Real Vampires Have More to Love (30 page)

“Whoa. Blade would be shocked. You know he’s rabid about treating you like a lady.” Rafe leaned back and smiled.

I laughed and hit him. “Not
that
‘f’ word. Fat. I called a customer fat. Was mean to a couple more. I keep on like this, I won’t
have
customers.”

“Like I said, totally a pisser.”

I lost my smile. “I don’t want to be like that, Rafe. Without a conscience.” I sure wasn’t telling him how I’d offered to do the wild thing with Ray. I put that totally on the demon.

“That’s not going to happen. And don’t worry about what you did to Westwood. His death would be a public service.” He kissed my forehead. “You look exhausted. Being a badass is hard work. I should know.”

I surprised myself by giggling and felt him smile against my skin. “I
am
tired. Thanks for being there for me.”

“We’ll talk about this again when you wake up. Work on finding a way to cast out that demon.”

“Now you’re talking. If it wouldn’t turn me to dust, I’d bathe in holy water.” I stood and pulled him up with me.

“Talk to Richard about it.” Rafe looked down at me. “We’ll figure something out. Don’t worry.”

“Yeah, well. Hope it’s soon. Alesa doesn’t worry about anything. She just urges me to act out. Then I have to deal with the fallout. Fun for all.” I felt the dawn and the bone-deep exhaustion that came with it. “There’s no time for more than a cuddle tonight, and I know we still have issues, but will you just hold me and let me conk out in your arms?”

Rafe suddenly looked fierce. “Issues be damned. Simon could have ended you tonight. No way am I wasting a second worrying about tomorrow. Forget Blade. I’ll take what I can get now.”

“Oh, Rafe. I hope this doesn’t end up hurting you.” I saw what I wanted to see. A man who cared about me. Add that sensual vibe that pulled at me until I wanted to crawl all over him, and there was no way I was denying myself his comfort. Both of us demons. Bizarre and maybe a twist of fate, a sign. I pulled his head down and kissed him with everything I had.

One thing I knew. When I got up in the evening, I was going to church. If a demon could still pray, I was giving it a shot. Alesa kept her mouth shut. I figured that meant I was on the right track.

 

“I think it’s lucky for a bride to go to church before her wedding,” Flo announced as she waited for me to buckle my seat belt.

Rafe had been gone when I’d gotten up at sunset. His note had promised we’d see each other later, after he’d taken care of some club business. So I’d crammed myself into Flo’s car with Richard and his mother. Mother Mainwaring wasn’t Flo’s biggest fan, and she stayed silent beside me in the backseat.

“Love the new car.” I didn’t love the fact that I’d had to climb into the tiny backseat in a pencil skirt. At least Flo had picked me up behind the shop, so only one homeless man and a stray cat had been witness to my cursing, inelegant effort to get aboard. “I thought Richard gave you an SUV though.”

“Oh, he did. I exchanged it for this.” Flo blew him a kiss. “He meant well, but I must have a sexy car.
Sì?
”

“The SUV was a much safer choice and better for carrying passengers.” Richard adjusted the seat and closed the passenger door before buckling himself in. “The way my dearest drives, I’d have bought her a tank if it were permitted on these roadways.”

“Pah! A tank is not sexy, Ricardo.” Flo pulled away from the curb without looking, and there was a screech of brakes and a frantic horn honk.

“Florence! The rearview mirror is for more than checking your lipstick.” Sarah Mainwaring squirmed, but she and I were jammed hip to hip in the backseat.

“Quite a wedding present.” I smiled at Richard’s mother. Rumor had it she was the source of Richard’s money.

“I simply manage Richard’s money, Gloriana, because I’m so good at it. He’s quite wealthy in his own right.” Sarah smiled, then gasped. “Florence, you just forced a car to the shoulder of the road. Do you even look when you change lanes?” She grabbed the back of his seat. “Richard, why aren’t you driving?”

“Florence won’t let me drive her new car, Mother.” Richard had closed his eyes and gripped the door handle.

“No, I won’t. This is my pretty little car.” Flo swerved to pass a tractor trailer truck, and we all braced ourselves. Except for Richard, who kept his eyes closed but murmured Hail Marys.

I breathed a sigh of relief when we made it around the truck before the oncoming traffic hit us head on. Which was a miracle. I leaned forward to pat Richard on the shoulder.

“Thanks for the prayers. Keep it up.”

