Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs (30 page)

I looked from Jerry to Ray and back again. Obviously I was going to have to tell them both about my sleepwalking or whatever you wanted to call it. One of them was going to start his “Kill Ian” campaign and the other would rush out there and pay Ian a fortune for a chance at his own suicide by sunlight.

Oh, God, if ever there was a lose-lose situation, this was it.

“
It
has to do with the bedtime supplement I take, I guess.” I looked everywhere but at the men in my life. I was tired and my feet still ached. Jerry and Ray had opened bottles of synthetic blood. I’d turned it down. Trina was coming. The fact that she’d been my only source for the last few days made me feel rotten. I normally didn’t drink from mortals, even willing ones. And I still had the problem of saving her from Ian. Treating mortals as disposable commodities didn’t necessarily make Ian any worse than most vampires, though. Unfortunately.

“Glory, are you going to talk or do you want me to just go on out there and see what MacDonald’s selling?” Ray was practically jumping out of his skin. Of course he was desperate to see the sun again. He’d only been a vampire for a few months. Jerry and I had had centuries to get used to life after dark.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Caine.” Jerry sounded like he was talking to an unruly schoolboy.

“I don’t follow your orders, Blade.” Ray pulled me up to stand beside him. “And neither does Glory.” He squeezed my hand. “Look at her. Ian’s formula works. She’s lost the weight she wanted in record time. I’d say he delivers on his promises.”

Jerry gave Ray a condescending look. “There’s a hell of a lot of difference between losing weight and walking into daylight. Valdez, tell us what Glory did yesterday afternoon.”

Valdez risked his job by looking at me before he answered.

“Go ahead, V, tell him. Tell him
all
the stuff I did when I was supposed to be dead to the world.” I held Ray’s hand because Jerry looked as approachable as a thorny hedge.

“You shifted.” Jerry frowned.

“How else was he going to carry me, Jerry?” This pissed me off. “It’s about time you got over this dog fetish you’ve had for centuries. If you don’t trust me around hot guys, then tough.” I smiled at Valdez. “Yes, my friend, you’re hot. Don’t pretend you don’t know that, the way Brittany hangs around you.”

“Can we get back to this sleepwalking?” Jerry looked like he wanted to smash the bottle he’d just drained over someone’s head—there were several likely candidates, me included. Instead he set it on the bar, demonstrating admirable self-control.

“Yeah. I want to hear about yesterday. When Brittany saw you wide-awake after sunrise.” Ray dropped my hand.

“I can tell this part. I
was
awake, you know.” I cleared my throat, wishing I could drink something. No, couldn’t do it, calories. So I faced the men, Jerry looking disapproving and Ray, eager, like I was about to launch into the tale of the century.

“I watched you lie down, Ray, then I headed into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I took my time until I noticed some light coming in around the curtains in the bathroom. I checked and saw you conked out per usual.” I glanced at Valdez. “Rafe’s right. When we’re asleep during the day, we’re as good as dead. First time I’ve seen that. Guess I never stuck around to watch you sleep before you made me vampire, Jerry.” I shook my head. Stupid of me, to make the decision to become vamp without full disclosure. Hindsight. Not worth anything, was it?

“No, I wouldn’t let you. We’re too vulnerable then. And in those days I still slept in a coffin behind a locked door in a hidden room in the basement of our town house or a cave in the country. I didn’t want to scare you away.” He frowned when Ray made a noise. “You have something to say, Caine?”

“Sure, but not right now. I want to hear about Glory’s experience.” Ray sat on the opposite end of the couch from Jerry and leaned forward, his eyes on me. “So then what happened?”

“I realized I was wide-awake and the sun had already come up. That’s when I signaled to Valdez in the living room.”

“Why?” Jerry frowned at my bodyguard.

“To talk it over, I guess. Who else am I going to call? You?” I toed off my shoes again, stalked over to the club chair on the opposite side of the room and sat. “All my other friends are vampires. They’d be dead that time of day. Rafe wasn’t. Of course neither was Brittany.”

