“No. That wouldn’t be possible.” Lily hated imposing on her friendship, but this might be her only shot at finding an answer to Joe’s dilemma. “Would you ask her? It’s very important I see her tonight.”
“Sure.” Cissy’s voice reflected curiosity, but she didn’t press for a reason. “I be right back.”
Lily didn’t have long to wait. “Professor, Grandmere says she’s been expectin’ your call. Come after dark, she said.”
“Tell Madame I’ll be bringing a friend.”
Relieved she’d accomplished one thing on her list, she let herself out of her apartment. At the front steps, she met Mimi Comeaux, the superintendent’s wife. She wielded a deck brush, applying it vigorously to the concrete steps—and she was humming, an unusual occurrence for the normally pinch-faced woman.
“Good afternoon, Mimi,” Lily said as she passed her.
“Mornin’,” the woman trilled.
Lily gave her a second glance. “You seem chipper this morning.”
The woman actually blushed. “It’s a pretty day.”
Lily eyed the overcast sky and raised an eyebrow. “Do you mind my asking what you are doing?”
“Some poor dog left bloody paw prints all over the front steps. I’m tryin’ to bleach them out.”
Lily looked at the smeared prints the woman hadn’t yet reached with her brush. They were enormous. “You’re sure those belong to a dog?”
“Sure. A very big dog. He must have cut a foot.”
Lily remembered Joe’s account of the werewolf and wondered if the woman was washing away paw prints from a primordial creature. Despite the heat, she felt a shiver creep up her spine. Joe would have my ass if he found out I left the house. But werewolves were said to be nocturnal creatures, too. Lily shrugged, bid Madame Comeaux adieu, and headed for her car.
As she unlocked the door, she heard an engine fire and glanced down the street. Nothing out of the ordinary. She was just jumpy. Nevertheless, she locked the doors as soon as she slipped inside.
The local grocer was only a block away. She parked next to the door and quickly made her way inside the store. Heading straight for the meat section, she wondered how she’d word her request. Bluntly: Do you carry pig’s blood? What else could a vampire consume? All she knew was what she’d gleaned from TV and movies—human blood and flesh as the main entrée, rats’ and pigs’ blood in a pinch.
The butcher smiled as she approached.
“How are you, professor? Would you like shrimp fresh from the Gulf this morning?”
“Um, by chance do you carry pig’s blood? I’m thinking of making…an old family recipe…for uh…gravy.”
The portly butcher eyed her quizzically. “I’m sorry. If you would like to special order—”
Never comfortable telling a lie, Lily demurred. “No, that’s okay. Do you have something especially…juicy?” She knew her cheeks burned a fiery red.
Both eyebrows rose like black beetles perched on his brow. “I have inch-and-a-half steaks—plenty fresh and drippin’ with blood, if that’s what you really want.”
Why hadn’t she thought to go to another shop? He knew her preference for white meats and seafood. Her sudden taste for blood-soaked red meat had to be raising a question in his mind.
“Professor,” he grinned broadly. “Are you by chance enceinte?”
That was one plausible explanation she hadn’t considered. Lily felt her already hot face burn. “The steaks will be fine. Two of them please.”
“Two?” His beetle-eyebrows waggled. “I won’t be a moment,” he said and disappeared into a back room.
Lily took a deep breath and looked around, ticking off the other items she would need when she noted a tall, broadly built man just down the aisle from her. He was turned away, but she had the sneaking suspicion he had been watching her. Somehow, he looked out of place standing in front of a rack full of baby diapers.
Any other day and she would have given him a second and third considering look. He was handsome—his features spare, harshly etched. Manly. If Joe hadn’t already awakened her appreciation for dangerously sensual men, she might have lingered to discover whether he really had been checking her out.
Instead, a shiver of unease raised the hair on the back of her neck His build radiated power. His dark slacks molded thickly muscled thighs. His loosely fitted cotton shirt didn’t disguise the sinew of his back and shoulders. She thought how easily he could overpower a woman if that was his intent.
