Single White Vampire (15 page)

“They have security cameras everywhere nowadays,” she interrupted again. “It lowers the insurance or something.”

Muttering under his breath, Lucern gave in. Donning the stupid thing, he felt like an idiot, and was grateful none of his family members were there to witness it. Etienne in particular would have enjoyed taunting him for decades. Knowing Kate could not see his scowl did not prevent his aiming a particularly ferocious one at her. Not that she noticed; she was quite busy sifting through whatever was in her bag. There was an awful lot of banging and clanking going on.

What the hell had she brought? he wondered irritably.

“In your years of living,” she began in a strained tone, “I don't suppose you learned anything about burglary, did you?”

“A thing or two,” Lucern admitted.

“Good.” She sounded relieved. “Because all I know about it is what I've seen on TV.”

Lucern raised an eyebrow, but since again he knew she couldn't see it, he said in a solemn tone, “One would never credit it.”

“It's true,” she told him earnestly. “I like cop shows, and I just went by those. I hope I got what we need. I wasn't sure—I just went through the hardware store and grabbed anything that looked useful.”

Ah. This explained why she hadn't attended the cover model reunion. Lucern knelt at her side and peered curiously into her bag. The first thing he saw were several long, pointed tools. They looked like screwdrivers but with sharpened ends. There were several of them, in a variety of sizes. “Scratch awls? What are those for?”

“They always use sharp, pointy things to break into places on TV,” Kate explained. “To pick locks.” She paused, her expression thoughtful. “Or credit cards.” She frowned briefly, then cursed. “I knew I should have brought my purse.”

Lucern wasn't really paying attention; he was sorting through the bag. “A pipe wrench?” he asked, lifting the large, heavy plumber's tool.

Kate bit her lip and shifted uncomfortably. “I thought maybe if you couldn't pick the locks, you could break a window.”

Lucern arched an eyebrow, then pulled out a coil of…“Rope? Rope, Kate? What the heck did you bring rope for?”

“In case you had to climb into or out of a second-
story window,” she explained defensively.

“It's a one-story building,” he pointed out.

“Oh, yes.” She peered at the building with displeasure, as if suspecting it may have shrunk a floor while she wasn't looking.

“I thought you cased the place.”

“I did. I just…” She waved her hands wildly. “Okay, so you won't need to climb out a window. You might have to tie someone up, though.”

“Hmm.” Lucern reached for the next item. “Duct tape?” He drew out a roll of the silver tape. Even through the darkness, he could see her blush.

“Dad always said there wasn't a job where duct tape didn't come in handy,” she said lamely. Then she straightened her shoulders and added, “You can tape the glass before you break it, if you have to break it. That would reduce the noise and mess. Or if we have to tie someone up, duct tape is impossible to tear.”

“I thought the rope was for tying them up.”

“Fine,” she said irritably. “Use the rope to tie them up. You can duct tape their mouths shut to gag them.”

Lucern nearly laughed aloud but managed to hold it back. She had obviously considered every eventuality. Except one. He didn't need any of this nonsense. Packing all the tools back into her bag, Lucern closed it, and stood up.

“Wait here,” he ordered. Then he walked up the alley to the side door.

As usual, the woman didn't listen, but chased after him. Her voice was panicky as she asked, “What are you going to do?”

“What we came here to do,” he answered. “Rob the blood bank.”

 

He knocked at the door. Kate could hardly believe it. She
didn't
believe it. Lucern's idea of breaking into the blood bank was knocking at the bloody door? He really needed to get a TV so that he could get a grip on reality. One didn't pull a break and enter by knocking.

Maybe he'd lost his mind, she thought unhappily. That thought took hold, and Kate considered it seriously. It was definitely possible. The hunger and pain caused by his lack of blood could have pushed him over the edge. He might now be a raving lunatic, she thought. So she told him so.

“You're insane,” she muttered in the silence that followed his knock. “The bloodlust has driven you over the edge. You—”

She snapped her mouth closed as the side door opened. Kate was so surprised she merely stood and gaped as a man appeared. Sandy-haired and about her age, he wore a lab coat and a questioning expression as if it were only slightly out of the ordinary for people to be knocking at the side door after hours.

Kate hadn't really expected anyone to answer but, if she had, the last person she would've expected was one of the blood-bank workers. They should all be at home, shouldn't they? She'd expected a security guard, or maybe a member of a cleaning crew.

