Blood of the Son (Book #1 in the Skye Morrison Vampire Series) (Skye Morrison Series) (25 page)

“
Sláinte
!” the whole bar erupted.  Everyone drank from their glasses and someone started a chorus of “Speech! Speech! Speech!”  It was quickly followed by others and I laughed.

Dan handed me the mike and I timidly accepted it.  “Uh.  Okay.  Hi, everyone.  I’m not big on speeches, but I’ll give it a go.  I’d just like to say that working here at Dan’s has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.  Meeting all of you over the years has been a real joy.  It has been my absolute honor to serve each and every of you.  I really appreciate all of your words of encouragement as I went through school, and I appreciate you coming in and seeing us as often as you all do.  Having customers and co-workers like you is part of the reason that I stayed here for as long as I did.  You made each day wonderful for me and I thank you for that.  Drop Kick Dan’s has become like my second home and I just want you all to know that I will miss you greatly.  Some of you have become like family to me and I’ll never forget you.  Thank you for coming everyone, it means a lot to me that you are all here. 
Sláinte,
everyone!”

“
Sláinte!”
the whole bar repeated, took sips from their glasses, and clapped. 

Dan took the mike back.  “We’ve got pizza, wings, cake, and other goodies up here at the table, so everyone dig in.  Don’t forget our drink specials tonight in honor of Skye.  Ask your waitresses for details.  Skye will be here until seven o’clock, so make sure you find her and say hi.  Enjoy your evening, everyone and thanks for coming by!”

Dan grabbed my hand and led me to the bar.  “Get this girl a drink, Nikki.  I’m going to go grab her present.”  I smiled as Nikki slid me a Red-Headed Slut.  I thanked her, grabbed the drink, and turned to Jameson.  “I had no idea you were coming in today.”

Jameson smiled.  “Danny boy called me yesterday and told me about the surprise party they had planned for you.  I told him I wouldn’t miss it.”

I gave him a quick hug.  “I’m glad you’re here.  How’s everything at The Mausoleum?  Did they replace the bar top today?”

Jameson shushed me.  “We’ll have no talk of work during your party.  There will be plenty of time for that later.”

I rolled my eyes and swallowed my drink.  “Whatever you say, hon.  Listen, Nikki brought me to work today, so I don’t have my car.  Can I ride with you over to the club later?”

“Aye.  I’ll even give you a ride home.”

I smiled and hi-fived him.  “Woo-hoo!”

Dan came back and handed me a small box.  “This is just a little something we wanted you to have.  We all pitched in.”

“Aw!  Thanks you guys!” I said to Dan, Nikki and Fiona.  I untied the turquoise ribbon and pulled it off of the black velvet box.  I slowly opened it and smiled.  “Oh, my goodness!”  Inside was a shiny Claddagh ring.  It had a crown above two hands clasping a heart in the middle.

“It’s white gold and emerald.  We had to special order it,” Fiona said, grinning.

I slipped the ring on my right ring finger, heart facing away.  It was a perfect fit.  “It’s beautiful!  I love it!  Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, doll,” Dan said as he resumed his place behind the bar.  “You should probably make the rounds and say hi to everyone.”

I nodded my head.  “I’ll be back guys.  Thanks again for the ring.  It’s absolutely perfect.”

I left Jamison at the bar chatting with Nikki and Dan and made my way around the room.  I said hi and chatted for a few minutes with each of my regulars.  People kept giving me shots and beers from their pitchers and I was glad I had a ride to The Mausoleum later.  I didn’t think it was safe to drive.  I wasn’t full on drunk, but I had a good buzz going. 

Jamison stole me away from one particularly chatty table when he saw that I was there for more than 10 minutes.  He put his arm around my waist and led me over to an empty booth.  He sat me down while he went over to the party table and piled a paper plate full of food.

“Here, love,” he said, setting the plate down in front of me.  “Eat you some dinner before we have to go.  Archer is back and he was asking for you.”

I felt my face flush hot and looked down at my pizza.  “He was?  What did he want?”

Jameson smirked.  “You’re blushing,” he teased.  “Don’t tell me you still have a thing for my brother.”