He reached for a package from the row of diapers, and she noted a white bandage wrapped around his palm. At that moment, he looked over his shoulder and his gaze met hers. The intensity in his light-colored eyes and the hard, chiseled features caused her heart to trip. Some instinct she would have said she didn’t possess told her that yes, he had been watching her.
“Professor, your steaks?”
Lily blinked and turned to the butcher, smiling her thanks automatically. She was done shopping. She needed to get home quickly.
Lily paid for her package and walked swiftly to her car.
“Miss! Your change!”
He’d followed her out of the store. She didn’t dare pause to answer. She opened her door with the remote, tossed the package on the passenger seat, and slid the key into the ignition with a shaking hand.
A shadow fell across her, and she knew the tall man stood outside her door. She shifted into reverse and hit the gas. As she pulled away, she finally looked at him. A feral smile stretched the man’s hard mouth.
Chapter Seven
‡
Joe heard the scrape of a key turning in the lock, then the clank of keys dropping to the tiled floor, followed by a mumbled oath. He let go of the worry he’d experienced over the past hour when he’d risen beyond his dreams to find Lily had gone.
Now anger swept through him, fast and blinding. He opened the door ready to tear into Lily for her carelessness, but the look on her face pulled him up short.
“Oh my God!” She launched herself into his arms.
All his anger and worry disappeared in an instant as he held her trembling body. He glanced up and down the hallway. Seeing no menace lurking in the shadows, he pulled her into the apartment and shut the door, turning the bolt to lock them inside. He leaned back against it, pulling her body flush with his and waited for Lily’s explanation.
“Oh my God!” she repeated. “He followed me. In the store.” Her breaths were as choppy as her words.
Joe’s body tightened with outrage. A man stalked her? That Lily, normally so guileless and oblivious to her appeal, had noticed the man’s actions gave immediate credence to her claim. He fought his resurfacing anger to rub soothing circles on her back. “Take a deep breath,” he said from between clenched teeth, “and tell me.”
Lily leaned away and looked into his face. The fear in her gaze and her trembling mouth had him wishing the man was here now so he could take his head off.
“His hand—” she gasped, “he was standing by the diapers—but I knew!”
He pressed her face against his chest. By her jittery, incoherent explanation, he knew it might be a while before he pieced together the story. His rage boiled like an ulcer in his belly—but she didn’t need his anger. She needed his comfort. “Shhh. Take it easy, baby. I’ve got you now.”
A shudder shook her frame, and her arms tightened around him. “There was a car down the street. I was nervous.” She sniffed against his chest.
Joe smiled, wondering if she realized she’d just wiped her nose on his T-shirt.
“Then the butcher thought I was pregnant.”
He shook his head at that last thought. She was so rattled she wasn’t making any sense. He smoothed the hair from her forehead, and she raised her face. Grabbing her chin, he lowered his mouth to kiss her—something he’d wanted to do the moment he’d seen her again.
She drew back again. “But—”
He grabbed a fist of her hair and tilted her head. He sealed his lips over h
ers.
She murmured a protest, her hands pushing at his shoulders.
He kept kissing her, sucking on her lower lip, enticing her to open her mouth and let him in.
Finally she relaxed, her arms creeping up to encircle his neck.
By the time he pulled away, his heart galloped, and his body had grown hard as a rock. He was a bastard, but all he could think of doing was taking her—right here. Now!
He pulled her blouse from her slacks and reached beneath to palm her breasts through her lacy bra.
Lily’s lips, blurred and reddened by his kisses, formed a passionate moue. Then she blinked. “No! You have to listen.”
Joe let his head fall back to the door with a bang and dragged air into his lungs. She was driving him nuts.
“I th—think your werewolf followed me,” Lily said breathlessly. “I went to the grocery store down the block. Had to get something for dinner—for you.”
He rubbed her back again, the motion soothing his own racing heartbeat. “How do you know it was him?”
The little frown that wrinkled her brow indicated she’d switched to analytical mode. “There was blood on the sidewalk. Bloody paw prints from a very large dog—your wolf.”