“Shape-shifters. Lucky bastards.” Ray frowned at Valdez. “Glory, I’m thinking whatever Ian’s giving you at bedtime must be like what he’s developed to get vampires out during the day.”

“That’s not all that happened, though.”
Valdez settled next to my chair. Like we’d drawn up sides.
“She eventually got drowsy and fell asleep. I waited a minute to be sure she was out, then went to talk to Brittany.”
He nodded toward Ray.
“I knew Glory didn’t want Caine to know about this daylight thing and tried to talk Brit out of telling him about it until we knew more. I was coming in from the hall when I heard Glory scream.”

“What?” Ray and Blade were both on their feet.

“Calm down. I’m here. I’m okay. Crisis averted. See?” I leaned back and crossed my legs, refusing to let them upset me.

“What crisis?” Jerry didn’t sit down. Ray paced the carpet again, kicking my high heels out of the way.

“Hey! Watch the shoes!”

“Sorry. So what happened, Glory?” Ray finally stopped.

“I’ll tell it.”
Valdez moved away from me. Like he wasn’t going to use me for protection.
“She apparently had another nightmare right away and walked back into the living room. We’d shut the drapes when she stuck her head out the first time, but there was a sliver of sunlight. She stepped into it and burned her cheek.”

“Son of a bitch!” Jerry slammed a fist into the palm of his other hand. I had a feeling he was imagining Ian’s face there.

Ray came up and put his hand under my chin to inspect my cheek. “Looks fine now. Makeup or did you heal?”

“I healed. Though Rafe put some mortal cream on my face too, as a precaution.” I frowned at Ray. “Listen to me, Ray. I was burned by the sun. Do you see what this means?”

“Yeah. You can be awake, but you can’t go out in it. He told me that when I went out to his place last night.” Ray pulled me to my feet. “Did you see the video he has?”

“You went out there without backup?” I wanted to scream. He’d left both paranormal guards with me.

“I’m fine. I’m here, right?” He sneered at Jerry. “Blade’s the one who’s demonized MacDonald. The guy’s not stupid; he’s into this to make some cash. Killing off clients, especially someone high profile like me, would mean the end of his business.” Ray smiled at me. “I told Nate where I was going. In case something did happen out there. But I didn’t tell you, because I know you don’t approve of this daylight deal. Imagine, Glory. I saw Ian on the beach in front of his house.” Ray’s eyes lit up and he hugged me. “I tell you, if I could do that, I could deal with this vampire thing.”

“Get real, Caine. You’re going to have to deal with this vampire thing anyway.” Jerry stalked over to the window and stared out at the night sky. “Seeing daylight is a foolish dream. You think all of us haven’t had it at one time or another? I lost a good friend who tried for it. The Energy Vampires have been working on it for years and failed. It’s a fairy tale that’s cost more than one vampire his fortune and his life.”

“This is the twenty-first century, Blade. You don’t sleep in a coffin or a cave anymore. So maybe it’s possible that MacDonald could have found a cure for the daylight problem.” Ray let me go and actually had the stones to walk over to Jerry, close enough to get a face full of fist. “You’re prejudiced against him because of his name, but that doesn’t mean Ian isn’t some kind of genius who could have figured this thing out.”

Jerry smiled at Ray. That smile chilled me to my toes. “Fine. Rush out there and try MacDonald’s daylight drug. The sooner the better. Good luck to you.”

“Jerry!” I ran over to step between the two men. I knew an almost death threat when I heard one. “Ray, this daylight experiment will have to wait. We’ve already got more on our plate now than we can deal with. I’m afraid I committed you to something without asking about your schedule first. I need you to be here tomorrow night for the taping of the finale of
Designed to Kill
. It’ll be great media exposure for you. So can you please, please, please help me pick a winning gown for the red carpet?”

