Silent Night: Vampire Holiday Romance (The Night Songs Collection Book 4) (9 page)

It didn’t take me long at all to find a nude tank dress with a black lace overlay on the sale rack. I’d been admiring dresses like this all season, and never dreamed I’d actually get to wear one. It also wasn’t too bright after wearing black every day to shock me. The dress hugged everything and was kind of short. Man, it had been a while since I’d really looked at myself in a full length mirror. Without all the layers I usually wore, I was so skinny. The size I’d worn before Memere got sick hung off of me. I did my best not to let it bother me. I picked a pair of tights out of the clearance bin and called it a day. Hopefully this would work for whatever Aidan had in mind.

I got back to Aidan’s by midafternoon. I didn’t feel like reading, and I still didn’t quite feel at home, even in the room he set up for me. Every time I asked about what I should do around the house, Aidan avoided answering the question, so I didn’t want to touch anything. People got weird when you touched their stuff.

What else was there to do but take a nap? Putting my pajamas back on and slipping in between the sheets, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

Waking up just as the light coming through the window started to gray, I made myself a cup of coffee, and started my day completely over. I wanted to be ready to go when Aidan woke up, but I didn’t know what to do with myself. I found myself wandering around the house in a daze.

We were kind of going on a date.

Kind of.

Now that it was time to get ready, my excitement was bubbling over. He’d asked me to come out with him, but refused to give me any details. My curiosity sent my imagination into overdrive. No one had ever brought me out on a real date before. It felt so grown up and sophisticated, yet like a fairy tale all at the same time.

“Just get yourself something pretty.” That was all he would tell me, grinning wide enough that his face threatened to split.

I rubbed hair goo between my palms and worked it into my hair before using Aidan’s hairdryer to blow it out. I found it amusing that he had one, since it didn’t seem very manly. Since I’d been couch surfing, I’d streamlined my makeup routine for the nights I couldn’t find a couch. People got the wrong idea if you were too pretty, as much as no one liked to admit it, especially when you really didn’t have any place to be. All I had left was mascara, bronzer, and lip gloss, but it was enough to bring out my eyes and make me look finished. Parting my hair on the left side, I twisted the two sections back and brought them together in a messy chignon. It didn’t look as good as all the pictures I saw on the internet, but not bad for the first try. Then I went back to my room, shimmied my dress up over my hips not to screw up my hair, pulled on the tights, and sat on my bed to wait. I felt a little foolish, all dressed up with nowhere to go. Yet.

And nothing to do.
A Piece of My Heart
laid on the nightstand. I pulled the cover flap that held my place out so I could rejoin David and Talis.

War was on everyone’s lips, and the masquerade party was a welcome reprieve. Talis wound her hair tightly in a high bun and donned the black lace dress I had made for her. The dress’ heavily sleeves, adorned with lace insets, looked like wings. How could such a devilish creature look just like she had fallen from heaven?

I hated to see her pull the mask over her lovely face. Everyone’s heads turned as we entered the grand foyer. No one saw me, they all stared at this mystery women. The crowd grew thicker and Talis laughed before letting go of my hand and disappearing into the crowd. She’d have no problem finding a playmate for the night. Someone’s wife would be leaving this party alone. The next time she’d see her husband, if at all, would be to bury him.

How could something so horrific seem so romantic? I rested the book on my chest and reached up to touch the hair gathered at the nape of my neck, considering rewrapping it at the top of my head. Since I’d barely pulled this thing off, I changed my mind.

Every time I picked up this book, the story mirrored what happened in this house. It was starting to freak me out. Was I imagining it? How could I just happen to be doing the same thing as this fictional character did almost three hundred years ago?

I jumped out of my skin when Aidan knocked on the door. I’d been so absorbed in the story I’d almost forgotten I had plans.

