"Ricardo and I just got back in town. Where are you? I want to tell you all about our honeymoon." She laughed. "Well, not all about it. But we went to the most beautiful island. Stupendo!"
"Jerry and I just got to N-V." I looked around. I bet two more chairs could fit at our table. "Why don't you come over? The band should start in about thirty minutes. There's going to be dancing."
"On our way. I missed you, amiga." Flo laughed. "Ricardo is frowning. Doesn't want to get dressed. As if he wore much of anything on that island. I'll get him there if I have to drag him by . . . Never mind. He is throwing on clothes. Ciao!"
I was smiling as I turned to Jerry. "You heard?"
"So Flo and Richard are back. Then maybe she can talk you out of this nonsense of helping Valdez with the demons." Jerry had leaned in and spoke softly so that no one nearby could hear.
"Don't start, please. Can't we just enjoy the night?" I touched his cheek. "When you order drinks get the kind with alcohol. I wouldn't mind a little buzz." I looked up when one of Rafe's paranormal waitresses appeared at Jerry's elbow. He placed our order, then stood.
"Fine. Let's dance." The lights had dimmed and the song was a slow one. Jerry gave me a hungry look that made me wiggle in my chair. "I want to hold you. That dress is driving me crazy. I can't wait to see what you have or don't have on under it later."
"Good to know." I smiled at him and held his hand as we walked downstairs. Earlier, I'd watched him get dressed in his dark trousers and white silk shirt. The open throat showed off his strong tanned chest. He looked pretty yummy himself and turned more than a few heads.
Downstairs, I was happy to see Penny dancing with Trey. They held each other close and were obviously feeling some chemistry. Good for her. She needed a guy showing her some appreciation after the humiliating experience with Josh.
Jerry and I danced to two songs before I felt a presence nearby. I turned and Flo grabbed me, dragging me off the dance floor. Richard and Jerry just shook their heads and followed us.
"Tell me everything." I laughed as Jerry went to find someone to bring us two more chairs.
"Aye, Dio. My husband outdid himself. We went to this little island in the Pacific. We had our own private cabana, our love nest. Eh, Ricardo?" She held out her hand to Richard.
Her tall husband looked more than pleased with himself. "It was that. I made sure Florence had some shopping close by too. I know my bride."
"Yes, the sweetest designer boutiques." Flo ran a hand down her size-six body. "You like my dress? My shoes? I got them there." She looked perfect in a copper silk sheath that hugged her curves and ended midthigh. Her heels were designer cages made of three kinds of metal. Only my friend could have walked in them and not fallen on her face.
"You look great." I wondered what Flo would do if offered the chance to see herself in a mirror. What a temptation that would be. But Richard was a former priest and still very into the church. And Flo herself would be horrified that I'd been approached by the demons. She'd been the leader in the exorcism that had finally managed to get Alesa out of me.
I was blocking my thoughts, of course, and glanced around. If Caryon or Spyte picked up on them, would they get the idea that Flo might be open to a deal with the Devil? No, no, no. I felt like making the sign of the cross or something but knew better than to let Flo see me upset.
Flo just kept talking as the table was rearranged, more drinks were ordered and we all settled down. "We were close to entertainment too. I know you can't, but we went gambling and I won! This honeymoon was lucky for me."
"No, I can't gamble, can't even handle a nickel slot machine without trying to pour my life savings into it." I sighed. I have this addiction. One of the reasons I'd left Las Vegas. It had taken twelve steps and years of paying off credit cards to break me of that dangerous habit.
"Well, there were shows in the casinos too. Great entertainment. We had many choices of whatever we wanted to do." Flo smiled and looked at Richard. "Not that we left the cabana all that often."
"Nice job." Jerry slapped Richard on the back.
"I have to say I highly recommend honeymoons. It seems to stimulate . . ." Richard looked up with relief when the waitress arrived with our drinks. "Anyway, if you and Glory want the name of the island. I'll e-mail it to you."
Jerry glanced at me. "It would be nice to get away for a while. Do that."
