Midnight Sun, Inc. (Crimson Romance)

by Debbie Vaughan

  I went to the first spray room on the human side. “What do you think I should go for, medium or dark?”

  “Try medium. If you want more you can always add another coat. Would you like me to accompany you?”

  Was he kidding? Lustful thoughts made me blush! The heat started at my toes and flamed to the roots of my short hair. “I think I can manage.”

  He wore a lopsided grin as I closed the door in his face.

  I stripped. Much like hair dye, this stuff didn’t wash out of your clothes or hair. Paper coverings were provided for the head and pubic area in handy dispensers on the locker door. The pubic cover was an interesting bit of work; mere strings held the pleated triangle in place. The pleats could be separated to form a pouch for guys although they might prove inadequate for the really endowed.

  The dial on the wall read: LIGHT, MEDIUM, DARK, and EXTRA DARK. I turned the knob to medium. A tube stood in the middle of the room, resembling a round shower stall. Inside the mirrored walls were filled with tiny holes through which the spray jets emerged. I put my hand on the control button, closed my eyes tightly, pushed, and quickly held my arms out as a recorded voice instructed.

  An ultra-fine mist enveloped me in a fog that was neither cold nor particularly damp. The floor maintained position while the walls rotated for even coverage. After about two or three minutes a warm breeze blew from the floor. A timer dinged, the door slid open and I stepped out to view a bronzed me in the full-length wall mirror. A computer-generated voice said, “You may now dress and return to the lobby. Thank you for using Midnight Sun, Inc. Please tell your friends about us.”

  Mr. Thornton sat at his desk when I returned to the lobby. He wasn’t alone. When he saw me through the glass he motioned for me to enter. They rose when I came through the door.

  Mr. Thornton’s companion was about five-feet-eight, with dark curly hair and bronze tan. Built strong and tightly packed, he sported a diamond stud in one ear and might have been anywhere from fifteen to thirty. In a word he was, adorable. With the exception of his dark liquid chocolate eyes, he reminded me of a young Tony Curtis. As an old movie buff, I knew Tony’s eyes were blue. He wore the black logo tee in a size too small, and the tiniest pair of gold lamé shorts I’d ever seen on a man or woman!

  “Girlfriend,” he cried as he took both my hands in his. “Look at you! I bet you didn’t even have to exfoliate.” He twirled me around to get a view from all angles. “Boss you are right, she’s got it, and they’re gonna’ want it,” he said as the twirling stopped.

  “Your job is to make sure they don’t get it, Raf,” the boss told him.

  “Thanks?” I murmured. I must have missed the “it” factor when I looked in the mirror. My clothes, borrowed from Dee, weren’t a perfect fit. The navy slacks gaped at the waist and the pale yellow blouse did nothing for my coloring. The shoes were a size too small and my toes felt like they’d been hit with a twenty-pound sledge!

  “This is Rafael, Miss Bennett. He’ll be working your shift. If you get into any difficulties — Raf — will get you out.

  Oh please! Him? My doubtful gaze bounced from one man to the other.

  “Honey, don’t let this tight little package fool you. I can be Hell on wheels if the need arises.”

  He truly seemed to think he could handle anything and apparently, so did the boss. Maybe he was a martial arts master or something.

  “Pleased to meet you Raf, I’m Connie.” I didn’t need to extend my hand as he still maintained ownership of it. “Is there a last name?”

  “Nope honey, just Raf. Like Cher. Who does your hair?”

  “Me.”

  “Color too?”

  “It’s natural.” My platinum blonde didn’t occur often in nature.

  “Women all over the world cringe with envy!”

  The boss took note of this by-play without a word. Is this a test? I am not now nor have I ever been homophobic. Geeze!

  “Raf will walk you to your car, Miss Bennett. A woman alone isn’t safe these days.”

  “Please call me Connie. And um … I don’t have a car. May I make a call?”

  “How did you get here?”

  “I took the bus straight from the clinic and then the trolley. I’ll call my friend to pick me up.” I grabbed the cell phone out of my purse and flicked it on. When the little start up tone finally ended, I punched in Dee’s number. She picked up on the first ring. “Dee, can you send Jimmy?” The boss raised his hand. “Hang on a sec,” I told Dee. “Yes?”

