I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms across my chest. "Why would I do that? I wouldn't want to imply that I like you."
"But you do."
"Like you?" I raised an eyebrow. "You're the last man on earth I'd use the word like about."
"Then it's a good job we're both vampires."
"Where's some garlic when I need some?" I muttered darkly.
"Garlic wouldn't keep me away."
"Unfortunately." I sighed. "What do you want?" Probably to brag. That was our norm. We ran into each other and he told me all about how much better his life was than mine. And somehow, he knew exactly how mine was going. All the time. It was confusing, to say the least.
"You wound me, Lucinda."
A growl leapt to the back of my throat. "Don't call me that."
"Oh, right. Sorry. Only dear William is allowed to call you that."
I chewed on the inside of my lip, trying not to let his words get to me.
"How is he? Balls as blue as ever if your ring finger is anything to go by."
"That's none of your business," I snapped.
"I'm a private investigator, everything is my business," he quipped.
"Only if it's me you've been paid to investigate."
"Maybe it is."
My blood ran cold. Well, colder than it normally was. I actually had no idea about the temperature of vampire blood other than that it was slightly colder than humans. Or maybe it wasn't and human blood just felt warmer. I didn't really know or care, so long as I could survive, it was all good with me.
"Your face." He chuckled to himself. "Don't worry, Lucinda, it's not you I've been investigating. I have been put on this big case, though. Bigger than any you've ever had."
"You don't know that," I countered, unfolding my arms. "I'm working a very important case right now." The lie slipped out far easier than I really wanted it to, but it was still better than admitting how much I was relying on my family money and not my income from actual jobs.
“Jonas’ missing watch?” He shot me a triumphant and condescending look. “Sure.”
“How—” How did he know? Why was he always in the know about everything? That was just creepy.
With a smug grin, he tapped his nose. “That’s for me to know and for you to find out. Huhu.”
“Huhu,” I echoed, mimicking his stupid laugh. “You know what, I don’t care.”
“I think you do,” he replied, flicking a little speck of dust of his lapel. “I know it’s hard to accept, but as hard as you work, you’ll never be as good a PI as I. Sorry Luce, that’s just how it is. Not everyone can be as marvelous as I am.”
I rolled my eyes at his obnoxious attitude. This boy was delusional.
“I don’t care what you think of me or the jobs I work on. Now, if you could, please move. I’m busy.”
“Awww, but then you can’t look at my roguishly handsome face.”
“That old thing?” I retorted, looking him up and down as slowly as I could. “The old myths about vampires must be true, because you clearly didn’t see yourself in the mirror.”
His mouth fell open and he gasped loudly. “Oh!”
My own triumphant smile curled around my lips. I’d rendered him speechless. Now that was an achievement in it’s own.
Before I could celebrate, a smirk erased his offence as he clacked his tongue. “I know. Are you a mirror? Because I can see myself in you.”
“Don’t flirt with me. It’s not going to work.”
“Why not? Dear old William surely isn’t cashing in. And you need a man to keep you warm at night, don’t you?”
“I’m perfectly capable of keeping myself warm, thank you very much.”
“Are you sure?” He walked his fingers across the wooden table, closer and closer to my notebook. “I’m sure we can put this tension to good use.”
“I don’t think so.”
Wattson shrugged as he smoothed out his lapel. “When you grow bored with that posh wimp and want a real man, you know where to find me.”
I held up my fist and dramatically wound up my middle finger. “Fang you.”
His mouth curled into a devious grin. “With pleasure, Luce. With pleasure. I got to go, I have important things to find, yeah?”
The pompous twat strolled off, looking rather smug with himself. Without a care in the world, he tipped his hat to the barista and left the cafe without buying anything. Tosser.
Yuck. A shiver ran down my spine in disgust. I really wished he stopped popping up in random places just to brag about how much more successful he was.
Granted, I didn’t get the most interesting clients or jobs, but this wasn’t a competition. I didn’t even need to work, but I chose to. I enjoyed having somewhere to go and something to do.
And there was nothing as thrilling and intriguing as following the clues to where they lead me. Although this time, that brought me towards one of Mother’s unbearable soirées, deep within posh vampire society.
I avoided those like the plague, but unfortunately, I couldn’t ignore the clues. Which meant… I needed a dress and a date.
Chapter 10
My keys jingled as I pushed them into the lock, a happy sound. Home. Where there were no Jonases or Wattsons. Well, there better not be.
I hooked my jacket on the coat stand and threw my bag under it. Without looking properly, I stumbled through the hallway towards the living room.
Bang.
“For fangs sake!” I shouted as I stumbled into a pile of boxes and tripped down on the rug.
Footsteps sounded as someone ran towards me. “Lucinda?”
“Over here.”
William hurried into the hallway, panic across his handsome features. “Are you alright? Where’s the danger?”
“No danger, just mess. What’s with all the cardboard boxes?”
His face turned sour. “Oh, right. That. I hoped you’d tell me what’s with all the gifts.”
I groaned. “No, not more gifts from Derek.”
“Oh, yes. There are more in the living room. The doorbell has been ringing all day.”
