Real Vampires Have More to Love (36 page)

“No, I’ll drive. I’m parked behind your shop. Meet you there.”

“Fine.” I gunned the motor, almost hitting a car traveling down the street. Great. I had to get a grip and
pay attention
. By the time I’d settled into the passenger seat in Rafe’s SUV, I was calm enough and had a story ready if he asked about Ray. He didn’t. Which worried me.

“How was the shower?”

“Super. Flo got lots of presents, and Aggie was a good hostess. She and some shifters jumped in the lake when it was all over.” I opened the window and let the night air hit me, desperate to get rid of Ray’s scent. Rafe’s nose twitched from time to time, but he hadn’t called me on it.

Thanks for the info, Alesa. I swallowed, all those margaritas and chips I’d devoured suddenly fighting with each other for a chance to see moonlight.

“Sounds good. Did you get a chance to work on that script?” Rafe never took his eyes off the road. We were on a twisty route that did require some concentration but not that much. Was he mad? I eased closer and put my hand on his thigh. To my relief, he smiled.

“Not really. It’s hopeless. Simon should shoot the video without sound. Think about it. That night the camera would have had to have been far away. What do you think?”

“Yeah, that’s better.” Rafe put his hand over mine and rubbed his leg with it, easing it toward his zipper. Uh-oh. “This whole thing is stupid and dangerous. No way am I letting Westwood point a loaded crossbow at you.” Rafe’s hand tightened on mine.

“I’m not crazy about the idea either. But how are we going to make it look realistic?” I glanced out the window. It took a lot longer to get to the site when we had to drive. We were late. But Simon hadn’t called. Or had he? I dug in my purse, which was a good excuse to get my hand back. I’d turned off my phone after talking to Jerry because my battery was almost dead. I turned it on. Yep, missed call from the great unknown. Simon, of course. I didn’t bother to listen. I was on my way. What more could I do?

“Screw realistic. All Westwood’s kids have to see is that their dad is alive, this video with a supposed vampire and a crossbow was a setup. That’s it. This elaborate film is just pandering to Simon’s ego. I say whatever gets taped tonight is it. End of story.” Rafe’s jaw was set. I sure wouldn’t want to argue with him. Of course what did
he
have on the line?

“Let’s see what happens when we get there.” Finally I saw the road where we turned off into the woods. I did want to wrap this up tonight. After that, I hoped I never saw Brent Westwood again.

 

Simon was all business as he directed his cameraman and blocked out the shot next to the lake. The wind had picked up, and the water was rough.

“Valdez, since you insisted on tagging along, you may as well do your dog thing. I’ll play the part of Israel Caine, since I can make myself look just like him.” Simon smiled and ran his fingers through his thin hair.

That boast would have made me gag except it was the truth. What I couldn’t figure out was why Simon didn’t put on a better looking façade all the time. Right now he was in his regular weasel face. Oops, a face Rafe had pushed too close to.

“Hey. I’m not here to play dog. I’m here to keep Glory safe.” Rafe frowned down at my hand on his arm. “Relax, sweetheart, this fanged Spielberg wannabe and I will get this straight. I’m sure he’s got other shifters or vamps who can do the dog thing.”

“Gloriana is perfectly safe as long as she plays her part. As to the dog . . . ? Fine. Kaplan can do it.” Simon snapped his fingers twice, and Greg strolled out from the trees.

“You need me, boss?” Greg smiled at me. “Ready to get started, Glory?”

“Can’t wait.” Now
I
smiled because I knew what was coming.

“You’ll play the dog, Kaplan.” Simon pointed at the lake. “The three of us will crawl out of the water and confront Westwood.”

I laughed as Greg’s face fell. “But we need Ray’s bodyguard, Brittany, a shape-shifter. She flew overhead, shifted, then walked up with us.”

“That’s right. Guess Greg can be Brittany, who’s tall, stacked and blond, or the dog. Take your pick, bud.” Rafe looked Greg over.

“Another character. Did she have lines, Gloriana?” Simon made a note on his clipboard. “What about wardrobe?”

“Didn’t say a thing. She was just ready to rip apart anyone who got near Ray.” I glanced at Greg. “Wore jeans and a T-shirt. What’s it going to be, Greg?”

“I’ll take the damned dog. I don’t do women.” He winked at me. “Except when I
do
women.”

