With a sigh, the women moved back.
Phil focused on Vanda. "May I talk to you in private?"
"I…suppose." She turned stiffly and led the way to her office. Her nerves tensed at the thought of being alone with him again. But she needed to do this. She needed to apologize for causing him so much pain in the past.
She glanced at him briefly as he strode into the office, then shut the door. "Thank you for protecting us."
"You're welcome." He placed the dagger on her desk. "You might need this."
She stifled a shudder. She didn't need a reminder of how bad things could have been. "At least Max didn't bring that damned snake."
Phil turned to face her. "Snake?"
"A fifteen-foot-long python. Max dances with it. Or he tried to. The snake had other plans." She took a deep breath. Thank God Phil wasn't a Vamp and couldn't hear her heart pounding. There was something about him, and apparently she wasn't the only one feeling it. All of the women were reacting to him. And that was making her feel strangely possessive.
He'd affected her from the start. At nineteen he'd been lean and lanky, but he'd still exuded an earthy sexiness that had appealed to her. Now, at twenty-seven, he'd filled out that lanky form with muscle and an aura of male power. Every nerve ending in her body seemed aware of him, drawn to him, on fire for him.
She had to be out of her mind. Hadn't she endured enough pain in her life? She would apologize and then let him go. She took a deep breath and met his steady gaze.
He stepped toward her. "I need to apologize."
She blinked. He'd stolen the words right out of her mouth. "But—"
He raised a hand to stop her. "I need to say this. I was on the sidewalk, waiting for a cab, when I realized I was a hypocrite. I volunteered to help you handle your anger, but I wasn't handling my own. I was rude—"
"But you had every right to be angry with me. I tormented you. I made you miserable. I shouldn't have treated you like that."
His eyes softened. "I could suffer far worse things than having a beautiful woman come on to me."
The blueness of his eyes made her chest feel tight, like it was hard to breathe. "You're being kind, but I don't deserve it. You were right. I was bored, and you seemed like a safe diversion. I'm really sorry."
"I'm sorry, too. I was coming back inside the club to apologize when Max appeared."
She recalled her bouncer's strange warning. "I heard you reacted very quickly."
"I've been working for MacKay S & I a long time, so I've learned a few tricks." He touched his pocket. "Like carrying a silver chain with me. It's the only way to keep a vampire from escaping." He tilted his head. "Do you have any kind of security?"
"Of course. I have Hugo."
"I meant away from the club. Who's guarding you while you're in your death-sleep?"
She shrugged. "Pamela, Cora Lee, and I share a condo, and the building has really tight security. They never let anyone near our apartment during the day. We're officially listed as day-sleepers."
He shook his head. "That's not enough. Maybe you should move back to Roman's townhouse for a while—"
"No." Vanda lifted both hands as if to ward off evil. "I'm not giving up my independence. I did that once, and it took over fifty years to get it back."
His eyes narrowed. "Why did you join the harem?"
Damn. Now she'd said too much. "It's ancient history. Forget it."
The look on his face made it clear he was forgetting nothing. "I don't think you've seen the last of Max."
"He can't bother me while I'm sleeping. He's just as dead as I am during the day."
Phil frowned at her. "I don't like the thought of you being alone."
"I'm not alone!" she said, louder than necessary, then winced. "I have friends. And I have this club. My life is one big party."
Phil stepped closer, studying her face. "You've been crying."
"I'm fine. Now, if you don't mind—" She flinched when he touched her cheek.
"Vampire tears." His finger traced a line down her cheek. "They leave a faint pink stain."
She moved back. "Good night, Phil. Thank you once again for protecting us."
He stared at her. She looked away, her heart floundering under the searching gaze of those pale blue eyes.
"How about giving me a ride home?"
She swallowed hard. Hadn't she been through enough tonight? But how could she refuse? He'd brought her car back. He'd saved her from Max. But the thought of spending more time alone with him was too disconcerting. Her nerves were completely shot. Her emotions were a tangled mess. She wanted to touch him. She wanted to feel his strong arms around her. And at the same time, she wanted him to go far away and never come back.