Rylie Cruz 2 - How to Date a Vampire (2 page)

“You don’t sound so confident about that.”
He touched my arm.

“I think there’s more to it than just one
little bite.” I attempted a smile.

“You think? You
think
there’s more to
it than one little bite? Don’t you know this kind of stuff?” He
sounded more alarmed with each passing second.

I guess if I were human and bitten by a
vampire, I’d be a little stressed too, so I’d cut him some
slack.

“I know a
little
about vampires. But
mostly about the mating and love habits of other paranormals, not
that
kind of stuff.” I looked at his neck.

He closed his eyes again and leaned his head
back against the cushioned seat.

“I could make some calls and maybe find
out.”

He opened one eye and peeked at me.

“I know a few ‘kind of nice’ vampires.” I
used my index fingers to make air quotes. Maybe I should have left
out that part. He didn’t need to know the little details at a time
like this.

After a few more minutes, I decided it was
time to get Jack out of there. He’d been through enough for one
day. The pack police had taken my father’s report, but basically
told us to find Ernie and make him pay up. Well, duh, I already
knew that.

Chapter Two

How to Date a Vampire, Rule #2:

Sun block as a gift is a nice gesture.

“Is it okay if I drive your car? You don’t
look like you feel up to driving.” I didn’t want to tell him his
skin was the color of the underbelly of a fish.

“The sun is insanely bright, don’t you
think?” Jack shielded his eyes with one hand and rubbed his temple
with the other.

This was not good, not good at all.

He opened the car door and motioned for me
to get in. “Your chariot awaits.” His statement didn’t instill much
confidence in me considering the driver of said chariot acted as if
he’d just swallowed a couple sleeping pills.

I eyed him. “I really don’t think you should
drive. Here, let me.” I took the keys from his hand. “Get in.” I
pointed, then moved over to the driver’s side.

“I’ll be fine. I’m sure you know what you’re
talking about. If you say it’s just a nick, I’ll believe you.” His
eyes were half-shut as he climbed in the car.

“I really appreciate you coming with me,” I
said as I shut the door. “I apologize for getting you involved with
something so crazy. My Uncle Ernie, he doesn’t know when to
stop.”

“It’s okay. Anything for you.” Jack closed
his eyes again and leaned his head back against the seat. And here
I’d thought he’d be upset that I hadn’t allowed him to fight for
me. He didn’t seem all that crushed.

Looking back at the red-brick ranch I’d
grown up in brought on another wave of emotion. I hated leaving my
parents after such an ordeal, but the situation with Jack wasn’t
looking good. He needed to be home and in bed. The after-effects of
the fight would wear off with a little rest—I hoped.

The ride home wasn’t as frantic as the ride
to my parents’, but seeing Jack in such a strange state still made
me apprehensive. I’d dealt with vampires with Get a Mate, but my
experience was limited. I thought being bitten by a vampire
wouldn’t turn you. Only if they almost killed you would you become
one. Maybe I was wrong. A lot wrong.

As I navigated the streets, I glanced over
at Jack every few seconds. Jack and I both had an office and
separate apartments in the same building. Jack was a psychiatrist.
Needless to say, he’d thought I was a little nutty before he knew
the truth about werewolves.

Our building was located in the middle of
the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, the French Quarter. The
beautiful architecture surrounding me on a daily basis reminded me
how lucky I was. I loved living in New Orleans. Walking the
cobblestone streets and hearing the jazz music carry through the
air made me feel at home and warm inside.

With his eyes closed and breathing steady, I
figured he was asleep. I would have taken Jack to his apartment
under normal circumstances. Honest. But in his condition, I felt it
best if he stayed overnight with me. The sacrifices I make,
right?

Once I pulled the car up to the curb and
parked, I jumped out, then led Jack up the stairs of the old
building that housed our offices and apartments. Our building was
170 years old and had one of those cute iron balconies on the
second floor overlooking the street. Of course, during Mardi Gras
my parents commandeered said balcony with about twenty of their
werewolf friends. Madness ensued during the event and I never stuck
around for the merriment. I didn’t want any part of their
festivities, so I bolted out of town during the celebration. It was
like the monthly pack meetings times ten. No, thanks.

I’d met Jack when he moved in and opened up
his office next to mine. We lived across from each other on the
second floor. It was strange dating someone who lived across the
hall. If we stopped seeing each other, would I have to move?

