Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six (13 page)

“Jenny, I hope you’re feeling better.” Penny handed her sister a bottle of cold water from her refrigerator and a protein bar.

“Yeah, I know better than to skip a meal.” Jenny twisted off the cap and took a deep drink. “Thanks. You sure you can spare this bar?”

“You left it here. I’d rather eat the wrapper. Of course I can always zap you a frozen pizza. Sausage.” Penny smiled like this was an old joke between them.

Sure enough Jenny shuddered. “
I’d
rather eat the box.”

“This is Glory St. Clair.” Penny waved in my direction. “Glory, my sister, Jenny, who made that dramatic entrance. She’s on a vegetarian kick. That’s why the shudder.”

I smiled. “I get it. I have dietary restrictions myself.” I ignored Penny’s gasp. She’d just have to get used to vampire humor. “Nice to meet you. Penny and I have known each other awhile. I’ve persuaded her to move in with me. Share the rent. She’s moving in tonight.”

“No kidding?” Jenny’s eyes went wide. “That’s odd. I thought you liked it here, Pen.” She gazed around the cluttered room and winced. “Though I never could understand it. Where’s your place, Glory?”

“On Sixth Street in an apartment over my shop, Vintage Vamp’s Emporium.” I put Booger on the floor when he scratched my hand to be let down. He ran to Jenny and hopped up into her lap.

“I love that store. Perfect for finding a Halloween costume. You own it?” She gave the cat a quick pat. “Down, big guy, you’re shedding all over my new skirt.” She sat him on the floor.

“Yes, vintage clothes are my thing.” I could see at a glance that everything on Jenny was brand-new, right down to her silver thongs. Her toenails were painted a hot pink to match her clingy T-shirt. The skirt she didn’t want decorated with cat fur was a dark-wash denim and now had orange hair on it. She got busy plucking it off and dropping it on the rug.

“Well, now you can mention Penny’s name and get a discount.” I kept smiling but Penny’s sister was a little too perfect and perky for my taste. I didn’t read her mind. I wasn’t in the habit of prying unless I felt it was absolutely necessary.

“That is so cool.” Jenny frowned when Booger tried to jump up into her lap again. “You are letting her take the cat with her, aren’t you? I just can’t have him with me in the sorority house.”

“Of course. I had less of a problem with the cat than with what she calls her big-ass computer.”

Jenny laughed. “I know what you mean. What a mess.” She patted Penny on the arm. “She says she knows where everything is in that pile of junk, but beats me how she finds anything.”

“Speaking of, I need more boxes and to get packing. Did you still need help with that math, Jenny?” Penny glanced at her watch. “It’s getting late.”

“No, I’ve got it. Just wanted to touch base. You said you had a date. How’d it go?” She looked around, like maybe she doubted the date story.

“It was fine. It’s the frat guy I saw last weekend. Josh. We hit it off.” Penny edged away from her sister.

Surely she wasn’t being hit by the bloodlust again. After taking Josh down a pint or more? I jumped up.

“I met him. He’s cute and into Penny. Which is great. Right, Jenny?” I watched her reaction.

She gaped at the open bedroom door. “You brought him here? You didn’t—”

“No! Geez, Jen.” Penny flushed. “Give me a little credit. Yeah, I’m a slob, but guys don’t notice stuff like that. He said he’d call me.”

Jenny pasted on a bright smile and jumped up to hug her sister. “Then I’m sure he will. Guess I was wrong about that party after all. I wish I had time to hear all the details. Call me tomorrow and we’ll dish.” She brushed at her skirt. “I’ve got to go. Need my beauty sleep, you know. It
is
late. Surely you’re not going to move stuff tonight.”

“We’ll just take a load or two.” Penny ignored the party comment. “Glad you stopped by. You can always text me when you want to get together but I’ll be super busy for the next two weeks. This grant project is coming to a head. If we meet, it’ll have to be at night.”

“Sure. And I’ve got finals looming.” Jenny looked me over, taking in my vintage designer jeans and red sweater. As usual I’d gone for a V-neck and a color that was good for me. I might not be a six, but I knew how to work what I had. “How did you and Penny meet, Glory? I’m sure it wasn’t over a dress rack. Though I bet you’re the one who got her into flats. Am I right?” She winked at me.

“Yes, Jenny hates my boots as much as you do, Glory.” Penny hunched her shoulders and I felt sorry for her.

