“Derrick has a gift for planting suggestions. It appears as though he did a thorough job with the coroner. I might ask him to pay the poor man another visit and clear things up.”
“Good idea.” Terry headed towards the door then paused. “Maybe you could have a word with the officers who examined the cemetery for evidence too? They’re all getting counselling for recurring nightmares. It took days to find all of Clarissa and the parts that they found were not pretty.” He shook his head. “I wish we could have helped her.”
“You can’t save everyone, Palmer. But, on that note, we would like to make you an offer.”
Terry’s eyes narrowed. “I’m listening.”
“We were hoping we might enlist your help.”
Terry raised one eyebrow at Meaghan, then answered David. “Yeah. In what way?”
“Meaghan tells me that you’re passionate about keeping the streets safe. David and I share your desire. Perhaps you’d be willing to join our agency?”
He nodded. “I’ll give it some thought.” And waved his hand as he prepared to leave almost walking into Derrick who stood in the doorway of the office.
“You Corels are a stealthy lot.” He held his hand to his chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Good to see you too, Palmer.” Derrick shook Terry’s hand and introduced Anna. “I don’t believe you’ve met my wife.”
“Hi. I’m Anna.” She offered her hand. “And this is my friend Susie.”
“Terry. Terry Palmer.” He took her hand and left it extended for Susie who remained behind Anna. She offered a quiet “hello” but kept her eyes down and ignored his gesture.
****
Terry glanced in David’s direction.
David shook his head and answered the unspoken question telepathically.
Susie has recently been through a traumatic experience. We’re taking her home to live with us for a while.
She’s beautiful, Corel.
He turned back to face Susie who chewed nervously on her fingernails. Dark yellow smudges stained her arms. Scabs were forming in the shape of teeth marks on her skin.
Who did this to her?
It’s a long story, best kept for another time.
Did you get the bastard?
Yes. We got all of them.
Terry gasped. All of them?
He shook his head and let out a deep breath before addressing the group. “Well, it was great meeting you lovely ladies. I’d best get back to work.” He headed back towards the front door.
“Get back to me soon about that offer,” David called after him.
Terry stopped, took another look at Susie and told David. “Consider me in. I’ll get the paperwork started and let you know when it’s approved.”
He left the building but maintained his psychic connection with David.
They really did a number on her, didn’t they?
Yes, Palmer. It’s going to take a while for her to trust any man. Her body is healing but emotionally she’s still quite fragile.
Okay. I get your drift. Kid gloves right?
Right.
I hate to admit this, Corel, but, you’re not such a bad guy after all.
David’s chuckle sounded in Terry’s ears. That must have been hard to say.
You don’t know the half of it. And, David. Susie ... she’s really special, isn’t she?
Probably better than you deserve, but, I think you might be good for her, if you give her time to get to know you.
Thanks, Corel. I owe you one.
David broke the mental connection and turned his attention back to his family.
“What was that about?” Derrick asked.
Anna answered for him. “He’s been making a point of teasing Terry every chance he gets.”
Derrick scowled. “Give him a break. He’s been through a lot lately.”
“Thanks for the lecture little brother, but Palmer and I are actually getting on rather well. He’s a pretty nice guy.” He hooked his arm around his fiancé. “So, now that you’ve collected Susie from the hospital, where are we going for dinner?”
Susie blushed and chewed her bottom lip. Her downcast eyes informed him that dinner was off.
“We decided to order take-away.” Anna told them. “It’s been a long day for Susie so we’re taking her straight home for a rest.”
Derrick answered David’s silent question with a slight nod of his head before the newlyweds took their friend home.
****
“What did Derrick tell you?” Meaghan asked as they drove towards home.
“He and Anna are concerned that Susie is teetering on the edge. She had a panic attack in the carpark of the hospital. One of her male gym clients touched her shoulder and she collapsed in a screaming heap. The poor guy was a shocked as she was.”
“Do you think that she’ll cope at the house, surrounded by vampires?”
“It’s either that or they’ll have her committed. She’s been crying out in her sleep about being attacked. David compelled the hospital staff to forget but it’s only a matter of time before someone reports it.”
“Does Anna think she can help?”
“At the very least, we can look after her at home. Derrick had a special watch made for her with an alert button to push if she’s afraid and so he can monitor her blood pressure. That way she can contact us during daylight hours. At night, she can sleep in the knowledge that she had four vampires to protect her.”
Meaghan shrugged. “I hope we can help her. She looks like a frightened rabbit.”
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” David pulled up at the large metal gates at the entrance of the estate and pressed the numerals on the keypad. As the gates opened, he drove through. “By the way, we owe her thanks for getting Palmer to join the team.”
“Aah. That’s what the secret conversation was about.”
“I think he’s smitten.”
“Smitten? You’re beginning to sound like an old man. Fortunately, I find old men very sexy.”
David parked the car in the driveway and opened the passenger door, pulling Meaghan into his arms. She flung her arms around his neck as he took possession of her mouth. Her lips parted. He tasted her sweetness.
“You’re pretty damned sexy yourself.” He scooped her up in his arms and bounded up the stairs two at a time. Once inside, he called out to his brother. “Sorry guys, skipping dinner tonight.”
“Lost your appetite?” Meaghan asked, a sly grin spreading her lips.
“Not in the least,” he informed her. “Which brings us to lesson five.”
“Lesson five? I’m almost afraid to ask what that involves.”
“It involves stripping you naked, covering every inch of your body with kisses while reminding you—with every kiss—how much I love.”
Anna giggled. A blush spread across her chest, neck and cheeks.
“I like the sound of lesson five. How long does the class last?”
“For the rest of our eternal lives, kitten.” His lips claimed hers again. “For the rest of our lives.”
The End
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The Art of Seduction Page 22