Real Vampires Have More to Love by Gerry Bartlett Read Free Book Online Page B

presents. You’ll love it.”
    I grabbed my purse. “Thanks but no thanks. See you later. I’m sneaking upstairs. Front door. Hopefully no one will try to shoot me this time. Maybe I’ll use a customer as a human shield.” I heard Aggie bombarding Flo with hopeful questions as I stepped into the shop. Like maybe I’d be killed and she’d win by default? Bitch.
    My night clerk had come in to relieve Lacy, and there were no human customers. I glanced out the plate glass window, and the sidewalk in front of the store seemed clear. Three in the morning. A dead time of night but staying open twenty-four hours was still a novelty that had served me well. I knew the action would pick up later when shifts changed at a nearby hospital and the downtown hotels.
    I’d called him earlier and expected Rafe to be waiting for me, but once safely upstairs, there was no sign of him. I kicked off my shoes and pulled out my cell phone. Wait a minute. Was that the shower running? Hadn’t we just had this conversation? I stomped over to the bathroom door and pounded on it with my fist.
    The water turned off immediately, but I felt heat through the door. There wasn’t going to be a speck of hot water left. I’d worked up a good mad by the time the door opened a crack.
    “What the hell are you doing?” I kicked at the door.
    “Taking a shower. Who the hell are you?” The door opened wider, and the woman wearing a towel looked me over from head to toe, then sniffed.
    I recognized that look and that sniff. Had endured that treatment for centuries. It was the “I’ve got what you wish you had, honey, now get out of my way” look. I stood my ground. I mean, it was my apartment, wasn’t it?
    “I’m Glory St. Clair, the woman who pays the rent on this place and who gets first dibs on the hot water here. Who the hell are you?” I checked her out. Didn’t take long. She was tall and slim. Her dripping hair was midnight black and so thick it would probably take her an hour to blow it dry. The towel was knotted between small perky breasts. That same towel barely met around me and had certainly never tied into a firm knot. Damn.
    “Nadia Komisky, Rafael’s business partner. I’m sorry if I’ve inconvenienced you.” She smiled, showing perfect teeth, shiny white with cute little fangs, and held out a hand.
    “Ah, Nadia. So glad you’ve decided to help Rafe.” Against my better judgment, I shook her hand. She didn’t do any creepy vamp moves on me, just touched palms and backed up to grab another towel for her wet hair. She was so damned gorgeous with her pale skin, dark eyes and thick lashes, I wanted to hate her. Too bad her smile was friendly and she was actually being nice as she kept apologizing while she wrapped her hair in the towel.
    “Rafael didn’t warn you, the bad boy. But when I got to Austin, I found there was no safe place to stay. This town is so primitive!” Nadia laughed. “Well, for vampires anyway. I told Rafe we should open a vampire hotel. But he is hot to do the club thing. Really wanted a cozy bar, but I said that is silly with the college so close. Students like music and dancing, and the space he’s leasing is perfect for a nightclub.”
    I followed her out to the living room. Did she plan to put on clothes? She had long legs and bare feet that were elegant with pretty red-painted toenails. Mine needed a fresh coat of something.
    “Students do love a good club. And something new. Sounds great.” I noticed a small open suitcase by the door.
    Nadia casually dropped her towel and stepped into a black thong then pulled a black T-shirt over her head. Next came a stretchy black skirt, and she was dressed. She sat on the couch and went to work on towel drying her hair. I couldn’t imagine being that unself-conscious about my body in front of a stranger. I kept my double-wide hips hidden from everyone but Blade, who had a weird liking for them. No wonder I loved him.
    “We have a name for the club now.