“Fuck distance. I need to see you. I miss you. Can you come up here and have lunch with me?” Draven’s haggard voice tugged at her heartstrings.
She laughed. “I can’t. Sabrina’s here.”
“Ah, your friend that’s visiting. How about pizza at my place? Bring her along. I’m bored and tired, and I need to hold you.” He sighed. “You can’t. She’s your guest. It would be awkward to have her hang around your boyfriend.”
“I’m sorry.” She did feel bad. The phantom of his warmth surrounded her. “If it’s any consolation, I miss you too.”
“That helps. Damn it, they’ve come into my office. Time to work. Talk to you later, honey.” He hung up.
Sabrina returned and settled in the visitor’s chair next to Rose’s desk. “Katey suggested a girl’s night with pizza, chick flicks, the works. What do you think? I want to stay in tonight.”
Rose chuckled. “Draven suggested the same thing, well minus the chick flicks part.”
“Will we hang out in our PJs and braid each other’s hair?” Sabrina teased.
Rose laughed. “No. I told him you were in town so we couldn’t do that.”
“Girls’ night I can do, but I do want to meet him.” Sabrina’s face hardened. “I want to make sure he’s good for you.”
Rose smiled at her friend’s concern. “How about this? Tomorrow night, dinner, if he can swing it?”
Sabrina’s lips curled up into an impish smile. “I would love that.”
Rose turned back to her computer. “Now, I have to work.”
“Well, put me to work then. You’ve given me a tour of this place, and I want to help.” Sabrina’s eyes took on a mischievous sparkle.
“Ask Katey if you can help out at either the Bachelor auction or the Ball. I think we need someone with an artistic eye.” Rose hoped that would keep Sabrina out of trouble.
“Cool! I’ll get you more coffee and be off.” Sabrina got up, grabbed more java for Rose, and then headed out to find Katey.
Left alone, she shot off an email to Draven’s private account asking about dinner with Sabrina tomorrow night. His response was immediate.
Nothing going on tomorrow night. Would love to. Indian restaurant? I can bring along a friend so she doesn’t feel like a third wheel. Miss you.
Drav
She answered him with a yes to everything and got back to figuring out how to arrange the pack leaders so that everyone would feel important. The screen began to blur and her head throbbed as she finally found an arrangement she liked. Shooting off the plan to Katey, with a CC to Draven and the other pack leaders on it, she sat back and took a sip of cold coffee before moving on to the next task: picking the non-musical entertainment.
Katey came up to her desk and rested a hip against it. “Okay, there’s a thought going around to hold the auction at the same time as the Ball. What say you?”
“Yeah, it works. That puts an even bigger spotlight on the event, but what do we do with everything else? Cut the week’s festivities short or add a new event?” Rose settled back in her chair and watched her boss for clues to her thoughts.
“Well, the auction was going to be held before the Ball, so how about after the event we have a huge dessert in the park party? We have ice cream carts milling around there already, why not highlight the smaller, more dessert oriented businesses? Have them set up booths. People can wander around. We can have the in park entertainment with the puppet booths and musicians who have permits. It will be a day for recovery.” Katey grabbed a few brochures off of Rose’s desk and held up one for a spa. “We could invite the spas out to do a free day of manicures and pedicures. Maybe even get the beauty parlors involved.”
Excitement crackled through Rose. “I love it.” Her fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, typing up the ideas, as well as a few of her own.
“Can Sabrina and I check out some of the spas tomorrow, you know for research and all that?” Rose kept her focus on the computer monitor. Her lips twitched as she tried to hold back a smile.
“I hate you both. Take Toby with you. He knows some good places. Don’t forget the receipts, nothing over fifty bucks, and I need a full report by Friday, understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Hey, look at me,” Katey ordered.
Rose peered up to see the mirth on Katey’s face. “And don’t forget to bring me back the free samples that they sometimes give out. Oh crap, we can ask the local beauty businesses for samples to make gift bags.”
Rubbing her hands together, Katey wandered off with a look of determination on her face. Rose returned her focus to work, writing up a plan for this new day and sending out feelers to her contacts at the local spa businesses. By the time five o’clock rolled around, she was exhausted and ready to go home.
“Done?” Sabrina asked.
Rose jumped in her chair. Her heart pounded against her ribcage in hard thuds. A glance to the visitor’s chair showed Sabrina settled in with a mug of coffee and a book.
With a hand on her chest, she glared at Sabrina. “How long have you been there?”
Sabrina gave her a blasé shrug. “Long enough to watch the sunset. You ready to go?”
Once she got her pulse under control, Rose nodded. After shutting down her computer and grabbing her purse, she stood up and looked around. Katey and Toby were the only ones left in the office. Saying a quick goodbye to them, she dragged Sabrina to the elevators and out the building to hail a cab.
“Gotta say, I like it here. Katey’s awesome. Hell, everyone in that office made me feel so welcome. The atmosphere is so easy here.” Sabrina leaned against the seat of the cab, head bent, her hair covering her features.
