by Lara Nance
She gulped down the wine in her mouth and clenched the stem of her glass. “So you think I look gaunt?”
He smashed garlic cloves with a knife. “Hmm, garlic is no problem apparently,” he murmured and tossed the pieces into the milk.
“I’m waiting.” She tapped her fingernails on the countertop. Anger and hurt gurgled in her gut. She had an image of Gerri in her low cut gown and generous cleavage, bending backward against Drake.
He paused from stirring and glanced at her. “Not gaunt, precisely. Just very thin.”
“Too thin.”
He arched an eyebrow and tilted his head. “Yes, too thin.”
After adding ingredients to his pot, he put another on filled with water.
His honesty and directness stunned her. In her experience, a woman’s weight was a subject men tended to avoid. Drake spoke easily, as if they talked about the weather. Was that a vampire thing? A sort of emotionless logic?
“Here, taste this.” He held out a wooden spoon with a dollop of the white sauce he’d cooked.
She hesitated, but it smelled delicious. And it was. The garlic intensity had smoothed in the milk to a delicious nutty flavor accented by the richness of butter and spices. She ran her tongue over her lips.
“See? I know how to cook.” He smiled. “I’m glad I can do something for you. You’ve done so much for me.” He added fettuccini to his boiling water.
Her anger melted. He was doing this to help her because he had nothing else to give. She swallowed her hurt like a bitter pill. Did he really consider her too thin? Felix regularly said so, but she discounted his advice since he was gay. What did he know about what made a woman desirable? Besides. She enjoyed looking good in her designer clothes. She hadn’t really cared what men thought.
She yawned. Her eyes burned and she had a strong desire to burrow into her comforter. “I have to get some sleep. I’ll need to do some work during the day tomorrow while you’re in bed.”
“Wait.” He held up a hand and used tongs to lift pasta from the water to a plate. He scooped up some of the cream sauce and ladled it over the noodles. “Eat this first. You haven’t had much today. Then you can sleep.”
He scooted the plate across the counter. Steam wafted in waves of rich garlic tinged aroma. He handed her a fork and she swirled a few strands of pasta around it. The taste was Heaven. Wow, he really could cook.
“Well?” He leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms, a smug expression on his face.
“It’s delicious.” She ate another bite. She chewed slowly, enjoying the layers of flavors he’d managed to whisk into the simple Alfredo sauce. Magic.
“Good. Now eat up and then get a good night’s sleep. I’ll write a grocery list so I can cook for you while you work on the project.” He poured the contents of the pots into plastic containers. “I’ll put these in the refrigerator for later.”
She cleaned her plate, her only solace that the half and half was fat free. Still, it was more calories than she’d consumed at one time in a lot of years. She’d have to watch out or he’d sabotage her figure in less than a week.
“What will you do while I’m asleep?” She edged off the stool and yawned.
“Watch TV, surf the Internet, make a list of recipes I guess.” He shrugged.
She narrowed her eyes. “Are you okay?”
His gaze slid from hers.
“I mean, you’ve been through a lot of changes and basically lost yourself in this creature you’ve become. How are you handling that?”
He ran a hand through his black hair and a few strands fell across his forehead. “I really don’t know how I am, Talia. I’m living minute to minute, hoping something happens that’ll make sense. If I look too closely into the future, I’ll go crazy.” He shook his head and shifted his gaze to the floor.
She went around the island and rested a hand on his shoulder. Pity swelled in her heart. “Look, I know it must be scary for you to think even as far ahead as tomorrow. But don’t worry. Gerri and I are your friends. Felix, too. We’ll make this work somehow.” She squeezed his shoulder.
He gave her a half smile. “Thanks. I’ll be all right.”
Something in his eyes didn’t convince her. She’d have to keep an eye on him. She never dreamed a vampire would be sensitive and introspective like Drake. But then what did she really know about vampires? Did they always bite a person and leave them to figure out their new life alone? If so, thoughtful, caring Drake was an anomaly.
