Forbidden Nights with a Vampire(35)

 

Maggie snorted. "And your catsuits aren't?"

 

"They're comfortable. And I like having my whip handy."

 

"You don't need a whip at an engagement party." Maggie gave her a sly look. "You're just afraid Phil will see you looking so pretty and girlish."

 

"I'm not afraid." Last night Phil had said she was afraid, and now Maggie was doing it. "I'll prance around the party butt naked if I want. Nothing scares me."

 

"Then you'll be courageous enough to tell me what happened last night at DVN."

 

Vanda gripped the steering wheel. "Nothing happened."

 

"That's strange. Phil said the same thing."

 

"Really?" Vanda was relieved he hadn't talked about their encounter. She couldn't believe she'd ended up in his arms again, kissing him as if her life depended on it. And she'd come terribly close to surrendering completely. The man was too tempting. And too damned nosy about her past.

 

Another car drove through the gate, and Vanda rolled the Corvette up to the guard station. She lowered the window and handed the guard her invitation.

 

He leaned over to peer into the car. "Your names?"

 

"I'm Vanda Barkowski and this is my guest, Maggie O'Callahan."

 

He checked his clipboard, then passed the invitation back. "You can go in."

 

Vanda raised her window and started down the long driveway to Romatech. "So I guess you teleported Phil back to the townhouse last night?"

 

"Yes. I offered to take him to the club, but he thought you wouldn't want to see anyone." Maggie gave her a worried look. "He seems to understand you very well."

 

"I don't want to talk about it." Vanda drove into the parking lot and searched for an empty space. "I can't believe you showed him that interview from the reality show."

 

"It's public record. Besides, Phil thinks you need to resolve some issues from your past."

 

"I know about his damned theory. It's bullshit." She spotted an empty space in the next row and stepped on the accelerator to get there before anyone else. "And I don't want him digging around in my past. It's none of his damned business!"

 

"He just wants to help you with your anger problem."

 

"I don't have an anger problem!" Vanda stomped on the brakes when a couple emerged from between two cars. The woman screamed as the Corvette screeched to a halt a few inches in front of them.

 

The man thumped the hood of her car. "Stop speeding in the parking lot!"

 

"Oh, yeah?" Vanda lowered her window. "Watch where you're going, you assholes!" She shot them the finger.

 

The couple marched off in a huff.

 

Vanda took a deep breath. That had been close.

 

"No anger problem?" Maggie muttered.

 

"They asked for it." Vanda pulled into the empty parking space and stuffed the keys into the silver evening bag Pamela had insisted she use.

 

She climbed out of the car and checked her dress. The damned bodice was cut low enough that the purple bat tattooed on her right breast was exposed. She sighed. It had seemed like a good idea ten years ago. She'd enjoyed shocking all the stuffy old Vamps at the annual Gala Ball. But after a few years the shock had worn off.

 

Then she'd cut her hair and dyed it purple. That had worked well. Shocked people tended to keep their distance. Then she'd started wearing a whip around her waist. The implied threat of violence kept most everyone away.

 

Except Phil. He'd never been afraid of her.

 

"What do you know about Jack's fiancée?" Maggie asked as they walked toward the entrance of Romatech.

 

"Her name's Lara." Vanda looped the strap of her evening bag over her shoulder. "I heard she was from Louisiana, and she's a cop."

 

"Then she's mortal?"

 

"I guess."

 

"How interesting." Maggie gave her a pointed look. "Isn't it amazing how so many Vamps are finding true love and happiness with non-Vamps?"

 

"It's ridiculous."

 

"I think it's romantic."

 

Vanda snorted. "You married a Vamp."

 

"I married for love," Maggie insisted. "If my husband had been mortal, I wouldn't have hesitated one second. There's nothing more beautiful than true love."

 

"I need a drink."

 

Maggie scoffed. "Denial will not save you when Cupid's arrow finds its mark."

 

"If I see Cupid anywhere in the vicinity, I'm ripping his chubby little arms off." Vanda yanked the door open to Romatech.

 

A few Vamps were mingling in the foyer. Connor was standing behind a table, wearing a black and white plaid kilt and black jacket. He finished checking the contents of a lady's handbag, then passed it back to her.