“I dare not stop.” He never even peeked. “Just tell me when we get there. But remember, darling, we have plenty of time. Church doesn’t start for another half hour.”

“I know. But some people don’t seem to know the speed limit,
amante
. It’s not a suggestion. You must go that fast or get off the freeway!” She yelled this and added a hand gesture at the car in front of her. “Am I right?” Flo turned to look at me.

“Uh, whatever. Just watch the road!” I grabbed Sarah’s hand as Flo swerved to pass the car she’d decided was moving too slowly. My friend always drove fast. And tailgated. Now that she had a new convertible, she was even more reckless, convinced she had to “blow out the carburetor,” whatever that meant. Apparently it included gunning the engine at every light, so she could race the car beside her to the next corner. The new car was turbocharged, a fact Flo kept throwing into the conversation.

Tonight the top was up as a concession to Richard’s mother, who always wore a hat and gloves to church. Flo had complained, always happy to stick a pin in stuffy Sarah Mainwaring, but I’d jumped in and asked to keep the top up too, claiming I didn’t want my hair blown because of a late date. I actually liked Richard’s mom and took pity on her. Flo would be a tough daughter-in-law, a tough friend too. She almost put the top down anyway once she heard Jerry was still out of town.

“Flo, I never told you how to run your love life, so I know you won’t tell me how to run mine.” I leaned forward since the traffic had cleared and we weren’t in imminent danger. “Thanks for coming tonight, Richard. You always make me feel safe.”

“Yes, Glory, tell us why we are supposed to watch our backs. Are you and Simon Destiny feuding again?” Flo poked Richard. “Look at Glory. See what is happening with her.”

“No, your backs are okay now. Keep praying, Richard.” Sarah’s nails dug into my palm. “Flo, you just ran a stop sign. Uh, that truck almost hit us. Guess his engine isn’t turbocharged, or he’d have clipped Sarah’s door back here.”

“Pah, missed us by a mile.” She poked Richard again. “Praying? I’ve never had a single wreck, Ricardo, not in all the years I’ve been driving.”

“Probably made a deal with the Devil,” Sarah muttered.

My own Devil’s disciple muttered a profanity so vile I shuddered. I eased my hand from Sarah’s. She had some serious mind-reading skills, and I didn’t want her deep diving into my brain right now.

“Seriously, Flo? Even I’ve had a few fender benders.”

“That’s because you go too slow, Glory.” Flo swerved around another car, barely missing it, and we heard a crunch as it scraped a guard rail behind us. “See? She is too slow and can’t keep up with traffic. So she bends her fender.
Idiota.
”

I looked back, sorry for the driver who’d gotten in Flo’s way. Time for another change of subject. “Flo, I’ve called everyone on the list for the bachelorette party. Looks like we’ll have a great crowd.”

“Can’t wait. What are we going to do? Please, no silly games.” Flo glanced at Richard. “Open your eyes,
amante
. I’m pulling into the parking lot. See? You made it here alive.”

“And in record time.” Richard crossed himself, and his mother murmured a “Thank you, God.”

“The entertainment is a surprise, but I have a theme. Come dressed as your favorite seductress. How does that sound?” I sat back and unbuckled my seat belt as we came to a rocking stop.

Flo laughed and put the car in park. “I love it. Decisions, decisions. Wait a minute. Of course I’m my own favorite seductress.” She gave Richard a secret smile. “What do you think,
marito
? Who is your favorite seductress?”

“You, darling. Who else?” Richard glanced back at his mother, straightening her hat. “Mother, are you all right?”

“Richard, don’t be hen-pecked. You’ve had some very accomplished seductresses make runs at you through the years. My son is so handsome, you know, Florence. You’re very lucky to have snared him
this
century.” Sarah smiled when Flo’s eyes narrowed. “And of course I’m all right. I’ve survived much worse than Florence’s driving. Though I believe I’ll shift for myself in order to get home.” His mother put her hand on my arm. “Gloriana, dear, surely you’re going to invite me to this party. When and where?”

I finally found my voice. “Wednesday night, ten o’clock at Rafe’s new club, N-V, on Sixth Street.”

“Wouldn’t miss it. I always fancied myself as Mata Hari, the World War I spy. She wore the most adorable jeweled bras.” Sarah reached out her hand and let a startled Richard help her out of the backseat. Flo and I forced our mouths closed.