Anger burned her when she thought of him being attacked and left by that dumpster. She clinched her hands into fists. If she ever met the vampire that did that to Drake, she was going to punch them in the face, or stab them in the heart, or slice their head off. Whatever hurt worse.
Chapter 9
“Why the hell aren’t you coming into the office?” Although he yelled, Harvey’s voice held a note of panic.
Talia squinted at her bedside clock. Geeze, only eight a.m. He must have just gotten to work and read her e-mail. She swung her legs over the side of her bed and stretched one arm in the air.
“I’m going to work from home for a while.” She yawned and padded to the bathroom. Dear Lord, the change of hours was killing her. She never slept this late.
“What’s going on, Tiger?” His voice lowered.
“I’ve worked from home before. What’s the big deal?”
Silence stretched out a few seconds before he said, “Look, you’re not going to screw me are you?”
“Excuse me?” She stopped running a wet washcloth over her face.
“I know you’re pissed about the Fizzola account. I hope you’re not going to stiff me on the Romania deal.”
She balled up the washcloth and threw it at the wall. Anger boiled in her stomach like hot lava. How dare he toss that at her. “Hold on a minute, Harv. If you’ll remember correctly, I’m the one who got screwed here. I’ve given you my sweat and tears for ten long years and never let you down.” She marched into the bedroom. “If I really wanted to screw you, I would’ve thrown this stupid Romania job in your face and quit Friday. You know Parker and Simpson, or Quantum would hire me in a minute. I’m not petty and you know it. I have a great idea for Romania that’s going to blow your head off. Now apologize to me.”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry, Tiger. You’re right. You’ve never let me down. I’m an asshole.”
“Damn right.” She put in a sniff for good measure.
“So you’ve come up with something good?” He sounded happy.
“Not good. Fantastic.”
“Want to run it by me?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“You’ll have to trust me and see it when the Romanians do.” Ha, ha. Take that you jerk.
“But…”
“Oops, sorry, Harv, gotta go. Talk soon.” She punched the END button and tossed the phone on the bed. Let him stew. He deserved it, the big oaf. How dare he doubt her loyalty.
She put on a pair of skinny jeans and an oversized sweater decorated with sequins and hastily applied makeup. At Drake’s room, she paused and opened his door a crack. Sure enough, he was stretched out on the bed. Fast asleep, or dormant or whatever vampires did during the day.
Her phone rang and she raced back to grab it from her bed. The number indicated it was Brent. Great. She could get started on the plans.
“Hey, Brent,” she said as she strolled into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. Her handsome guest’s cooking spree from the night before had been cleaned up as if it never happened.
“Tiger, I got your e-mail. What’s the deal?”
“I’ve got a huge opportunity for you, but I need it done fast. Are you interested?” She opened the refrigerator. Little plastic containers were stacked neatly on the top shelf. So it wasn’t a dream. He really had made fettuccini Alfredo. She smiled.
“Are you kidding? I’m bored out of my mind working on an office complex. I’ll pass it off to one of the associates and
use your project as the excuse. You’ve never steered me wrong yet.”
She punched the air with one fist. Take that, Harv. See? Other people trusted her.
Great. Why don’t I come to your office this morning? We can go over what I need.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be waiting.” He hung up.
Talia poured coffee into a cup and headed to the living room searching for her laptop. She froze when she reached the coffee table. Drake had laid out in neat piles on its surface, organized stacks of recipes labeled by day and meal-type, grocery lists, and items to be purchased at a kitchen supply store. What the hell was an idili maker?
A knock on her door interrupted her perusal of his detailed lists. She crossed the floor and opened it to find Felix, almost bouncing on his toes. He rushed in, his arms filled with packages, and several shopping bags swung from his elbows. A grin split his face and his eyes shone.
“Where’s Drake?” He tossed the packages on the couch. His spiky bleached hair glistened with water drops, and he swiped raindrops off his sleeves. “It’s raining like crazy outside.”
“He’s in bed. It’s daytime, remember?” She went into the kitchen and brought her assistant a cup of coffee. She gestured to the packages. “What’s all this?”
