He said, “During the day when my body dies I am no more than a ghost, the same as you. When my body re-animates, my soul is drawn back to it.”
“No wonder you don’t look vampy.”
He grinned, not looking at all like a bloodsucker. “Disappointed?”
I relaxed. He wasn’t a fanged monster right now, and I could deal with that. Especially since he was so nice to look at. “I keep clear of vampires.” At his raised eyebrow I added, “No offense. I’m sure you’re nice enough. The voters sure like you.”
Tristan chuckled. “My kind has a reputation, especially among those who don’t care to get to know us.” As I mused over whether or not he’d just insulted me, he spoke to Dan. “Does she remember anything?”
“No, she’s still in shock.”
The last of my worry about talking to a vampire fled before a sudden spark of anger. “I’m right here. Don’t talk about me like I’m not.”
He gave me that raised eyebrow again. “So you are. My apologies.” Tristan bowed a little. Very courtly, but his dismissal had offended me. Worse, I still sensed condescension.
Incensed, I glared at both of them. Dan looked embarrassed, but Tristan just seemed fascinated, as if I was a dog that had suddenly started talking. I got angrier. A girl true to her red hair, I meant for Mr. County Commissioner, vampire or not, to realize the error of his ways.
“Just because I’m an escort doesn’t make me an idiot.” If I’d had fangs myself, I would have bared them at him.
Tristan finally looking chastened. “Of course not. I didn’t mean—”
“Yes you did. It’s just like a man to think a girl who gets along on her back is stupid, not capable of doing anything of merit. For your information, I was my high school’s class valedictorian.” I babbled, unable to dam up the stream of words pouring from my mouth. “I went to college on a scholarship, Mr. Big-shot Vampire, and I have – I had dreams that went beyond screwing for the capital to realize those dreams, and you should have a little compassion for someone who just died and found out she’s not going to realize those dreams and, and—”
Oh poop. I was breaking down, my eyes filling with tears and tightness closing down my throat. I fought it for all I was worth. I refused to cry. But both men had closed in on me, stroking my hair, patting my back, making comforting shushing noises that brought the pain ever closer to erupting in horrified sobs. I clenched my fists and squeezed my eyes shut.
I’m tougher than this.
On the other side of my closed eyes, Tristan whispered, “I’m sorry Brandilynn. What happened to you is a travesty, one I’m trying to take care of before anyone else dies.”
His voice sounded so kind, totally different from the calculated charm I’d heard on television news soundbites. I opened my eyes to see both men right there, looking down on me. Over six feet tall, Tristan towered over me and Dan. I found myself comparing them. So different, but equally yummy. I gratefully drowned the grief in pure, innocent lust, then thought twice about that solution too.
Turn your motor off, Brandilynn. Have some self-respect. You’re dead for heaven’s sake!
But flirting is as second-nature to me as breathing. I couldn’t help myself, so I asked Tristan, “Are you this nice when you’re a vampire?”
“No.” His handsome face turned dark, but he stayed utterly human. “I’m very different when I return to my body.”
“That’s too bad.” I meant it, because my word, he was gorgeous as all get out. Looking at him made me feel a whole lot better. I decided being horny did beat being hysterical with grief after all.
“What can we do to make you feel better?” Dan asked.
My Marlboro Man so shouldn’t have asked that question because of course my mind went where it shouldn’t. How could it not with them both standing there, looking good enough to eat?
We needed to talk about the weather or the season the Braves were going to have this year before I humiliated myself. But before I could switch the tracks my naughty brain-train ran on, Tristan flashed his devastating grin. “Ah yes, the one thing that makes us all feel alive and well.”
The men exchanged knowing smirks and I wished the floor would open beneath me and swallow me whole. How embarrassing.
Tristan laughed out loud, and his voice rolled over me, giving me shivers. Darn, this man didn’t need the extra charm being a vampire would give him. He had charisma to spare already.
Tracing a finger down my arm, he said, “Don’t look so horrified, my girl. We all use sex here to affirm our existence. The dead have nothing but time and little to fill it with, so lovemaking is a very casual affair in the netherworld.”