Her thoughts were distracted when the fellow seemed to notice their ski masks. She was pretty sure that was the cause of the sudden panic on the man's face. When he started to close the door, Kate glanced
at Lucern and gave him a nudge. Apparently, she needn't have bothered. In the next moment, the man halted. Lucern was already working to control his mind.

There was silence as Lucern merely stared at the man, whose face slowly became blank. Lucern asked pleasantly, “Are you alone?”

“Yes.” The blood-bank worker's voice was dull, almost sounded drugged.

“Are their security cameras here?” Lucern asked.

Kate felt justified in having insisted on the ski masks when the man said yes. Lucern, though, looked less than pleased. She supposed he'd hoped to take his mask off.

“Would you be so good as to show us to your supply of blood?” Lucern asked next. Kate rolled her eyes at his Old-World courtesy. It seemed the man did everything that way. Even break-and-enter.

When the blood-bank worker turned and started up the hall, Lucern glanced at Kate. “Wait here. I'll return directly.”

“Yeah, right,” was her answer. She hefted her bag over her shoulder and followed him inside. This had been her idea; she'd be damned if she was going to wait out in an alley, wringing her hands like some wimpy heroine in a novel.

Lucern glared at her. She glared back. Moving to follow the man in the lab coat, she left Luc to fall into step behind her.

She glanced around nervously as they walked up the hall. The blood bank was as silent as a tomb. Not a happy thought, she decided, but it brought to mind coffins and she wondered about them. Obviously, Lucern
didn't need to sleep in one. While he had reinforced the darkness in his hotel room by hanging a blanket over the curtains, he wasn't sleeping in a coffin. She supposed that was something else Stoker had got wrong. But, then, according to Lucern, he didn't need a coffin because he wasn't dead. He was just old.

Kate was scowling as she, Luc and their guide entered a room with metal and glass refrigerators around it. Luc was
very
old. She usually preferred to date men her own age. Lucern did not fit in that category. She could safely say he was the oldest man she'd ever dated. Maybe he was the oldest man anyone had ever dated.

She paused just inside the door and merely watched as Lucern walked past her to one of the refrigerators. He opened its door, revealing neat rows of the red liquid he so needed.

Kate peered curiously at the man in the lab coat. He looked completely out of it, a zombie at Lucern's mercy, and she felt a moment's gratitude that she had a strong mind. If not, Luc could have put the whammy on her and gotten her to do anything he wanted. Which was a scary thought.

She turned her attention back to Lucern, then watched with interest as he selected a bag and poked his teeth into it. The procedure was pretty clean. He was apparently able to suck the blood directly up through his teeth like through straws, because he just stood there, teeth inserted as the blood drained away. It was relatively quick. Still, Kate found herself glancing nervously up the hall as she waited for him to finish.

Lucern went through eight bags that way, one right
after the other. When he had finished with the last, he started to close the refrigerator door. Kate rushed forward and stopped him.

“What are you doing?” he asked as she opened her backpack. She began shoving bags in.

“Getting some to go. You'll need more tomorrow,” she pointed out. “And I don't want to go through this again.”

Lucern nodded. “Take the empty bags, too,” he instructed. Then he moved to the blood-bank worker, murmuring something she couldn't hear.

“What did you say?” Kate asked as they hurried back up the hall through which they'd entered.

“I instructed him to change the records to reflect the difference, so that the blood isn't missed.”

“Oh.” Kate fell silent as she stepped outside. The cool air on her face as she removed the mask was a relief, and she felt some of her tension drain away. But she didn't relax completely, not even once they were in a cab and headed back to the hotel. She was as wound up as a clock, and had been all day. She could hardly believe it had been so easy. Knock on the door? Sheesh.

Lucern's hand closed over hers, and Kate glanced at him in surprise. The man was actually smiling. Sort of. At least, his usual scowl was missing. That was the equivalent of a smile with this man, she thought, noting his cheeks were now flushed with color and the lines of pain were gone from his face. She couldn't believe how much blood he'd drunk, but it appeared to have done him good. He looked healthier than she'd ever seen him.

Her gaze dropped to his hand covering hers, and she
turned hers over to clasp it. She knew he had sensed the tension still gripping her, and he was trying to tell her without words that it was all right. But she felt like a teenager holding hands with her boyfriend for the first time. She was sorry when they arrived at the hotel and he released her to pay the driver.

