“I guess not.”
“Also, there was the whole decoying for vampires thing. She was afraid the police would find out what she did if they started sniffing around.”
“Why didn’t she move in with her boyfriend?”
“Penelope was old-fashioned. She wouldn’t evenconsidermoving in with him unless she was engaged.” Erika sighed unhappily. “It is what it is, right?”
I didn’t know what to say, so I opted for a slight change of topic. “I didn’t think we could date vampires—we’re not allowed to, I mean.”
“Let me guess. Marlena?” She rolled her eyes.
“She made her feelings on the subjectveryclear to me,” I said, rolling my eyes in return.
“What she doesn’t know won’t kill her!” Erika giggled. “Michael couldn’t care less who we date, and at the end of the day,heis the real owner of Dignitary. He’s the one who does all the work. Marlena is only along for the ride because she’s financially invested in the company.”
“I didn’t know that.” I was learning all kinds of juicy gossip, wasn’t I?
Erika smirked. “Marlena only says we can’t dateourclients, not all vampires in general. Penelope’s boyfriend used Dignitary before, but she never decoyed for him personally. Technicalities are a marvelous thing, don’t you think? Of course, Marlena hated Penelope for it. She said it was tacky and unprofessional.”
“That’s what she told me during my interview—the tacky and unprofessional part.” It made me feel better knowing that I wasn’t the only decoy Marlena had said that too. “Have you ever?”
“What? Dated a vampire?”
I nodded.
“I did once, a long time ago. It wasn’t for me. I’m too much of a day person. Also, my parents are very traditional. I’d give my poor dad a heart attack if I brought a vampire home. He had a problem with my last boyfriend because he was Japanese.” She laughed. “Plus, I’m atotalfoodie. There’s nothing I love more than stuffing myself silly on a delicious meal. When Shaun—that’s the vampire I dated—and I would go to restaurants, I’d be chowing down while he sat across the table, watching me in silence. I felt like a zoo animal. So awkward!”
“That would be weird,” I agreed.
Erika took her phone out of her purse and checked the time. “Yikes! I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got to take care of some things before I start work.” She grabbed a dress down from the rack, signed it out, and gave me a hug. “It was nice meeting you, Olivia.”
“It was nice to meet you, too, Erika. We’ll probably run into each other again.” I hoped we would. I really liked her bright, positive energy, a sunflower incarnate. I could use a friend like her in my life, especially with things being the way they were with Liz. I was beginning to question if we’d ever recover from our fight.
“I’m sure we will. Okay, I’ll see you around. Bye!”
I stayed in the closet for a few minutes after Erika had gone, reflecting on all that she’d revealed. I got undressed and changed into the outfit I’d arrived in, which now felt itchy and cheap compared to the designer frocks that surrounded me. I tucked the gown safely back into its bag, then I drove home in a daze of bewilderment, anxious about the night ahead.
10
Idid a double take when I pulled up in front of the address Marlena had given me. I crosschecked the information on my appointment card against the sleek metal numbers posted on the side of the structure, imagining it all couldn’t be a single house. Sure enough, I was at the right place.
Robert Bramson’s home, which easily could have doubled for a small college campus, was designed in my favorite architectural style, mid-century modern. It was positioned far off the street, literally builtintoa cliff that overlooked the ocean, its stark white paint contrasting brilliantly with the coffee-colored earth it nestled against. Its placement looked precarious, as if nothing stronger than a gust of wind could send it crashing down into the sea below. Not particularly relishing that thought, I was relieved to note the dozens of steel beams that supported the foundation. Most of the walls of the house were made of glass. Through them, I could just make out a tall form gazing out from behind gossamer drapes.
As I tucked my keys into my handbag, I reflected on the absurdity of wearing a gown that had cost more than the vehicle I’d arrived in. As far as I was concerned, it was worth the expense for as fine as it made me feel, though it was easy to be cavalier about the cost of designer couture when I wasn’t the one footing the bill. It was dark out, so I had to be careful not to trip over the train of the dress.
I shuffled my way down the bleached concrete path toward the house, trying to appear graceful in precarious three-inch heels. It wasn’t easy. I raised my hand to press the doorbell, but like what had happened when I’d first gone to Dignitary, the door opened before I had a chance to ring it. Maybe it was a vampire thing.
I’d expected a housekeeper, but an exquisite specimen of manhood in a satiny tuxedo stood in front of me instead. I rocked back on my heels, the wind knocked from my lungs. I could not recall a single time in my entire life when I’d ever laid eyes on a human this good-looking. Not in any film or magazine, and certainly not in real life.
He was built as solidly, towering nearly a foot above me. His complexion was the same color as Marlena’s, but impossibly smoother, like liquefied silk. His intelligent eyes were a deep blue-grey color that I’d never seen on any mortal creature, the irises bordered with a thin circle of silver. His glossy dark hair was combed to one side in a formal style, still damp from the shower. He smelled faintly of soap, expensive aftershave, and . . .
Oh no.
He was scowling.
This beautiful immortal didn’t like me.
“Robert?” I squeaked.