“
Hate
’s a pretty strong word. But Penny looks good tonight, doesn’t she, Jenny? Josh couldn’t take his eyes off of her. And she had another guy hitting on her last night at N-V.” I couldn’t resist. Jenny was just too cute, and Penny, when she’d shown up on my doorstep, had been far from it. Why the great divide? “Trey couldn’t wait to get her on the dance floor.”

“You went to that new club last night?” Jenny’s eyes were saucers. “You’re kidding me.”

“Oh, we were there. Glory’s best bud owns it. Rafe’s cool. And Trey’s a hunk, isn’t he, Glory?” Penny’s shoulders were back again and she was smiling.

“I’ve never been.” Jenny looked me over speculatively. “You already out of school, Glory?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m way out of school.” I gave Penny a look that kept her from jumping into the conversation. “Actually, Penny and I have a mutual friend. He put us together. You know how these things work. I had an extra bedroom and needed the rent money.” I swept my gaze around the cluttered living room. “And Penny needed to live with someone who could keep her environment reasonably organized.” I grinned. “Someone your grandfather would approve of.”

Jenny laughed. “Oh, I get that. Good luck to you on the organization thing. I gave up years ago.”

“Hello. I’m in the room.” Penny glowered at both of us. “Laugh all you want. But when I’m rich and famous and cure the incurable, we’ll see who’s laughing.”

Jenny planted a kiss on her sister’s cheek. “My bets are on you all the way, sis. Now I’ve got to go.” She turned to me. “I’ll be praying for you, Glory.” She hit the door and left without a backward glance.

“That went well. She never really questioned my decision.” Penny collapsed on the couch.

“Good thing. Because she wouldn’t have gotten any answers.”

“Am I a total pervert for having a moment or two where all I could think about was tasting her blood? I know Jen’s blood type. It’s not exotic like Josh’s. It’s just plain old B positive. But I had to fight my fangs when I got too close to her and the sound of her heartbeat . . .” Penny stared at me. “Damn, Glory, it sounded loud as a drum to me.”

“Only natural. Now you need to grab what you want to take right away. We’ll get Damian to arrange for the rest of your stuff to be moved.” I glanced at her computer. “You can come tomorrow night and supervise.” Booger rubbed against my leg. “You have a cat carrier? We might as well take this guy with us.”

“Sure. I have to use it when he goes to the vet. Pick him up first. If he sees me get the carrier out of the closet, he’ll hide and we’ll never find him.” Penny walked into her bedroom.

I grabbed Booger and hugged him. “Such a sweet boy and such an ugly name. I think I’ll call you Boogie. Like the way I danced during the war.”

“Which war was that?” Penny was back and I felt Boogie stiffen, his claws digging into my arm.

“WW Two, of course. I was over in England and helped keep the troops happy in the USO canteens. I love to dance.” I dropped the cat into the carrier and slammed the lid shut while Penny gathered food, litter and the litter box.

“Amazing. I can’t imagine what a long life you’ve had.” Penny had her arms full. “Let’s go. I have enough underwear in my backpack for tomorrow and you bought me those new clothes. Please call Damian when we get back to your place. I really want my big computer with me. I’ve got my laptop, but my major work is on Chuck here. I guess it’s never too late to call a vampire.”

“As long as it’s between dusk and dawn, we’re good.” I lugged the carrier to the door. “You have a car?”

“Yep. It’s a relic, but it runs. Should I park on the street in front of your shop?”

“No, there’s parking in the alley behind it.” I shivered. There’d been a lot of bad things that had happened in that alley. It was almost a death trap. “Follow me and, when you get out of your car, stay alert. I’ve had some trouble back there so pay attention. I’m sure the demons aren’t through with me, for one thing.”

“Now you’re creeping me out.” Penny locked the door with her key as she followed me out to the curb and watched me stow the cat in the passenger seat of my car.

“I’m glad. A vampire can’t just walk around without watching for danger. Just like a woman by herself on a dark night in an alley can’t.” I slammed the car door. “Understand?”

“Only too well. I know Sixth Street gets its share of crime too.” Penny pointed at the apartment lot. “That’s my car, the blue Ford.”

“Must get good mileage.” It was an economy car and not old, but it had more than its fair share of scrapes and dings.

“It does. The battered look is courtesy of my inattention to detail when I park.” Penny made a face. “That’s what Dad says anyway. He gave up fixing the cosmetic stuff. Says I have to live with it, warts and all.”