Rose raised an eyebrow at the soft tone in her friend’s voice. “What’s up?”
“I’m tired, Rose. The office back home is filled with so much competition. I can take it, but it grinds you down after awhile. I know I’m young, but still… I’ve been doing this since I was eighteen. Didn’t go to college like most. Here my ideas matter; over there I get overlooked. I guess it doesn’t help having multi-hued hair and tattoos, huh?” Sabrina looked up with weariness in her eyes.
Rose gave her friend a smile. “I know what that’s like. So come on, move here. You can bunk with me until you find your own place.”
“Already found a place. Katey told me about a loft in the resurrected warehouse district on the lake side of town. The price is good and the pictures are awesome.” Guilt flashed on Sabrina’s face.
“Seriously? You’re really moving here?” Excitement buzzed through Rose’s body at having her friend so close by. Not bothering to wait for an answer, she launched herself at Sabrina, giving her friend a tight squeeze. “We’ll check it out tomorrow while canvassing the spas and beauty parlors. We’re supposed to take Toby with us. Isn’t that cool?”
Sabrina nodded. “I just have to give notice up north, and then move my crap here. Okay, what’s the best pizza joint here? I’m hungry and the coffee is catching up with me.”
“I know just where. We can pick up movies.” A thought of Draven popped up, and she wondered what he was doing tonight.
* * * *
Draven stared at the pile of paperwork and sighed. “At least I didn’t have plans.”
A knock at the door made him pause. Fear and hope threaded together. He wanted to see Rose, but knew she had a friend to entertain. “I just don’t want it to be another body. Please, let it not be another body.” He closed his eyes. “Come in.”
Torger strode into the office. His tall, broad shoulders encased in the blue of his uniform seemed more imposing. The werewolf held up a pizza and a six pack. “Dinner and a talk. Don’t worry, no more bodies have shown up. Figured I’d update you and eat at the same time.”
He settled down in the visitor’s chair across from Draven and placed the pizza and beer on the desk.
“Thank goodness you’re not one of the neat freaks. Anyway, Jackal will be arriving soon. He has a case in DC he’s
tying up.” Torger twisted the top off the beer and took a healthy swig. “The media is playing nice for once. I think they understand what’s at stake here.”
He stared at Torger in disbelief. “Even Isadora?”
Torger nodded. “Yup. I think her bosses are threatening to take away her pretty pink microphone.”
Both men snickered.
“No, seriously. I think she understands what’s at stake here. It’s tiring, though. Everyday I’m getting requests for more details, and I have nothing to give them. This quiet is worse than when bodies show up.” Torger took another pull of beer. “Just between you and me? I’m worried about the reporters. I really am. I know some of them are irritating little gnats, but some of them don’t have the good grace to use the sense that the goddess gave ‘em.” He shuddered.
Draven nodded an agreement. “If you’re so concerned, call in some help. We have extra in the budget for that.” He reached over, flipped up the top of the pizza box, and grabbed a slice of pepperoni and sausage. His stomach growled, reminding him that he’d skipped lunch. “How are your officers taking it? How’s morale? I’m trying not to push because I know you run a tight ship. Any news would be sent to me immediately. So far, the Council has been quiet, which scares me more than a serial killer on the loose in my city.” Taking a bite, he groaned aloud at the sweet spiciness of the sausage and pepperoni.
“Hungry? I don’t blame you. Coffee was my breakfast and lunch. My stomach hates me right now. The guys are good. Frustrated that there are no leads, but they’re working their asses off. It helps that the local businesses are giving us food and stuff to make sure we keep our strength up. We want whoever this is out of the fucking city before the shit storm rains down on us, but I’m taking a wild guess that it’s already here?” Torger took another sip of beer.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. The Fixer may be here and we won’t know. Although my gut says not yet. I think the Council wants to wait until we’re truly in the shitter before they send someone. What are your thoughts on that? Why so quiet?” Unease made his stomach lurch.
“Like you said, they’re waiting for us to fuck up royally before they step in all magnanimous and shit. Sort of like how they stepped in during that riot in the paranormal suburb in Cleveland. They waited until the natives were so pissed off by the police response, they swooped in to clear things up.” Disgust hardened Torger’s face. “I’m more worried about our people and the humans living in the city. Is it wrong to be thankful they’re not locals? I’d be more pissed off if the victims were local humans.”
Draven nodded. “I know it’s bad, but to lose our people, I think that would make things worse.”
His thoughts turned to Rose and her friend Sabrina. “Hamilcar is looking after Rose and her friend. From afar of course. I don’t want to spook them.”
Torger pointed his beer bottle at him. “Just be careful, man. Don’t want anything to happen to your pretty mug. Then who else would be tortured by the Bachelor auction?”
Draven laughed. “Aww, come on, don’t you want to prance around in a towel? Oooh, maybe wear your police uniform. Really get the bids rolling in.”