The way her mind leapt from one disjointed thought to the next left him dizzy. “Why did the paw prints make you think the man was the wolf?”
“He followed me. I heard a car start as I was getting into mine.” At his dubious frown, she scowled. “I know it was him, and he was watching me in the store. He had a bandage on his hand. I left my change at the register, and he followed me out.”
“He couldn’t have just been a good Samaritan?”
“No! It was his eyes. His stare was so intent.” She looked at him, apology in her expression. “Just like yours. He was smelling me!”
Joe quirked an eyebrow. “You don’t think any man would love the way you smell?”
“He looked like he wanted to eat me!”
A rueful smile lifted the corner of his lips. “So do I.”
Lily shoved at his chest. “You don’t believe me.”
All humor fled. “I didn’t say that. I think we should be very cautious. What I want to know is why you went out alone, after I specifically told you not to.”
She huffed. “You are not the boss of me.” Her arms came up between them and she struggled against his hard embrace. “Besides, there’s no vampire food in the fridge.”
“Vampire food?” His head was starting to hurt. Her leaps from subject to subject were hard to follow when his brain had fled so far south.
“Well, I wasn’t sure what your diet consists of besides human blood, but somehow I didn’t think chicken breasts and Rocky Road ice cream would appease you.”
He sighed. “So what did you get?”
“Well, I asked for pig’s blood, but the butcher said I’d have to special order it. So I bought steaks.”
“Steak will do. I woke up hungry as hell.” He gave her a heavy-lidded once-over. “You worked up my appetite.”
“Oh.” She blushed and smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Oh!” Her eyes widened. “I left the steaks in the car—and my purse. I have to go get them.”
“No, you don’t! It’s dusk, give it a few minutes and I’ll get them.”
Lily took a deep breath and bit her lower lip.
Her telltale clue said she wanted to ask him another question. He caressed her buttocks and pulled her against his arousal. “Out with it.”
Her glasses had slid toward the end of her nose, and she glanced up at him from beneath her golden lashes. “What’s so special about the way I smell?”
Joe felt the throb in his cock begin a slow drum roll. “You smell horny—all woman-spice and musk, and a little wild.”
“I smell gamey?” She looked appalled.
“No. Primitive. Feminine. Your scent grabs a man by the balls.”
“Yuck! I should have bought strawberry douche!”
The look on her face made Joe’s shoulders shake with laughter. “Baby, you can’t improve on nature. It’s the first thing I noticed—even before I met you. I just followed your scent.”
Color leeched from her face. “So did the werewolf,” she whispered.
He leaned down and kissed her lips. “Yeah, he did.” He took a deep breath. As much as he’d prefer to take her straight to bed, Lily’s safety was at risk. “When do we see your voodoo queen?”
“She’s not a voodoo queen—she’s a spiritualist.” Lily snuggled her hips against his. “She’ll see us just after dark.” She looked over her shoulder at the shrouded window. “Now.”
Joe pulled her into his arms and gave her one last hard kiss. “Let’s go. I’ll eat in the car.”
*
Madame Leveque’s shop was just off Bourbon Street. An orange neon sign advertising Tarot/Voodoo gleamed brightly above the small doorway of a narrow, white stucco building that adjoined a row of shops. A bell tinkled above the door as Joe hustled Lily through the entrance with a hand to the small of her back. He gave a final look up and down the street before following her inside.
The narrow shop was small and dark; the shelves filled with cheesy Voodoo amulets and dolls, T-shirts with skeletal jazz bands, New Orleans key chains, and stuffed toy alligators.
Lily headed straight to the back of the shop, past the counter where the girl with the corkscrew curls nodded toward a curtained doorway. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, and Joe grinned evilly. As he passed, her eyes narrowed in a warning he couldn’t miss.
Lily pulled back the drapery, and he followed her into a cozy little sitting area with a sofa along the wall and a small wooden table in the center flanked by two chairs. The air smelled like cooking spices, and Joe spotted incense cones burning in a small brass bowl.
A door opened from beyond the table, and a short, wizened black woman stepped through. “Miss Lily.”
