“Hello, Blue,” I say.
I love that a sweet, pink blush fills her cheeks. “Hey. Let me guess—”
“Selene and Lucius offered to help when I asked for information about arranging this. I hope that was all right?” Not going to start off trying to lie to her about it or take credit for something I didn’t do.
She shrugs, but she looks pleased. “Good choice.”
The other two vampires have paused and are looking to her for guidance. Eilidh takes a deep breath and smiles again before turning to them. “Thank you for the help, guys. We’ll be all right.”
“Lucius told us to hang out up here, if you want us to,” Theophilus says.
She meets my gaze with a steady one of her own. “I appreciate it, but I don’t think that’ll be necessary.Willit?” she asks me, but I also know it’s a statement.
I shake my head. “On my life, I swear it.”
“We’ll hold you to that,” Augustus growls, but the two of them retreat.
Once we’re alone, I help her finish unpacking and plating our meals. “They’ll have someone stationed downstairs, won’t they?” I ask.
She snorts. “Oooh, yeah. Probably in the stairwell. Lucius won’t take a chance with me.” She blows out a breath. “Thanks for the tires. And the detail job. That was endearingly stalky and unexpected, but thoughtful, and greatly appreciated.”
I love her sense of humor and her fearlessness around me. “Your tires were a death trap. And so were those headlights. And no,” I quickly add, “I don’t expect anything in return. I had a lovely time chatting with you, and you agreed to give me more of your time on your night off. It’s the least I could do.”
We’re eating at one end of a large conference table. Real wood, not some cheap-ass thing. Lucius doesn’t skimp. Once our food is arranged, I hold Eilidh’s chair for her and help her scoot it in. There are crystal wine goblets, but she’s drinking water.
I have a goblet of water and one of blood.
I pick up my water glass and raise it in a toast. “To new friends.”
Her gaze narrows a little, but she clinks glasses with me. “To new friends.” It’s uncanny how her gaze holds mine as she sips. “Why do I get the feeling you’re now obsessed with me?”
Several options flash through my mind, but I once again settle on the truth. “I suppose I am. But that’s my problem, not yours.”
“If I’m the obsessee, it sort of makes it my problem by default, doesn’t it?”
“No. Because I’m not an idiot, and I have self-control.”
She studies me. “I’m debating how to handle tomorrow night.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I should let your men pick me up at home or meet you here and ride together. Or meet you there.” She scowls, her gaze briefly unfocusing. “Not happy about traveling at night, but there’s no other option.”
I want to pick her up and drive her, but I didn’t get to be my age by being impetuous. “Your decision. Even if you wish to change your mind at the last minute. Or, you could meet me at my hotel. You could arrive before dark, if you wish. If that helps?”
“I’ll let you know.” She cocks her head again. “You’re not like other vampires, and I don’t know why.”
“Not many as old as I am.”
She takes a bite of, yes, her chicken piccata, and happily sighs. “Selene has an excellent memory.” She takes another bite. “For my birthday last year, she and Lucius gave me a gift card to this place. I don’t eat out very often.”
I want to memorize every line on her face, every whisper of her breath, every beat of her pulse. It’s tempting to quiz her about not traveling at night, but I resist. “I appreciate you accompanying me tomorrow.”
“Yeah, well, Garrett likes that you can’t mojo me. He wants me there as backup. He doesn’t stay Alpha by taking stupid risks.”
“I don’t understand. Backup?”
“I’m a secret weapon. You don’t think I survived this long working at Club Toxic and not being blooded by being a pushover, did you?” She points at her eyes with two fingers, then to me and back again. “The whole ‘can’t be mojoed’ thing.”