  “Tell your friend you have a ride. I insist.”

  I’d have told him I lived in the sticks, if he’d given me the opportunity. The drive would take about an hour in the dark. “Ah — Dee, tell Jimmy not to worry about it. I have a ride.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. Did you check on Willy?

  “Sorry, I forgot. So how did it go?”

  “Dee! Later.” I couldn’t believe she’d forgotten to check on Willy. When his bladder filled to capacity, Willy leaked urine. He’s been the house alone for almost sixteen hours. Poor Baby! His diaper was probably long since soaked.

  “I live quite a ways out. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “Girlfriend, I can’t think of anything I’d like better. It’ll give us a chance to get to know one another.” Raf continued to swing my hand back and forth, smiling sweetly.

  So Raf, not the boss, would be escorting me home. I tried not to let the teensy, weensy bit of disappointment show. Okay girl, did you really expect the boss to play chauffeur?

  I stuck my free hand out and my new employer took it. “I appreciate this opportunity Mr. Thornton. You won’t be sorry.” I scooped up my papers, purse and a stack of tees.

  “My pleasure, and call me Tom. Get her home Raf.”

  The clock over the Razorback Red machine read ten-twenty-five.

  We walked around the corner of the building to the alley. Two vehicles were parked in the small lot. One, a big black Hummer, the other, a bright fuchsia Honda Civic with a vanity plate that read, “Bite Me.”

  Raf opened the door to the Civic, started the engine and soon we were sailing down the freeway. I gave directions as we chatted. Raf knew a lot about the business — probably a good thing since he was the night manager. He mentioned the salon was only one of Tom’s enterprises.

  “So what’s with the boss?” I asked out of nowhere.

  “Meaning?”

  “I’m not sure. He seems to go in and out of character. Is he really a cowboy or just a poser? One minute he’s all shucks and howdy, and the next he’s Mr. GQ.”

  “Well honey, when you been around as long as he has you get to re-invent yourself. He plays to his audience. That’s not to say he was never a cowboy. He’s been lots of things.”

  “So, you’ve been together a while?” Tom didn’t seem gay — ”Deer!”

  “Oh Shit!” Raf yelled as he hit the brakes hard. The deer stood frozen in front of the car for a moment, then bounded away, followed by three more. Deer never seem to be alone.

  “I meant to warn you. There are critters all over out here. You need to be careful. Sorry.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Girlfriend, I need to watch where I’m going and so should those damn deer. But apparently I’m not the only one who’s not paying attention. What makes you think the boss is into men?”

  I laughed, unexpectedly pleased by his question, which was probably not a good thing.

  “What? So, you’re hot for the boss … ?”

  “No! Turn right.”

  “Do you live on this planet?”

  “Turn left up ahead, it’s the little white house on the left by the two-story.”

  “Finally! Girl when you said you lived ‘a ways out’ you weren’t kidding. This is the dark side of the moon. No buses run out here.”

  “True, I have a ride to the clinic. If I end up quitting I’ll have to figure out transportation. You want to come in for a drink?” I asked as I unfastened the seatbelt.r />
  He seemed surprised. “You’re gonna keep your day job?”

  “Until the boss decides I’m right for the job.”

  “He said that? Hum … ”

  As we reached my door, Dee’s porch light flicked on. Geeze! I heard Willy go nuts inside.

  “What is that?” Raf asked as he ducked behind me.

  “Come see, Brave Heart.” I turned the key in the lock, opened the door and Willy hit high gear.

  It’s hard to describe all the sounds an excited dachshund can make, some of them very un-dog like. I always said Willy could do the soundtrack for the next “Star Wars” movie. At the moment he was doing his impersonation of a Wookie.

  “Hello little man! Yeah, yeah Mom’s late and I bet your diaper is soaked.” Raf stood behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Let’s get you outside. Ah … Raf, go on in. I need to take Willy to potty. Careful where you step, he’s not usually alone this long.”

