Be Still My Vampire Heart(30)

 

"You look a little hot in this sweater." Lindsay traced a knitted cable with her polished fingernail. "We could help you get more comfortable."

 

"It'll be fun." Tina pulled a key from her silver spangled purse and unlocked the entrance door.

 

Angus cleared his throat. "I do need to see someone inside this building, if ye doona mind letting me in."

 

"Oh, darling. We'll let you in." Lindsey gripped his arm to drag him into the foyer. Tina punched the elevator button. "I get him first."

 

"Do not." Lindsey released Angus to get in front of Tina's face. "I saw him first."

 

Angus wandered over to the mailboxes while the two blondes argued over him. Luckily, each box was listed by number and the last name of the occupant. He examined the boxes for the fourth floor. One name looked familiar.

 

"I know!" Tina announced. "Let's do him together!"

 

They burst into giggles. The elevator door opened.

 

"Come on!" Lindsey called. "Irish boy! Let's go."

 

He frowned at them. "Would ye really let a strange man into yer apartment? I could turn out to be some kind of… monster."

 

The girls' eyes widened and they stared at him, then at each other. Then they erupted with laughter.

 

"Yeah, right." Tina held the elevator doors open. "I'm so scared, I think I wet my panties."

 

"Mine are already wet." Lindsey slunk toward him, trying to give him a sexy look through her lashes. Unfortunately, her wilted mascara stuck one of her eyes shut, and she ended up twitching and blinking to get her eye open.

 

"Would ye happen to know this person?" Angus pointed at the mailbox for apartment 421. "The name is Erickson."

 

Lindsey wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, I know him." She turned to Tina. "Remember the guy in 421? He was like… so rude."

 

"I know, right?" Tina leaned against the elevator door. "I asked him to help me open a jar of pickles, and he said I was already pickled."

 

"I haven't seen him in months," Lindsey said. "But he was really cute. I swear all the hot ones have left town."

 

"Is his name Austin?" Angus asked.

 

"You're looking for Austin?" Lindsey's mouth fell open. "Oh my God, you're gay."

 

Angus stiffened. "Nay, I—"

 

"Shit! We should have known." Tina pointed at him. "I mean, look, he's wearing a purse."

 

"'Tis no' a purse." Angus gritted his teeth. "'Tis called a sporran, and 'tis a fine, manly tradition—"

 

"Whatever." Lindsey waved a hand in dismissal. "Why were you trying to pick us up when you're gay?"

 

"Yeah." Tina sneered at him. "You're just a poser."

 

"Yeah, he's a poser." Lindsey marched toward the elevator. "I bet he's not even Irish."

 

Angus heaved a sigh of relief when the elevator doors swooshed shut. Thank God he drank out of bottles and no longer had to deal with the modern, mortal world in order to survive. Courting women like Lindsey and Tina could drive a vampire to leap into the sunlight. Thank God Emma was different. She was special, clever, and lovely. And most probably, staying in Austin Erickson's apartment.

 

The elevator stopped at the fourth floor. Bugger. Lindsey and Tina would be floundering around that hallway for five minutes. He'd have to wait. Or maybe he should just go home. If Emma realized he knew where she was, she'd leave again. No, it was better to leave her alone. He'd teleport back to Roman's townhouse and send her an e-mail, asking to see her tomorrow night. He closed his eyes, thinking of her shiny, dark hair and amber eyes, the graceful curve of her cheek and neck. Good night, Emma. Sleep well.

 

Emma dropped the crate on Austin's sofa, then took the sack of silver goodies into his bedroom. She studied the room. Yes, this would work nicely. She'd put some fresh sheets on the bed, and after sunrise, she'd go back to her apartment for her laptop and some clothes. Some sexy clothes.

 

She headed back through the living room to the kitchen, where she found a knife to pry open the crate.

 

Good night, Emma. Sleep well.

 

With a gasp, she fumbled the knife on the countertop. Angus. She grasped the knife in her fist and whirled around. The room was empty. Of course it was. The voice hadn't been close by. It had been inside her head.

 

She poured psychic energy into a wall of defense. How dare he enter her mind like that? She knew it was him. The voice had kept all the qualities of Angus's voice. The deep, masculine tone, the soft lilt of his accent.