“Clothes. Drake’ll need a complete wardrobe for a publicity tour. He held up his hands, making a diamond with his thumbs and forefingers, and peered through it. “I’ve got the image in my mind. Lots of dark, but with a romantic edge. A touch of lace here, a well placed jewel there. Hats and sunglasses for mystery. A silk scarf negligently tossed around his neck. It’ll be perfect.”
She pursed her lips. “Okay, I trust your judgment when it comes to clothes. He has to be manly, though. He’s a powerful beast inside, struggling to break free.”
He flicked a wrist. “Don’t worry. There’ll be lots of testosterone.”
“You’ll have to wait until evening to play dress up. He doesn’t come out until the sun is down.”
Felix’s lips turned down and his shoulders sagged. “I forgot. I was so excited to see him in these outfits.”
“Don’t worry. I have plenty for you to do in the meantime.” She handed him the shopping lists from the coffee table. “Drake has decided he wants to cook. Go buy the items on these lists.”
He shuffled through the papers. “I don’t even know what half of this is. Why does he have to cook? He can’t eat it.”
“I know, but he’s depressed. Cooking will make him happy and keep him occupied. So that’s what he’s going to do.” She drained her coffee and went to the closet to retrieve her trench coat.
“Vampires get depressed?” Felix followed, looking puzzled.
“This one does.” She pulled on her coat and tied the belt. “I’ve got a meeting with Brent. We’ll meet here later and start working on our presentation.”
“Okay.” He sighed and tucked the stack of papers into his pocket. “You’re the boss.”
“That’s right and don’t you forget it, my little minion.” She reached out and tweaked his nose between her thumb and forefinger. “Maybe I should call you Igor and make you wear a hump under your shirt.”
“If you do, I’ll stab you with a very dull knife.” He glared at her. “Besides, Igor was in Frankenstein.”
“Oh, yeah.” She laughed and headed out the door.
Talia and Brent spent the entire day going over ideas and plans for the theme park and resort. She’d toyed with different ideas for names, and in the end, stuck with simplicity and called it DraculaVille. The more she thought about it, the more she liked it.
It was four p.m. by the time she exited Brent’s office building in downtown Manhattan. As she scanned the streets for a cab, a store across the way caught her attention. Ice blue neon formed the words Mystic Pieces above the door. On impulse, she hurried across. Horns blared right and left as she dodged traffic.
In the windows, books on every topic from witchcraft to Buddhism stood on display. Singing bowls, black candles, crystals, and rune stones scattered among the books. An aroma of burning sandalwood drifted from the entrance. She bit her lip and pushed through the front door into the dim interior.
She could barely find a path among crowded display counters, stacks of meditation cushions, and bins of herbs and other ingredients. A haze of smoke hung in the air from an incense burner at the back. The scent stung her nostrils, and her eyes watered.
“May I help you?” A woman in a long white linen dress approached from behind a display. Her bright red hair hung in loose curls to her waist. Inquisitive green eyes took in Talia from top to bottom, making her self-conscious and feel out of place.
“Yes. Well, maybe.” Talia fidgeted with the strap of her purse. “I’m looking for something, a charm maybe, that would repel, um, a vampire. Or maybe not repel him, but not let him hypnotize you and make you do his bidding. That sort of thing.”
The sales clerk blinked several times. “I see. So you don’t want garlic.”
Talia waved a dismissive hand. “Garlic doesn’t work.”
The woman’s mouth formed an ‘O’. “I see. I don’t really have anything for…vampires…specifically. Perhaps a general charm to ward off evil would work.”
“Okay, I’ll try anything.” She was desperate to avoid Drake’s affect when he gave her that ‘come here’ stare. It made her weak and foolish.
“Follow me.” The woman waved a hand toward the back of the store where a glass case held jewelry items. Behind the counter, she pulled out a brass tray of beaded bracelets. “These are nine eyed dZi beads. The pure ones. Very effective as protection.”
