Vampire Lane by Anjela Renee Read Free Book Online Page A

have a drink and talk?” Natasha looked over at Gretchen and realized with her pregnancy she couldn’t drink alcohol. “Better yet, how about coffee and some sweets?”
    Gretchen smiled a huge smile. She could tell she liked the idea, and honestly, it would be a good change rather than the bar scene.
    ***
    Natasha sat at a 24 hour coffee shop in the outskirts of New Orleans called Bean me up, Coffee Love the name. . She had a steaming cup and sipped it slowly. She had ordered a Vanilla Latte. She wasn’t a big coffee drinker, but she really liked her drink. Gretchen and Laya choose the hot chocolate with extra whip cream. They were sharing a few apple pie bites and chocolate chip cookies.
    “This is so much fun. I’m glad we’re doing this,” Laya said, taking a bit of food. “Oh my goddess, this is delish.”
    Natasha took a piece and tried it, and she thought it had been way too long since she had anything with apples. It was wonderful. “We are going to definitely need more,” Natasha said to Gretchen, who was also snacking on the desert.
    “So, Gretchen, we need to get your input on the baby shower. So far we were just planning a big party, one last blowout before you become a mother. Of course there will be presents, cake, and games, but more adult oriented.” Natasha finished speaking and waited for her response. Gretchen immediately smiled and looked very excited.
    “I think it sounds great! I didn’t even want a baby shower, but now I’m really excited.”
    “I think that’s enough baby shower talk, now for the real stuff.”
    Laya and Gretchen both looked at Natasha.
    “Why are you both looking at me? I thought this was a friendly get together.”
    “It is, but we want to know what is going on with you and Tanek.”
    Natasha was not ready to talk to them about Tanek. She wasn’t even sure she knew herself how she felt.
    “I can’t really tell you much. He’s helping me get over my sun aversion. My sire was an old traditionalist bastard, he never exposed me, so I never was able to tolerate it.”
    “That’s horrible,” Laya said with shock.
    Gretchen took Natasha’s hand. “You can always talk to us. We are here for you.”
    “You have no idea how much that means to me. I never had friends when I was with my sire. He kept me isolated, and thought it was all normal until I started talking with other vampires. I learned he was a freak and I tried to get away as soon as I could.”
    “Well, I’m so glad you got away and now you live in the best subdivision anywhere with others just like you. And now you have Tanek, whatever that is that’s going on with you.”
    “I like him. I mean, he’s so hot and mysterious and kind of grumpy in a cute way.”
    Laya beamed at Natasha. “Sounds like the beginnings of love.”
     

    Chapter 12
    Natasha looked in her full length mirror, as she was once again questioning her dress choice. She looked good in her hot pink dress. She picked a color she thought would be different from the other vampires. It could be worse, she could be wearing black and that would just be laughable. She decided to leave her hair down. She never knew how to wear it up other than a pony tail. She slipped on her black pumps and headed out to the mixer.
    Natasha looked around the elegant old home in the Garden District. It looked so much bigger than it did from the outside. Her eyes immediately went to the ceiling where a huge crystal chandelier hung and sparkled. She followed the music coming from a room nearby and found the party. Natasha saw Nora across the room, and she waved and Nora zipped across the room with vampire speed.
    “Natasha, oh my gawd, you came. I knew you couldn’t stay away,” she said in her much too cheerful southern accent.
    “This is great, I can’t believe this place. This is beautiful, you did a wonderful job.”
    “Aw, thank you, sweetie. Real estate may be my job, but party planning … that, my dear, is my real passion,” she said