“’Tis a gift from your own kitchen. If the numpties in there weren’t so busy rabbiting on about making more cider, they might have noticed me pilfering from the knife block.”
She tapped the blade against her palm. “Perhaps if I had a guard, that wouldn’t happen.”
“Sometimes you have to take what you can get.”
“And I’ve gotten nothing. If the men you’ve sent me to interview are the best there is, my respect for you is diminished. Since you can’t find someone qualified—”
“Jaysus.The best guards aren’t easy to find on short notice for a reason. You’ll have to give me time.”
“Ticktock.” Lenore turned on her heel and sauntered out of the room.
“Shall we?” he said, gesturing to the doorway.
We entered the central room with all the nude sculptures and sat at a high table.
“That’s a neat party trick,” I said, resting my heels on the footrail of my chair. “I didn’t know you were for hire.”
“I’ve acquired a few talents over the years.” He turned the onyx ring on his middle finger. “Has anyone told you how fetching you are in that dress?”
“Only you, nine million times.”
“I’m remorseful about not renting a llama costume.”
I sat back, hands on my lap. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You don’t remember? A wee bit ago, you suggested we dress in a llama costume and put on a sex show.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“I seem to have a vague recollection of that. You’re never going to let me forget it, are you?”
“Not until we actually do it.”
A man bumped into me while walking past our table. Christian slowly rose from his chair and went after him. Alarmed, I shot up and followed.
Christian tapped the man’s shoulder, and it wasn’t a friendly tap either. The guy turned around. His inky eyes centered on Christian as he adjusted the blue boutonniere pinned to his white suit.
“You owe the lady an apology.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know who you are,” he said, his accent clearly British. “And if I don’t know you, then you are inconsequential.” The man leered at me. “What’s a strumpet like you doing here? Keeping the single blokes entertained, are you? I must say, that takes me back a few centuries.” His eyes slid down my body. “I’m glad to see old traditions making a comeback.”
Christian turned toward me and smiled. Nowthatwas a smile I knew.
“Don’t—” was all I got out before Christian twisted around and threw a hard right.
His merciless punch could easily kill a man, but all it did was topple the Vampire like a felled tree. People noticed us but showed little interest. They merely stepped around the Vamp as they went about their celebrations.
Christian accompanied me back to the table and pulled out my chair. Then he dragged his chair over and sat next to me.
“It never bothered you before,” I remarked, curious about this sudden act of chivalry. “People are rude all the time.”
He rested his hand on the back of my chair, his fingers lightly grazing my bare shoulder. “You’re mine now, and if someone disrespects you, they’ll have me to answer to.”
“I don’t give a damn if somebody bumps into my chair. I don’t even care if he thinks I’m a hooker.” I playfully pinched his beard and spoke in a childlike voice. “Maybe you can teach me how to protect myself against the big scary man.”
“You have a tongue that could clip a hedge.” He put one hand in his pocket and frowned as he pulled something out. “What’s this?”
I watched him stare at a flat lollipop wrapped in plastic. “I know how you like to suck on things, so I put that in there just for you.”
“Did you now?” Christian looked pleased that I’d done something thoughtful even though it was just a small gesture. When he unwrapped the candy and licked it, one of his fangs elongated. Not both, just one.
