Vamps And The City by Kerrelyn Sparks Read Free Book Online

safe?”
    “You mean you’re teleporting? It’s safe enough, but this isn’t a good time.” Darcy could hear screeching voices in the background. “Vanda? What’s going on?”
    “Is something wrong?” Maggie asked.
    “I don’t know.” Darcy closed her phone when Vanda materialized in the room. “What are you doing here?”
    Vanda looked around. “Great. You haven’t started yet.”
    “You shouldn’t be here,” Darcy insisted. “You’re the only one I have for the reality show, and you’re not supposed to see the guys beforehand.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll behave.” Vanda adjusted the black whip she wore around her waist as a belt. “Besides, I had to get out of that apartment. It’s a war zone.”
    “What happened?” Maggie asked.
    “Everyone was grumbling at Cora Lee because her stupid hoop skirts take up all the closet space. Then Cora Lee said”—Vanda affected a southern accent— “I do declare the female form looks more beguiling in the corsets and hoop skirts of the Victorian era than any other style in the entire history of the world.”
    Darcy made a face. “If you enjoy being tortured.”
    “Right.” Vanda ran a hand through her short, spiky, purple hair. “Then, Maria Consuela said medieval gowns were much more attractive, and Cora Lee’s hoop skirts could go to El Diablo.”
    “Sweet Mary and Joseph.” Maggie crossed herself.
    Vanda grinned. “Then, Lady Pamela Smythe-Worthing put on her snooty face and announced that the most elegant gowns ever created were the ones worn in Regency England. And that’s when Cora Lee said that the high waistlines on Lady Pamela’s gowns make her look as wide as the side of a barn.”
    Darcy winced. “And that’s when the fight started?”
    “Not quite. Lady Pamela screamed she was so dreadfully overset that she was flying into some boughs, or something like that. Then, she zipped over to the closet, grabbed one of Cora Lee’s hoop skirts, and stuffed it into the fireplace.”
    “Oh, my!” Maggie pressed a hand to her chest. “And that’s when the fight started?”
    “Not quite. The skirt caught fire, but being a hoop skirt, it popped back out of the fireplace and landed on Princess Joanna’s velvet cape.”
    Darcy gasped. “Not the red one lined in ermine? It’s worth a fortune.”
    “That’s the one.” Vanda raised her hands dramatically. “And that’s when all hell broke loose.”
    Maggie sighed. “That was Princess Joanna’s favorite cape.”
    “I know,” Vanda agreed. “And the really sad thing was that she was wearing it at the time.”
    “What?” Darcy squeaked. “Is she all right?”
    “She’s a little on the crispy side. But she’ll be fine after a good day’s sleep.”
    Darcy collapsed into a chair. “This is terrible! Those ladies are going to kill each other.”
    “I know. You’ve never seen the princess so steamed.” Vanda snorted. “Or rather, she was smokin’.”
    The conference door opened, and Ms. Stein peeked inside. “Are you ready?” Her mouth fell open at the sight of Vanda. She glanced around the room, then looked behind her at the empty hall. “How—how did—I thought there were only two of you.”
    Darcy stood and smiled like nothing odd had happened. “This is Vanda Barkowski. She’s my… second assistant.”
    Ms. Stein’s eyes widened as she took in Vanda’s purple hair and black spandex catsuit. “Okay. We, uh, we’re ready to begin. My secretary, Michelle, will bring each candidate to you.”
    “Thank you, Ms. Stein.” Darcy rounded the table so she would be facing the door.
    Ms. Stein backed out of the room, closing the door.
    Darcy took a seat at the center of the table, then removed a pad of paper and pen from her portfolio.
    Vanda sat on her right. “So, we’re looking for the most handsome men? That’s easy. They’re tall, dark, and mysterious.”
    “You mean like Don Orlando.” Maggie sat on Darcy’s left. “He would be my choice for the sexiest man on