“Nothing.” Ooh, second lie in under five minutes. I’m on a roll. “I should get ready and head out.”
“Aren’t we riding together?”
“I’ll drive, thanks. That way, you’re not stuck there if you decide you want to leave and return to your hotel.”
I guess in my head I’ve already decided no, not doing this tonight. Or…ever.
Even though I reeeally want to do this.
Wanted to.
Before the reality of the repercussions started sinking in.
He draws in what sounds like one of those annoying kinds of breaths people take when they’re trying to stay patient. “I have a car. I can drive you. If you’re really in danger, wouldn’t it make sense to let me take you to work? I can protect you.”
“How do I know I’m not in danger fromyou?”
“That would be bad form, wouldn’t it?” He smirks. “To harm the woman who allowed me to hide in her closet?” I sense he wants to say more, but he’s treading lightly.
I finally turn, so I can put the Dustbuster and blanket away. “I can’t wait to tell Lucius you came out of the closet.”
“Yes, well, I can see where that would be amusing.”
21
Dexter
I stepinto the bathroom to relieve myself and to have a moment alone to think while I do.
Something happened while I was asleep. Maybe I can’t thrall Eilidh, but she just lied to me twice, and I don’t understand why.
Sheneverlies. Mostly because she’s an honest person, according to Lucius, but also because she knows it’s pointless to lie to a vampire or a shifter. We can hear the way a human’s pulse spikes, how their breathing changes when they lie. We can practicallytastea lie.
Sheknowsthis.
Meaningsomethinghappened, and I need to find out what. Just the fact that she’s shoved her chair in front of the apartment’s door tells me somethinghappened while I was asleep.
Then there’s the fact that I heard her crying in the bathroom earlier. It took everything in me not to burst through the closet door to find out who’d upset her, so I could rip their throat out.
Only reminding myself that me dying wouldn’t help her in the least kept me in place.
I sense a darkening dread within her far beyond mere trepidation. I’m afraid if I don’t get to the bottom of thisrightnow, I might not get another chance with her. That she’s quickly clamping down, trying to rebuild her mental and emotional defenses against me, shutting me out.
Meaning I also can’t simply grab her and spank the truth out of her, which is absolutely what I’d be doing right now if I’d already negotiated a relationship with her.
When I emerge from the bathroom, I’m convinced that this is something we need to settle without delay. “I’m going to call Lucius.”
She flinches. “Why?”
“Because I need to tell him something.” I pull out my phone and dial Lucius’ number as I watch her.
He picks up almost immediately. “Dexter, nephew. How are you?”
“I’m fine, but I seem to have absconded with your club’s assistant manager. We’re running a bit late. It’s totally my fault for losing track of time, and I apologize, but can I get Connie to work later than usual? Or will that put you in a bind? I know it’s Friday night and you’ll be busy.”
Her eyes widen as she realizes what I’m doing, and she starts making hand gestures, trying to stop me. I smile and turn away from her as she circles me and stays in my field of vision, gently warding her off with one hand as I hold my phone in the other.
“I think we can get through opening just fine,” he says. “We always overstaff Fridays and Saturdays. Plus, Selene and I will be there. Will you be coming with her, then?”