I quickly shook my head.  “No.  No, that’s not it.  It…It’s just the alcohol.”

Jameson chuckled.  “Uh-huh.  Sure.”

I didn’t want to tell him that I did indeed have a thing for his brother.  I didn’t want Jameson to know that I’d been thinking about Archer non-stop since he left my house on Thursday night.  Archer wanted us to take the time during his absence to evaluate our feelings for each other.  I was sure that once he and his vampire pheromones were far away from me, that I wouldn’t have feelings for him.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  Not only did I think about him several times a day, I also found that I missed him.    I knew that Archer wanted to talk to me when he got back and I was nervous about admitting my feelings to him.  Would he feel the same way about me?  Or would his feelings for me be nothing more than simple blood lust?

I cleared my throat.  “So?  What did Archer want?” I said as I bit into a slice of cheese pizza.

“He didn’t say.  He just said that he wanted to see you,” Jameson said suspiciously, crossing his arms over his chest.  “Is there something I should know about?”

I shook my head and struggled to meet his eyes.  “Nope.  Nothing I can think of.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, pursing his lips.

“What?  There isn’t,” I argued.  “He probably just wants to yell at me for the employee lounge.”

Jameson shook his head.  “No.  He loved it.  I told you he wouldn’t care.”

“We’ll see,” I said, biting into a wing.  I finished a few more wings, my slice of pizza, and a couple of celery sticks. 

Dan brought me over the oversized farewell card and bouquet of spring flowers.  “Okay.  I got everyone to sign it,” he said setting the crystal vase on the table.  He handed me the card and I read the signatures and little notes.

“Oh my gosh, D.  Did you see this?” I laughed.  “There are like twenty guys numbers on here.”

Dan looked and laughed.  “Well, look at that!  No more Saturday nights alone.”

I playfully smacked him on the arm.  “Don’t be mean.  I happen to be picky, thank you very much.  Unlike some people I know.”

Dan pursed his lips.  “You’re not going to ever let me live down Lola Finch are you?”

I laughed and shook my head.  “Nope.  Not a chance in hell.”

Dan laughed and ruffled my hair.  “I’ll see you later, doll.  I’ve got to get back to the grind.  I just wanted to make sure that you got your card and flowers before you left.

“Thanks, D.,” I said, standing up and hugging him.  “This party has been really great.  Thank you so much for everything.”

Dan softly cupped my cheek.  “No.  Thank you, doll,” he said as he placed a tender kiss to my forehead.  He looked deep into my eyes for a few moments before he turned around and headed back to the bar.  We both knew that if we had looked at each other any longer that we’d both be crying soon.

I took a deep breath and turned to Jameson.  He looked at me with sad eyes.  “It’s hard for you to leave here, isn’t it?”

I swallowed hard and surveyed the room before I answered.  “Yeah.  You have no idea.  This place is like home to me.  I’m really going to miss it.”

“I’m sorry,” Jameson said quietly.

I walked the couple of steps to his side and tucked a stray stand of his long hair back behind his ear.  “No, hon.  Don’t be sorry.  I’ve had an amazing four years and have so many awesome memories that I’m taking with me.  I’m not sorry I took the job with you and Archer.  It was time to move on.”

He stood up and smiled a small smile.  “Good.  Are you ready to go?”

I nodded my head and bent over the booth to retrieve my messenger bag from the bench seat.  Jameson grabbed my flowers and card and lead me to the employee only door.  I took one last look around, waved to Nikki and Dan, and followed Jameson out to the car.

I waited as Jameson carefully loaded my things into his car.  He opened the door for me and I slid down into his cool leather seats.  We drove the few blocks over to The Mausoleum in silence.  I kept looking at the white gold Claddagh ring that rested heavily on my right ring finger.  I felt a little guilty for leaving everyone a Drop Kick Dan’s and I was trying hard to put that feeling behind me.

We pulled into The Mausoleum employee lot and Jameson grabbed my messenger bag for me.  I told him that I’d catch up with him in a few minutes and made my way through the back door and into the employee lounge.  The room was completely empty but I wasn’t surprised.  The dancers weren’t scheduled to be back until we opened tomorrow night. 

