“What makes you say that?”
She shrugged. “What doesn’t make me say that? It’s loud, it’s full of tourists…” She glanced down. “I think there’s sawdust on the floor.”
He slid his hand up her leg, reveling in being able to touch her. “I hadn’t noticed.”
She laughed. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Maybe I was too distracted by you.” He gave her thigh a squeeze.
She blushed a little, but then seriousness came over her. “Thanks for doing this.”
“For having a feel in a public place?”
She smirked. “You know what I mean. For coming to Howler’s. And for agreeing to do the parade tomorrow.” As her expression sobered again, she traced a circle on the back of his hand, which still rested on her leg. “There has to be an end to this. I can’t live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder.”
“No, you can’t. Doesn’t mean I like what we’ve decided to do, but I want you to be safe and happy.” As happy as she made him.
“I am happy.” Her smile reappeared. “More than I could have imagined. Are you happy?”
He swallowed. “I am.” So much it scared him.
Bridget returned with their drinks. “Don’t go look now, but the two guys that were in here before are now in the back room at a booth. There’s a third guy with them.”
Delaney’s leg twitched beneath his hand. He gave her a reassuring pat but kept his eyes on Bridget. “Have they seen us?”
She smiled like they were talking about something completely unrelated. “I don’t think so. They probably came in through the rear entrance. Most people use the front door, but there’s a little overflow parking lot in the back. Anybody who parks back there usually comes in that way.”
“Thanks. Text your brother, let him know. In fact, ask him to wait for us in that back parking lot. We might be able to draw them out.”
Delaney twisted her wine glass in place on its paper napkin. “I thought we were just supposed to let them overhear us talking about going to the parade tomorrow.”
“We’re going to do that. Then we’re going to take it a step further. See if we can wrap this business up this evening.” Then he could take her to the parade without the distraction of this threat.
“I’ll let Hank know.” With a nod, Bridget headed back to the kitchen.
The joy had left Delaney’s face, although she was clearly trying not to look frightened. “I’m not sure I like this.”
“Sweetheart, I promise I can protect you if something happens.” He lowered his voice, not that anyone could hear him over the ruckus in this place. “Three humans against one vampire is not much of a fight.”
She managed an almost convincing smile, and he hated that she was afraid. For that alone her former boss deserved to be punished. “What’s your plan then?”
“Have you ever done any acting?”
“Does a school play count?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then yes.”
“Excellent. Here’s what I’m thinking…”
Drinks in hand, Hugh and Delaney stumbled their way into the back room. There were enough people in the place that there was no way Rastinelli’s guys would try something in the bar. She pointed at one of the dart boards. “That one’s open,” she declared, hoping she’d gauged the perfect acceptable level of loudness for a supposedly drunk person.
Hugh raised his whiskey to her. “You wanna play darts, me love, we’re gonna play darts.”
Not only had his accent thickened, it had gotten less sophisticated. She threw her hands up into the air, spilling a little of her wine. “Yay!”
“I’ll be right back.” He left his drink with her and went to see about getting darts as planned, while she leaned against the back wall and used one of the bar mirrors to check on her new friends in the booth.
They were definitely Little Tony’s sort of crew. She could practically smell the garlic on them. And judging by the direction of their gazes, they were sizing her up as well. It kind of terrified her to think that these men might be here to kidnap her and take her back to Rastinelli.
Or worse.
She covered her shudder by having a sip of wine and remembering she was supposed to be tipsy. Then Hugh returned to her, darts in hand, and her thoughts shifted back to the fact that she now had a very dangerous boyfriend. Who was a mother-freakin’ vampire. Let the bad guys come after them.
“Hello, lover,” she purred at him.
“’Ello, angel.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to nuzzle her neck. “They’re watching us,” he whispered into her ear.