A Bite to Remember by Lynsay Sands Read Free Book Online

Tiny took his bowl and stood to carry it to the sink.
    Vincent couldn’t help noticing that Jackie frowned afterthe man and supposed she didn’t like Tiny serving him. The title cook/housekeeper was just his cover after all. She didn’t say anything to the large man, however, but turned to Vincent and asked, “So what did you do to piss off one of your own kind?”
    He blinked at the question. “What do you mean?”
    “Well, you must have done something. There’s a reason they’re sabotaging you like this.”
    “It doesn’t have to be an immortal,” Vincent said resentfully.
    Jackie arched one eyebrow. “No, of course it doesn’t. Maybe it was a coincidence that the entire cast of your play suddenly went anemic. Although, as far as I know, there really is no such thing as contagious anemia.”
    Vincent’s shoulders sagged. “Yes. That seems to suggest one of my kind is behind it,” he acknowledged with a sigh. Then he admitted, “I was hoping though that it was a mortal who either hired, or got some help, from an immortal.”
    “Does it really matter?” she asked quietly. “Either way, an immortal is involved and surely they don’t normally side with mortals against immortals?”
    “No,” he agreed. “And I have tried to think of who might be behind it, or even involved, but I really can’t think of anyone.”
    “Hmm.” Jackie sat back, a frown pulling at her mouth as Tiny returned to set a bowl of ice cream before Vincent. “Well, think about it some more. If you come up with anyone, let me know.”
    Vincent nodded, then asked, “So, what are we going to do first?”

    Jackie’s eyes narrowed. “ We aren’t doing anything. You’re going to go about your business. The saboteur is a problem for Tiny and me.” She pushed back her chair and stood. “I’ll go check on how the men are doing with the security system.”
    Vincent watched her leave, his gaze fixed with interest on her pert little behind.
    “Jackie’s right. You’re better to leave the detecting to the detectives,” Tiny said, drawing his attention. “And we’ll leave the acting to you.”
    Vincent grunted and took a spoonful of ice cream, savoring the cold, sweet treat and wondering why he’d stopped eating all those centuries ago. Had he really just got bored with it? It didn’t seem boring now.
    “So,” Vincent said after a minute. “Tell me about Jackie.”
    Tiny raised his eyebrows, then shrugged. “She’s smart, sharp, and somewhat cynical. She’s also my boss.”
    The last was added as a warning that he’d be loyal and Vincent nodded to let him know he respected that. “Bastien said her father started the company?”
    “Ted,” Tiny agreed. “He was a real hard-noser. He expected a lot out of everyone…including his daughter. And Jackie never disappointed him.”
    “Never?”
    “Never in the ten years I’ve known her,” Tiny said solemnly.
    Vincent considered that briefly, then said, “Her father’s dead?”
    “Yes. Cancer,” Tiny said grimly. “Two years ago.”
    “So she’s been running the company for two years?”

    “Three,” he corrected. “Ted was pretty sick the last year. Jackie pretty much took over. He was just a figurehead.”
    Vincent nodded. “It must have been hard. I mean when it comes to detectives, one just always assumes it will be a man in charge. I suppose most men would want a male detective.”
    Tiny smiled faintly. “Not so much nowadays. Women are in every field and in charge more often now. Actually,” he added with amusement, “more often than not, the only ones who give her a hard time are your kind.”
    Vincent raised his eyebrows in surprise and Tiny shrugged. “A lot of immortals are older; from a time when women weren’t in power positions. They aren’t always comfortable with her being in charge. Like you weren’t when you slammed the door in her face. Jackie often works twice as hard to earn their respect.”
    Vincent frowned, ashamed now that he’d