“That was before. I’ve grown since then.”
“Yeah, right. You’ve grown into a bigger pain in my ass than ever.”
Over the last century, he had tried reasoning with the volatile vampiress, threatening her, and putting thousands of miles between the two of them.
Inevitably, he got sick of failing to banish her from his life and would work around her. As it turned out, that was his mistake. She knew she could wear him down and wouldn’t stop until he let her hang around.
Eventually, the attention she demanded would drive him to distraction again. If he didn’t come up with some kind of permanent solution to Ruxandra’s interference, it would go on for eternity.
“Ruxandra, you’re driving me into the sunshine.”
“Is that the vampire’s equivalent of ‘You’re driving me to drink’?”
“Essentially, yes.”
“But that makes no sense. If you want to drink, we should be together. We can drink from each other or share our thralls.”
Logic was wasted on her. She had her own, and as much as he hated to admit it, in some ways she made sense. It would be more convenient to be with another vampire. No need to hide what he was. Hunting with a lookout was infinitely easier. Or they’d have twice the chances of finding a willing thrall.
Unfortunately, logic was also wasted on his heart. Claudia was the only woman he felt right with. He totally trusted her, relaxed with her, enjoyed her company. And it didn’t stop with companionship. The sexual attraction was overpowering. Claudia was the only woman in decades that his traitorous body had demanded he take to bed. It was all he could do to keep his pants on until he could figure out what to do about Ruxandra.
His own resources weren’t enough, but how could he take out a restraining order on a vampire without putting innocent law-enforcement officers in mortal danger? Perhaps Sadie could use her psychic insight to help him think of a solution.
“Are you listening to me?” Ruxandra shouted.
“Huh? No. I can’t hear you when you yell. Besides, I’ve heard it all before, Ruxandra. We have nothing else to say to each other. I think it’s time to call it a night.”
She lunged at him and pinned him to the ground. “We’ll ‘call it a night’ when I say it’s a night.”
Anthony simply sighed. If he wanted to, he could toss her into the bushes easily. But he’d done that before—and she’d clung to his retreating back before. They’d done it all before.
And he was thoroughly sick of it. He was almost ready to lie there and fry when the sun came up, but she’d fry too. He didn’t think she was willing to kill them both, but who knew?
“What are you going to do? Anchor the two of us here until dawn?”
“If that’s what it takes for you to see the light.”
Seeing the light. Anthony snapped out of his despair. Didn’t Sadie or Kurt or somebody mention a vampire who could walk in daylight?
He’d heard the story months ago. The humans at his bar had discovered the existence of paranormals, and before all hell could break loose, Kurt had frozen the room. Because this happened early in the afternoon, Anthony was in his death sleep. Nick knew of another vampire he could call. A vampire able to arrive before the sun went down and compel everyone at the bar to forget what they’d heard.
If only he could discover that vampire’s secret. He could be with Claudia during the day, and Ruxandra would be powerless to stop them.
Then he remembered he’d have to protect both of them during the night, and his pleasant fantasy went poof. Damn. There has to be a way to end this without bloodshed.
Four hours later, the guys had moved all of Claudia’s furniture into her new apartment over the tea shop and were getting ready to leave.
“Oh. I almost forgot something,” Kurt said. He pulled what looked like a chess piece out of his pocket.
“What’s that?”
“It’s called the little warrior. It’s a charm for protection. Call it a housewarming gift.”
Claudia accepted the piece and turned it over in her hand. It was a little larger and more elaborate than a chess piece. The warrior looked like a Viking wearing armor, a helmet with horns, and a fierce expression. He was even holding a sword.
“Uh…thanks.”
“What are you going to name him?” Kurt asked.
Claudia was about to smirk when she noticed that Kurt looked perfectly serious. He was rarely serious, so she stopped and considered the question. Maybe he was superstitious, but that was no reason to make fun of his gift. “How about Alexander, for Alexander the Great? He looks like he needs an impressive name.”
Kurt nodded his approval. He spoke directly to the statue. “Alexander, this is Claudia. She is a good friend and a woman of great integrity. She deserves a safe haven in which to live. You are now honor bound to protect her and her home.”
Claudia didn’t know what to make of this. Should she laugh? Something told her not to. Maybe changing the subject would be best. “Uh… Can you both stop in tomorrow for a free lunch? I want to thank you for your help tonight, and it’ll give me a chance to prep for the grand opening the next day.”
Tory grinned. “I’d never turn down a free lunch.”
“Neither would I,” Kurt said. “But are you sure you want to do that with only one day to unpack and settle in before the madness starts?”
“Absolutely.” She hugged them both and said good night. As soon as her door was locked, she leaned against it and sighed. Glancing across the living room, she spotted Kurt’s extra key to the building on the side table.
Oh, shoot. She could wait to give it to him the next day, but he was right here. She grabbed it and opened her door ready to trot downstairs. Then she looked at the warrior in her hand. When she heard their voices, something made her stop and listen.
“I know. I’m worried about her too.”
“At least we got her out of Cambridge. I’m almost sure that’s where the facility is. With so many of us over there trying to find it, she’d be bound to wonder sooner or later.”
Facility? What facility? Were they talking about me? Ruxandra? Could this night get any stranger?
Just then the outer door opened and shut, cutting off their conversation.
What was going on? Did it have something to do with Ruxandra finding her? She figured Anthony’s jealous ex had simply followed him there.
And what kind of facility could they be looking for? Had Ruxandra opened a secret gym or something? She was always in great shape and was certainly strong as hell, which she demonstrated anytime she heaved a chair at somebody’s head.
I should ask. I wasn’t really eavesdropping. It was more like accidentally hearing, and it sounded like they were protecting me from something they didn’t want me to know about. But perhaps she needed to.
Claudia set the warrior on the half wall beside the door, then charged down the stairs and flew out onto the sidewalk. “Kurt! You forgot your keys.”
The two guys turned around. Kurt strolled back to her and held out his hand. “Sorry about that.”
Claudia pulled the keys away and held them firmly in her fist. “What were you two talking about just then?”
Kurt glanced over his shoulder at Tory and asked absently, “Uh, just when?”
“When you were leaving. I heard you say something about a facility in Cambridge.”
Tory’s eyes widened and he quickly joined them. “It was nothing. Nothing to do with you, anyway.”
Claudia narrowed her eyes and tried her stare-down technique. It usually worked with employees. “Are you sure about that?”