“Madame Leveque,” Lily said, shaking the old woman’s hand. “I hope you don’t mind that I’ve brought a friend.”
Large, dark eyes gazed up at him for a long moment, and then a slow smile brightened her face. “Vampire,” she said softly, and raised her hand.
Shaken by her immediate recognition and acceptance, Joe reached for her hand and turned it, bringing it to his lips to press a kiss to the crepe-paper skin. “Madame, I’m Joe Garcia.”
She smiled with delight and motioned toward the table. “One of you may sit on the sofa. As you can see, I am accustomed to seein’ only one person at a time,” she said, her voice low and melodic. “Lily, you must have a very interestin’ tale to explain how you come to be in the company of dis handsome man.”
Joe pulled out one of the chairs for the old woman, and she slowly sat down, smiling her thanks.
“Madame,” Joe interrupted. “We have questions.”
She held up her hand, “Don’ tell me now.” She softened the command with a smile and pointed toward a cupboard in the corner. “Bring me da candle and my cards, please.”
Fighting his impatience, Joe found a stubby candle in a wax-encrusted dish, matches, and a worn deck of cards bound with a rubber band.
Madame reached for the matches and lit the candle. “Miss Lily, would you turn off da light? The switch is beside da door.” She smiled at Joe conspiratorially. “I work best in da dark. As I imagine you do, too.”
When the overhead lamp flickered off, the glow from the candle cast the old woman’s face into relief, lending her a look of ageless wisdom. “I’d like you to shuffle da deck for me, please.”
Joe glanced at Lily, feeling a frown settle between his eyes, but she only nodded her encouragement and motioned him toward the chair.
As the old woman set the lit candle to her left, Joe removed the rubber band and carefully shuffled the age-softened cards. The design on the backs of the cards was of some celestial body. The faces were unlike any deck of cards he’d ever played poker with. He knew he was about to have his fortune read.
He sig
hed, resigning himself to the fact he would have to humor the woman in hopes she’d let him ask his questions in good time. When he’d finished, he handed her the deck.
“Dis won’ take long,” she said, humor crinkling the corners of her eyes.
Joe felt heat creep across his cheeks and gave her his attention while she laid three cards face down on the table.
“Let’s see what da cards can tell me ’bout you, boy.” She waved at the array of cards. “Dis is called da Holy Trinity—only three cards,” she assured him with a wink. Her gnarled fingers turned over the first card. A grin creased her face, and she looked from Joe to Lily, a wicked gleam in her eyes.
Joe looked down at the card and saw the figure of a man, wearing a robe of fiery colors and holding a beautiful golden wand.
“Da King of Wands,” she said, tapping the card. “Dis card tells me you’re a man o’ passion. Handsome, conscientious, noble, and strong…” she looked up at him with a coquettish tilt of her head, “…and a good lover.” She laughed at Lily’s telltale blush.
Her hand hovered over the next card. She flipped it over and gave a small gasp. When she looked up, all humor was wiped from her face. Joe squirmed beneath her look of pity. “Da Ten of Swords,” she whispered.
This card depicted a body covered in blood. Ten swords pierced the torso. Despite his cynicism of the whole ritual, a chill crept up Joe’s spine.
The old woman closed her eyes for a long moment. “Misfortune, ruin, loss, failure, desolation beyond tears. You have suffered.” She was still so long, Joe thought she might have nodded off, but then she sighed. “Ah…” When her eyes opened her gaze held warmth. “But all is not lost. Da evil is nearly over.”
Joe heard the distant sound of a bell tinkling, and the curtain stirred. The candlelight wavered, nearly extinguishing, then fluttered and burned brighter. Madame turned the last card. “Da Blessed Virgin sends a message.” She raised her gaze to him.
The third card drew a gasp from Lily and sent a chill through Joe. It depicted the classic symbol of death—a tall, gaunt figure, his face hidden within the folds of a cowl. He held a scythe. A white rose in full blossom graced the corner. The macabre card was surprisingly beautiful.
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