Damn. I ripped off my jacket and grabbed a handful of ice from the bowl of boiled shrimp on the buffet table. I shoved it down my bra until I chilled out. A handful on my cheeks went a long way toward getting me sober again. Or at least less shit-faced. The party was winding down. Flo tore into the last package, a sheer apple green silk teddy and panty set that made my mouth water. Not close to my size, of course.
“Thanks, Aggie, and thanks for a great shower.” Flo actually hugged the blushing Siren. “Guess Glory and I won’t toss you into the lake after all.”
“What? Are you kidding me? That would be the perfect ending to this night.” Aggie reached back and unzipped her dress, then stepped out of it and kicked off her shoes. “Anyone else up for a moonlight swim?” She looked trim and perfect in an emerald green bra and matching bikini panties.
To my amazement several shifters shouted “Hell, yeah!” and began stripping off to go with her.
“Great party, Aggie.” I got to her as she was climbing up on the stone wall that circled the patio facing the lake. The water was at least a hundred yards below, and there were some pretty treacherous rocks near the shore. One shifter had already made a squealing leap off the cliff, though, and had landed safely beyond the rocks. Now she was egging on the rest to hurry up. Immortals. What did they have to lose?
“Thanks, Glory. The party favors are by the door. Each vampire gets to take home a case of Blud-Lite.” She grinned and stood poised to dive.
“Wow! Thanks.” Obviously Aggie had spared no expense. “See you Wednesday?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Then she took off, her feet changing into her mermaid’s tail in midair.
I heard a crash and turned to see Rudolpho slouched on the floor, hyperventilating with his head between his knees and surrounded by broken glasses. Guess he’d finally seen enough.
“Quite an interesting woman.” CiCi stood next to me.
“Someone had better do the whammy on the mortal waitstaff, Glory.” Lacy crammed her gift card, a naked-man picture and enough food to feed her entire were-cat family into her tote. She reached forward and plucked something out of my cleavage. “Nice accessory, but that’s kitty food.” She popped a boiled shrimp into her mouth.
CiCi gave me a funny look. “Are you all right, Glory?”
“No, not really. Tell you later.” I pulled out my damp tank top and peered down my bra. “Sorry, Lacy, but that’s it.” I glanced at the empty buffet. “You’re shrimp out of luck.”
“Too bad. Aggie put out a generous spread, but you know shifters. Fast metabolisms. Of course you see how we eat, hanging with Rafe now and all.” Lacy smiled at CiCi. “Glad you’re back, CiCi. Glory needs a friend. Flo’s been way too busy with this wedding to help her.” She glanced at the door. “Oops. Got to jet.” She ran to join two other were-cats with bulging tote bags for a kitty car pool.
“You and Rafe? I can’t read your thoughts. Who is this Rafe?” CiCi touched my arm. “Can we sit and talk now, Glory?”
“Sorry but I’ve got to go. Seriously.” I glanced at my watch. “Late date. Rafe is Valdez. You remember my shape-shifter, the dog. He’s done with his contract as my bodyguard, and now he’s in human form. Hot human form. He and I . . .” I grabbed my purse and my case of Blud-Lite. “Well, we got together.” I couldn’t look at CiCi. She was solidly in Jerry’s camp, like most of the ancient vampires in Austin would be. Seems they thought vamps should stick with vamps. Some people would say that’s racist. I wasn’t about to start that debate.
“You and Jeremiah broke up?” CiCi was on my heels all the way to the door.
“No, not officially. Not at all, actually. But ...” I sent CiCi what I figured was a desperate look. “Can you come by tomorrow night? Maybe you can help me figure things out. I’ve got a hell of a mess on my hands.”
“I heard that, girlfriend.” Flo was suddenly right next to CiCi. “We’ll both be there. I don’t care what wedding stuff is going down. Your friends are here for you. See you right after sunset in your apartment. Am I right, CiCi?”
“Of course. And don’t worry about the waitstaff.” CiCi watched a wild-eyed Rudolpho scurry past, his tray full of debris. “I like that one’s type. I’ll take care of him and the rest. Glory, are you going to help Florence with her gifts?”
“Grazie. But that’s not necessary. There are too many, and my convertible is too small. I called Ricardo to pick me up in his big car.” Flo glanced back at the huge pile of gifts. “A great haul, eh? But now I need a favor, Glory.”
“Sure, anything.” My buzz really was fading, and I needed to get moving. I wondered if Flo would take my case of drinks since I was going to have to shift to meet Rafe at his club.
“Will you drive my car back to your apartment? You can take your prize and just keep the keys for now. I’ll get them tomorrow.” Flo dropped them into my hand.
“You want me to drive your car? Your new car?” I stared down at the keys. “I can’t believe . . .”