They were both silent as they walked inside and took the elevator to their floor, Kate wondering if he would kiss her and thank her for her help once they got there. She hoped he would. She hoped he'd do more than that. But she knew it wasn't likely when they entered the room and heard the television playing. Chris was back, relaxing on the couch.

“Oh, hey! I was wondering where you two had got to. A delivery came while you were gone.” He gestured to a large box on the table by the window. “It's addressed to Lucern Argeneau c/o Kate C. Leever. I guess your brother must have re-sent it. He must have figured everything out on his own.” He frowned at his words, then shook his head. “Though, I guess the first box couldn't have got back to him yet—it's only been a day.” He shrugged. “He must just have sent you something else.”

Kate wasn't listening. She was gaping at the box on the table with disbelief. It had “A.B.B.” stamped on its side. Argeneau Blood Bank? Dear God. All that stress and anxiety had been for nothing.

Lucern glanced across the hospitality suite to where Kate was talking to Deanna Stancyk. Kate was easy to find in her sunny yellow skirt and matching jacket, aglow with life and vitality, smiling, her face animated, her hands moving as she talked and laughed. She was beautiful. Just looking at her caused an ache in Luc's chest. Although it could be indigestion, he thought, recalling the greasy breakfast he'd eaten that morning.

Kate had been terribly quiet with him since they'd returned to the suite last night to find the box from Bastien. She hadn't even followed him into his room to see for sure what the box held, but had merely handed him the backpack with the six bags of stolen blood, murmured good night and slipped into her room. Which had turned the night flat for Lucern.

He'd unpacked the box in his room and stored all the blood—from their adventure as well as from Bastien—in the mini fridge. He'd had to remove everything
from the fridge to do so. He'd stacked the cans of pop, the little bottles of alcohol and the snacks on the dresser, and then had wandered to the living room and dropped onto the couch to watch TV with Chris for a while, hoping Kate would reappear. She hadn't.

The temptation to go to her had been strong. With his need for blood satisfied, Lucern had found other cravings bothering him—top among them to just be in Kate's presence. Her company somehow made him feel lighter, younger. As if he hadn't existed six hundred years and become weary of living. The woman was playing havoc on his psyche.

After watching a bad vampire movie—dear God, why was the vampire always the villain?—Lucern had left Chris and gone to bed. He'd awoken early, consumed a couple more bags of blood, put the Do Not Disturb signs on both his door to the hall and the one leading into the living area of the suite—so that the cleaning lady wouldn't find his blood in the fridge and pitch a fit—then had joined Kate and Chris to head out for breakfast.

The three of them had eaten in the main dining room, joined by a handful of other Roundhouse authors. Lucern hadn't said much at the meal, just listened with interest as Kate and Chris talked to the others. It was then that he'd realized how much of their time he was monopolizing. They were babysitting him as if he were a child. He'd almost felt shame.

His pride had made itself known, then, and when they'd all moved on to the hospitality suite, Lucern had insisted that Kate circulate and talk to her other writers, telling her he could take care of himself. She'd ap
peared torn, but at last had given in to the need to spend time with as many authors as she could. She glanced his way often, stopping by occasionally to make sure he was all right, but she had spent the better part of the morning circulating the room, talking and laughing, reassuring and praising.

Chris, too, had gone about his business, tending to his own authors, leaving Lucern to sit with the writers with whom they'd breakfasted. Luc had spent the morning mostly listening, only commenting once in a while. These were nice women, interesting and creative, and they had included him in their circle without question. But they also tended to act a touch protective toward him, helping him handle his never-ending droves of fans.

He appreciated their assistance, but Lucern was starting to get something of a complex. Why did everyone think he needed protecting? They acted like he was fragile and—he shuddered—sensitive. Lucern was the least sensitive man he knew. Why, in his youth he'd been a warrior, thinking nothing of hacking men down with his sword. When pistols had been invented, he'd fought countless duels, shooting men dead, then riding to his club for breakfast. He could take care of himself. But Kate and the others didn't seem to realize that. Though she had left his side, Kate still watched him as protectively as a mother bird watching her chick make its first shaky flight. He had no doubt that, should she deem him in need, she'd be at his side at once.

Kate happened to glance his way just as he had that thought, so Lucern glared at her for thinking so little of him.

