Pursing my lips, I nodded. “You know me, I was waiting for the right guy…”
She cut me off, “Stop! Caro, Matt was five years ago. Five.”
“It’s not like I worked with tons of eligible men. I worked at a private school, and my life was my students. You know that. I just waited for the right guy to show up and he never did.”
“Wow,” she crunched on her pickle.
Two awkward sexual confessions in a matter of days.
Or lack of sex confessions.
“I never planned this. Anyway, I want Ethan. I want it to be him. I know I’m in for heartache at the end of this, but isn’t that better than regret?” My face heated, and I blinked.
“Honey,” she squeezed my hand.
“I mean, you’ve always known how to talk to guys. You’ve always been sexy and cute… I’m…” I held my hands out as if in explanation.
“Uh, no. Do you know how jealous I was of you? You could eat anything you wanted, but the moment I looked at a French fry, I’d gain five pounds. You are so beautiful and incredible. I just had no idea that you’d walled yourself off like this. So, if not Ethan, someone else will come around. I swear. Someone who will want to have that house and kids, and he’ll even like your evil cat.”
“Lucy’s not evil,” I frowned.
Aubrey wrinkled her nose. “She’s more than a little naughty. But listen. I know you’ve had regrets, but don’t let Ethan Dumont be one of them. What if he seriously messes you up? What if you regret seeing or dating or sleeping with him?”
“I won’t regret sleeping with him.”
My friend sucked in a deep breath then let it out slowly. “It sounds like you know what you want. Just keep your guard up, and please be careful. Also, whatever you’re hiding for him…”
“I…”
“Caroline, I can read you like a book. You’re holding something big back that you know about him, but that’s fine. Just know that whatever happens, I’m here for you.”
When I thought about the mountain lion attack and Ethan having fangs and being a non-vampire vampire, I wondered if I was going crazy.
I figured I’d test my theory out tonight by wearing my two-inch silver circle necklace but then realized it wasn’t real silver.
Where could I get holy water? Would Temecula First Baptist carry the stuff?
I laughed to myself as I applied lip gloss.
When a knock came at the door, I hustled out of the bathroom to answer it.
“Have fun!” Chance called out to me.
“Not too much, though!” Cried Aubrey.
Rolling my eyes, I pulled the door open to Ethan.
“Hey, darling,” he whispered as he leaned in to kiss my cheek. “Are you all ready?”
I gazed around the room before nodding my head.
When I closed the door behind me, I saw it and nearly groaned.
His motorcycle.
“You rode your motorcycle? Am I supposed to ride on that? I need to change.”
Gripping my hand, he pulled me across the manicured lawn to the bike. “No, you’re in good hands with me.”
I saw movement out of the front window, but when I turned to check, the only evidence of someone spying was the fluttering curtain.
“What do I do?” I asked, draping my purse across my body.
“Here,” He gave me a helmet before donning his own. I pulled it on, glad I wasn’t a fussy hair person.
Mounting the bike, Ethan tugged on my hand, “Get on behind me, tuck your skirt beneath your bum.”
“Is this safe? I don’t know how this could be safe,” I muttered.
Ethan’s only reply was his body shaking in laughter.
“With me, you’ll always be safe.”
Swinging a leg over, and careful to follow his instructions, a thrill ran through my body. Wrapping myself around a sexy man on a motorcycle, especially when that man was Ethan, would make my bucket list. And when he shot off onto the suburban street, I was shocked at how quiet and smooth the ride was.
Holding on tight, my arms wrapped around him in a death grip, I wanted to rest my head against his back, but it was difficult with the helmet.
“Why is this motorcycle so quiet?” I shouted over the noise of the wind.
“Because it’s electric,” he called back.
Ethan sped onto the highway and weaved through traffic. I hoped that being a vampire gave him special skills as the wind whipped around us.
When we finally came to a stop, I dismounted the bike and slid the helmet off. “Wow, that was actually kind of fun! I think it would’ve taken over an hour to drive here.” I gazed around at the beach and at a small restaurant. It sported an old worn wooden sign and a wraparound deck.
Ethan took my helmet and then smoothed down my hair, pushing a strand behind my ear. “Do you like seafood?”
I nodded, “Yeah. Do you?”
“Yeah,” he ran a hand over the stubble on his chin, “They have amazing fish tacos here. I think you’ll like them.”
The place was packed, but Ethan sauntered to the hostess. I shouldn’t have been surprised when she immediately sat us on the deck. Ethan ordered us each a Mexican beer and fish tacos.
I glanced up at my date, slightly irritated. This was the second time in a row someone else had ordered for me.
I gazed up at him through my lashes.
“Why are you irritated?” His dark eyes pinned me down.
“Is it normal for you to order for your date? What if I wanted the lobster?”
“Then order that too. But this place is known for its fish tacos. If you don’t like them, order whatever you want.” The corner of his mouth quirked up.
“Oh, Ethan, just when I think we’re going to have a normal date,” I sighed, not knowing how to deal with this.
“This is normal,” he sipped his beer the waitress put down.
I snorted and shook my head, “For you, maybe.” I sipped my water.
