He couldn’t believe it. She was turning the tables on him. “It’s you I doona completely trust.”
“You’re the one trying to break the rule of noninvolvement.”
“Bloody hell, I’m a man! Do ye expect me no’ to notice how beautiful ye are?” He swayed on his feet.
She reached out a hand to steady him, then pulled her arm back before making contact. “Don’t you dare fall dead in my bedroom. How could I explain that?”
“No one will know I was here. Trust me.”
She gave him a sad look. “How could I ever trust a vampire?”
“I’m still a man,” he whispered. “And I would never hurt you.” With his last ounce of energy, he teleported to the fifth floor, pulled off his jumper, and collapsed on the bed. He’d get his answers tonight.
As death-sleep washed over him, he wished he could dream of lovely girls with golden hair and eyes as green as a Highland meadow in springtime.
I deserve to be happy.
I will accomplish my goals.
Toni began her morning affirmations in the shower. As she soaped up her arms, she recalled how Ian had grabbed her and pulled her close. She’d been too stunned to fight him off. Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
I will achieve something meaningful with my life.
I am worthy to be loved.
Dammit, she’d liked being in his arms. She was out of her mind. She wouldn’t think about him anymore. She rinsed off and started her affirmations again.
I deserve to be happy.
Do ye expect me no’ to notice how beautiful ye are?
Good grief, now his words were repeating in her head. But what nice words. And what had he told her earlier? Any man would be blessed and honored to receive yer love. With a sigh, she turned the water off. She’d waited all her life to hear someone tell her the right words. What rotten luck that it was coming from a vampire.
She dressed, popped in her contacts, and pulled her damp hair back into a ponytail. She’d dry it later. For now, she needed to make her rounds and call in her first report. She went to the basement to make sure the little Vamps were all snug in their little Vamp beds. Dougal and Phineas were fine. Time for the long trek upstairs. Of all the floors, Ian had to pick the top one. At least the five flights were good cardio.
She found him on the king-sized bed, stretched out in his kilt, white T-shirt, socks, and shoes. His sweater was on the floor. She picked it up, folded it, and placed it beside him on the bed. His face was peaceful, but rugged with black stubble shading his jaw. She fought an urge to stroke a fingertip down his cheek and poke the dimple in his chin.
She turned away from his face and noted his shoes. That couldn’t be comfy. She had one shoe pulled off when she realized it had only been yesterday morning when she’d been afraid to even touch him.
She glanced at his face. He was becoming human to her. And not just human, but attractive. Damn. She dropped his second shoe on the floor and left the room. She needed to quit this job as soon as possible. She just needed to find proof that the Vamps existed. Then she could shove that proof in Dr. Proctor’s face and demand he let Sabrina go. And then she would be out of here. She’d never have to see Ian again.
A sudden wave of sadness caught her by surprise. Damn, why couldn’t he have been mortal? Why couldn’t she have met him at NYU? If he’d approached her there with his gorgeous face and lilting, soft accent, she would have fallen for him in a second. God help her, she wanted to hear him say more lovely things to her. She wanted to know if his thick, black hair felt soft if she raked her fingers through it.
How old was he exactly? He’d mentioned the sixteenth century. It was fascinating once she thought about all the things he must have seen over the centuries. What kind of baggage was he carrying on his broad shoulders? What kept him going night after night through the centuries? Did he really want to share his long life with one special woman?
Stop thinking about him. She strode across the office and sat at the desk. The computer hadn’t yielded any proof. Maybe there was something in the drawers. She rummaged through the desk and discovered a thin black book. The title, printed in white, read The Black Pages.
As she scanned the first few pages, her heart began to race. This could be it. Proof positive. The advertisements were clearly meant for the Vamp public.
Ace Aluminum Blinds and Shutters. Block out that annoying sunlight and enjoy the dark!
Aerobics and Weight Training. Is your body centuries old? Keep it in great shape with us!