“Of course he can. He’s well qualified to judge a fashion show.” Jerry stuck his hands in his pockets. To look at him, you’d think he could judge one too. Tonight he wore designer jeans that had been scrubbed and bleached to a fine, worn look. Obviously more of Flo’s shopping handiwork because Jerry didn’t have a clue about style. He was more about comfort and tradition. Not that he ever looked shabby.

Tonight even his T-shirt was trendy. It stretched over his broad shoulders, showing them off in fine form. He could have fit in with a rock band himself if I didn’t know he had the musical ability of a lump of coal. The thought made me smile. Until I saw Ray’s face flush and his muscles tense like he was about to lunge.

“Stop it, Jerry. I know you’re trying to pick a fight and I won’t have it.” I turned to Ray. “What do you say, Ray? This will be great publicity. You can imagine how excited Zia was when I pitched the idea. Please tell me you can fit it into your schedule.” I took his arm. “You know I value your opinion on what looks good on me.” I sent Jerry a mental message to please cut me a break here. “You too, Jerry, but this is part of the Grammy thing. I’m sure you understand.”

Jerry glowered, obviously not ready to concede anything.

“Sure, Glory, whatever makes you happy.” Ray slid his arm around my waist. “We also need to remind the public that we’re engaged. After the taping, you have to come with me to a couple of parties. The big-deal pre-Grammy blow-outs. One of them is thrown by my record label. It’s a command performance.” He shot Jerry a superior smirk. “The tabloids have noticed we haven’t been seen together lately. Time to show them we’re still hot and heavy before the awards show. That we can’t keep our hands off of each other.” He ran his hand down to pat my bottom.

I don’t know who growled louder, Blade or Valdez. I eased Ray’s hand back up to my waist. “Thanks, Ray. They had a mirror set up. Couldn’t do that, could I? I had to distract the production crew so I offered you as a way to help make the decision.” I looked at Jerry for signs he understood what I was up against here. Not a glimmer. He’d slipped on a mask of indifference. What? This time when Ray pulled me closer and nuzzled my neck, I didn’t stop him.

“You can count on me, babe. Besides, I want to show off you and your new body. You look hot. I’m having a dress sent up from the boutique downstairs for the party tomorrow night. It’ll work for the show too. The clerk there said you tried it on, but didn’t buy it.”

“Ray, you shouldn’t do that.” I’d tried on a ridiculously expensive cocktail dress for the hell of it, egged on by Flo. It was emerald green silk, short and flirty, with the kind of V-neck I loved and a belt to show off my new waistline.

“It’s an investment, darlin’. It’ll look great on the tabloid covers. When you wear it, they won’t be able to say you’re springing the baby trap.” He kissed my cheek.

“No one reads that trash.” Jerry strolled over to the couch and sat again. “Seems a waste of time to pretend to be lovers when Glory is dumping your sorry ass the day after the Grammys.”

“Is she? You sure of that?” Ray picked up my left hand where I still wore his ring, the diamond flashing in the light.

“Millions do read the tabloids, Jerry, and it hurts me when I see those mean headlines.” I smiled at Ray. “And, Ray, you know our plans.”

A knock on the door was a welcome interruption. “That’s got to be Trina.”

Valdez loped to the door.
“Smells like her. Check through the peephole.”

I looked, then let her in. She was dressed in her usual running outfit.

“Seriously, Glory, don’t you want to at least do the stairs?” She was panting. “I did them, but I can do a few more if you want to change. I bet it gives you another five pounds.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Jerry shut the hall door behind her. “You’re quite thin enough, Gloriana.”

Ray stepped close to my other side. “Are you kidding me? If all she has to do is a few flights of stairs, why wouldn’t she? Her big night’s coming up. When is she going to be on TV all over the world again?” He looked down at my butt, then up at my face. “Five more pounds and you’ll have the tabloids printing that mean Israel Caine has been starving you.” He grinned and winked. “And your cheekbones! Baby, you’re looking more like a supermodel every night.”