"You know I can't leave things here. Certainly not my business again. I already took one trip recently. That one to Los Angeles." I looked up when I saw Penny approaching us. "Here comes someone I want you to meet, Flo." I held out my hand. "Penny, this is my best bud, Florence da Vinci Main-waring and her husband Richard. Flo, this is Penny Patterson, a fledgling I'm mentoring for the council."
Richard and Jerry had jumped to their feet, forever gentlemen. Penny grinned at them. "Sit, please. I'm happy to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Mainwaring. I'm living in your old bedroom, Mrs. Mainwaring. Ruining it actually."
"What's this?" Flo looked at me. "And call us Florence and Richard. We may be old, centuries, you understand." She glanced at the tables surrounding us and laughed. "Kidding. But we look young. No?"
"Yes." Penny was checking out Flo's jewelry, which had probably come from yet another boutique. The chunky necklace was obviously one of a kind and very expensive. "Young and very stylish."
"Thank you. I have made it my life's work." Flo put her hand to her dark hair, swept into an updo to show off the matching earrings.
"Trust me, she has. I have the bills to prove it. But I'm not complaining. I get to be seen with her." Richard laughed. "Won't you join us?"
"Well, thanks. But I really need to talk to my mentor. Glory, if you could come down to the employee break room with me for a minute? I hate to interrupt your party, but . . ." Penny squeezed her purse, crimping the leather.
"No, I'll come with you." I got up and grabbed my own purse. "Be right back. I'm so glad you came to me, Penny." I sent Jerry a mental message to come after me if I was gone more than ten minutes. "See you soon." I leaned down and hugged Flo, then Richard. "So glad you're back. Off to mentor." I gave them a wave, then followed Penny. She was obviously upset and this couldn't still be Josh, could it? She'd seemed to be having a good time with Trey.
We hit the door of the employee break room and, with the band scheduled to start in a few minutes, it was empty. Penny collapsed on a gray sofa.
"Jenny texted me a few minutes ago. Josh actually followed your orders. He went back to that party and told everyone I dumped him. She said the guys razzed him and he defended me. Declared I was beautiful and might even be the one for him. But he'd blown it, been a jerk." She had tears in her eyes. "I just can't believe it."
I sat beside her. "Believe it. That's how the vampire whammy works. We can wipe out memories and plant new ones. Mortals are pretty much putty in our hands. We have tremendous power, Penny." I squeezed her hand. "Are you thinking of taking Josh back?"
"No. I can see now that a mortal and a vampire can't work. We're from two different worlds and I'd be too tempted to drink from him, then manipulate his mind." She slumped against the cushions. "But imagine having a man you could make do whatever you wanted."
"That would be a first." Penny and I exchanged wry smiles, woman to woman. "But I'm honest enough with myself to know I'd never be happy with a man I could push around." I made a face. "So I get things like fistfights in my living room."
"And new furniture." Penny laughed. "I'd say you do more than all right in the man department. You're my role model." She nodded. "So I'm moving on. To Trey. He's got his own powers and we have fun. I can relax around him and don't have to worry about hiding my fangs." Penny put her hand on my arm. "He asked me to go out with him after the club closes tonight. Some of the people who work here are having a party. I may not come home afterwards. Do you think I'd be safe if I, uh, died at his place? For the day?"
"If he were a vampire, I'd say no problem. But a shifter wouldn't have the precautions you need. To keep out the daylight. I'm not about to tell you how to run your love life." I patted her hand. "If you're ready to go there, have at it, but you'd better ask him to get you home before dawn. Just to be on the safe side."
"Yes, I guess you're right." Penny frowned. "Why's this vampire thing have to be so complicated?"
"Just is. And maybe Trey's been around long enough to know how to take care of a vampire during daylight hours." I knew a rebound when I saw it but then again Penny had never really had a relationship with Josh, just a couple of dates. If getting close to Trey made her feel better, so be it. "But why take that chance?"
"You're right. And we may not . . . Well, I'll see what happens." Penny put her purse down beside her and looked me straight in the eyes. "Glory, the real reason I asked you down here is that Jenny's on her way. I texted her that I was at N-V and could probably get her and her date in. She was all over it and insisted she was coming to join me." Penny lost her nerve and looked away.