“Bevis, get out here.” Simon paced until the man walked up. “You’ll shift into a tall blond female. Caine’s bodyguard. What you’re wearing should do for the role.”

“This’ll be choice. Two women with hot bodies in wet T-shirts. This goes on my Facebook page.” Greg gasped when I grabbed his ear.

“Post one second of anything with me in it, and I’ll make sure you never ‘do’ a woman again. Understand?”

Simon clapped. “Well said, Gloriana. Listen to her, Gregory. Our work here is for my private use and Westwood’s.” Simon turned to glare at a whining Bevis. “You have your orders. Get with it or have a private meeting with the goddess.”

“How’s this?” Suddenly Bevis was Brittany. Only not so much.

“My eyes!” Rafe pulled out sunglasses. Of course none of the vampires even owned a pair, but we wished we did.

“Sorry, Beev. Could you go for a little less bride of Frankenstein and a little more Britney Spears?” I didn’t bother to hide my smile. We all watched Bevis tweak his look.

“Oh, give it up. No one is going to ask you to the prom, fella. You’d better stay behind Simon a.k.a. Ray when we shoot.” Greg shook his head. “But, for the record, nice chimichangas.”

“Kaplan, show Valdez and Gloriana your dog. See if they approve.” Simon sat in a director’s chair with his name stenciled on the back. Definitely channeling Spielberg.

“I’m trying to remember how you looked, Valdez. Shift and show me the real deal.” Greg smirked at Rafe.

“Not interested. Let’s see what you’ve got.” Rafe crossed his arms over his chest.

“Asshole.” Greg huffed, then changed. His dog was a black Labrador retriever. All wrong.

“I was a Labradoodle. Curl the hair.” Rafe glanced at me. “What else, Glory?”

“You were much cuter, of course.” I tugged at Greg’s ears. “Hairier and rounder ears.”

“Brown eyes. Roll over and let me see your package. Or have you been fixed?” Rafe’s dimples were showing.

“That does it.” Greg was back to his human form again. “I figure I was close enough to pass. And I’m not showing you my package, asshole. Ask Glory. I have definitely not been fixed.”

“Me? I don’t remember a thing. Which means what you have must be highly forgettable.” I put my arm around Rafe’s waist. “Don’t worry, Greg. It was dark during the face-off. You and Brittany Ugly will be in the background.”

“Let’s get serious here.” Simon was back with his clipboard. “Gloriana, are you satisfied that Gregory can do the job?”

“As a dog? Oh, yes, he has a natural talent for it.” I smiled at Greg.

“Your costume is in the tent. I bought several sizes.” Simon looked me over in a creepy way that made Alesa giggle and me want to hurl. “I think I’m a pretty good judge of what you might wear. Go change.”

“Fine.” I followed a man to a large tent, Rafe right behind me. “Can you believe Alesa has the hots for Simon?” I said as soon as we were inside.

“Figures. Destiny’s probably got a straight line to Lucifer. Alesa knows and loves evil. You saw her real face, didn’t you? Looks attract her but aren’t everything. It’s what’s inside that counts. The nastier, the better for her.” Rafe pulled my sweater off over my head.

“My honey gets me. Isn’t he sweet? I think you two have time for a quickie, Glo. Get with it.”
Alesa shoved me toward him.

I staggered and stepped back. “That doesn’t make me feel good about having her in me, you know.” I sifted through my costume choices. Simon had my sizes all right. I ignored his creepy underwear choices, sticking with my own.

“Glory, you don’t have to do this. We can shift out of here. Think of something ...” Rafe put his hands on my shoulders.

“Thanks, Rafe. But let’s just get this done.” I sighed. He had no idea how Simon was forcing me to play this game. If Jerry got a steamy video of Rafe and me together while he was in Florida . . . Well, I was not going to let that happen. End of story.

We came out to find Simon dabbing fake soot on his face. I refused to do it.

“I know we had just escaped from a burning building, but I’m going to be wet. It’ll probably wash off anyway.”

“You may be right. We’ll see. This will just be a dress rehearsal.” He signaled the cameraman. “Now let’s swim out a few yards, then come in parallel to the beach. We’ll crawl out, exhausted.” Simon panted like he’d struggled ashore. “Gloriana, you were an actress once. Can you do this realistically?”

