“Hi,” she said, slightly bewildered by the handsome men surrounding her.
He took her hand and twirled her around, giving her a low wolf-whistle. “Nick, you are one hundred percent correct. She is a woman with a capital ’W.’ That’s a figure men have started wars over.”
His obvious fib embarrassed her, but before she could form an adequate response, someone yanked her arm. She glanced up to find David pulling her toward a strange machine. “Linc, you had a look, now she’s mine. Find her some dresses to try on. Sophisticated,” he ordered.
Thirty minutes later, she was under a cool dryer with giant rollers in her hair. Nikki straddled her legs while she painted Casey’s face. Never in her life had Casey worn so much makeup.
But she drew the line when the other woman pulled out a box of eyelashes.
“My eyes are super sensitive. The one time I put eyelashes on, my lids swelled shut. The doctor said it had something to do with the glue.”
Nikki nodded. “Then we’ll use my super secret weapon,” she pulled out a tube of mascara. “A few coats of this, and you won’t need false ones.”
“Okay, that’s it,” Maxine said as she carefully took Casey’s hands out of the ultraviolet thingy that dried her nails. “These are gel, so you don’t need to worry about messing them up.” She smudged a finger over Casey’s nail to show her.
“Careful,” Nikki warned as Maxine moved the dryer.
“Oops, sorry.” Maxine smiled.
Casey was surprised no one had been impaled by a mascara wand or curling iron so far. She wasn’t used to all this hustle and bustle, and the attention was overwhelming.
Linc put his fingers in his mouth and whistled. The action made her crush on him just a little bit. Was he serious? It was such a biker thing to do. The tats going up his neck were barely visible above his collar and gave him an air of danger, but he had the kindest eyes. It cracked her up that he was a clothing designer. Never again would she stereotype.
“Okay, girls, let’s go,” he said.
“Now, if you see something you like, just point,” Linc said. “Nick and I have both picked out four dresses we liked, but if you don’t care for them we have plenty more.”
The first model wore a frothy sage-colored dress with a V-neck and long sleeves. At first it seemed conservative, until she turned around. It had no back. One false move and there’d be a thong appearance, or worse, a butt crack sighting.
Casey shook her head. The next two dresses were also soft pastels, one blue, and the other a buttery chiffon. The way they draped flattered any figure, but she wasn’t super crazy about the colors. She shrugged, not really wanting to say no, but she needed to see her other options.
The fourth model strutted by and Casey’s jaw dropped. The red halter dress had a knot of fabric just under the bust that flowed down to floor.
“I think we have a winner,” Linc said.
She glanced up to him. “I love it, but there’s no way I can pull off something like that.”
Linc grinned devilishly. “Try it on.”
“Let me finish her up and then you can have her,” David said possessively, clutching her shoulders but not taking his eyes off of the designer.
She had a feeling David had a crush on Linc. Unfortunately, Linc was one hundred percent heterosexual. She’d seen the way he’d flirted with the models. All of them. And he exuded that same kind of manly power as Nick. They made her think of those older, handsome guys on the fancy beer commercials who traveled the world and lived exotic lives—with equally exotic women.
She was so out of her league.
David turned the chair away from the mirror, refusing to let her see the finished product until he was completely done. As her long hair tumbled out of the rollers she caught a vision of soft blond waves out of the corner of her eye.
She pulled at one of the curls. “I love the color.”
David slapped her hand away. “You don’t touch this hair, do you understand? If it starts to fall, just go to the ladies room, bend over, and shake it, girl. Shake what your mama gave you. Then flip it back up. But don’t touch it. It’s meant to be sexy and soft.”
For the umpteenth time that night, she rolled her eyes. David gently thwacked her on the head with the comb just before he teased the crown of her hair to give it some lift.
Twenty minutes later she was dressed and teetering in the most beautiful shoes she’d ever seen. The Christian Louboutins crossed her feet and ankles delicately in crystal and silver works of art, but she felt like she was walking on her toes.
She prayed there would be chairs at the party. And food. She should have grabbed more cheese from the platter Nick brought her. Who knew getting gussied up was so exhausting?
David clapped his hands. “Okay, bring out the full-sized mirror,” he ordered Dana and Nikki. He beamed and winked at her. “I love this part.”
He turned the mirror around and Casey’s brain misfired. There was no way that was her. No. Way.
The dress played to her attributes, making the curves of her body more an asset than the bane of her existence. The makeup brought out her eyes and had turned her lips into luscious pouty things she didn’t recognize but had always wanted.
Linc handed her a small, jeweled purse in the shape of a genie lamp. “Every girl needs a bit of whimsy to remind her that life is a game and it’s all about having fun.”
Casey found her voice and gushed, “Oh my goodness. You guys. I feel like Cinderella times a thousand. I can’t believe what you’ve done. Thank you so much.”
Everyone clapped, and she wondered where Nick was.
“Wait until he sees you,” David said as if he’d read her mind. “He might be the one you’ll need to keep off with a stick tonight.”
“Him?” Linc teased. “How about me? Don’t let the CEO steal every dance, I want you to save me at least two.”
