Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye Read Free Book Online Page B

as I set the coffee on her desk. “Sounds terribly dangerous.”
    “Sometimes.”
    “Do you carry a gun?” Her gaze traveled the length of him, pausing at several spots in between. “A Beretta? Glock? Ruger? Magnum revolver?”
    “Evie’s a huge CSI fan,” I chimed in when Ty raised an eyebrow.
    “Actually, I carry a forty-caliber Sig,” he told her. “ When I carry. Which isn’t too often. I don’t really need a gun.” Not with the forces of darkness on his side.
    “Stupid me. You’re probably a black belt. Highly trained in hand-to-hand combat,” Evie said. I could practically see her shiver with excitement. “I bet you kick ass royally with your bare hands.”
    “I can hold my own.”
    “You can go ahead and take off,” I told Evie, who simply sat there, staring at Ty as if he were a Tootsie Pop and she had a sudden hankering for the chocolate center. “I bet you’re tired.”
    “Not at all.” She took a huge gulp of her mocha latte. “This is my sixth one of these today.” She set the cup down. “I’d be glad to hang around to take calls while you guys have your, er, talk.”
    “That’s okay. I’ll answer the phone. I’m sure this won’t take long.”
    “Really, I wouldn’t mind.”
    “I don’t want to impose.”
    “You’re not. It would be my pleasure.”
    “Go.” I directed my mucho psychic vamp abilities and willed her to her feet, but she didn’t so much as budge. It wasn’t until Ty gave her the Look that she pushed back from her desk and stood. She handed me a small stack of messages before reaching for her purse.
    “Don’t forget your coffee,” Ty said, and she smiled.
    “Thanks,” she said as if he’d been the one to stand in line for twenty minutes for it.
    “You’re welcome,” I said, willing her to leave again with my eyes. I felt a niggle of guilt. After all, Evie was my friend, and I made it a rule never to use any vamp mojo on my friends. Then again, most of my friends were fellow vamps and the mojo didn’t work on them.
    Besides, this was an emergency. And in her best interest. I didn’t know Ty Bonner. He could be sizing her up for dinner for all I knew. From the way Evie was gushing, she’d be a more than willing entree.
    “Take off,” I said, and she made a beeline for the door as fast as her leather Jimmy Choo wedges could carry her.
    Oooh, I hadn’t really noticed those before. Nice.
    “…do it?”
    “What?” My head swiveled back to Ty. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that.”
    “Where do you want to do it?”
    A dozen yummy possibilities raced through my mind, and my tongue was suddenly too thick to talk. I pointed to a doorway and motioned him in.
    “Impressive,” he said once we walked inside. His gaze scanned the interior of my office while I flipped on a few extra lamps on the way to my desk. “You must be doing pretty well for yourself.”
    I swallowed and forced aside each and every lewd, lustful thought wreaking havoc in my brain (or at least most of them). “Actually, it’s my credit card that’s doing all the work right now, but I intend to take over just as soon as business picks up.” Rounding my desk, I sank into my chair, set my purse on the floor, and eyed him. “So why all the James Bond stuff? Why didn’t you just call and make an appointment like everyone else instead of following me around?”
    “You’re a vampire.”
    “And?”
    “You’re a matchmaker.”
    “And?”
    “The two don’t go together.” He eyed the plaque on my wall that read LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ’ROUND . “Vampires don’t believe in love.”
    “True, but they do believe in procreation. Born vampires, I mean. Nowadays, a lot of vamps are too busy making the big bucks to have much time for a social life. They need a screening process. Someone to point them in the right direction. That’s where I come in. I match humans as well.” At least, I would once I managed to land a few human clients. “But born vamps are my