have three formulas ready for the survey tomorrow night. I'm experimenting with different proportions of red blood cells to water. And I may try adding some flavors like lemon or vanilla."

  "Vanilla blood? I'd like to taste that myself."

  "Thank you, sir."

  Roman perched on a neighboring stool. "I'd like to run an idea by you. See what you think."

  "Of course. I'd be honored to help, if I can."

  "It's theoretical at this point, but I was thinking about sperm. Live sperm."

  Laszlo's eyes widened. "Our sperm is dead, sir."

  "I know. But what if we took a sample of live human sperm, erased the genetic code, and planted someone else's DNA in it."

  Laszlo's mouth fell open. He blinked several times. "Who would want their DNA inserted into live sperm?"

  "I would."

  "Oh. Then you… you want to father children?"

  Only with Shanna. "I want to know if it's possible."

  The chemist nodded slowly. "I believe it would be."

  "Good." Roman strode toward the door, then paused. "I'd appreciate it if you kept this conversation between us."