I helped Jack up the stairs and through the
front door of my apartment. My roommate, Jennifer Matthews, sat on
the sofa with her feet stuffed into bunny slippers propped up on
the coffee table. With a spoonful of ice cream halfway to her
mouth, her hand froze as soon as she saw Jack’s face. “What the
hell happened? Where have you been?”

“It’s a long story.” I quirked my brow.

She set the ice cream on the end table and
stood. Drips of chocolate ice cream smudged the front of her
heart-covered pajamas. I guided Jack across the floor while
Jennifer watched with her mouth agape.

Thank goodness for my cozy apartment. It was
my safe haven. The hardwood floors were scratched in many places,
but that added character and I loved character. Jennifer and I had
picked out the silk curtains for the living room. They were a muted
gold with a red and green flowered pattern running throughout. The
sofa and matching chair were oversized. Jennifer had been nervous
about the cream color, but I’d promised not to spill Diet Coke on
them. We’d splurged on a new TV not long ago. It hung above the
fireplace. It wasn’t too big or too small, but just right. Luckily,
Jennifer and I had similar tastes in furniture.

“Would you like to take a shower?” I asked
Jack.

A flash of his body ran through my mind.
Soap suds cascading over bulging… biceps. Tight abs flexing as the
water trickled down, down, down.

“What am I doing here?” His question snapped
me back to reality. He looked around. “Did I drive here?” He
scowled.

Jennifer’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong with
him?” she mouthed. “Has he been drinking?”

I held up my index finger. “I’ll be right
back.” I led Jack down the hall and placed him in the bathroom. “Do
you want me to grab a change of clothing for you?”

“Um, sure.” He ran his hand through his
already tousled blond locks. “Just grab a t-shirt and a pair of
shorts from the dresser in my bedroom, I guess.”

“I’ll be back in a jiffy. Here’s a towel.” I
placed it on the counter. “Soap, shower gel, mesh-spongey thing,
shampoo, conditioner… well, whatever you need is right there.” I
pointed.

He leaned over and gave me a soft kiss on
the lips. “You’re the best.” If I was the best, then why had I
allowed Jack to possibly, maybe, be turned into a vampire?

I smiled. “The mark on your neck is looking
better already. Honest.”

I wasn’t lying. It did look better. The red
mark was healing already. This technically wasn’t a good sign for
his vampire status. Plus, it didn’t change the fact that Jack was
acting as if he were in la-la-land.

When I made my way back into the living
room, Jennifer asked, “What happened?”

“Hold on one second. I’ll be right back,” I
said as I hurried by.

Jennifer followed me out the door and across
to Jack’s apartment. So much for her holding on one second. I
glanced over my shoulder. Her blonde curls bounced as she marched
behind me. I still had Jack’s keys in my hand so I unlocked the
door.

“You mind telling me what’s going on?”
Jennifer screeched.

“There may have been a little scuffle at my
parents’ house.”

“Oh, God, did your dad use that ‘I have a
gun and a shovel’ line on Jack?”

“No, no.” I opened the door and walked in.
Jennifer followed on my heels. “This place smells like Jack.” I
took a big whiff. “That spicy, leather-and-soap smell, you know?
God, he smells good.”

Jennifer sniffed. “Why are you in here?”

“I’m getting Jack clean clothes.” We moved
back toward the bedroom. It was the same layout as my apartment.
“This is the first time I’ve been in his apartment. I’d hoped the
first time would be under different circumstances.”

“So he got into a fight? Are you going to
elaborate or is it a secret?”

I moved over to the dresser. “The fight was
with vampires.” A white t-shirt lay on top. I grabbed it, then
spotted blue shorts and pulled them from the drawer.

“And? What does that mean?”

I walked back toward the living room from
the bedroom. Jack’s style was simple and classic, I noticed as I
moved through the apartment—I liked it. Tan sofa, cherry coffee
table, TV, and end tables. Not too modern or flashy. Jennifer
followed me like an annoying little dog, yapping at my heels.

“A vampire bit him, okay?” I lowered my
voice, as if someone might hear.

“That’s bad?” She frowned as I locked the
door behind us, then moved across to our door.