We sat staring at each other until he made me smile with his intense gaze and slight crook of the lip.
“You said French was your first language, but your accent sounds different, why is that?”
“Well, I haven’t spoken French regularly since my human life. Before I moved to the States, I lived in the Netherlands and spoke Dutch, but before that, I spoke Flemish.” He irritatingly checked his phone before pocketing it again.
“Aren’t you going to ask me where I’m from?”
“You know I know where you’re from. I had an excellent private investigator thoroughly look into your life before we met.”
I groaned. “There are things that a private investigator won’t know. Don’t you want to get to know me? Isn’t this what it’s all about?”
He rechecked his phone.
Tilting my head to the side, I glanced out into the ocean.
If I signed an NDA, how many other women could’ve signed it as well? How did I know what went on in that office with those girls who went in there?
I didn’t know.
Maybe this was a mistake.
I couldn’t even drink my beer. My stomach twisted up in knots each time I saw him look at his damn mobile phone.
“I know this is stupid, but are you dating other women?”
I was not the jealous type. I made myself sick even just saying it, but these thoughts ate at me—especially when he was checking his phone every two seconds.
His eyes met mine across the table, “I…Mel… I’m getting outbid on a major project. Mel was just sent the refusal. I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You have to go? Now?”
He stood and placed his napkin on his chair. “Yes, I’m so sorry.”
I sat there like a statue as he bent, hugged me, and planted a kiss on my still lips.
“Dinner is all paid for, please stay and enjoy it,” he told me as he started toward the door. “I’ll send a car to take you home.”
I couldn’t even meet his eyes,
I was so mad.
What a bastard.
Gazing out toward the ocean, my eyes swam with stupid tears.
Was Aubrey right?
Was I just so deep into him that I ignored all the warning signs?
After several minutes sitting there, alternating between rage and disgust, I stood. My appetite was gone. In fact, I felt sick to my stomach. Grabbing my purse and pulling it around my body, I walked out of the restaurant and onto the beach.
Taking my strappy high heels off, I buried my feet in the sand before lifting them up to break them free.
I let the sound of the waves wash over me, willing them to calm me, but it wasn’t working. Inside, anger burned like a hot coal. Anger toward Aubrey for being right. Anger toward Ethan, but most of all, anger toward myself.
I’d justified the world’s strangest relationship contract with an attorney. I overlooked every warning sign I’d seen.
Sniffing, I felt a few tears escape my eyes to tumble over my lashes and run down my cheeks.
I was pathetic.
Using the back of my hands to dry my face, I realized that I hadn’t worn my glasses since the mountain lion attack. I turned to look down the beach and read the small restaurant lettering.
But even that distraction wasn’t enough.
My body shook in anger and hurt. I pulled my knees to my chest and hid my face to hide my tears.
“Excuse me? Ma’am? Are you Caroline Blakely?” A masculine voice startled me, and I turned, hoping it was Ethan, even though I knew it couldn’t be. “Hi, are you Caroline?”
I sniffed and looked up at him through spiky wet eyelashes. “Yes.”
“I’m Malcolm Stevenson. I’m here to give you a ride home.” He hesitated, “If you’re not ready, I’ll be waiting over there.” He pointed to a black town car, like the ones that delivered MBS to Ethan for lunch every day.
“How did you know it was me?” I sniffed again and stood.
“You work for the moroi. We’re all chipped. I was sent your locator ID.” He tapped his hand.
Standing, I ducked my head and whispered, “You know about the vampires?”
Laughing, he motioned for me to follow. “You must be new.”
“I started working for Dumont Tech about a month ago.” I walked barefoot to where the sand gave way to concrete. Then I swept off each foot before sliding into my heels without buckling the straps.
When we neared the car, Malcolm opened the door for me.
I paused and turned toward him, “Are you moroi?”
“No, can’t you tell?”
I slid into the seat and shook my head, watching the door close. Malcolm slid into the driver’s seat after dodging traffic.
As he signaled and pulled onto the ocean highway, I asked, “Do you know Ethan Dumont?”
He caught my eye in the rearview mirror. “I work for the local coven leader, Allen Albright, so I run into Mr. Dumont from time to time. Why?”
“Hmmm…what do you mean coven?”
“It’s their hierarchy. There’s the local coven or clan, which controls all moroi in an area. Then they answer to the Global Council, which has authority over all moroi.”
I watched the driver in the mirror, “Does Ethan have you pick up stranded women often?”
He met my eye briefly. “No, he doesn’t. At least not that I know.”
I watched out the window. “I’m just trying to work things out in my head. I heard there was a mysterious death at Dumont Tech—do you know what happened there?”
“I’m sorry, Caroline, but I can’t talk about that.” He said, making a turn.
I let out a long-suffering sigh. “Is there anything you can talk about?”
A laugh escaped his lips, “The weather.”
I grunted. “The weather? There is no weather here. As far as I’ve seen, every day is the exact same. What else?”
“Sports, movies…Have you seen…”
I cut him off, “I don’t see movies. You’re sweet, though.”