He didn’t say anything right away when I opened the door. He didn’t come in, either. He had on black dress pants and a gray button down shirt. Shit, I got it all wrong. By pretty he meant something pink and frilly and I’d picked out this borderline slutty dress.

“You look gorgeous.” His voice was low and husky when he finally spoke. His eyes seemed different too. I couldn’t keep looking at them, the dark fire that burned behind them would paralyze me. If this hadn’t been a date before, it certainly was now.

“Thanks.” My heart pounded harder the longer he looked at me like that. “I didn’t know what to get, so I hope it’s all right.”

“It’s better than all right, it’s perfect.” His eyes softened as his gaze slid down my body. My skin tingled as his eyes fell lower and then came back up to meet mine. He held my hand out to me, and I took it, my fingers practically on fire when they touched his. “I’ll be the envy of the city.”

“I don’t know about that. So where are we going?” I had to walk very closely to him so we could make it down the hall side by side. The heavy shadows and my high heels didn’t make it easy. The last thing I wanted to do was trip Aidan and send him into one of huge bookcases, making it topple over. I didn’t want anything to ruin what promised to be a magical evening.

“You never did like surprises.” He frowned.

“No.” I let go of Aidan’s arm when we reached the living room, and he picked up my pea coat I’d carelessly thrown over the arm of the couch. I was embarrassed I’d forgotten all about it. This still wasn’t my home enough to leave my crap everywhere. He held it open so I could put it on. I don’t think anyone had ever done that for me before.

“Why not?” He picked up his own suit jacket, which dressed up his outfit as much as mine, and threaded a tie through his collar. He had this all wrong.
I
was going to be the envy of the city.

I picked at a loose button at the end of my coat sleeve. “Because they’re never good.”

He took both my hands this time, and stood almost close enough for the fabric of his pants to brush my shins. “New year, new possibilities.”

I didn’t want to go anywhere, I just wanted him to touch me. And if he kept doing it, I didn’t think we’d be suitable an audience for very long.

Instead of making a move, because I was too scared to screw this up, I nodded. “That’s something I can get behind.”

He pulled me off of the arm of the couch. My butt had taken my coat’s place while he tied his tie. “Let’s go celebrate.”

We headed into the heart of the city, parking in between the theater district and Downtown Crossing. A block later, Aidan held the door open to a busy restaurant. Everyone inside was either in work attire or jeans and casual clothing. We didn’t need to be so dressed up to eat here. I gave him a puzzled look.

I couldn’t hear what he said to the hostess over the happy chatter and music, but I followed both of them to our table, and found myself surprised again when it was behind a curtain. The room had only a few small tables, and was lit by tabletop candles. Unlike the bare utilitarian wood chairs in the main room, we were seated in cozy leather club chairs.

“This is cool, it’s like a hidden room,” I said too loudly after the hostess left us with our menus. Some of the other couples glared at me, irritated by the distraction. The music in here was much more muted, and conversation barely audible. This place was too classy for me. I averted my eyes down to the menu, and did my best to stifle another outburst when I saw the prices. Way too classy for me.

“It’s a prohibition era style steakhouse,” Aidan explained. “It’s hidden like a speakeasy.”

“I’ve never been anywhere like this before.” I couldn’t get my head to stop swiveling.

“That’s what I was hoping for.” He turned to the waiter. “I’ll have a glass of your Malbec, and what would you like?”

“Oh, um--” He snapped me back to reality. If I ordered a Coke they’d probably kick me out. But I wasn’t old enough to drink. What could I get? The cocktails on everyone else’s table looked so glamorous. “I’ll have a Shirley Temple.”

The waiter’s eyebrows shot up, but he simply nodded and walked away. This room had turned me into a fool. Whatever romantic notions Aidan had bringing me here were sure to disappear by the time he paid the bill. Oh, man, I hope he planned to pay the bill. Anything I ordered here would cost as more than I made in one shift at the store.

“Excellent choice.” Aidan looked at me over his menu, the candlelight making his dark brown eyes dance and swirl.