“Kate's a beautiful woman,” Jodi Hampton said softly by Luc's ear. “She's also very sweet and giving. Many of her writers would be quite upset if someone were to hurt her. And that includes me.”

Lucern turned to the writer in surprise. Jodi had been at his side through breakfast, and she had remained there once they'd reached the hospitality suite. Fifty years old, but with the vitality of a much younger woman, Jodi Hampton was one of Roundhouse Publishing's top authors. She'd built her career the hard way, increasing her readership book by book rather than making a sudden splash, and she'd built it to the point where her last five books had hit the
New York Times
bestseller list. Perhaps it wasn't surprising then that, as well as being attractive, she was also confident and interesting. Less obvious, but something Lucern had quickly discerned, was that she was also terribly kind—though right now she sounded like a mama bear warning a predator off her baby. Lucern liked that. At last, here was someone who did not see him as helpless, but as a possible danger. If only emotionally.

“I would never hurt Kate,” he assured the woman feeling fond of her. He liked intelligent women.

Jodi nodded slowly. “I hope not, Luke Amirault, because I like you.”

“My name's really Argeneau. Lucern Argeneau,” he told her. “I only write as Luke Amirault.”

Jodi nodded again and held out her hand. “And my real name is Teresa Jordan. A pleasure to meet you, Lucern.”

“Call me Luc.” He shook her hand and felt his lips
twitch into something simulating a grin. “I gather you write historical romances, Teresa?”

“Yes. And I have all of your historical texts to help me with the research. You're much younger than I expected. I should have realized, though. Your books aren't like most dusty old histories. You bring other eras to life. Your books make research a pleasure.”

Lucern felt his mouth twist again in a pleased grin. It felt odd. He wasn't used to smiling so much. He had only started to do so since the advent of Kate in his life. But he thought he could get used to it.

Aware that the flood of fans in the hospitality suite had died down, Lucern relaxed a little and began to discuss history with his new friend. Soon the whole group of Roundhouse writers had joined in.

 

“It's grown a bit quiet.”

Kate nodded as Chris appeared at her side. It had been a long but productive morning. Kate was pretty sure she had managed to have a word with every single one of her writers in attendance at the conference. She was ready for a break.

“It's lunchtime,” she pointed out. “Everyone is probably eating. It will pick up again in a little while.”

“Maybe we should collect Luc and go grab some lunch, too,” Chris suggested.

“Good idea.” Kate turned to find Lucern, and saw him deep in conversation with Jodi.

“He sure is loosening up now that's he's feeling better,” Chris whispered as they walked across the room. “He isn't as difficult as Edwin always said. Either that, or you've had a good influence on him.”

Kate gave a dry laugh. “More likely that ‘little boys' night out' you two enjoyed that first night loosened him up.”

Chris laughed. “I couldn't believe he had never watched television. He took to it like a duck to water, though. He has a good sense of humor under all that stuffy proper English personality. I like him.”

“So do I,” Kate responded automatically, suddenly realizing it was true. She
did
like Lucern. She wasn't sure why, but she did. And it wasn't just his kisses or his importance to her career. She pondered why she liked him as they reached the group of debating writers, and waited for the appropriate moment to let their presence be known.

Lucern had been rude and surly when she'd first arrived on his doorstep, but not rude enough to push her out of his home and send her on her way. Which he'd had every right to do. He'd allowed her to drag him out shopping, followed her uncomplainingly around the grocery store, and eaten her cooking. He had been difficult about those letters, but Kate now understood it hadn't been deliberate.

She recalled reading the letter from the reader asking if Lucern would turn her into a vampire, and Luc's abrupt “no.” Then she recalled the letter from the reader who had fallen in love with Etienne, and Lucern's response: “He's taken.” At the time, she had thought he was being deliberately difficult, but now it all seemed clear. She almost laughed aloud, though she'd been ready to shriek at him then.

Luc was an honest man, a man of his word. He'd promised to do R.T. and, despite being tricked into
thinking it was just an interview, had stuck to his word. He was now attending a conference she knew nothing on earth would have dragged him to if he hadn't given his word. He was a man of honor. He was also very caring and chivalrous. Just look at how he had refused to bite her and cause her pain when he'd been in such need.

Of course, she was beginning to suspect he had a wicked sense of humor beneath his proper facade and all that surliness. Sometimes she caught a glint in his eye—usually when he was being most obtuse—that made her think he was deliberately working her up.

“Oh, hello.”