9
Going into work the next day, Ethan’s door was closed, and his office was dark.
On my third lap through the office to see if he’d returned, Mel put an arm out to stop me.
“He’s not coming in today.” She shook her head and muttered, “There’s always one.”
I pursed my lips and crossed my arms. “If you have something to say to me, then say it to my face.”
Tilting her head to the side, she shook it slightly. “I have nothing against you, but Ethan should’ve known better than to start a relationship with…an employee.”
I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “Nothing really happened between us. Besides, I’ve been looking for him to tell him that. Are you happy now? Getting your way?”
With that, I turned on my heel and strode to the bathroom, feeling weepy. Was I really going to end what we had before it even started? I worried that as soon as I saw his face, I’d chicken out.
Would I?
I moped at my desk, going through my regular routine. I couldn’t help myself. Even though Mel had made it clear that Ethan wasn’t coming in, I kept stealing glances at his office door.
Part of me wanted him to be here, the other part was relieved that he was gone.
None of this made sense. I barely knew the man. Honestly, we’d had one day together.
One amazing day.
But one day, nonetheless.
I chided myself for opening my heart so hastily.
And the crappy thing was that Aubrey warned me.
In my defense, she did warn me too late, but…nevertheless.
My heart was involved in a man that I didn’t really know and definitely—sort of—didn’t trust.
Crap!
The day trailed on until finally, I packed up my satchel, put my mug in my drawer, and drove the thirty minutes back into Temecula.
I couldn’t concentrate, my mind darting here and there. I hated leaving things up in the air like this. Even my new paperback from the library couldn’t hold my attention—and I’d been on the waitlist for over a month to get it!
Pacing the kitchen, I waited for Aubrey to get home.
And waited.
Then something dawned on me, I hadn’t heard Chance out in his studio shed working.
Looking out the back door window, I saw that the shed was closed and locked up.
Where was everyone? The one day I needed to talk to people, and everyone was MIA.
What the heck?
Striding to my room, I found a note taped to the door.
Caro –
I’m sorry we didn’t get to chat after your date. Anyhow, I finished early today, so Chance is meeting me to go baby shopping and dinner. I figured you’re probably meeting up with Ethan anyway.
Love you,
Aubrey
“Damn it.” Because of course, I should be with Ethan tonight.
The bastard didn’t even know I’d already broken up with him in my head.
I checked my phone—no messages, no missed calls, and no texts. Maybe the vampire had changed his mind too.
Digging through the takeout menus, I ordered myself some Thai food and sat down to watch TV. Flipping through the cable channels, I was disgusted. Why were there so many vampire movies? Ugh.
I wanted nothing that reminded me of my vampire. The problem was that everything reminded me of him.
As soon as I settled on a reality cooking show—that still reminded me of Ethan—my phone chirped.
Ethan: I’m surprised I haven’t heard from you. Everything okay? I’m still in San Francisco and will be for a while. How were the tacos?
Hesitating, I wasn’t sure what to type or even if I should reply. I bit my thumbnail as I reread his text over and over again. Not responding would be childish, but ending things over text was just as bad. Finally, I decided on a reply.
Me: I’m okay. When are you coming back? We need to chat.
His response came lightning fast.
<
br /> Ethan: Chat?
Me: Yes.
My phone began to ring. Ethan Dumont’s name loomed on my screen for several rings before I finally hit the green button.
“Hello?” I said cautiously.
“Caroline, what’s wrong? Why are you so cryptic?”
Farts.
I had to just bite the bullet.
I sucked in a breath and just rambled. “I didn’t want to do this over text or even over the phone, but I just don’t think you and I being together, seeing each other or whatever, is a good idea.”
My heart beat rapidly in my chest, and I began to second guess myself.
The line was silent for a moment before he spoke. “Did the contract scare you off?”
I sighed into the phone, “That’s part of it. Dinner was just so strange. I wanted to be with you, but you weren’t there with me—you were somewhere else.”
He sighed over the line. “I had no choice. I had to go. My company is important. What I do has consequences for other people—not just myself.”
I swallowed. “I know we just met, but I can’t be in a relationship with someone who isn’t 100% in.”
“How can I be 100% when we’ve just met? Caroline, I am interested, you know that. I do care about you, but for now—my company has to come first. Can’t you understand that?”
My eyes filled with tears, and a horrible sinking feeling came over me.
When I didn’t speak, Ethan finally did, “I’m not going to lie to you and give you false reassurances just to make you feel better. I’m a pragmatist. Take it or leave it.”
The tears spilled over, and trailed streaks down my cheeks. He didn’t have to promise me the world—I knew we’d just met. But I wanted something more from him, something besides our sexual attraction. I couldn’t be with him if only my feelings were on the line.
Did he even have feelings?
Don’t kill her.
“So, friends, then?” I asked hoarsely.
“Always.” He replied crisply. “I’ll see you later this week.”
“See you.”
When he hung up, my heart sank.
I sat there looking at the lock screen. I thought he’d argue with me and say, “No, I still want to date you. You mean something to me.”
Bloodthirsty Bastard: A Hero Club Novel Page 9