Brooklyn Blood Bank. Catering to Vamp needs. Are you tired of synthetic blood and hankering for the real thing?
This was it!
She was so excited, she called Carlos. “It’s called The Black Pages. It’s perfect!”
“I’m not sure it constitutes proof,” Carlos said with a yawn. “Anybody can print anything off a computer.”
Toni groaned. “Don’t be such a downer.”
“I’m sorry, menina. I’ll be happy to look at it, though. Can you bring it tonight? Let’s have dinner at your place. I’ll order in Chinese.”
“That’s sounds wonderful.” She would switch to her biggest handbag, so she could sneak the phone book out of the house. “Have you found out anything more about Sabrina’s uncle?”
“Not yet. I have a final this afternoon and a paper due tomorrow. But I’ll find the time.”
“Okay. Good luck with your stuff.” Toni hung up.
It was eight A.M. and time for her first report. After she got off the phone with Howard, the phone started ringing constantly. She was relieved Ian had recorded the new message, and she didn’t have to deal with all the girls who thought he was hot. Even if they were right.
By four-thirty that evening, she was ready to go. She had hidden The Black Pages in a big handbag. The minute Dougal and Phineas arrived in the kitchen, she said her good-byes and headed for the front door. Ian materialized in the foyer just as she was unlocking the door.
“Toni, wait!” He rushed forward and stumbled, nearly falling on his face. He righted himself just in time. “Bugger.”
She hesitated before opening the door. “Are you all right?” Good grief, the poor man was blushing.
“My feet grew from a size nine to a thirteen in twelve days,” he muttered. “I’m still getting used to it.”
His feet weren’t the only things that had grown. Toni’s face grew hot as she attempted to override that memory. She was being shallow, she chided herself. The man must have suffered while he was growing that fast. “It must have been painful.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “It was worth it to finally look like a man.”
And what a man. “Well, you certainly got some good results.”
His eyes started to twinkle. “Like a hot, hot studmuffin?”
She winced. That line was going to haunt her the rest of her days.
He stepped toward her. “We still need to talk.”
Not that again. Maybe she should try a new tactic. “I’d love to talk, but can we do it later? I have to go now. My dinner date is waiting.”
His eyes narrowed. “Ye have a date?”
She started to say it was just with an old friend, but why put the guy out of his misery? He looked kinda jealous, and she kinda liked it. “You’re not the only one who dates around here, you know.”
He frowned. “I have three dates tonight.”
Great, studmuffin. Rub it in. “Have fun.” Not. She marched out the door.
Chapter Seven
Forty-five minutes later, Toni was in her apartment, wolfing down Chinese food and giggling with Carlos over the advertisements in The Black Pages.
“Look at this one.” He pointed. “Undead Body Armor. Protect your chest against those pesky wooden stakes.”
She nearly choked on a noodle. “I still like the Fang File the best. Gotta keep those fangs sharp.”
Carlos chuckled. “You know what’s good, menina? You’re able to laugh at vampires now.”
He patted her arm. “You’re doing fine. How long can you stay tonight? I’d like to do a recon of Dr. Proctor’s house in Westchester. We need to know the layout in case we have to extract Sabrina.”
“Excuse me?” Sometimes Carlos didn’t exactly sound like an anthropology student.
“Never mind. I’ll handle the uncle. You keep working on getting proof that these vampires exist.”
She sighed. They’d already decided that anyone reading The Black Pages would simply think it was a joke book. “I’m totally stumped. I mean, it sounds easy to get proof, but it’s not. Even if I videotaped someone admitting he’s a vampire, people would just think I had hired an actor.”
Carlos stared into space for a moment while he considered. “You need to catch them in the act. Get a recording of them vanishing or their fangs coming out. Go someplace where a lot of them are gathered, and they feel totally free to be themselves.”
“A vampire hangout?”
“Exactly.” He jumped up and headed to the kitchen window. “I’ve got something in my apartment you can use.”