  I scooped Willy up and took the five steps necessary to set him on the lawn. My attention then turned to the Velcro fastening his diaper wrap followed by the diaper tabs. The sodden diaper went into the trashcan at the side of the house.

  He bounced his excitement and relief. His front end bounced so hard at times his rear left the ground, too.

  “Good boy! Let’s go get a treat.” Mission accomplished, I scooped him back up and headed in to find Raf standing in the middle of the living room.

  “Problem?” I asked as I sat Willy on the floor, went to wash my hands and get him a cookie. Willy bounced over to Raf and sniffed his Reeboks while I got the doggie treat then parked my butt on the barstool. “I have got to get these shoes off.”

  “What’s he doing?”

  “He wants you to pick him up, silly.”

  “He does?” Raf sounded shocked at the prospect.

  “What are you, a cat person? Ahh!” Finally with the hellish shoes off, I wiggled my aching toes. “Those shoes may have maimed me for life.” I picked them up and turned to Raf. “This whole tanning thing may not be such a great idea. I definitely see drawbacks.”

  Raf stared at Willy, who stared right back. He may have been jealous because Raf had bigger fangs. “You should wear a sign,” I groused. “And stop looking at him like that.”

  “Well, he’s looking at me!”

  “He isn’t going to bite you, and you sure as hell aren’t going to bite him.”

  “I don’t do dogs.”

  “Willy doesn’t bite people”

  “I’m not exactly people.”

  “Ya think? You could tell a girl.”

  “Connie, I thought you knew. Do you think the boss would put two warm bloods together at night when most of the customers will be vamps? So the dog is cool with us?” His fangs retracted but he didn’t appear convinced.

  “Looks like. Of course, you don’t look very threatening.”

  “Honey, you have no idea.”

  He was right.

  CHAPTER 3

  The grand opening began at nine P.M. As soon as the doors opened, the customers arrived. One minute they weren’t there, the next, they were.

  Raf and I had agreed: I was in charge of packages, pricing, and payment. This would allow me to keep an eye on Willy, tucked in his bed under the counter. Raf would escort the clients back, demonstrate the process, distribute goggles and set timers. It seemed like a good plan. Unfortunately, no one consulted Willy.

  When the doorbell chimed announcing the first customers, Willy came to full attention. He bounced over to the door sans cart, barking wildly. I glanced at Raf to find his eyes the size of dinner plates and ran to fetch my dog. The four vamps stood frozen on the threshold.

  All four showed fang.

  “Welcome!” I said after the initial shock subsided. “Don’t mind Willy, he’s sort of the unofficial mascot. Come on in and we’ll get you signed up and toasty in no time!” Even though my heart pounded like it would leap from my chest, I plastered on my friendliest smile.

  With the exception of the black female, their skin seemed practically devoid of pigment. Unlike the porcelain white of her three Caucasian male companions, she appeared more pearl grey. They looked to be in their late teens or early twenties. The guys dressed in jeans, tanks and flip-flops, while the young black woman opted for shorts.

  “What’s wrong with him?” The female asked in a heavy British accent, as she and her friends eased in the door, never taking their eyes off Willy. Their fangs had retracted, partially, they remained wary.

  “He hurt his back, and can’t use his hind legs. He won’t bite you.” Their snort in reply tested my patience, so I added, “And he isn’t a snack item.” Laughter eased the tension a bit. With an audible sigh of relief I hurried around the counter, deposited Willy in his bed and began to explain the various packages offered and the price of each. Raf ushered them down the hall, explaining the process as they proceeded to the rooms.

  A few humans mixed in, but initially vampires dominated the scene. Within minutes the vampire side of the hall filled. Not surprisingly, almost all wanted to experience the tanning beds as well as get a spray tan. The average tanning time was about fifteen minutes if you allowed a couple of minutes for clothes removal and room changes. With a few exceptions most opted for the deepest tan.

  The stream of customers remained steady after the initial rush. We averaged close to fifty customers an hour until about eleven-thirty when the two area hospitals had a shift change and a wave of scrub-clad humans burst through the doors.