She loved that Nick’s friends were so kind to her. Nobody knew more than she that this was just for pretend, but they were trying so hard to make her feel like a real princess. She didn’t want to let them down.
Everyone but David moved to the front of the store.
“Own that dress, darlin’,” he ordered. “Lift that chin up and know you’re a powerful and strong woman. Gorgeous beyond belief, and I can tell you have a kind soul. You’re jumping into a den full of jackals that will try to eat you up, but you got more going for you than all of them put together. It shines through like nobody’s business.”
She sniffed, feeling slightly teary from his kind words. “You’re so sweet. But it’s not like that. I’m only here to help poor Nick to scare away doting mothers who want to marry off their daughters. He’s one of my best friends.”
David’s eyes narrowed. “Whatever you say, darlin’. But you need to fake it until you make it. Trust me, looking like you do right now, you will get the evil eye from the female population at the party. And that’s a very good thing. Now, let’s go see your friend,” the stylist snarked.
If she moved slowly she didn’t have to worry about tripping on her dress. That was advice one of the models had given her when helping her into the death shoes. So far so good.
The other clothes had been taken out, and the salon was back in order. When she passed the reception desk, she heard a sharp intake of breath.
She glanced to her left to find Nick staring at her with a hungry expression. The shock in his eyes was worth the small migraine building in her head from all the craziness she’d endured.
She scrunched up her face. “Is it okay?” she held out her arms a little to show him the dress.
“Stunning,” he whispered. Then he frowned. “So beautiful you take my breath away.”
She snorted. “Oh, Nick. Now you’re taking it too far.”
His frowned deepened.
Jeez. What had she said this time?
He lifted her chin with his finger. “If I say you are beautiful, you are,” he snarled so vehemently she stepped back.
He closed his eyes, but not before she saw them flash black and then back to gray. Man, her head must be worse than she thought. She hoped there would at least be some hors d’oeuvres at this thing. She was clearly famished.
Sad that consuming food and not tripping were her two main goals for the evening.
That, and not fainting from sheer terror.
Chapter Four
Crap! He’d really done it this time.
Casey hadn’t just turned into a butterfly–she was an elegant swan that stole his breath. How the hell was he going to keep his hands off her? He could barely keep himself under control as it was. He wasn’t sure how he felt about men ogling her beautiful breasts or touching her soft porcelain shoulders. As a growl rumbled in his chest, he realized he did know, and he would need to watch it tonight or he might start a war.
Men had gone to war for less. Helen of Troy didn’t hold a candle to his Casey.
The makeup woman had sprayed a soft vanilla scent on her curvaceous beauty that made him want to sink his fangs into her right there in the limo.
What was he going to do when someone asked her to dance?
Let her go. This night was meant to show her how enticing and lovely she was. That she might garner some attention from the opposite sex was a good thing. Wasn’t that the reason he invited her?
Calming his breathing, he tried to think rationally. It wasn’t easy with her scent intoxicating him. And she kept biting the left side of her lip. She always did that when she was nervous.
“We don’t have to stay long if you don’t want. And I’ll be with you the entire time,” he reassured her.
As she took a deep breath, her breasts lifted. Then she gave him the sweetest smile, and Nick had to adjust his jacket to hide her effect on him. Taking both of her hand in his, he squeezed gently.
“Do you have any idea how incredible you are?”
“Stop worrying, Nick.” She tried to pull her hands away, but he held fast, her creamy skin soft under his touch. “You’re being sweet, and I appreciate it. But it’s making me more nervous. You can throw the girl in a fancy dress and make her look nice, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to fit in. I’m telling you, I’m really, really bad at this stuff.”
Her lack of self-confidence helped him remember this night was all about her. “Casey, you are one of the most charming women I’ve ever known. Trust me, you have nothing to worry about. All of these people have secrets they hope no one finds out. I guarantee the majority of them are as insecure as you. And if they don’t feel that way, it’s because they’ve stuffed down their insecurities with liquor or drugs.”
“I should have had someone take a picture with my phone. Aunt Teddie would die if she saw me in this dress.” She deftly changed the subject with a giggle and then looked out the window for a moment before turning to him. “She’d probably steal it, which reminds me.”
She glanced down at her fingers as he let her hands slip from his.
“I—uh. Well. Oh jeez, this is embarrassing.” She picked imaginary lint from her dress.
“Casey, you know you can tell me anything,” he said seriously. Concerned she was upset about something, he shifted so he could see face her more clearly. Reaching out, he touched her bare shoulder, and heat seared straight from his fingers to his groin.
He kept his fingers there even though it was a big mistake. He doubted he could remove them even if he wanted to. Her skin was so soft.
“I don’t have enough money right now to pay you back for all this stuff. I was wondering if we could do an installment plan. David told me that you picked up the tab, and I feel so guilty.”
“Hah!” Nick chuckled. Money. That was what she worried about. The tension from months of wanting to do very bad—very fun—things to this woman eased away on a tide of laughter. Eyes widening in shock, she watched him as though he were a crazy man on a ledge.
Maybe he was.
“I’m glad you’re so happy about my financial concerns.” She crossed her arms and pouted.