I followed his gaze and snickered softly. “Is that why the doorbell is lying on top of the dresser?”
He grimaced sheepishly. “It was driving me crazy.”
“I see.”
“Here, let me help you up,” he offered.
My chest tightened. He was mad and annoyed with me, I knew he was. And yet, he remained polite, helpful, respectful. He was the perfect man and my stupid pride had caused him to be hurt.
His hand wrapped around my wrist as he pulled me up. As he pulled me off the floor, I was catapulted into him.
I thudded against his hard chest, invited into his familiar scent and touch. My breath hitched in my throat, my heart skipped a beat.
“Hey,” he said, his voice softened.
“Hi,” I whispered back, my cheeks flaming hot from the close proximity to my fiancé. We’d known each other all these years and while we weren’t strangers to each others’ touch, it was still new, foreign, exciting.
The air crackled with anticipation as I pressed myself up on my toes. I wanted to be closer to him, impossibly closer. His eyes were filled with such devotion and love, I could see his affection for me shimmer in them like shells in a crystal river. He was handsome, so handsome it made my heart ache.
His eyelashes luscious, his nose strong, his lips red. They were calling for me, calling to be kissed.
“L-Lucinda?” he asked, the confusion hitching his breath.
“William?”
“I thought we agreed to wait,” he murmured, yet his hands snuck around my waist and pulled me tighter into him. Like he never wanted to let me go.
“We did… But right now, I’m not sure why,” I admitted, staring up at his mouth. His fangs elongated, stronger and sharper than most. One of the only features that separated the nobles from the common vampires these days.
“Me either,” he responded softly, his breath warm on m
y skin.
As his head dipped towards mine, I laced my arms around his neck and threaded my fingers in the back of his hair. The intimacy made my head spin and my blood boil.
There was just one thought racing through my mind, one word. One feeling. William, William, William.
My eyes flitted back to his lips until I tore them away. I couldn't let myself be distracted by him, especially not when I knew he was mad at me. Though from the softness in his gaze and the gentle feel of his touch against me, he couldn't be as angry as he was trying to pretend.
I closed my eyes as I felt him lean in. Maybe this time, he'd kiss me properly. We'd shared a few kisses over the years, but nothing that lasted longer than ten seconds. I was ready for more, even if I'd never be able to outright tell him that. It was a confusing situation to be in.
His breath hit my lips, only adding to the anticipation. We were so close I could almost taste his kiss, and I really did want it. So much.
A loud pounding ruined the moment and my eyes snapped open to discover a scowling William just inches away from my face.
"If that's one more present..."
"Then what?" I demanded, almost daring him to finish what I knew was an empty threat. He wouldn't do anything to Derek, and not just because he didn't like getting his hands dirty.
He growled. I'd never seen him this worked up before, and I wasn't convinced I liked it.
"Are you going to go find out what your secret admirer wants now?" The bitterness in his voice is a surprise that I don't know how to deal with.
"It can't be a secret if we all know who he is," I muttered as I extracted myself from his arms, no longer feeling quite as connected to him as I had before.
The banging continued.
"Alright, I'm coming!" I shouted. Derek had a lot to fanging answer for right now. I pulled it open, ready to lay into whoever was on the other side and send presents back to Derek. Then again, Anne Boleyn had done that to Henry VIII and she'd ended up with no head. Maybe not my best idea then.
"Madam Corentine?" A mousey man stood at the door, looking very human in nature. He smelled it too. Great. That meant I needed to be nicer to him.
"Do I look like a Madam?" I asked sourly. How dare he? I might be a hundred and twenty-six, but I didn't look a day over twenty. Twenty-five at the very most. One of the many perks of being a vampire.
"I-I-I'm sorry," he stammered.
I sighed. "No, I apologise. It's been one of those days. What can I do for you?" I forced my best fake smile on. Which said something. My fake smiles were some of the best, I'd had to learn the skill to stop my mother from being all mother-like on me.
"I was asked to deliver this." The man held out an envelope with a gold embossed crest on it.
My smile got faker. The only thing worse than Derek, was the aforementioned mother, and it seemed she was summoning me. I didn't like being summoned.
"Thank you," I lied, before slamming the door shut and turning to find a thunderous looking William standing exactly where I'd left him. "Just spit it out," I ordered him.
"What's he given you this time?" There's a slight sharpness in his tone, but nothing as bad as I expected.
"He hasn't given me anything. But what would it matter if he did?" I threw back. "I'm allowed to get presents, you know."
"Of course you are. But this is hardly what I'd call reasonable." He waved his hand to indicate all the unopened boxes. I didn't even know what was in them yet, and while part of me was intrigued, the excitement was completely ruined by the stink he was making. He was acting like a child whose favourite blood sippy cup had been taken away from him.
"So? No amount of presents from someone else gives you the right to act like a fanging ass." I was shaking with fury, but my voice came out a lot softer than I expected. A lot softer than he deserved too.
"I..."
"Yes? You..."
"I don't know what to say."
"How about something like 'sorry Lucy, I didn't mean to get my blood clotted over someone sending you unsolicited presents. I'll be nicer about it from now on.' At least, I think that's a good start," I suggested.