  Being the first tanning salon for vampires and humans made Midnight Sun a big draw for the curious, though the humans seemed tentative. Many bought the introductory package, three tanning bed sessions for thirty-five dollars, or chose to get one spray-tan at the introductory price of twenty-five dollars. They seemed cautious about hobnobbing so openly with vampires.

  Raf’s vampire speed was a big plus when things got hectic, at least when no humans were about. He moved so quickly he appeared as a blur and sometimes not even that. He scared the life out of me repeatedly by suddenly appearing at my side. He apologized of course, but I could tell it tickled him pink to see me jump. He didn’t seem to startle Willy at all, which I would have thought odd, given time to think.

  Finally about midnight I took my first break. Willy had worn down as our official greeter and dozed in his bed. I hated to wake him but who knew when he’d have another chance to go outside? With Willy tucked under my arm I stepped out onto the sidewalk and around the side of the building. The parking area near the alley had a small green space. The lot blazed with light from the street lamps so I felt comfortable even at this late hour. I bent to place Willy on the grass and removed his diaper.

  “What a good boy you are.” Willy whined as I picked him up to go in.

  “You shouldn’t be out here alone this time of night.”

  “Geeze Louise!” I shouted, causing Willy to bark. “You scared the life out of me!”

  “Be glad it’s only me,” Tom said as he stepped from the shadows. “You should be more cautious.”

  He seemed upset with me and my self-defense mechanism kicked into full gear as I spat, “We needed a break!”

  My heart pounded wildly. Perhaps I wasn’t as comfortable in the night as I thought. As soon as that thought registered in my brain, so did another. I was bitching at the man who signed my paycheck. Less defensively I added, “I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself.”

  He didn’t respond as he placed his hand on the small of my back, ushering me forward. It seemed an oddly old fashioned gesture. He held the door as we walked back into the well-lit salon. The look he gave Raf when we entered would have withered most anyone, but Raf only asked, “What did I do?”

  I excused myself and carried Willy down the hall to the ladies room hoping for a chance to compose myself further.

  “Why didn’t you warn me, you little shit?” I asked as I washed my hands and fluffed my hair. Willy didn’t seem at all pe
rturbed. Picking him back up, I gave him a hug. “Never mind, I guess they just take getting used to. Maybe they should wear bells so they can’t sneak up on us? Like cats.”

  Their ability to move silently and blend into the shadows had allowed them to live — well exist — through the centuries, and feed without detection. I understood the need to stay hidden and lose yourself in your surroundings. I was a grown woman now and at no one’s mercy. Fear still lurked in the back of my mind, and, that’s just where I left it.

  “We’ve made a haul so far,” Raf was telling the boss when I returned. “You might need to make an early bank run.”

  With five more minutes of my break remaining, I bought a diet Dr. Pepper from the vending machine, deposited Willy in his bed and retreated to the lounge. I could watch the lobby and my dog through the glass. Piped in music deadened sound but I could see Tom and Raf in deep discussion and had the eerie feeling I was the topic.

  A quick peek at the clock told me break time was over. A last gulp of Dr. Pepper and back to the coal mines.

  The latest batch of tanners exited their rooms as I returned to my place behind the counter. Even knowing they were a mixed batch, I couldn’t tell the difference between humans and vamps as they emerged. They all looked like tanned people.

  The tanning process affected vampires of different ethnic backgrounds in subtle shade distinctions. Unless the fluorescent lighting was playing tricks black vampires kept an ashen cast while turning a deeper brown than their Caucasians counterparts. Hispanics turned a lovely, rich olive tone.

  Everyone wanted to meet Thomas Thornton and he played the genial host. A few humans produced magazines with his photo on the cover and requested autographs. Vamps gushed over the wonders of the experience and the miracle of the tanning beds. The boss invited a couple of vamp clients into the office for a private word. Were they some of the special clients he’d spoken of? They seemed normal enough.

  Raf handed out questionnaires concerning the overall experience, inviting input for improvements. For each completed questionnaire customers received a five-dollar off coupon. Arkansas is not a something for nothing state. I collected them at the door as they left.