Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six(37)

Penny smiled. "Great. I admit I was a little scared about it. You and Mr. Blade keep throwing out dire warnings, though Ray thinks Ian's cool."
It didn't escape me that Penny was still calling Jerry "Mr. Blade" but had gone to "Ray" immediately.
"What time is this meeting? And how are you supposed to get there? Are you driving? The paparazzi are still camped outside, you know. Though they won't bother you, I don't think." They'd gotten shots of Ray leaving in his SUV out back. Some still followed me every time I left the apartment. They'd got a swell shot of me with a wet head after our visit to the beauty shop tonight. I kept hoping they'd give up. Business was still booming, though, which was why I really needed to get down to the shop.
"I'm meeting them at three." Penny sighed. "I guess I'm getting used to these crazy new hours. I didn't think twice when Ray told me that. The meeting's at his house on the lake and he said it was hard to find so he's sending a car for me before then."
"True. You're adapting very quickly." I gave her an encouraging smile. We were settled on the couch in my newly refurnished living room. The chairs were a beautiful caramel leather and the coffee table was a sturdy black enamel that could hold a man if he landed on it. My favorite new addition was the lamp. It was an Oriental ginger jar decorated with a red, caramel and black dragon design. I was grabbing it at the first sign of trouble next time. I figured Jerry had called a high-end furniture store and had a decorator pick these things. The only problem was that it made my thrift store couch look pretty sad. I was going to have to at least splurge on a new throw and some pillows.
I was about to comment on it when Penny's phone rang.
"It's my mom. She's been leaving messages. She wants to come check on me, especially after I told her about the rats being stolen and my research trashed." Penny kept staring at the phone.
"Answer it. We'll figure something out." I leaned back. Obviously I was going to be really late to the shop.
"Hey, Mom. Sorry I missed your other calls."
"Penny, why didn't you tell me you were moving?" Penny's mother had none of the Texas drawl I expected as I leaned close to listen in. I guess she was a Yankee transplant as they called them around here.
"It was kind of spur-of-the-moment. Glory and I clicked and she needed a roommate. It was a good deal for me." Penny rolled her eyes.
"Well, Daddy and I want to come up and meet her, see the new place." Mom obviously wasn't taking no for an answer. "How about Saturday? I'll bring a pot roast and we'll have lunch. I know how you miss my home cooking, honey. Jenny can come too."
"Sounds just wonderful, but that's not good for me." Penny heaved a big sigh that I was sure her mother could hear. "Still trying to deal with the mess at the lab and I have a big date Saturday night. I'll have to get ready."
"A date!" Mom was excited now. "Of course. Take all the time you need. Jenny could help you with that."
"Yeah, right." Penny looked at me. "Actually Glory has a clothing shop. She's been super helping me with my wardrobe. You won't recognize me when you see me. I'm totally transformed. Even got a haircut."
"That settles it. We're coming. Name the day. I mean it." Mom sounded firm.
I grabbed the phone. "Hi, Mrs. Patterson? This is Glory St. Clair, Penny's new roommate."
"Glory? Well, I'm glad to meet you. I hope Penny isn't making a mess in your place." Mom laughed. "She does have her mind on other things."
"I'm enjoying having Penny here. And she keeps her stuff in her room except for that big computer. But I'm sure you know how important her research was to her." I listened while Mom lamented about the lost research.
"Well, why don't you and Mr. Patterson come on up this Monday night? My shop's closed and Penny and I can have you here then. In the apartment." I laughed at the look on Penny's face. Obviously I'd just given her a deadline for having the rats gone and the place aired out.
"Oh, I love pot roast. With potatoes and carrots? Bring it on. I can't tell you the last time I had a home-cooked meal." I sighed. I couldn't have meant a statement more. "Yes, I'll make sure Penny calls her sister and gets her to come too. Penny says she's a vegetarian. Guess you know that, though. More pot roast for me." I laughed. "See you Monday." I hung up and faced Penny's glare.
"My parents are coming here? Monday night?" She looked significantly toward her bedroom. "What am I supposed to do about them?"
"Find them a home. Pronto." I got up and went to grab my purse.
"And how are we supposed to eat pot roast?" Penny was on my heels as I headed to my bedroom.