Kate pulled herself from her thoughts and smiled as Jodi greeted her.

“We were thinking of slipping out for lunch while it's slow,” Chris said. “Any takers?”

The writers were all on their feet at once, grabbing their stuff. It seemed everyone was ready for a break. Kate smiled at Lucern, who moved to her side and took her arm. The action felt proprietary, almost possessive, but Kate suspected it was just his upbringing. His natural chivalry.

Someone suggested leaving the hotel and getting away from the conference atmosphere for a bit, but Kate felt concern about the sun's effect on Lucern. Seeming to sense her worry, Luc glowered at her. He muttered that he'd be fine; he had his “medicine.”

“What medicine?” Jodi asked.

“Lucern has something of an allergy to the sun,” Kate explained reluctantly. Then she rushed on to add, “But he has some…er…medicine upstairs, so I'm sure
he'll be fine. We can find a restaurant nearby if you guys want.”

“No. There's no sense dragging him around while we find someplace. Wouldn't want to make him sick. We haven't eaten in the hotel pub yet. We can try that,” Jodi suggested. The other women agreed.

As they made their way down, the other authors began teasing Lucern, commenting that he wrote vampire romances and was allergic to the sun. “Hmm. Perhaps we should watch our necks,” Jodi joked.

Kate was horrified. What had she started? She grew quite tense and anxious at the teasing, but Lucern seemed to take it in stride. Eventually, the conversation moved on to other subjects. They reached the pub and were seated.

Lunch was delicious, the company adding to the experience. When they finished, everyone seemed reluctant to leave, so Kate decided a little fun wouldn't go amiss before she herded them all back to the hospitality suite. “Maybe we should check out the other events taking place, here,” she suggested.

Jodi pulled out her conference agenda and read the options. There were educational programs for writers, a cooking demonstration called “Cooking with Love,” psychic and astrological readings, and dance lessons.

Two of the authors wanted to check out the writers' programs, but they promised they'd drop back into the hospitality suite later. Two more left for the cooking demonstration with the same promise. One wanted to take dance lessons and dragged a groaning Chris off to that. Which left Jodi, Kate and Lucern.

“Well, that leaves the psychic reading and astrology,”
Jodi announced, folding her agenda and slipping it back in her purse.

“Sounds fun.” Kate pushed back her chair to rise. She happened to glance at Lucern, and was surprised to see him looking uncertain. Jodi noticed as well.

“What's the matter, Luc? Scared the psychic will see something bad in your future,” the writer teased.

Lucern grimaced. “Or in my past.”

He had spoken in his usual surly tone, but there was a teasing glint in his eyes Kate found she was beginning to recognize. Jodi apparently recognized it, too, because she laughed. Still, Kate wondered. Lucern had a long past. Six hundred years. That was a lot of time. She found herself wondering about all the years he'd lived. Had he ever loved someone? Been married? Had children? He was single now—at least he seemed to be. Dear God, she wasn't even sure about that. He might have a wife. He might have kids. He might…

“So, how have you managed to avoid marriage so long, Lucern? Or are you married?” Jodi asked, as if she'd been reading Kate's thoughts. The woman had always had a way of doing that, which made Kate a tad nervous. Perhaps the writer had a touch of psychic ability. Heck, she might even be a mind reader, and know that Lucern was opening Kate's mind to all sorts of possibilities she would have laughed at before. Kate decided she would guard her thoughts around the woman from now on…just to be sure.

“And how old are you, anyway?” the author continued. “Thirty-five or so?”

Kate watched Lucern's mouth quirk in a rare crooked smile.

“Or so,” he answered. “And no, I've never been married.”

“Why not?” Jodi apparently had no problem in being nosy. Much to Kate's amazement, Lucern seemed more amused by the question than annoyed. It seemed Chris was right. Luc was loosening up.

“Who would have me?” he asked lightly. There was a wicked glint in his eye.

Jodi glanced at Kate then, and Kate felt herself flush. Had the woman picked up on her attraction to Lucern? Dear God, she really had to be more careful.

“Here we are,” she announced with determined cheer. Ahead was the sign to the room with the psychic and astrological readings.

A number of small tables were distributed around the room. Each table was assigned to a psychic or astrologer, their signs and paraphernalia set up around them. There was only one chair at each table besides that of the reader. One client at a time, thank you. There were also tables where one could buy crystals and such. It was rather like a psychic fair.