He pursed his lips, clearly not at all impressed by what I'd said. A little part of me didn't blame him for that. My comments were just as hurtful as the way he was acting, but apparently that didn't stop either of us from lashing out.
"And let me set your worries to rest. That wasn't a present from Derek, it was a summons from my mother. I'm sure yours will follow the moment she realises you're here."
And wasn't that the truth? I could have sworn mother had a sixth sense for when William and I were together. Or maybe she just had a tracking advice in him. I wouldn't put it past her. Whatever the reason, I almost knew I'd have a phone call from her tomorrow. A large part of me wished I could just ignore her, but I knew that would only make it worse. She was impossible to deal with.
The worst part was that I’d almost mustered up the courage to invite myself so I could speak to Jonas’ father. Being summoned while I already decided to go just made it worse.
Only Mother...
I snorted humorlessly at the golden invitation. Why did she use branded envelopes? Nobody cared about the crest. It was just to show off and look pretentious.
“Are you okay?” William asked, his voice softer than before. “I know how much you dislike the soirées.”
“Yes, I’m fine,” I lied. He might feel okay setting our differences aside to unite against Mother, but I wasn’t going to let it slide that easily. “Actually, the invitation is right on time. I was already planning on going.”
He couldn’t mask the surprise on his face. “You were? But you hate—”
“Yeah, well, I have my reasons. And I was even going to ask you to be my date, William,” I stressed, glaring at him. “But in hindsight, maybe I’ll just go on my fanging own.”
Before he could reply, I turned on my heels and stormed towards the stairs. I wasn’t in any mood to deal with the endless gifts from Derek and I didn’t want to spend more time with my fiancé either.
“I’m going to bed.”
“It’s the middle of the day?” William asked, sounding a little flabbergasted.
“Great! You’ve made me a stereotype, William Williamsbourgh the Third. I hope you’re happy now!” I exclaimed, stomping extra loud to accentuate my departure. I knew that was uncalled for, but I couldn’t stop myself. “Goodnight!”
Two could play the childish game.
Just before I slammed my bedroom door shut, his voice sounded.
“Sleepwell, my stereotype!” he called, his tone filled with bemusement.
“I said goodnight!” I shouted back, trying to be stern and failing miserably. Only he could make me smile during an argument.
Damn handsome vampire.
I plonked down on my bed and reached underneath the nightstand for my journal. Even though it wasn’t night yet, it would be good to note down the events of the day and write down the date of Mother’s evening.
Just the thought of it made me roll my eyes. A whole night pretending I was posh, shaking the hands of old bats, and eating miserable hors d’oeuvres without an actual meal following.
And the worst part, I didn’t have a dress or a date. Mother was going to have a field day ripping into me. Lovely...
Chapter 11
“Lucinda.”
I dipped my head in a polite curtsy. “William.”
His smile curled around his lips as he extended his arm to help me down the stairs. “You look beautiful.”
“You look quite dapper yourself,” I noted, raking my eyes over his body. He looked incredibly smart in his suit. Tall, handsome, unmistakably stylish.
“Thank you, my lady.” He escorted me to the front door, his eyes never leaving mine. “The limousine is waiting.”
“Do we have to? Can’t we just take a cab?” I spluttered. Mother would die of embarrassment and it would be my petty pleasure.
My fiancé shot me a ster
n, but sexy look. “No.”
“Fine.”
As he pulled the door open, a warm evening breeze greeted me. The scent of autumn danced into the house, inviting me out into the early evening.
“After you.” William’s manners couldn’t be drilled out of him, even if he wanted to.
Not that I minded. I always felt special on his arm and to him, I was.
“Thank you.” I descended down the steps of the porch and onto the street where the dark limo was waiting. The metallic coating shimmered in the hue of the dimmed street lights, and with the soft chirping of birds, it was the perfect evening.
I inhaled the fresh air, embracing the night. As much as I hated the stereotypes surrounding vampires, I did love the darkness.
The car door clicked as William pulled it open for me. As much as he’d try and deny it, he was old-fashioned in his manners. And I didn’t mind. Him opening doors for me and taking my coat didn’t make me less of an independent woman.
“The Corentine Manor, please.”
The driver nodded and tapped his hat as he started the car. The Manor was so well-known with the limo companies in town, we didn’t even need to give him an address. Now that was embarrassing.
The limo hummed to life and as smooth as the gravel allowed, it set into motion.
“Are you sure this is not a date?” William asked cheekily, turning to face me. His eyes shimmered brightly in amusement.
“It’s not.” I chuckled, elbowing him softly.
“Could’ve fooled me, Lucinda,” he teased. As his words left his mouth, his expression changed. Almost as if he reminded himself of something. “At least you’re not going with Derek.”
My hands balled into fists as something deep within me flared up in annoyance. I should’ve taken the high road and kept silent, but I just… couldn’t. “Derek was busy.”
William’s face turned sour. “You actually asked him to accompany you?”
“And so what if I did?”
“He’s a commoner.”
I clacked my tongue. “Wow. I didn’t realise you were coming too, William Senior.”
“Hey.” My fiancé glared at me. “I’m nothing like my father.”
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