"We don't. We whammy the entire family to make them think we did." I picked up my brush and finished fixing my hair.
"Damn it, Glory." Her eyes filled with tears. "That seems so creepy and like cheating."
"What do you want to do? Show them your fangs?" I put down the brush. "You want creepy? Mom and Dad would absolutely die. Maybe literally. I don't know what kind of shape they're in or how old they are, but . . ."
"Dad's had a few heart issues." Penny frowned. "Mom's in great shape. They're both teachers. Dad teaches math but Mom's sponsor of the cheerleading squad and coaches soccer. You can imagine what a disappointment to her I was. I'm not into sports."
"But I bet you're Daddy's little girl." I patted her shoulder. "Get over this. We'll handle it. Since your computer is on our table, we'll set up TV trays and pretend to eat. Figure something out." I was getting really tired of all these complications.
"Gee, Glory, sorry to be a complication." Penny stomped back into the living room and picked up the TV remote.
"Did you just read my mind?" I grabbed my purse and followed her.
"Of course I did. I do it all the time." She frowned when I snatched the remote and muted the Syfy channel.
"It's rude. You do that to some paranormals and they'll hand you your head." I tossed the remote on the couch.
"Well, now you tell me." She slouched on the couch.
"Yes, now I tell you. Pay attention. The only time it's okay to read someone's mind is defense. You can try it during this meeting with Ian if thing's get dicey, but he'll have his thoughts blocked anyway. Guys like that do as a matter of course." I stared at her. "Just like you seem to do."
"Well, sure. I don't want just anybody strolling through my brain." She finally managed a smile. "It's a jungle in there."
"Of course. And swear to me on your mother's life, and I do mean that literally, that you'll stay out of Ray's mind. Totally X-rated." I kept my eyes on hers.
"First, cool it with the dire threats. I've done enough unauthorized strolls through your thoughts to know your bark's way worse than your bite, Glory." She ignored my snarl. "And second . . . " Now she blushed and giggled. "Who could resist a chance to get inside Israel Caine's head?" She grabbed my hand. "X-rated? Is there such a thing as Z?"
Now she had me flushing.
Penny sighed. "Wow, Glory. If you didn't fall into that guy's bed, you're crazy."
"Guess I am. Crazy enough to see Ray for what he is, a man who will never settle down with one woman for the long haul." I leaned back, sighing myself. Oh, the memories. We'd had some really close calls, but I just never could let myself go with Ray. And my reasons had always been valid. "I was scared to love him too much because I knew he'd just break my heart."
"I can see your point." Penny sighed. "But what a fine time you could have short-term."
I smiled and patted her knee. "There are guys out there who are much better bets, for both of us." Penny was wearing black jeans I'd picked out for her. Tonight she had on a black cardigan and turquoise V-neck shell. She looked good, especially with her new haircut and simple makeup. She'd pulled out some dangly topaz earrings that matched her eyes, a gift from her parents that she never wore. I'd complimented her enough that I had a feeling she'd be wearing them a lot now. Funny how becoming a vampire had brought life to her look.
"Speaking of bets . . ." She leaned forward. "I've been thinking about this meeting with Ian. If he's a genius like you say he is, he could be on his way to figuring out how to resurrect a normal life for vampires. Maybe get me some quality time with my folks before"-her voice cracked-"before it's too late."
"It's a dream we've all had, Penny. Nothing more than that. I hate to see you get your hopes up just to be disappointed." I sighed when she shook her head.
"With science, anything is possible. Don't be so pessimistic, Glory." Penny crossed her legs and bumped her knee on the new coffee table. "Damn, that thing weighs a ton."
"Not pessimistic, realistic. But I've seen too many miracles in my long life to count anything out. So you can meet with Ian and see what he says." I got up and walked carefully around the table. What had Jerry told that designer about his requirements in a coffee table? It was too big and way too heavy for this room. But it was beautiful. I arranged my latest issue of InStyle in the middle of it, then set the remote on top. Penny was quiet and I finally turned to her.
"I'm going down to the shop. I'll meet you there at two thirty. Are you going to just stay here and watch the tube till then?" I could see she had a good six hours to kill. For Penny, that was plenty of time to get up to mischief.