Sexiest Vampire Alive(33)
Sean groaned. “What are you thinking? The future of Vamps around the world depends on this, and you’re subjecting those poor innocent girls to a playboy and the self-proclaimed Love Doctor?”
Phineas huffed. “Dude, I can be a perfect gentleman.”
“On what planet?” Sean growled.
Angus chuckled. “I believe we can trust Gregori and Phineas to make sure the lassies are happy with their evening.”
Emma smiled. “I agree. They can be very charming.”
“You hear that, bro?” Phineas grinned at Gregori. “We’re like Prince Charming.”
“More like toads,” Sean grumbled. “You’d better behave yourselves with the princesses.”
Olivia leaned close to her husband and whispered, “Maybe one of them will be smart enough to recognize a prince in disguise.”
“Like you did?” Robby squeezed her hand.
One of them was smart, all right, Gregori thought. Sharp and observant. She’d known he was different from the start. But she’d looked horrified when she’d learned the truth. When they shook hands, she pulled away from him so hard, she fell onto the couch.
He sighed. It was better that way. Better if she found him repulsive.
The meeting came to a close with Angus and Roman stressing the importance of his keeping the president’s daughters safe and happy. He strode to his office, needing to get away from everyone. But once he got there, he found no peace. He grabbed a stress ball off his desk and squeezed it as he paced back and forth.
Memories of Abigail Tucker kept sneaking into his thoughts. He had a feeling she suspected him of messing with the little dog. She didn’t trust him. And she didn’t want to be alone with him. He’d noticed how fast she’d coerced her sister into going on their night out.
What kind of mission did Abigail have in mind that it had to be done in secret? What was she up to? He tossed the stress ball on his desk and turned on his laptop so he could find out more information about her.
He paused halfway into typing her name. What was he doing? Feeding an obsession with her? He needed to stop thinking about her.
He closed the laptop, pulled out his Droid, and called Maggie.
“Hi, Sweetcakes.” He leaned back in his chair. “How’s the commercial going?”
Maggie groaned. “It’s not. Every time Simone moves, something bad happens.”
“It’s not my fault!” Simone’s voice shrieked in the distance.
Maggie sighed. “Gordon and I have stopped for the evening. We decided to rewrite the commercial in a way that keeps Simone as stationary as possible. Can you be here tomorrow night when we shoot it?”
He grabbed the stress ball. “I wish I could, Toots, but something’s come up.”
“Everyone here is still upset about the Vampire Apocalypse,” Maggie said. “The makeup girl keeps saying we’re doomed. Can you tell me if Roman has started on the plan yet?”
He squeezed the stress ball. “It’ll be all right, Maggie. I met with the president tonight.”
“The president? Of the United States?”
“Yep. That’s why I couldn’t do the commercial.”
“Sweet Mary and Joseph! What happened?”
“I’d rather not say just yet, but we’re hoping the government will help us out. I’ll try to stop by DVN tomorrow night after I’m done babysitting.”
“Babysitting?” Maggie asked.
He gave the stress ball another squeeze. “I’m taking the president’s daughters to a vampire nightclub.”
Maggie laughed. “Once they see how well you can dance, they’ll definitely want to help us.” There was a pause, then he heard her mutter, “No, Simone, you can’t go with them. You have to be here for the commercial.”
Gregori winced. Simone had overheard his plans. “Talk to you later, Maggie. Thanks for helping out.” He hung up, tossed the stress ball to his other hand, then called his mother. “Hey, Mom. How’s everything at the school?”
“Oh, we’re fine. Is it true?” his mother asked in a rushed, excited voice. “I heard you have a date!”
The stress ball exploded in his hand. “Shit.”
“Excuse me? What was that noise?”
“It’s nothing.” He tossed the ball in the trash. “It’s not a date, Mom. It’s a diplomatic mission. And how the hell did you hear about it?”
“You seem a bit agitated, dear. Are you nervous about your date?”
“It’s not a date!” He grabbed another stress ball. “I’m as calm as can be. I just have the fate of every Vamp in the world on my shoulders.”