“Well, then, see you there. I haven’t decided on my own costume yet.” I pulled myself out of the other side, trying not to flash thigh at the rest of the parking lot. The massive building that housed the Moonlight Church of Eternal Life and Joy loomed in front of us. I’d always liked coming here for the positive message by Pastor John and the great music.

As I followed Flo and Sarah and a crowd of other worshippers from the parking lot toward the sanctuary, I began to hum to the soaring organ music coming from the speakers mounted on the outside of the building. Surely everything would be all right. I had good friends, had always tried to lead a fairly decent life, even after getting my fangs, and Richard, alert to any danger, was a comforting presence close by. But when we reached the arched doorway, flanked by two large gold crosses, I stumbled.

“Glory? Is there a problem?” Richard took my elbow, looking down in case I’d broken a heel.

I’d worn some great vintage pumps, four inches and crocodile, I’d found in a thrift shop. They were holding up just fine. The brown went perfectly with my beige pencil skirt and red twinset. I carried a designer knockoff purse that you’d need a magnifying glass to tell from the real deal. I looked pretty good if I do say so myself. But I suddenly didn’t feel so great, and I really couldn’t blame it on the skirt’s tight waistband. I studied the church doorway and knew what my problem was. Hell’s handhold twisted my tummy, and I swallowed.

“You really don’t want to go in there,”
Alesa growled.

Like I’d let her stop me. Now I was determined. “Give me a minute.” I sank down on a stone bench a few feet from the door. I opened my purse like I was searching for something. Maybe a tissue or Rolaids. Yeah, like a vampire ever carried
those
.

“Ladies, go on inside. Give us a minute. Save us seats.” Richard smiled and waved Flo and Sarah away. “Sit near the back, right side on the aisle.” Both his mother and Flo looked ready to argue, but after they glanced at me, they must have seen something that changed their minds.

“Please.” I was shaky, like maybe I was going to throw up. The crosses . . . Guess Hell Girl didn’t go for those. The closer I’d gotten to them the queasier I’d felt.

“Gloriana, talk.” Richard sat beside me. “What’s wrong?”

I had a vintage hanky in my hand, one from the shop I’d tucked into my bag. Good thing, because I’d teared up.

“I’m infected, Richard. By that demon.” I dabbed at my eyes. “Now those crosses are making me sick.” I gasped as Alesa hit me with heat. “I don’t think I can go inside the church.”

“What makes you think that?” Richard put his hand on my shoulder, then jerked it back. “You’re hot. Is that . . . ? I can’t believe it. I usually have a sense of these things.”

“I hear her, Richard. She speaks to me. Sends me these heat waves.” I knew I owed it to Rafe not to share his demon secret. “Rafe says because I had an open wound and Alesa, the demon, was bleeding from her own injuries, I got infected by her blood when you, uh, put her down. I’m tainted.” I swallowed again, afraid I was going to be sick all over my pretty brown shoes.

“Yes, I’ve heard that can happen. Sending a demon back to hell is a tricky business. What I did was drastic, call it overkill. That demon isn’t in hell. I thought I had annihilated her.” Richard frowned, obviously thinking things over. “I was careful to hit her head-on. Of course she’d have tried to find a host, but I didn’t think she had time. Surely whatever little bit you absorbed from her blood wouldn’t be enough to make you a full-fledged demon. Remember, you were wearing a rosary that night with a cross. So you had some protection.” Richard smiled encouragingly.

I looked at those enormous crosses. “Full-fledged or not, I’d hoped coming to church would help get rid of her. But now, feeling like this ...” I pressed a hand to my heart. “I can’t get past those giant crosses.”

“I don’t believe that, and neither should you. You’re good. That evil can surely be driven out if we work at it.” Richard’s voice was so kind I wanted to cry all over his expensive gray suit, handpicked by Flo, of course. His wife would be looking for him, might even come out here, and I’d have to explain . . .

“I’m afraid I’m going to hell, Richard.” I blotted at my tears. “And now I can’t go inside my own church.” I heard new music starting, one of my favorite songs. Was I doomed?

“Nonsense. I refuse to believe that a basically decent person can be corrupted by a simple accident. Come on.” Richard put his hand under my elbow and hoisted me up. He’d probably made a good priest back in the Dark Ages. Too bad he couldn’t handle celibacy. “Let’s try this again, slowly.”

“I don’t think—” I didn’t want to fight with him, but the closer we got to those crosses, the worse I felt.