“It was stupid.” I looked back down at my menu. This place had caviar and foie gras. And I was torn between the macaroni and cheese and french fries. “Did you ever bring Marielle to a place like this?”

He looked sad, and I regretted saying it, much like I’d regretted everything else since we’d walked in this building. “Places like this weren’t around when we were together. Or else I would have.”

“What did the two of you like to do?” It helped me to talk about Memere, I hoped he felt the same way.

“We both worked really hard, we didn’t have any money.” He looked past me, probably wishing he was here with his late wife instead. “So, believe it or not, we used to like to read to each other.”

“That’s so romantic.” I forgot all about the menu in front of me and gazed off into space myself, imagining Aidan reading to me. The sound of his voice, still with just the slightest trace of a French accent, would soothe me into a relaxed, purring, semi-conscious state. “What did you do before you were a writer?”

“I was in the military.”

“Canada has a military?” I blurted out before I could catch myself. “Who fights with Canada?”

“Canada plays a much more important role in world security than you would think.” If Aidan thought my remark was ignorant, he didn’t show it. “Just because we don’t pick fights, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be prepared.”

The waiter returned with our drinks, and saved me from any more stupidity. My Shirley Temple was topped with a spear, overloaded with maraschino cherries. Maybe I wasn’t so out of place, after all. “Have you folks decided?”

I shook my head slightly at Aidan. He leaned forward and whispered, “Do you want me to order for you?”

I mimicked his movement. “Yes. Please.” I sat back in my chair to see what he’d choose.

“We’ll both have the cheddar ale soup, and she’ll have the filet mignon, house rub, and,” he paused to wink at me. “Macaroni and cheese.” We both handed our menus to the waiter.

“Good job.” My smile felt too big for my face. “I was afraid you would order me caviar.”

Aidan scoffed, still leaning forward. “I know better than that. And no one wants to have dinner with someone who actually orders caviar. Plus, that mac and cheese looked too good to be true.”

“Did you get any?” If I heard him correctly, he only ordered himself soup.

“No. This is still my morning. I usually don’t eat breakfast.”

“I never see you eat. Are you sure you don’t have an eating disorder?” I knew this behavior well. “Paige has one, and she’s so skinny you can see her ribs. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

Aidan didn’t respond right away, and I didn’t say anymore. I was treading on thin ice. Paige would never admit she gorged and purged, and I’m sure Aidan wouldn’t either.

He picked up his glass, clinking mine. “And so are you. Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

**

“I didn’t even know food could taste that good.” I raved as we walked back to Washington Street. “I wish you’d tried some of that steak. It literally melted in my mouth.”

“I’m not much for red meat,” Aidan said. “But you enjoyed it, and that’s what’s important.”

“I just feel bad that all you had was soup! And wine.” We stopped at the crosswalk. “What are we doing now?”

“Do you like to dance?” Aidan asked as we hurried across the street.

“I don’t know.” How was I going to dance in these shoes? I could barely walk. “I’ve never gone out dancing before.”

“Didn’t you ever dance around your living room with your girlfriends?” he asked as he slipped his fingers between mine.

“Not really. Is that weird?”

“No. You just have some catching up to do.” Aidan led me into the lobby of a fancy hotel and over to the elevators. Just like in the restaurant, he’d already had this planned. The hostess crossed his name off of a list and opened the velvet rope so we could board the elevator. No one questioned my age, probably figuring someone like Aidan wouldn’t be dating a child.

The elevator shot straight up to the top floor, and opened into a plush lounge with a jazz band already playing. We sat down at an empty table, and Aidan ordered us drinks. A glass of wine arrived for him, accompanied by another Shirley Temple for me. We tapped our glasses together, just like before.

The band took a short break, and I noticed that the room spun ever so slowly, so we could see the whole skyline of the city. It was probably the only thing that could distract me from looking at Aidan.