He gently squeezed her shoulder. “Oh, Casey. This is why I—” He paused. “Adore you.” What had he been about to say? He didn’t want to go there. Hell, he couldn’t go there. “You’re doing me a huge favor tonight. The least I can do is pick up the tab. Don’t most men pick up the tab when they take you out?”
She gave him the I’m-trying-to-be-patient-but-you-are-an-idiot glare she used when he made fun of her vampire show. “Dude, have you seen the men I date? I’m lucky if they want to go Dutch for dinner. I usually end up paying for both of us and the taxi ride home.”
They were losers. Casey’s beauty came from within, and if those assholes didn’t get it—their loss. “I see your point.” He smiled. Then another thought crossed his mind. “Listen, when I mentioned wolves tonight, I meant it. The way you look, there’s a good chance you may receive unwanted advances. That’s why I want you to stay close. I’ll protect you.”
“You worry about the dumbest stuff. As if those rich guys are going to even notice me. Though, if you know of a really nice one you could introduce me to, please help a girl out. How great would it be if I could date a nice guy like you—who actually has a decent job—instead of my usual poor assholes with no goals or future?”
Like him? Dammit. He would treat her right and show her the courtesy she deserved, right after he bent her over his desk and had his way with her—twice. He couldn’t use that desk at home without thinking of her.
He leaned back in his seat. But that wasn’t possible. He had to keep her at arms length for her own safety. It was best for all involved.
He’d give her a Cinderella night, and help her find a nice man.
But the very idea of her in the arms another man twisted his gut. Hell, since he’d gone through the change, he’d never felt so many emotions. For hundreds of years he’d believed he no longer had feelings of any kind, except boredom. It was one of the reasons he was so successful. Until he met Casey, the only thing that gave him any kind of adrenaline rush was taking a risk on a company and making it work.
“Oh, please, don’t be mad at me, Nick. That came out wrong.”
His name on her lips pulled him back to the present. Her eyes were full of worry.
“About what?” he asked.
“I was just joking about the hookup. I wouldn’t use you that way.”
“I know that Casey.” He patted her arm. The temptation to slide his fingers down and weave them into hers gave him pause. He pulled away quickly. “I promise, if I find a nice employed guy, I’ll send him your way tonight.”
Like hell. He shifted in the seat.
She giggled again. “He doesn’t even have to be an Adonis like you. I’ll settle for a regular Joe.”
God, she was killing him. Adonis? He snorted. Did she really see him that way? He’d noticed the last few weeks her heart beat a little faster when he was near. Did she want him, the same way he did her? It didn’t matter. She was much too fragile and precious for him. It didn’t help that he had to find a wife later in the week or risk losing his Council seat. And if he knew anything, his violent world was not one for the likes of someone as sweet as Casey.
“Adonis, huh?”
She grinned. “Oh hell yeah. You’re about as hot as they come.” She winked. “I mean you have to know, isn’t that why you brought me? To give all those clingy hags dirty stares when they try to put their claws in you?”
He grabbed her hand and kissed her fingers, his lips lingering a little longer than necessary. “One more reason why I find you so precious—your willingness to protect me from a bastion of evil mamas.” He placed a hand across his forehead and pushed his head against the car seat for dramatic effect. “Oh, the horror.”
She elbowed him. “Goof. And I hate the word precious. It always makes me think of those Lord of the Rings movies you like s
o much. Remember, that creepy little guy running around the mountain chasing his precious?” She shivered. “Still freaks me out. I had to sleep with the light on for three weeks. Well, him and those crazy orc dudes. Yuck.”
Hell, he remembered their Lord of the Rings marathon day. That was the when he realized he was addicted to her. They had an easy companionship. The night before the marathon, they’d shared bad pizza and even worse beer after one of her miserable dates. They laughed and talked for hours. In eight hundred years, he couldn’t remember being that unguarded with another person.
When morning light shone through her window, he suggested they get six hours of sleep and then do Lord of the Rings start to finish. Even though it was a Saturday, he’d had to cancel six meetings and a morning tee-off, but it had been worth it to hear her sigh over poor Frodo. Then she’d told him that if he let his hair grow out he’d look like Aragon. That still made him laugh, because he knew she had a big crush on the soon-to-be king.
The limo stopped, and she bit the corner of her mouth again. He used his thumb to pull the soft red lip from her teeth. “You’re going to draw blood.”
The thought of her blood sent a fission of heat straight to his groin. The sweet red liquid running through her veins was part of her intoxicating smell. Thankfully he was old enough to control his bloodlust, at least as long as they remained clothed. He honestly wasn’t sure he could control himself around her if he were to ever give in to his passionate cravings.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather watch one of those movies where the guys drive cool cars around and shoot at each other?” she pleaded.
He chuckled. “You hate action movies,” he said not even trying to hide his mirth.
“Hate’s a very strong word. And sometimes a hot guy takes off his shirt and makes all those tedious car crashes worth it.” She batted her eyelashes at him.
The first time she’d seen the actor Chris Hemsworth take off his shirt in Thor, she pretended to faint. He remembered feeling jealous and doing an extra two hundred sit-ups that night.
Take It Like A Vamp Page 3