Waving good-bye to Chloe, she led Lucian from the building. A company car waited for them in front of the agency and Abbey slid into the backseat. She skimmed the dossier as Lucian folded his long form into the car. With a nod to the driver, they took off.
“Succubi are most active at night, like you,” she said, focusing on the facts of the date. “Janine can function during the day without any ill effects but she will tire easily.”
“Abbey.”
“Did I mention she donates her time at a children’s charity?” she continued, ignoring him. “It’s one Saturday evening a month but still, admirable.”
“Abbey.”
“She’s a talented rider and has several horses boarded outside the city. Your property in Connecticut would be an excellent topic of conversation.”
He didn’t call her name again. Instead he reached out and tugged her closer on the seat.
“Stop that,” she scolded, trying to scoot away.
“You’re so serious tonight,” he said, his eyes flashing in the dim light like a cat’s. “A kiss would loosen you up, don’t you think?”
Her gaze dropped to his lips, giving him the reaction he’d no doubt been desiring.
“No,” she said, pushing him away. “You are about to go on a date. You cannot arrive with another woman’s lipstick smeared on your lips.”
Lucian didn’t even look abashed. “I have to touch you,” he said, his fingers tracing circles on the back of her hand. “You were so distant with your files and your gifts. I want my Abbey back.”
“I’m not your Abbey.”
“You could be.” The offer was a sensuous purr.
She rolled her eyes, knowing capitulation to this man would kill his interest in her faster than anything else she could do.
Abbey straightened the file on her lap and avoided his gaze. “We need to keep our relationship professional. It’s highly likely you will find the love of your life in the next few weeks. How would she like it if you were carrying on with me at the time?”
His eyes darkened with displeasure. “Let me worry about such things.”
“Nope. Not interested in being the other woman.” She glanced up at him. “I’m not trying to pair you with werewolves or sirens. Show me the same respect.”
“How closed-minded of you.” His customary smile was back in place. “There’s a reason women seek out vampire lovers.”
She shivered at the unexpected longing his words produced. “Not this woman.”
“Not yet,” he said.
Abbey shot him an annoyed look and waved the file. “Be serious. Now, Janine requested this date so it shouldn’t be very hard to win her over. Even if you are being irreverent.”
He caught her wrist. “What if I don’t want to win her over?”
“Then you are wasting my time.”
He dropped her hand as if she’d burned him.
“You made me a bet,” she said, pressing her advantage. “If you don’t keep up your end of it, I’ll consider Fated Match the winner by default.”
Silence stretched and she almost regretted her words. The vampire watched her, displeasure clear on his face.
“As you wish,” he said. Lucian plucked the file from her lap and flipped it open.
Abbey focused on the city rushing by her window, telling herself she was glad he was putting the proper effort into his date. The disappointment weighing like a stone on her chest was best ignored.
Ten minutes later, they pulled up in front of Celeste’s. Abbey sprang from the car the moment it slowed.
“I’ll handle the introductions and then you’re on your own,” she told him as they walked up the steps. “You can call me tomorrow to let me know how it went.”
“You’re leaving?”
She blinked in surprise. “Did you expect me to sit by your side for the entire night?”
He smiled sardonically. “Of course not. However, I’d like to make a request.”
This was not going to end well for her, she just knew it. “What?”
“For the first thirty minutes of my date, you will wait at the bar. Have a drink.”
She looked at him in bewilderment. “Why would I do that?”
“If for some reason something goes wrong, I want my representative close at hand. After all, your job is to keep me happy, isn’t it?”
Damn vampire. “Thirty minutes,” she agreed with ill grace. “Then I’m out of here.”
His charming smile was back, the one he wore when he got her to agree to something he wanted. “Deal.”
Together they stepped into the elegant antechamber of Celeste’s. Abbey’s mouth watered as she smelled the tempting aromas wafting from the kitchen. This was a restaurant for the upper class. She wasn’t properly dressed to sit at the bar, never mind try the food. For a second she thought wistfully of the red Armani dress. A woman wearing that piece of clothing would fit in perfectly here.