Love Your Entity(81)
“Who’s going to put a word out like that?”
“No one once I’m done with you,” Tanya said. “Now pay attention. Do you see how I crook my knee? Do that while you are stepping out of your dress or skirt, sliding your clothing over your hips before gracefully stepping out of it. As for your top, never clumsily yank it over your head, getting your arms all trapped.” Tanya demonstrated. Luckily she was wearing a bra because Sierra did not want to be flashed by the tanned vampire.
Tanya smoothed down her angora sweater and started over. “Instead you peel it off with elegance. Do you see the difference?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now how is the book coming?”
“Slowly.”
“I don’t want to hear that.”
“Then don’t ask.”
“What’s the problem? Is it Ronan? Is he distracting you? I can take care of that.”
“No, it’s not Ronan. I’m in the research phase right now.”
“Is that what you call bedding an indentured vampire?” Tanya said.
No, Sierra called that incredibly satisfying.
“Fine. Don’t tell me. I like the way your books surprise me,” Tanya said. “But I am going to need to see an advance copy of your next one. When does it come out?”
“In three months. The one I’m writing now comes out next year. But all that information is on my website,” Sierra said.
“Which could also use updating. My rates are very cheap. Just feed me.”
“Blood?” Sierra took a hasty step away. “No way.”
“I meant feed me scenes after you write them.”
“I don’t share my work with anyone until my editor Lily Janeway reads it.”
“Okay, then I can be the next in line after her.” Tanya pulled an iPad out of her bag. “Here, look at this. I think the blue and black colors tie in well with your book cover and the theme of ghosts. This would be your logo for your street team.”
Sierra had to admit that what Tanya was showing her looked good. Shrouds of smoke swirled around her name, S. J. Brennan, and the title of the book. “That’s really impressive.”
“So you like it?”
Sierra nodded.
“Then I have the job?”
“I could get you a galley of the next book for your iPad.”
Tanya squealed in delight, almost dropping her tablet as she yanked Sierra close for a hug. “I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I have a hard time bonding with other females. I’m not talking about sire bonds or vampire bonds. I mean BFF stuff.” She finally set Sierra free. “Okay, I’ll get right on this. First I’ll set up a Facebook page exclusively for your street team. Then we’ll get some book graphic cards going. Sharlene does those. I love her work. And we need to recruit people to come like your author page. Not recruit in a vampire way, but in a social media way. Draculina can help me with that. I’ve never met her but we message each other online. She gets me. Anyway, sorry I can’t stay to chat but I’ve got to get working. You need to be working too. Your fans are eagerly waiting for your next story.”
Tanya rushed past Ronan on her way out through the tunnels.
“What was all that about?” he said.
“It’s about my books not the treasure. And before you ask, no, I didn’t tell Tanya anything about the treasure.”
“She’s probably already heard the buzz around Vamptown about Hal.”
“Will any of the other vampires try to interfere with the search?”
“Aside from Gregori, you mean?” Ronan said.
“Right. The evil mutant hybrid vampire. Hal’s treasure must be really good if Gregori wants it.”
“We have to get to it first.”
‘And we will.” She thought for a moment before speaking her thoughts out loud. “Why is that framed large photograph still on the wall upstairs?” Sierra asked before going on to answer to her own question. “Because Hal is a gangster ghost with a narcissistic streak, right? But what if there’s more to it than that?”
“I took it off the wall and looked behind it when I first got here,” Ronan said.
“Did you look inside the mat or the frame?”
“No,” Ronan admitted. “I’ll go get it off the wall and bring it down here so we can examine it more closely.”
Yes, he could move at super vamp speed but she feared losing him. It wasn’t logical, perhaps. But she trusted her gut. “I’m coming with you,” Sierra said.
“No way.”
“I can distract Hal while you grab the photograph.”
“He might not even show up,” Ronan said.