“A rope of garlic?” There was a loud knock on her door, and she jumped.
Carlos hesitated. “Are you expecting someone?”
“No.” She rushed to the door and peered through the peephole. “Oh no!” Oh shoot! With his super hearing, he’d probably heard her.
“What’s wrong?” Carlos reversed direction and headed back into the living room.
“Nothing.” Damn! How had Ian discovered her address? Her employment application, of course. He’d probably gone back to Romatech to get it. A second knock shook the door, and she scooted away from it.
“You want me to get it?” Carlos asked.
“No, I’ll get it,” she whispered. It’s just…him.”
“Him? The infamous him of no name?”
She lifted a finger to her mouth to shush Carlos up. No doubt Super Vamp was listening to them.
Carlos’s mouth curled up. “The him whose very mention causes your eyes to glaze over with a take-me-I’m-yours look?”
“That’s not true!” Toni winced as she looked back at the door. She dashed over to Carlos and hissed quietly, “Go back to your place now. Before I kill you.”
“Are you kidding?” Carlos perched on the arm of the easy chair. “I wouldn’t miss him for anything.”
She swatted Carlos on the shoulder, but he didn’t budge. It was no use. She leaned close so she could whisper. “Don’t say a word about him being a Vamp. You’re not supposed to know.”
“My lips are sealed.” Carlos’s eyes twinkled. “Unless he has other plans.”
She huffed. “Don’t you dare make a move on him.”
“Ah. Feeling a bit territorial, are we?”
She glared at Carlos’s smirking face.
A third knock banged loudly.
“He’s not getting any younger, love,” Carlos murmured. “Let the poor man in.”
“I am going to kill you.” She gasped when she realized The Black Pages was sitting right there on the coffee table. She stuffed it under the easy chair’s seat cushion, then rushed to the door. Vanderkitty followed her. She flipped the lock and opened the door.
“About time.” Ian marched in, his kilt swinging about his knees. His gaze flitted past Toni to rest on Carlos. With a lift of his chin, Ian regarded the other man sternly. “I doona believe we have met. Are ye Toni’s date?”
Carlos remained sitting while he looked Ian over. “Nice kilt.”
Van hissed at Ian, then jumped into Carlos’s lap. “Good kitty.” He slowly petted the cat.
Ian arched a brow. “Who are you and why are ye here?”
Toni stepped in front of him. “It’s none of your business what I do when I’m off duty.”
Ian lowered his voice. “Aye, but when ye’re on duty, I’m no’ in a verra talkative mood. Ye said ye’d love to talk to me later. So I’m here. This is later.”
“This is not a good time.”
He glanced at their empty plates on the coffee table. “Ye’re done with yer dinner, aye?”
Carlos set Van in the easy chair, then approached with a hand extended. “I’m Carlos Panterra, Toni’s next-door neighbor.”
Ian shook his hand. “Ian MacPhie.”
Carlos glanced from Toni to Ian and smiled. “I’ll leave you two alone then.”
“You don’t need to go, Carlos.” Toni gave him a pointed look.
“Menina, I have a little gift for you, remember? I’ll be right back.” He sauntered toward the kitchen.
Toni frowned at Ian. “I thought you had three dates tonight.”
“No’ real dates,” Ian muttered. “I’m just meeting them at a nightclub.” He lowered his voice, “For my kind.”
“A nightclub?” Carlos asked with one foot on the windowsill. “You should take Toni. She loves music and dancing. Don’t you, menina?”
She stared at Carlos, confused.
“It’s no’ a suitable place for her,” Ian began.
“Too wild?” Carlos asked. “Don’t worry. Toni loves to get wild. Don’t you, love?” He winked.
“I—I doona think she would like it,” Ian insisted, and Toni realized he wasn’t able to explain that this was a vampire nightclub.
“Toni just adores places with lots of action.” Carlos gave her a pointed look, and it finally clicked.
