All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(36)

 

She shrugged on her jacket. "So you think they're beautiful?"

 

His gaze dropped to her long, lean thighs. "Aye, slender and golden, kissed by the sun."

 

"They're tanned?" She looped her scarf around her neck. "How did they manage that? Hello?"

 

He dragged his eyes up to hers. "Yes?"

 

She gave him an annoyed look. "Let me give you a little dating advice. Look at a woman's face when you talk to her, not her skirt."

 

"Yer skirt invites a man's attention. I've seen handkerchiefs that were bigger."

 

She swung her handbag over her shoulder. "At least I wear underwear under my skirt."

 

"I hope they're nice since everyone is sure to see them."

 

Her eyes glinted with challenge. "Not everyone."

 

He smiled slowly. "We'll see about that."

 

With blushing cheeks, she turned toward the door. "Let's not keep your dates waiting."

 

Ian jumped up and hurried past her to open the door.

 

She stepped into the hall and dug the keys from her handbag. "Where is this club?"

 

"Hell's Kitchen."

 

"How appropriate." She locked the door. "Are you going to click your heels and magically poof us over there?"

 

"No, I'm driving." He escorted her toward the stairs. It would be faster if he teleported them straight to the club, but driving her there would give him more time to talk to her. "I have a car parked nearby."

 

She started down the stairs. "You know how to drive?"

 

"I've been driving since 1913."

 

"Good grief. I hope you traded in for a newer model."

 

He grinned. "Actually, I still have my first car, a 1913 Rolls-Royce. I've kept my favorites over the years—a 38 Bentley, a 59 Morgan, and a 69 MGB Roadster. My latest purchase is a 2005 Aston Martin."

 

She halted halfway down the stairs with a stunned look on her face. "You really do collect expensive cars? Don't tell me the other stuff in your profile is true."

 

"What other stuff?"

 

She continued down the stairs. "Stuff like your enchanted castle in the Highlands."

 

He chuckled. "I wouldna call it enchanted, unless ye're entranced by the notion of mildew."

 

"Then you really do have a castle?"

 

"It's no' nearly as huge as Angus's castle. I would describe it as more of a large manor house."

 

"Oh. How…cozy." With an irritated look, she crossed the foyer to the entrance door, her high-heeled boots clicking on the marble floor. "Since you didn't even write your profile, I'm sure all those sappy promises are false."

 

He reached the door first. "What promises?"

 

She snorted. "You still haven't read it, have you?"

 

"I've been busy returning hundreds of phone calls. And investigating you. What promises?"

 

She shrugged like she didn't care. "There was one about remaining faithful to your wife forever. Like that could happen."

 

"It would happen."

 

She looked doubtful. "And then there was a promise to keep your shimmering, starlit princess in a state of orgasmic ecstasy forever." She rolled her eyes. "Like that could happen, too."

 

His mouth twitched. "I could certainly try. I do want my wife to feel well pleasured."

 

She bit her lip and looked away. "You really intend to get married then?"

 

"Yes." He opened the door, and a blast of cold air knocked her back a step.

 

She tugged her scarf up over her ears and mouth so her voice sounded muffled. "God, I'm gonna freeze my ass off."

 

And such a lovely ass. He stepped in front of her to block the wind. "This way. It's no' far." He led her down the street and glared at the men who passed them by and stared at Toni's exposed legs.

 

"How could someone in your situation take wedding vows seriously?" she mumbled from under her scarf. "You can't honestly claim that you'll stay faithful for centuries."

 

"Doona accuse me of dishonesty."

 

"I'm sorry, but some of the stuff in your profile doesn't make sense to me."

 

There was stuff about her that didn't make sense, either. And he still didn't know her full name. Ian fumbled in his sporran for the car keys. He'd driven one of Roman's cars here, a black Lexus.

 

"For instance," she continued, "you claim you want to lavish tons of money on your princess. If you're so rich, how come you're working as a security guard?"

 

"My specialty is investigation. I've broken into Langley twice, undetected."