“I’m not whoring myself. I’ll wear jeans and a shirt, that’s it.” Torger took a sip of beer.
“What no socks and shoes? Ahh, beach surfer vibe. I got you.” Draven ducked when Torger threw a napkin at him.
“No, I’ll be fully clothed, asshole. Anyway, what’s the deal with all the arrangements for the event? I need to know how many people to put on security detail, how much I can spare for regular stuff, and how many to hold back for emergency cases.” Torger grabbed another slice.
“I’m calling in favors all over the place to give you support so you’re not stretched too thin. I’m even resorting to blackmail to ensure that we won’t be without. The other mayors and governors are giving me major shit. Acting like they’ll be the next state, city or town with a faux-vampire serial killer problem.” Draven sighed. “But I have a feeling they’ll cooperate. That does lead to another issue. Dracula is coming to town. Don’t ask me how I know. I’m too tired to get into his machinations. Just know he’s on his way.”
Torger’s eyes widened. “When? Do you have details? A VIP like him could be a huge draw for the serial killer or the Council.”
“I have someone getting the details. I’ve had to call in the Vampire Trackers for him. God, I wish I could take a vacation.” Draven rested his head on the back of the chair and closed his eyes.
“I don’t blame you man, not one bit. I’ll call in a few favors of my own to help you out.”
Draven nodded to Torger in silent thanks. “Okay, let’s finish this pizza and beer and get back to work. I wish I could get drunk.”
Torger’s barking laughter filled the air. “So do I man, so do I. Only thing I envy about the humans.”
Draven grinned. They began to talk about sports and which model motorcycle was better. The hour grew late. By the time Draven got home, he was exhausted and aching to hold Rose.
Chapter Eleven
Rose sat crossed legged on the floor while Sabrina made her way through a large bucket of popcorn chicken.
“Um, they did feed you back at the office. You do remember that, right?” She lifted an eyebrow and watched her friend pop another morsel into her mouth.
“So good, almost as good as KFC. You do remember that I have a high metabolism? Besides that, I need all the food I can get since we’re going to be walking a lot. I looked over a map of the area that we’re going to visit tomorrow. There’s so much to see. I know I’m moving here, but I still want to get in as much sightseeing as I can. I have a feeling Katey will make me her work bitch.” Sabrina laughed.
“Katey offered you a job? You didn’t tell me that.” Rose sat up, wondering what else she missed while working on the aspects of the ball.
“Yup, for the events. I’ll be one of the official photographers. After that, she’s going to hook me up with a few friends of hers who need to replace a photographer on their team. It’s all good.” Sabrina sipped her soda and looked up at her. “What?”
Rose’s shoulders slumped. “Wow. You guys moved fast. I feel a bit left behind.”
Sabrina threw a pillow at her. “Shut up. You were busy, and it’s fine. Anyway, let’s talk about Draven. We haven’t discussed your relationship beyond what you told me on the phone. I want to know more.”
Rose wasn’t sure where to start. “Like what?”
“Oh, like everything. I know you weren’t too crazy about the time it took between meeting and dating. How do you feel now with some distance?” Sabrina settled back against the couch.
“Um, well, I miss him. A lot.” She looked down at her plate of untouched pizza.
“So why not go to him? I’m fine by myself.” Sabrina gave her a pointed look.
“I can’t do that. It would be rude of me to just up and leave; besides, I can’t leave you alone. You’d eat all my ice cream,” she teased.
“But you want to leave, don’t you?”
She twisted her hands in her lap. “Yes and no. I want to see him, make sure he’s okay, and yet I don’t want to go back on what was agreed upon. I want to wait out the week.”
“Um, hello, we’re going to dinner with him and his friend tomorrow night.”
“Yeah, but I’m talking about being alone with him.” Rose picked up her pizza and took a bite. Her stomach growled for more food. Hunger hit her hard.
“Sex.” It was a statement not a question.
Rose looked up. “No. Not sex.”
Sabrina grinned and threw another pillow at her. “Sex and you know it.”
She chucked the pillow back at her. “You’re obsessed with sex, you know that?”
“You’re not answering the question.” Sabrina popped a handful of popcorn chicken into her mouth.
“There is no question. You made a statement. I miss him; the sex is secondary.” Taking another bite of pizza, she watched Sabrina m
ake a face.
“Liar. So tomorrow night, do we have to dress up? I didn’t bring anything fancy to wear.” She drank her soda and sighed.
“I’ll ask. I don’t feel like dressing up. Um, you gonna help with this pizza?” She pushed the box toward Sabrina, who shook her head.
“So full. We’ll have it for lunch tomorrow. Now we’ve established you miss him, and this relationship goes beyond sex for you. Good, now the question is does he feel the same way? We’ll find out tomorrow night.” An evil smile curled on her lips.
Rose opened her mouth to protest.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle,” she assured.
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