A vampire hangout! It might be the perfect place to get the proof she needed. “Oh yes! I would love to go.”
Ian’s eyes widened. “Ye would?”
“Of course.” She gave him a dazzling smile. “You will take me, won’t you?”
“But ye know what kind of people will be there,” he whispered.
“I’d really like to go.” Toni made sure that Carlos had disappeared through the kitchen window. “I’m still a bit uncomfortable around vampires. But if I go with you to this club, it might help me get over it. I could see you all in a different light.”
Ian nodded. “Connor told me how bad the attack was. I’m verra sorry.”
“Oh.” Did he really care? “I—I’m okay.”
He looked genuinely concerned. “It happened only a few nights ago. Ye havena had time to recover.”
“Well…” She smoothed a loose tendril of hair back from her brow.
“Connor said ye fought bravely. He was verra impressed.”
She drew in a shaky breath. No, dammit, she wasn’t over it. This whole conversation was getting on her nerves. And the bite marks on her chest and torso were starting to itch. “I don’t know how I would have survived if Connor hadn’t come along when he did.”
“I understand now why ye hate mind control so much. Connor told me how they forced ye to take—”
“Please stop!” She didn’t want the memories crashing over her right now.
“Toni.” He touched her shoulder, and she flinched. “Och lass, I would never hurt you.”
She blinked, refusing to cry. This would never do. A stubborn, suspicious Ian she could handle, but a sweet, compassionate one? He was melting all her defenses.
She backed away and folded her arms across her bite-marked torso. “So how is the investigation going? Have you decided whether I’m trustworthy yet?”
“I still doona know yer full name. But yer refusal to talk to me is verra understandable after the way ye were attacked.”
“True.” Or maybe her refusal was a shield to keep her from feeling too attracted to this guy. Not that she would ever admit that.
“I’m still no’ certain why ye dinna let Connor erase the memory. It is causing ye pain, lass.”
She snorted. “If I had all my bad memories erased, there wouldn’t be much left.”
Ian frowned. “Surely that canna be so.”
&
nbsp; Toni thought back. No, there had been happy times. Sweet memories of her grandmother. Fun times with Sabrina. Moments of pride when she’d done well in school.
“My mother didn’t want me.” With a wince, she pressed a hand against her mouth. Damn. How had that slipped out?
Ian looked stunned. “How could that be?”
“I’m…illegitimate.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I dinna think that mattered in modern times.”
“It didn’t matter to my grandmother. She was happy to raise me. But my mom has always been embarrassed by her big mistake. Me.” Toni waved a hand in dismissal. “It’s not important. I don’t know why I mentioned it.”
“Because it causes ye pain. It’s the pain we endure that makes us strong. Ye’re verra brave no’ to run from it.”
Toni’s gaze was drawn once more to Ian’s, and she felt her pulse jump. Her skin tingled with awareness. Her lips went dry. Her mind grew fuzzy, and all she could think about was moving closer to him. When he stepped toward her, she wondered if he was feeling the same compulsion.
“I know the memory causes ye pain, but I’m verra glad ye kept it.”
“You want me to suffer?”
“Nay. But if ye hadna kept yer memories, I would have never met you.”
“Oh.” Her brain grew even foggier, and she couldn’t think of anything to say. She licked her lips, then noticed his gaze shifting to her mouth. Oh God.
“I’m back!” Carlos announced at the kitchen window.
Toni jerked back to her senses. Good grief, how long had she and Ian stared at each other? He moved back and folded his arms across his chest.
Carlos sauntered into the living room and gasped. “What are you doing, girl? You haven’t changed clothes!”
“Excuse me?”
“You can’t go to a nightclub like that.” Carlos huffed. “Come on, let’s get you ready.” He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward her bedroom. “Make yourself comfortable, Ian. We’ll just be a moment.”
Ian looked confused. “Ye’re…dressing her?”
All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire Page 9