Star, Starland Vamp Series, Book 1 by Theresa Oliver Read Free Book Online Page A

a cup of coffee, probably not having rested, not that he needed any. Looking around, Rick must have worked through the night making the house livable. “It’s about time you got here !”
    “Hey, I have plenty of time,” I countered, then looked at the clock and quickly poured myself a cup of coffee. Twenty minutes left to spare. Not bad. “See? I told you I’d be on time!”
    “Well, the days of miracles aren’t over,” Rick joked, washing up the dishes. “It’s good to see that some things have changed for the better!”
    I thought back through many times over the years when I arrived just in time to save the day. “I’ve reformed.”
    “Hah!” Rick laughed. “Yeah, right!”
    Placing the cup gingerly on the counter, I turned for the stairs. “I’m going to get ready. Are you going like that?”
    Rick looked dashing in a black button-up shirt, blue jeans, and black boots, his bronze curls neatly coiffed. “What? Do you want me to wear a suit?”
    “No, you look dashing! Don’t change a thing!” I said, smiling.
    “Yeah, you say that to all the guys.”
    “No, only to my father ,” I laughed, heading up the stairs, as Rick’s laughter followed.
    I carefully shut the door to my suite, and quickly jumped into the shower. It had a wide shower nozzle, allowing pulsing water to caress my entire body. A moment later, I dried off, wrapping the towel around me, then headed back into the bedroom and pulled open the duffle bag filled with my clothes. In it were a few pairs of jeans: one black, two regular pairs of blue jeans; a few shirts; and a dress. A dress? What was Rick thinking? And where was my leather? Then I found what I was looking for: a cute, short plaid uniform skirt in variations of blue and an Armani white button-up shirt. I slipped into it, leaving the shirt untucked. I donned a pair of low strappy heels, then added a thin navy lady’s tie, leaving it loose around my neck under my collar. I looked in the mirror and approved. I looked just like any other high school student.
    I quickly ran a brush through my long brown waves, threw my wallet into my backpack and slung it over my shoulder, then ran with vamp speed down the stairs. Rick was already waiting with the keys to the Mercedes SUV in his hand.
    “Tonight, I’m going shopping,” I announced. Let’s see … I’ll need clothes, a decent but not over-the-top car, and a decent cell. I’ll have to ditch mine soon. In my business, it’s good to change cell phones periodically so it isn’t hacked.
    Rick shook his head. “We’re not here for a fashion show,” he said, opening the door.
    “I can’t very well bring my Mercedes SLS AMG now, can I?” I replied, walking out. “I need a car, too, Rick,” I interjected. “I can’t very well run everywhere or depend on you to take me.”
    “Why not? That’s what fathers are for !” Rick teased, opening the passenger door for me.
    “Go away,” I said, getting in. “You’re going to run the dad thing into the ground, aren’t you?”
    Rick moved with vamp speed to the driver’s side and was in the car the next second. “Pretty much, yeah.”
    I punched him in the arm again.
    “Stop that !” Rick bellowed, then started the car and soon we were on our way to Cooperstown Central High School.
    “No,” I replied, rolling down my window a crack. “It’s too much fun.”
    Rick pretended to flex his muscle from pain. I knew better. He was as tough as they come. “Just don’t have too much fun.”
    I laughed. “Hey, I have to make up for lost time. Haven’t seen you in a while.”
    “Yeah, we’ll talk about it later,” Rick replied as we pulled into the parking lot. “First, we have to register you for school.”
    “Yeah, don’t remind me.”
    “Hey,” Rick said, gently grabbing my arm, a move that could have gotten anyone else killed. “Here’s your alias, by the way. I took the liberty of making one up for you since there wasn’t much time. This has your fake ID,