“Guess you think too much.” I grinned. “About things other than the world around you.”

“Exactly.” Penny laughed, for once in sync with me. “I’ll meet you there.” She walked over to the car and I saw her add a scratch when the edge of the litter box bumped the rear door. I was watching her carefully near
my
new car.

I drove home with Boogie griping the whole way. He was obviously very worried that I might be taking him to the vet. I tried to reassure him, but talk was cheap in his world. By the time I parked, he was yowling. Penny pulled in a few moments later. I had deliberately parked between two cars so Penny couldn’t park next to me. I heard a
thunk
as she opened her car door into the side of the Dumpster.

“Aw, Booger, is Glory being mean to you?” Penny stuck a finger into the carrier. “Ow! Don’t bite me. This is not the vet’s office, you ungrateful feline.”

We both were distracted by Boogie’s yowls so, when the man stepped out of the shadows, it was only natural that we jumped and yelled.

“Hyyyy-yah!” Penny swung into action with a karate move that impressed the hell out of me. The man fell flat on his back and grabbed his stomach where her kick had landed.

“Stop, vamp girl. I know this man and he’s no danger to either of us.” I grabbed her arm and pulled her back to keep her from landing a kick to his head while he was down.

“What?” Penny looked down at her victim, keeping a good distance from his arms as he struggled to sit up.

“Glory? Who the hell is this?” Nathan Burke took the hand I offered him and got to his feet.

“A fledgling I’m mentoring.” I smiled at her. “Good work, Penny. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Self-defense classes. My folks wouldn’t let me come to the big city without them.” She smiled tentatively at Nathan. “Sorry if I overreacted. Obviously you and Glory know each other.” She offered her hand. “Penny Patterson.” Her nose twitched and I knew she was taking a whiff of her second delicious and rare mortal of the night. Another AB negative. She gave me a wink like maybe she thought I’d kept this guy a secret, as my own pet.

“Penny, this is Nathan Burke, a friend, not my blood buddy.” I watched them shake hands, then stepped between them. “Nathan, be careful around Penny. You may not remember this, but new vamps have a problem with self-control around mortals.”

“Some not-so-new vamps do too.” Nathan ran his hand over his close-cropped hair. “That’s why I’m here. Ray’s way out of control and I need your help.”

“Can we go upstairs to discuss this?” I gestured at the cat carrier where Boogie still wailed his distress. “I think the neighborhood may be getting ready to call animal control.”

“Sure. Let me carry that.” Nathan reached for the crate.

“Careful, he may try to scratch you.” Penny relinquished the handle.

Nathan just shook his head. “I’ll deal, but if he draws blood, don’t think it’s an invitation to dine.” He grinned at me. “Glory has first dibs. Am I right?”

“Don’t start putting ideas in Penny’s head, Nate. Come on up and tell me about Ray’s crisis.” I helped Penny unload the rest of the cat paraphernalia and we trouped up the stairs.

Once Boogie was in the apartment, we let him loose and he ran to hide under my bed. We settled in the living room and Penny was all big eyes and curiosity.

“Who’s Ray?” she asked first.

“Israel Caine. Nathan’s his best friend and manager. I was Ray’s mentor too. And, for a while, we pretended to be engaged, for the media.” I grabbed a bottle of synthetic and one of the beers Rafe had left in my fridge. I handed the beer to Nate, who opened it gratefully.

“Are you telling me that Israel Caine, the rock star, the legend, is a vampire?” Penny was on the edge of her chair.

“Unfortunately.” Nate took a deep swallow of his beer and sighed. “He’s really into the synthetic with alcohol now that he’s discovered it.”

“I was afraid that would happen.” I glanced at Penny. Might as well tell her the rest. “Ray was close to having to go to rehab for alcoholism when he was turned. Being a vampire was no more his choice than it was yours. He earned his fangs in an act of revenge by a woman who thought he deserved to lose daylight.”

“As revenge, she got it right. He’s still brooding about it. Getting suicidal again. Really into the daylight drug and I’m afraid he’s going to fall down drunk outside some morning and just fry.” Nate took another gulp of beer. “I’ve hired people to watch him, just in case.”

“Oh, Nate.” I was beside him on the couch and I put my hand on his knee. “This has got to be killing you.”

“I was hoping you’d help me snap him out of it.” Nate gave me a sad smile. “You know he loves you. Still.”