“Gah!” she growled.
Marching to the bathroom, she tore a brush through her hair catching on some rats, but yanking harder. He couldn’t even stay to tell her about the accident! Like, was anyone else hurt? Was he hurt? Or, you know, maybe just a text message letting her know what the heck had happened. Was that too much to ask for? Apparently so, she thought and slicked on some mascara.
On her way out the door, she snatched her cell phone from the table. Christine came out a minute later, Dmetri hot on her trail. He had a fierce frown on his face and Christine positively glowed. Chuckling, Vanessa turned toward them to watch.
Dmetri snatched her by the arm and spun her into him. “You’re not leaving.”
“Sure, I am. Why, are you gonna miss me, baby?” she purred, her lashes batting. Vanessa glanced down, and yup, her ass was shaking.
Dmetri snatched her by the waist so fast, Christine giggled as he brought her up to eye level. He buried his face in in her neck and whispered something too low for Vanessa to hear. Christine’s smile bloomed as she melted against him, her entire body curling around his with a sigh.
He pulled back, kissed her hard then said, “That’s what I thought.”
Vanessa’s jaw dropped as he then spun on his heel with her in his arms and stormed back inside. Just before he kicked the door closed, Christine snapped out of her sexy haze, grinned at Vanessa, then tossed a pair of keys to her. Vanessa didn’t bother trying to catch them. She was enthralled watching the couple so obviously in love having fun. The door slammed closed and then giggles and masculine threats sounded as his heavy steps bounded up the stairs.
A small shiver passed over her. Would Brayden ever need her like that? Could he, was the better question. Shaking her head, she grabbed the keys then headed to the carport. A man with gray hair and sharply receding hairline already stood out front. He wore an all-black suit with a black shirt underneath—he looked dressed and ready for his own funeral.
Vanessa strode toward him. “Which car belongs to these?”
He held his hand up and out. She hesitated for a moment, then tossed them. Unlike her fail, he caught them easily. “These would be for the lady’s Mercedes. Just a moment, please.” A few seconds later, the butler pulled a sleek black car out of the port and got out with the keys in and still running.
“Thanks,” she said and took off.
Her butt slid around on the leather, her legs felt silky on the cold cushion beneath her. She drove aimlessly carrying only her purse, phone, and a little of the money she still had left. With the first busy restaurant she saw, she snagged a parking spot and got out. She ran a nervous hand down her stomach. It was getting dark and now she wished she’d brought her pocketknife. She hadn’t realized her mistake until she felt that same prickling fear down the back of her neck.
She jerked her head behind her, her breath caught hard in her throat, eyes wide, but only saw a group of people climbing out of their car in the parking lot. She kept walking, making herself put one foot in front of the other. She kept her chin up and tried to keep her eyes focused straight, but she wasn’t strong enough to do it. The night seemed to be closing in on her faster and faster as the sun set in the distance. Each step closer to the restaurant brought the shadows of night in on her quicker and quicker.
She gasped and fled to the well-lit restaurant, to the cheery music playing over the speakers. Her heart clamored a raucous beat in her ears, booming so loud it was all she could hear. Her foot caught on the pavement and she slid for a second before righting herself. She flew to the door, whipped it open, and stopped inside it. Faces turned to her, some sitting on benches with arms wrapped around loved ones. They gazed at her with wide eyes and strange expressions.
Vanessa forced herself to stand still, to breathe through her nose and not run back out. Somehow, she managed to keep herself from looking back one more time to make sure he wasn’t there. Gradually the people blinked, their gazes wandering back to what they were doing and Vanessa could finally breathe again.
She went to the hostess and requested a table.
“No tables are open right now but you can sit at the bar if you like.”
“Perfect.” Just what she needed, a strong drink.
As time went by and more than a couple drinks went in her belly, the more she realized this was a mistake. Coming here, or anywhere for that matter, with Christine would have been fine. Safety lay in numbers. Now she was all alone.
Oh, God. She finished the last of her strawberry margarita and let the chilly iced drink roll around on her tongue before she swallowed. It just hit her.
“God, I’m stupid,” she muttered burying her face in her hand.
She only felt safe with him. Of course, it made sense. How it didn’t really hit her until now showed just how stupid she was. A buzzing noise caught her attention. Mumbling to herself, she rummaged in the small purse on the bar until she grabbed her phone. She hadn’t really paid much attention to the phone before which was obviously a mistake. The phone was small and black. After she hit the power button on it to turn on the screen, she had to slide this little key button across the screen to even unlock the phone.
“Fancy schmancy.”
There were all kinds of icons for stuff she either didn’t recognize or had never used. But at the top of the screen, a green bar flashed at her. She pressed her thumb to it, then her breath caught. A text messaging box popped up and the name of the person on the ‘from’ line sent her heart racing with excitement. Brayden Erickson. The message was something else entirely. She did a quick scan around the restaurant for him. Had he found her? Would he come after her again?
She re-read the message again, all of her fears vanishing with the excitement that only Brayden Erickson could bring.
What the hell do you think you’re doing?
Her lips twitched with a smile. It felt so good making him mad, she didn’t know why. Her thumbs flew across the small keyboard, then backspaced a lot when she made a slew of typing errors.
Getting a drink. Why?
You better get your ass home now.
Anger surged and she typed faster. Why? Where were you when I woke up?
Busy.
That’s it. One word. Was that supposed to make her feel better? Too busy to leave a note, apparently.
Indeed, he replied in an instant.
Yeah well, I’ll come back when I’m ready.
If you’re not ready right now, then I’m coming for you. You won’t like it, trust me.
“Ha,” she laughed. With a final swig, she downed the last of her icy margarita. Maybe you won’t like me if I come home. I’m pissed at you.
His reply gave her pause. Why?
She started to give in, relinquish her anger, but then she remembered waking up in a damned strange house with no sign of Brayden and anger won out.
Because you left me alone in a strange place after a horrible accident. I still don’t even know what happened!
She stared at her phone for a full thirty seconds waiting for a response. Nothing came. She clicked the phone on and off and still nothing. Frantic, she darted another look around the restaurant, but no tall vampire lurked waiting for her.
She hadn’t realized she’d been aching for him to respond until her phone buzzed with the incoming message. She quickly swiped her finger to unlock the phone and read his message, twice.