All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(90)

 

"I'm Toni Davis."

 

He kissed her hand. "Bellissima, you are the guard Connor hired? He didn't tell me you were a goddess." He turned to the other men. "She is a vision of beauty, no?"

 

"Ye're embarrassing her, Jack," a second Santa said with a Scottish accent. He extended a hand. "Welcome to MacKay Security and Investigation. I'm Robby MacKay."

 

Toni shook his hand. "You're related to Angus?"

 

"Aye, but he's much, much older than me," Robby said with a grin.

 

"How do you do?" The third Vamp in the group held out his hand. His eyes were almond-shaped, and his accent was thicker. "I am Zoltan Czakvar from Budapest."

 

"Oh." She shook his hand. "I'm Attila the Hun."

 

The men laughed.

 

"Will you dance with me, Attila?" Zoltan asked.

 

"Perhaps later. I'm…looking for someone right now."

 

"Ah." Jack nodded his head. "Amore. I'm afraid her heart is already taken, Zoltan."

 

Zoltan bowed. "Then we will hope he is worthy of you."

 

"Okay." Toni smiled as she left the three guys. There was something definitely appealing about Vamp men.

 

She wandered by another group of men, but none of them looked familiar. Then she saw someone who was easy to recognize. He was the only black Santa in the room. He was drinking blood from a wineglass, along with another Santa.

 

"Phineas." She lifted a hand.

 

"Hey, sweetness." He gave her a high five and a knuckle pound. "What's up?"

 

She recognized the second Santa as Dougal. "Hey, Dougal. Have you seen Ian anywhere? I can't find him."

 

"The last time I saw him," Dougal said, "he was at the refreshment table, having a Bleer."

 

Phineas eyed Toni's costume. "Girl, what are you supposed to be? You look like the Jolly Green Giant's little ho."

 

Toni gritted her teeth. "I'm an elf."

 

Dougal laughed. "She makes a good elf."

 

"Thanks," Toni muttered.

 

Phineas snorted. "So do you live in a tree and bake cookies? Whatcha got for me in your oven?" He winked.

 

She swatted his arm. "I'll sic the Jolly Green Giant on you."

 

She marched off, feeling even more ridiculous in her costume. She had a red feather in her silly green hat, and jingle bells on her green slippers that made noise with every step. If anyone else made fun of her costume, she might have to stake him into oblivion.

 

She circled the dance floor. The music had changed to a slow, modern dance. She spotted Heather dancing with a Santa, probably her husband, Jean-Luc. And Shanna was dancing with another Santa, probably Roman. As she neared the Vamp refreshment table, she saw the two questionable Rockette ladies talking with another Santa.

 

One of them pressed a hand against the Santa's chest. Her fingernails were painted a bright red. "Oh my God, look at you! You're all grown up!"

 

Toni winced. The Rockette's voice was definitely male.

 

"Our sweet little boy," the second male Rockette said. "All grown up and so handsome." He waved a hand in front of his face. "I'm think I'm going to cry."

 

"Don't you dare, Tootsie," the first Rockette warned. "If you start crying, I'll completely lose it, and I just hate runny mascara. Don't you, Ian?"

 

"I wouldna know," he growled. He spotted Toni, and relief flooded his face. "Toni, I've been looking for you."

 

"Oh my!" The Rockette named Tootsie looked Toni over. "Has our little Ian found a sweetheart?"

 

Ian pulled her to his side. "Toni, let me introduce you to Tootsie and Scarlett. They teleported here from New Orleans."

 

Toni smiled politely. "How do you do?"

 

Scarlett pressed a hand to his chest. "Oh my God, isn't she just the prettiest thing?"

 

Tootsie's red-painted lips trembled. "They're so precious together. I–I can't help it. I'm going to cry!"

 

Scarlett huffed. "Well, don't get me started."

 

Ian backed away, dragging Toni with him. "Excuse us, but I promised Toni I would dance with her."

 

Scarlett sighed. "That's so sweet."

 

"And romantic." Tootsie dabbed at his eyes with a lacy handkerchief.

 

Ian led Toni farther away.

 

She glanced back, and the two male Rockettes were still watching them with tears in their eyes. "They seem very fond of you."

 

"They're verra friendly." Ian put his hands around her waist. "Thank you for rescuing me."

 

She rested her hands on his shoulders and matched his steps as he swayed to and fro. "Where did you meet them?"