Madison sighed. “The music’s turned down a little low.”
Gregori nodded. “We have sensitive hearing. If the music’s too loud, it could be painful for us.”
“I like it this way.” Abigail glanced at her sister. “We’ll be able to hear each other talk.”
She was avoiding looking at him. Great. He was supposed to keep the girls happy but Madison was disappointed and Abigail was freaked. He could hardly blame her. First he’d scared her by using vampire mind control on the paparazzo. Then he’d embarrassed her by ogling her sweet body. And finally he’d frightened her on the ride over. He didn’t reflect in the limo’s chrome-plated ceiling, but he could see in it, and he’d watched her shudder and recoil in horror.
“I’ll talk to the DJ,” Gregori offered. “Phineas, why don’t you escort the ladies to a booth?”
“Sure. Ladies?” Phineas led them across the dance floor to a red velvet booth, with the Secret Service men following close behind.
“Hi, Gregori!” Two Vamp women waved at him from a table close to the DJ.
He waved back. They looked familiar. He’d probably danced with them before. The blond one was Prudence? Prunella? He’d called her Pru. “Hi, ladies. You’re looking lovely tonight,” he said on his way to the DJ.
They giggled.
“Hey, Gregori!” The DJ shook his hand.
“How about some real music?” Gregori asked, slipping a fifty-dollar bill on the counter. “And some lights. The whole show.”
“You got it, dude.” The DJ punched some buttons.
The house lights grew dim, the sparkly disco ball started spinning, and red and blue laser lights darted across the room. Fast-paced, thumping techno music filled the room.
The two Vamp girls jumped to their feet, clapping their hands. They lunged toward Gregori and latched onto his arms.
“I say, Gregori!” Pru said in a British accent. “Be a good sport and dance with us.”
“Sí,” the other said with a Spanish accent. “You are so hhhhot!” She said her h sound as if she was coughing up phlegm.
“I’m sorry, but I’m with that party over there.” He motioned with his head to the booth Phineas had chosen, and noticed that Abigail was watching him. Sheesh. Ten minutes ago she didn’t want to look at him, but now she was eyeing him like a hawk.
“But that’s hardly fair,” Pru objected. “Those two girls have three men with them, and we don’t have any.”
“And we want you ’cause you are so hhhhot!”
“Sorry.” He untangled himself from their grip. “Another time, all right?”
Pru stuck out her bottom lip. “That’s what you said the last time.”
He had? He strode across the dance floor to the bar.
“Hi, Gregori!” Two Vamp women seated at the bar grinned at him.
“Hi, ladies.” He smiled back, then turned to the bartender. While he ordered drinks, the two women sidled up close to him.
“Want to drink with us again?” one of them asked. “We had so much fun last time.”
When was that? He couldn’t remember. Eighteen years had flown by since he’d become a vampire. What if his mother was right? What if he was taking eternity for granted and wasting his time? He’d been playing around for years. With so many women. He couldn’t even remember these girls’ names.
He’d always told himself he was doing the Vamp women a favor, keeping them entertained. But didn’t they deserve a real friend who could remember their names?
This sort of thing had never worried him before, so why this sudden change of heart? He glanced at the booth and found Abigail still watching him. Shit. That was the problem. She was studying him like a newfound species. And he wasn’t sure he liked what she was discovering about him.
“Sorry, another time.” He grabbed the two martinis and headed toward the booth.
He set the drinks in front of the ladies. “They have just a few mortal drinks here. These are apple martinis.”
“Wonderful!” Madison took a sip and smiled. “It’s delicious! And I love the lights and music. Thank you.”
“Would you like to dance?” Phineas asked.
“Oh yes!” Madison jumped up and strode onto the dance floor with Phineas.
Pru and her friend joined them, and then a dozen more Vamps moved onto the floor. Madison laughed and twirled around, clearly delighted to find herself surrounded by flashing lights and dancing vampires.
Gregori sighed with relief. At least one of the girls was happy now.
He turned back to Abigail, who was fiddling with the stem of her martini glass. “Would you care to dance?”