“Sure. I lived it, remember?” I shivered as the wind gusted. Honestly, Simon’s Ray looked right, but he had the acting skills of a jack-o’-lantern.

“Westwood will be waiting for us onshore with the crossbow. But we won’t worry about that right now.”

“Film this for real, Simon. I’m not jumping in that water twice.” I saw that Rafe was standing next to a glowering Westwood and had taken charge of the crossbow. Good.

“All right. I’m not crazy about swimming in that lake either. Kaplan, are you ready?” Simon looked around, and Greg as Valdez trotted out and jumped in when we did.

The cold water was a shock, and it was rough enough to be tough going. I hated the creepy, crawly things that brushed my bare feet and legs as I swam the yards I needed before we started back. I remembered then that Ray had held me because I’m such a poor swimmer, but I didn’t mention it. No way was I letting Simon touch me. I managed to keep from drowning long enough to get to where my feet touched bottom again. I wasn’t acting as I staggered and fell to my knees, crawling out to the strip of rocky shore.

“Cut!” Simon shouted as we stood next to each other out of the water. At least he had liked the “no audio” idea, so we were saved from having to learn lines. A subdued Westwood approached us carrying his crossbow. Now Rafe had the arrow.

“How the hell is this going to work? The shifter won’t give me back my arrow,” Westwood whined.

“The camera is far enough away that it won’t matter.” Simon was losing patience. “Just stand there and pretend to yell at Gloriana like I’m sure you did that night.”

“I’ll jump over to you, grab the crossbow and aim it at your heart.” I leaped until I was in front of Westwood.

“Right.” Simon nodded to the cameraman. “We’ll stop shooting, Valdez can hand you the arrow, and you’ll fall down with it stuck between your body and your arm.”

“That won’t work. Vampires aren’t real in this film, remember?” Greg pressed against my leg, and I had a feeling he was trying to see up my skirt. I kicked him away. “Ouch. Anyway, you’ll have to run up like a mortal girl.”

“Great, now I’m going to come across like I’m an ass, bested by a woman.” Westwood threw down his crossbow. “This isn’t going to fool anyone.”

“Earth to Westwood. You
are
an ass.” Rafe strolled up, kicked the crossbow out of reach and handed him the arrow. “Now fall down and show us death throes. We’re all anxious to see you dead.” Every vampire there smiled.

“I’m sick of this. Where’s the respect? I could buy and sell the lot of you.” Westwood cut his eyes toward Simon, who was conferring with the cameraman. “Except for Simon of course.”

“Of course.” Rafe smiled. “We
have
no respect for you, Westwood. You killed friends. Terrorized innocent people. You’re surrounded by people who want you dead. Feel lucky you haven’t had your head handed to you on a plate yet.”

I admired the way Rafe intimidated the billionaire who’d backed up a few steps.

“God, but I’m sick of this.”

“Me too, Glory. That wind’s damn cold.” Greg stood too close again. “Simon, can’t we finish this?”

“All right. I’ve figured this out.” Simon, still looking like Ray, strode to my side again. “Places, everyone. We’ll use a wide angle to get the group of us here on the beach and Westwood. Then follow Glory as she attacks. Valdez, move and take that arrow with you.”

Rafe snatched the arrow and got behind the cameraman.

“Gloriana, shout at Westwood, I don’t care what. Without audio we’ll just be seeing that you’re steamed and reaming him out. Then charge and snatch the crossbow. We won’t show his face until after the arrow’s in, then zoom in for the kill.”

“If only.” I waited until the cameraman gave me the go ahead. “You murdering slimeball! I hate you. You killed Jerry’s best friend, and he never did a damned thing to you. I’m going to tear out your throat.” I ran up to him in what felt like slow motion but was probably normal human speed and ripped the crossbow out of his hands. My own hands shook as I aimed it at his heart.

“Cut!” Simon clapped his hands. “Perfect. Real emotion. You’re a fine actress, Gloriana.”

“Who was acting?” I jabbed Westwood with the crossbow until he doubled over. “I hate this son of a bitch. Give me the arrow, and I’ll finish him for real this time.” I heard Alesa cheering and saying something about murder being terrific foreplay.

“No, you won’t.” Simon stalked over to Rafe and took the arrow. “Man up, Westwood, and take this.” Westwood had been swearing and threatening to get even with me. “Now fall on the ground and play dead. We’ll edit the film to make it work.”