Talia bent and inspected the bracelets. “Do they all work the same?”
“As long as they’re pure, yes.” The woman smiled. “The ancient dZi absorbs cosmic energy from the universe. It can guard against evil or misfortune and brings blessings to the wearer.”
The bracelets consisted of a string of etched black, white or dark brown beads on a cord. Talia picked up one that had three large, patterned, brown and white beads surrounding smaller dark brown beads. “Is this a good one?”
“If it calls to you, then that is the one you should choose.” The woman inclined her head.
Talia didn’t detect any particular cosmic tug, but it had caught her eye. It would have to do. “I’ll take it.”
The clerk rang her up and helped her adjust the cords so the beads hung snugly on her wrist.
She exited the shop and flung out her arm to hail a cab. Time to get to the apartment and see what Drake had cooked up. Literally.
Chapter 10
Darkness had settled by the time she arrived at her building. Anxiety ate at her chest like a gnawing rat. She felt guilty for not being home when Drake woke. Was it possible for a vampire to commit suicide if he got depressed? An image of him plunging a stake into his heart made her press the UP button on the elevator repeatedly. He’d seemed so vulnerable last night, and sad. What if he couldn’t live with his new circumstances, and walked into the sunlight to burn into a pile of vampire ash?
Her heart pounded as she slipped out the elevator doors the second they opened and ran along the hall to her door. She paused at the sound of laughter and clinking of glasses. What the hell?
When she entered, the scene that greeted her was anything but glum. Drake, Gerri and Felix gathered around the dining room table where a variety of dishes created tantalizing aromas. The silver candelabra from the photo shoot burned black candles that cast a flickering yellow glow about the otherwise dark room.
Gerri and Felix laughed and popped food in their mouths while Drake observed, a satisfied smile curling his lips. His fingers played with the stem of a wine glass full of blood. They startled as she slammed the door.
“Hey, Tal,” her friend said. She raised her wine glass. “Join the party.”
Talia stalked to the table, irritated she’d worried so much all the while a party had been going on. But then she saw a plate set out for her, and Drake a
lready poured her a glass of wine, her ire dissipated. She didn’t feel quite so left out when her assistant jumped up and held out his fork.
“Try this, Tal. It’ll melt in your mouth.” He fed a bite between her open lips and stood back beaming.
Delicious buttery crab with a hint of lemon and dill. Oh , yes, it did melt in her mouth. She chewed and scanned the table for more.
“This, too.” Gerri raised a plate of bacon wrapped scallops. “Dip it in the roumalade sauce. It’s simply fantastic.”
Talia settled in the chair at the table’s head and forked a scallop. Drake came to her side and placed the glass of wine at her elbow. She looked up at him and surprisingly, he winked.
She twisted the bracelet on her arm, took a drink of wine, and ate the scallop. Pretty soon they were back to laughing, clinking glasses in crazy toasts, and gorging on the delicious array of food Drake had prepared.
“So, now that you have a private chef, I’ll be moving in,” her friend said, spooning garlic potatoes onto her plate.
“No, you’re not.” Talia stabbed another scallop.
“Me, too,” said Felix.
“This apartment is full enough with one human and one vampire.” She pointed her fork at them. “You people would have one continuous party going, and I’d be as fat as a pig. We have work to do.”
Her assistant stuck his tongue out at her. “Party pooper.”
“Somebody has to make sure this project gets off the ground.” She flipped open the folder from Brent’s office. “While you bums were here having fun, I came up with a fabulous plan for the Romania campaign.”
“I want to see,” Felix exclaimed and stood.
She extracted the sketch Brent had made, which showed an overall impression of the theme park. Poised in the center, a dark castle perched atop a cragged rock mound, towers and spires thrust into the sky like crooked black fingers. The rest of the park resembled different parts of the Dracula heritage. A creepy forest, a quaint village, various rides and adventure interactions spread out from the base of the castle. She turned the sketch so they could see it.
“Behold, DraculaVille,” she said in a low voice.
