Why wasn’t she running away screaming? None of her actions made sense to her. Augustus was a vampire. She’d seen him kill at least one of the men from last night. He’d bitten her, and yet she was turned on by him.
Licking her lips she turned her attention to Gregory. “Thank you for last night,” she said.
“It’s a pleasure.”
“I’d like you to come back to our home with us,” Augustus said. “I’d like to talk more with you.”
Her stupid heart jumped a beat, not in fear either.
“Okay, I’ve got to finish my shift, and then I’m all yours.”
She waited for them to order before going through to the kitchen. Donald stood waiting. “I don’t like the way they look at you.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“The pale one is always looking at you. He wants you, Marianna.” She didn’t get a buzz or any kind of reaction when Donald said her name.
“There’s nothing there. He’s a customer.” She returned to her duties. Marianna hated the possessive quality to Donald’s voice. He always behaved like she was his whenever they were around each other.
There were times he made her uncomfortable with what he did or said. Donald was a married man, and even if he wasn’t, she didn’t feel anything for him.
The end of her shift couldn’t come fast enough. Her body ached from the labour, and she wanted to spend time with Augustus and Gregory. Both men intrigued her. One was a vampire and the other, human.
Her mind was struggling to keep up with the changes she’d discovered in the last twenty-four hours.
When closing time did come around, Donald was freer with his hands than she liked. He kept finding any excuse to touch or brush against her. She didn’t like how he was changing toward her.
Augustus and Gregory were waiting for her next to a car. Without looking back, she climbed into the back seat.
“Your boss has got a thing for you,” Augustus said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She rested her purse on the seat while looking at the vampire in the mirror. The mirror was another myth that proved to be false. Would she ever be able to wrap her head around his revelations?
“I know more than you think. When you were walking out of the door he was thinking about your ass.” Augustus let out a sigh. “He imagined you bent over his desk with your ass in the air. His imagination went a little deeper. If you wish for me to tell you more, let me know.”
Heat filled her cheeks. Donald did always seem overly friendly.
“Erm, no thanks. It was probably only tonight,” she said, hoping against hope she was right.
“Actually, last night he was thinking about coming all over your tits. I’d be careful around him. He wants you and has every intention of using the safety of your job as leverage in order to get into your pants.”
She looked at Gregory. “Is he serious?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Ever since Augustus developed his obsession with you, he’s been telling me about your boss’s little fantasies. And yes, he’s got more than one.”
Marianna shuddered. The thought of Donald touching her made her feel sick.
“You’re warned. Whatever you do with the information is up to you.”
Gregory started driving. She couldn’t bring herself to look back at the café.
“Do you know when he intends to make his move?” she asked. She wanted to be prepared.
“He was going to do it this weekend. I think your cuts and bruises will hold him off for a few days.”
Nibbling her lip, Marianna stared out of the window. “I can’t find another job in that time.” She needed money in order to live and pay bills.
I’m thinking about money with a vampire in the car.
“Why aren’t I afraid of you?” she asked.
“I truly don’t know.”
Silence fell in the car. She stared out of her window watching the city pass her by. Were there many vampires? What were they like?
“I’ll answer your questions all in good time,” Augustus said.
“I’ll never get used to that.”
Gregory pulled up outside the house she’d left last night. The house was large and grand.
Augustus held the door open for her. He moved faster than she could process with her eyes. It was always like a blur when he moved. He offered her his arm.
“You’re rather old-fashioned,” she said.
“Some kinds of etiquette shouldn’t be forgotten.”
“This is one of them?”
“Opening doors for women and escorting them inside homes and buildings, yes. I’m a great believer in helping women.”
“I’m never going to digest this,” she said, more to herself than anyone else.