“It’s fine. Thanks. Pick up an extra case of the Blud-Lite. Aggie had plenty.” Flo licked her lips. “Delicious. I’m ordering some.” She picked up a sheer flame red nightgown. “It’s made me very amorous too. I told Ricardo to hurry. Tonight we start a new honeymoon.” Flo turned to speak to a departing guest.
I sighed, totally jealous. I’d been fighting my own hunger for something more than EV nachos since I’d started knocking back those margaritas. Jerry’s phone call had made it worse. But I couldn’t just use Rafe to scratch an itch.
“Oh, yeah? Men live to be used like that, honey. Admit it, you want him again. The man knows what he’s doing.”
No way. I pushed my good versus evil war to the back burner and hugged Flo.
“Thanks, I’ll be super careful with the car. I swear.”
“I know. Run along. I bet Rafael is waiting for you. Am I right?” Flo glanced at CiCi. “Don’t frown at me. Glory can have a little fun with a handsome man. Remember the time you . . .”
I left them arguing about CiCi’s affairs in Paris and ran out to the car. I popped the trunk and carefully stowed my two cases in the back, then settled into the driver’s seat, adjusting it until my feet touched the pedals just right. The car started with a roar.
“Going somewhere?”
I paused with my hand on the gearshift. “Looks like it.” I grinned. “Want to ride with me to Rafe’s club?”
“You sure you’re okay to drive? Someone told me you’ve been hitting the joy juice pretty hard. Don’t blame ya. It was good stuff.” Ray laughed and jumped into the passenger seat. “Sweet ride. Tell me you finally gave up on that junker you were drivin’.”
“Yeah. This is Flo’s, but I’ve got one on order for myself.” I put the car into reverse and backed out of the parking spot. “Looks like you tried the joy juice yourself.”
“Sure. They even have a Scotch-flavored blood. I’m feeling no pain.” Ray leaned back and grinned.
“My buzz is fading fast, but if you’re scared to ride with me, jump out now.”
“No, I’ve always liked to live on the edge.” He did buckle his seat belt.
“Hang on. Let’s see what this baby’s got.” I put it in drive and hit the accelerator. “What are you doing out here?”
“Met with the owner. He’s a shifter. My record label is throwing a party here. Part of the music festival.” Ray didn’t have to shout over the wind noise; our vamp hearing did its job.
“It was a great venue.” I was on the open road now and having trouble concentrating on what Ray was saying. The car drove like a dream.
“Looked like you girls were havin’ a good time. Felt sorry for the mortal waiters. I saw one of them being taken down a pint out by the Dumpster and two other vamps in line.” Ray put his hands in the air to feel the breeze.
“Yeah, one tempted me. AB neg.” I was really rolling now, taking curves like I was practicing for the Indy 500. Ray put his hand on the back of my neck.
“Pull over. That stuff I drank made me horny as hell. You still up for a pity play?”
Boy, was my hell side ready to rock and roll. Guess my buzz was still there too because I actually thought about it for a second. But a second was all. My rational side knew better than to start something with Ray now. Not fair to him, definitely not fair to Rafe or Jerry. And even if I could get my conscience to take a hike, showing up to meet Rafe with rocker sex all over me was suicidal.
“Gee, Glory, take the stick out of your ass and say yes. Ever hear of a bath? Air freshener? Perfume? Rafe’ll never know. Rocker boy can scratch that itch. Pull over and get with it.”
I sighed, not about to let my demon have her day, er, night. I managed to shake my head.
“Sorry, Ray. As flattering as that offer is, I’ll have to pass. Obviously that ship has sailed. Right now I’ve got to go out to the lake. We’re remaking Titanic only without the ocean liner. Simon’s directing.” Nice water thing going here. My demon screeched, ready to drown me in the nearest puddle.
“What the hell?” Ray flinched when I almost clipped a guardrail. Someone had pulled the car toward a rest stop for that scratching session.
“Sorry.” I fought it back to the road.
“Just be careful. Dent her new car, and Flo would—”
“Kill me if she could find me. I’d know better than to make it easy.” The car swerved again before I dragged my eyes from Ray’s pretty blue eyes and hot body. Tonight he had on a black silk shirt, unbuttoned low, and snug jeans. Horny? I squirmed in my leather bucket seat.
“Titanic? Simon?” Ray kept his hand on my neck, one finger sliding up and down my jugular. “What’s up?”
“We’re”—I had to clear my throat—“uh, we’re making a video so it’ll seem like we staged Westwood’s death. Then the hunter’ll hop up at the end and show he never died. Confess he didn’t really kill any vampires. That all the stuff on his Web site is bogus. He’s going to take the video to his kids and get access to his money again.”