We walked through. Jennifer had left it
open. She felt safe since we were the only ones living in the
building. I knew after being chased by crazed ex-clients that we
weren’t safe. I’d almost been killed a few weeks ago, all because
one of them decided he loved me and the other one thought I’d
stolen her man. My nerves were still on edge. Not to mention the
little vampire incident today.

As I made my way across the threshold, I
stopped in my tracks. Jennifer smashed into the back of me. A woman
with silky black hair that reached to her waist stood in front of
the hall entrance with her back to us. She spun around to face us
and propped her hands on her hips. She glared, then with her long
legs closed the distance between us in two steps—her fluid movement
was almost a glide. With every step, her leather pants swooshed.
She looked like a cat burglar, not to mention moved like one.

“Well, well, well. What have we here?”

I couldn’t place her accent. Italian,
maybe?

“Who the hell are you?” Jennifer
demanded.

“Your worst nightmare, Goldilocks. Who the
hell are you?”

“Jennifer Matthews, and you’re in my
apartment!”

She reached out and ran her red-tipped
finger over Jennifer’s cheek. “Humans. Aren’t they cute?” She
looked at me. Her dark eyes were rimmed with the thickest lashes
I’d ever seen.

I let out a low growl. I hadn’t meant to, it
just kind of slipped out. She stared. Her eyes seemed to turn
darker, then she chuckled.

“Do you plan on telling me who you are and
why you’re in my apartment?” I met her gaze. If she wanted a
staring contest, I’d give her one. I’d come out a winner. My
brother could attest to that. He always challenged me growing up,
and I’d always won.

“I’m Isabella Blackthorne.” She smiled,
exposing her gleaming white fangs.

“Well, Isabella,” I said snarkily. “What is
it you want? Before I kick you out on your ass?”

Her eyes narrowed. She snorted and didn’t
move her gaze from mine. She reached into her pocket and pulled out
a piece of paper. “Here.” She shoved it at me.

As I unfolded the paper, she moved past,
nudging Jennifer’s shoulder with her own. Jennifer stumbled as
Isabella sashayed out the door. I reached out and grabbed
Jennifer’s arm, helping her regain her balance.

“I should kick her ass,” I said.

“Hey, tough girl.” Jennifer yanked the paper
from my hand. “She was wearing freakin’ leather. She probably
belongs to some kind of gang. You, on the other hand, are wearing
linen pants. Do you see the difference? It doesn’t exactly scream
‘badass’, you know?”

“But I’m a werewolf.” I frowned.

“Yeah, so you’ve told me a few thousand
times. Doesn’t matter. Linen, leather.” She wrapped her hands
together. “They don’t mesh.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

Jennifer unfolded the paper and I stepped
closer to take a look. The note read:
Mr. Jack Chandler.
Tomorrow
, t
wo p.m.
Be here
and bring the
human
. Included was a map of the French Market, a district with
tons of unique shops, restaurants, a farmers ’ market, and flea
market.

“Why would they want you to meet them there?
What’s at the market?” Jennifer asked.

“Other than cute little shops and cafés? I
have no idea.”

The water from the shower shut off. I
shuddered to think what would have happened if I hadn’t returned
before Isabella discovered Jack in the shower. I knew what the note
meant: they wanted Jack.

“Don’t mention this to Jack,” I said. “I’ll
tell him later.”

I paced the room while I waited for Jack to
emerge from the bathroom. When the door opened and he’d stepped
out, he’d slipped into his clean clothing. I wasn’t going to lie; a
tiny part of me wished he’d forgone the clothing. I know, I know.
Not great timing, but what could I say, hormones.

This was the moment I’d dreamt of.
Literally. Jack in my bedroom. I’d wanted him since the moment we
had met. But with the craziness with ex-clients and psycho
werewolves over the past few weeks it had been impossible for us to
grow any closer. The best I’d had was a dream and a few lingering
kisses.

Never in a million years had I expected this
turn of events, though. I’d never dated a vampire. How did I date
one now? Not that I had anything against dating a vampire. I’d
never met the right one, I guess. Who was I kidding? I couldn’t
keep a date before Jack. Vampire, werewolf, human—it didn’t matter.
Well, I guess I could get a date, just not keep it. Jack moved over
to where I stood by the bed. His eyes made me melt like butter over
a sticky bun every time I looked at them.