"Is this the new study hall dress code? If so, I'm going to need a change." His smile was blinding.
"I had a different subject in mind tonight. I thought maybe you'd want to study chemistry." She tilted her head, flirting. "Do you like my chemistry experiment?"
Jared reached out and ran his fingers down her arm. "I'm definitely experiencing a chemical reaction. I think your experiment is a success."
"Would you like to take me out tonight? We could continue the experiment, if you don't mind being my test subject." Dani offered him a shy smile. Jared took her hand and began to drag her out the door. "Where are we going?" she said and laughed.
"I need to change and I'm not letting you out of my sight. You'll disappear in a hurry looking like that." He chuckled. With a huge grin, he led her across the courtyard to his dorm. Neither of them missed the stares and comments of every guy they passed.
"See what I mean? I'm going to have to stay very close to you all night … for your safety, of course."
"Well, thank you for agreeing to be my bodyguard on such short notice." Dani's eyes were full of fake innocence when he opened the door to his room. She sat on his bed while his roommate, Steve, eyed her with interest.
Jared went to take a quick shower and change in the bathroom. Before he walked away, he shot Steve a look that clearly said, Don't even think about it.
Just out of curiosity, and for practice, Dani decided to see if she could catch what was running through Steve's mind. He sat with his back to her at the computer. She focused on words only, not wanting to see anything graphic, and she was shocked at what she heard. It was something along the lines of, Don't even look at her. Jared has had the hots for her since that first night at the club. He will kill you, so don't look at her, no matter how badly you want to.
Dani was surprised at this insight. She hadn't realized Jared was that interested. They were good friends, but he had never crossed the line. Maybe this was what she needed, someone normal to date. Maybe it was a bad idea, given the fact that she and Lucas had just broken up very recently. And, she couldn't stop thinking about Chase.
Everything that she'd learned about herself recently made getting involved with anyone a bad idea. After drinking the blood of the bartender, her earlier suspicions had been verified. She was a vampire, or at least half vampire. Then she learned from her visit to Chase's condo that she wasn't alone. The funny thing was that they knew she was one of them all along, and she'd had no idea. Dani was sure she would have a huge reality check about vampire life during her upcoming visit with her mom. There had to be some good reasons for her mom to keep this life-changing knowledge from her, and Dani needed to understand those reasons. But for the night, she just wanted to have a good time and relax.
Jared stepped out of the bathroom looking every bit the honey, and his wonderful mint aroma poured out with the steam. His shaggy, blond hair was neatly slicked back. He wore black slacks and a dark gray button-down. Yes, he was exactly what she needed. That kind of distraction would do nicely.
"Well, shit! Now I am going to have to guard my bodyguard. I must remember to send a thank-you letter to my high school chemistry teacher."
Jared sat next to her on the bed and bent to put his shoes on. She lifted his chin gently with two fingers and placed a sweet little kiss on his lower lip. Jared stared back at her as if mesmerized. He licked his lips and leaned in for more, but the moment was shattered when Steve fell off his chair and papers went flying.
"I'm gonna wait for you in the lobby. I have to make a call before we head out," she told Jared with her lips still very close to his.
His only response was, "Uh-huh."
She giggled and left the room. She had gone about ten feet down the hall when Jared and Steve erupted into a chorus of hoots that startled people walking by their room.
In the car on the way to the club, Dani was staring out the window when Jared put his hand on her leg and then looked at her to make sure it was okay. She smiled and placed her hand over his in a gesture of acceptance. At the club, Dani decided to use her vampire all-access pass. She led her group to the front of the line, where Vince snapped to attention at first sight of her.
"Princess, Vince is so glad to see you all in one piece. The last time he saw you, well, it was not your best day. He hopes you can forgive him for the mistake he made," Vince apologized sincerely and bent to kiss Dani's hand.
Jared looked from the huge, muscle-bound man and back to Dani in confusion. Then he stepped up and took her other hand possessively. She smiled at him and grasped his hand tighter.
"Vince, there's nothing to forgive. I am not sure what happened but it is over, and I do not want to think about it tonight. Could you get me a table, please?"
"Sure thing, Princess. Vince will seat you himself." Vince held the door for her party to enter. Once inside, he parted the dance floor like the Red Sea as he led them to the VIP section. They sat at the usual spot, and Vince went to the bar. He returned with a waitress who was carrying a bottle of top-shelf champagne and six flutes. Vince winked at Dani before heading back to his post. It was a nice gesture, but there was no way in hell after her first two experiences with alcohol that she was drinking anything. She'd let her friends enjoy the bubbly. Her nerves were off the chart. Just being there at the same table where her life had changed forever was overwhelming.
Jared and the others had heard every word of the conversation with Vince and clearly had no idea what to make of it. Dani was very glad of that, because an explanation was out of the question.
She got up to hit the dance floor and, after scanning the crowd, realized that Chase was indeed there and watching her intently. No matter. That was his fiancée's problem, not hers. She put her hand out for Jared, and he was up and at her side. Dani was sick and tired of worrying. She was going to dance and have fun with someone she knew and trusted.
As she started for the floor, she did her best to pretend she wasn't being watched, ignoring the telepathic plea she was receiving from Chase. It was hard because he was persistent, but she'd learned how to block it. She'd tell herself to listen to a different channel or turn off the radio of her mind, and off it went.
She danced and spun around the floor with Jared. The whole crew was full of smiles and laughter as they performed their own little dance-off in the center of the floor. Jared and Steve danced as a team against Dani and Olivia. The crowd made room for them to dance. They yelled and shouted for their favorite dancers. Vince came over at one point to check out the commotion. He just smiled and shook his head as he walked away. Olivia and Dani won the contest when they broke into an old-school move, hooking their feet and spinning around in a circle. The crowd roared, and the girls were named the victors.
Jared swept Dani up in a congratulatory hug and returned her sweet kiss from earlier. He continued to kiss her softly, caressing her lips gently. He coaxed a response from her with teasing nibbles and warm strokes of his tongue as the music slowed, and they swayed to the rhythm. It was a perfect evening, until Chase tried to cut in. Dani felt Jared stiffen under her lips. She opened her eyes and turned to see Chase behind them.
"May I cut in?" Chase practically snarled at Jared. It was phrased as a question, but he clearly had no intention of taking no for an answer.
"No, you may not." Dani stepped forward, putting space between him and Jared.
"I need to speak with you, Love … Danielle. It's important. We need to get some information about your attacker. You're not the only one. Another girl is still missing." Chase reached out to take Danielle's hand, but she jerked it away.
"You were attacked? When? Why didn't you tell me? Were you hurt?" Jared showed his shock at the news she hadn't been able to share with him.
"I'm fine. I just have some cracked ribs and bruises. It's nothing that's kept me from dancing the night away." Dani rubbed Jared's chest, trying to soothe him, and turned back to Chase.
"I'm on a date. I don't want to talk to you now, or later, for that matter. I'll call Kayden. He can get me in touch with whoever would like to speak to me," Dani snapped.
"I'm sorry. Did you say your ribs are still cracked? You should have healed the day you left me." Chase stepped closer. He reached out and began to probe her rib cage with gentle fingers. Jared moved in and pushed Chase's hands away. Chase growled a low curse, and Dani heard the mental command he sent to Jared to get him away from her. Chase told Jared to go find another dance partner.