Follow Me When the Sun Goes Down by Lisa Olsen Read Free Book Online Page A

clothes for her, Maggie, there’s a good girl.” 
    “What’s going on?” I asked, as Maggie hurried to do his bidding. 
    “You’ve some admirers waiting, that’s all.”
    “Oh.  She made it sound like a big deal.”
    “It’s a fair number of admirers.” 
    Still didn’t seem like reason enough to wake me up like that.  Except that I really should get up and get to work.  I was expecting Jenessa to come over to help me study up on some of the other Houses, and I wanted to get my busywork finished by then.  “Well, okay then.  I’m going to jump in the shower.  Can you please tell them I’ll be out in a jiff?”
    “Take your time, I don’t think they’ll mind waiting.”
    Still, I didn’t want to linger, knowing there were people out there, so I hurried through a quick shower, hating that I had to take more pains with my appearance than I normally would because of my position now.  Ordinarily I would’ve run a comb through my hair, thrown on a sweater and a pair of jeans, and gone to see what all the fuss was about.  As it was, I forced myself to pull my hair up into a simple twist so I wouldn’t have to bother with blow drying it, and left my face bare while I put on the dress and heels Maggie laid out for me.  Before I slipped out the door, I pulled on Rob’s locket, the one he’d given me at Christmas, relishing the feel of the cool metal hanging over my heart.
    Upstairs, there was no sign of anyone, and I came to a stop in the deserted hallway wondering what the fuss was all about.  Rob had made it sound like there were a bunch of people waiting for me.  Had they gotten bored waiting and left? 
    Rob appeared at my elbow, a faint smile on his lips as he pulled the door open.  “Time to go.”
    “Go where?  Where did everybody disappear to?”
    “They’re all waiting in the cars.”  His hand landed on the small of my back, propelling me toward the door.  Outside there was a small procession of cars, with my security team squashed into the lead car and Maggie and Gunnar bringing up the rear.  Rob guided me to his car, in the middle, handing me into the passenger’s seat.
    “You’re all acting really weird,” I murmured, but he only dropped a quick wink as we pulled into traffic. 
    To my surprise, the procession continued all the way to Dolores Park where a huge silk tent had been set up, complete with twinkle lights, music, and tons of people. 
    “What’s the occasion?” I asked, peering out the window as we came to a stop.
    “You are, of course.”
    “Of course,” I murmured, spotting Jarrod and Leander directing traffic among the servers.  “A party just for me?”  How shiny was that? 
    “Why not?  You’re the Elder, ain’t you?” 
    The security team surrounded the car, and only then did he open the door to let me out.  The crowd went nuts as I stepped into sight, and I froze with a deer in the headlights look.  “It’s alright, they’re just here to wish you well,” Rob soothed at my ear, leading me down the candle-lit path.  “Nothing to worry about, my boys have it all under control.  Smile now, luv, you’ve got this.”
    I unstuck my face and managed a smile, a surprised smile, but a smile all the same as he led me to the pavilion.  Now that I had a better view, I spotted familiar faces, but there were far too many I didn’t recognize at all.  Were they all San Franciscan vampires, or had they traveled to be a part of this surprise party? 
    I accepted a glass of champagne, but wisely chose not to drink that night, the memory of the last time I’d had too much of the bubbly drink still fresh in my mind. 
    Rob and Gunnar escorted me to a… a throne, I guess you could call it.  A giant chair (big enough for me to have a friend or two join me) cushioned with plush, red, velvet set up on a small dais.  I sincerely hoped they didn’t always go to so much trouble for me, but it was kind of fun to have all the fuss for just one night.