I grabbed my red bra and mesh shirt out of my bag and made my way behind one of the changing screens.  I quickly switched bras and shirts and checked my hair in the mirror.  I tossed my old clothes back in my bag, darkened and refreshed my makeup, spritzed on some DKNY Be Delicious perfume, and stuffed my bag into my designated locker.

I strolled through the long hall and out onto the club’s main floor.  I spotted Jameson over by the bar talking to a group of handsome men.  I quietly sauntered over and took a seat on one of the barstools.

“Ah.  Here she is,” Jameson said and walked over to me.  “Everyone, i’d like you to meet Archer’s new executive assistant Skye Morrison.  Skye, these are some of our good friends from Houston and Boston.  They’ll be working here at the club with us.”

I turned to the group and smiled.  “Hello.  Nice to meet you.”  I felt a small flutter in my stomach and looked around to see if Archer was near.  He wasn’t, so I quickly dismissed the feeling.

A handsome red-headed man stepped out of the group and offered me his hand.  “I’m Lochlan.” he said in a heavy Irish accent, his dark blue eyes drinking me in from head to toe.  “Well, you’re a fine feek, aren’t ya?  I can see why o’ Archer hired ya.  You’ve got a right set of larries on ya, don’cha?” 

“Lamb a’ da Lord Jaysus, Lochlan,” said a tall man in an even heavier Irish accent as he came to rescue me from Lochlan’s hungry eyes.  He pushed him out of the way.  “I’ve ‘ad about enough o’ ya feckin’ flirtin’.  Archer said yer no’ ta touch dis one, ya wanker.”  He cleared his throat and smiled down at me, offering me his hand.  “I’m Seamus, love.  Do’na pay no mind ta here Lochlan.  He’s a right gimp.”

I smiled and nodded, pretending I understood every word he said as I shook his hand.  “It’s alright.  It’s nice to meet you Seamus.”

“Save some room for me, ol’ boy,” called out a smooth southern accent.  I looked over and saw a handsome young guy of about twenty-five push forward through the group.  He had gorgeous green eyes and nice smile.  “I’m Hunter.  It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

“Pleasure’s mine,” I said shaking hands with him and smiling.  Man, was he cute!  Hunter had short brown hair, a strong square jaw line, and a dimple in his chin.  He reminded me of a U.S. Marine poster boy.  I felt butterflies start up in my stomach and I quickly pulled away.  I looked at him closely and it dawned on me.  No wonder I felt like I wanted to jump his bones.  “You’re a vampire, aren’t you?”

Hunter looked over at Jameson and the group of guys and then back to me.  “Well, yes ma’am.  We all are.  I thought you knew.”

I shook my head and tried to cover my surprise.  I knew there were other vampires out there.  I guess I just didn’t figure that I’d be working with a lot of them.

“There’s nothing to worry about, love,” Jameson said as he came over and threw his arm around my shoulders.  “These boys are like my brothers.  They’re a good lot and know their place.  Won’t any of them step out of line with you.  Aye, gentlemen?”

“Aye,” they all agreed. 

A laugh sounded at the back of the small group of five.  “Archer would positively castrate us, right men?”  A burly man in his mid-thirties stepped out and came up to shake my hand.  He was intimidating tall and had huge corded muscles.  “I’m Quinn.  It’s nice to finally meet you.  Archer told us all about you on the flight here.”

I blushed a little and smiled as I shook his hand.  “All good things I hope.”

Everyone laughed except Jameson.  “Oh,” Quinn slyly joked “It was all pretty good.”

I blushed even harder and dropped his hand.  I was suddenly embarrassed by the thought of the guys talking about me.  I wondered what he meant by ‘It was all pretty good.’ 
Is Archer kissing and telling?

“Don’t embarrass her, you big oaf,” said a thin young man in a rich southern lilt as he came over to stand beside me.  “Pay no attention to these BOYS, Skye.  They’ve always seriously lacked in the manners department,” he said as he greeted me.  “Well, all except young Hunter there.  That boy is a cool drink of water on a hot summer day.”

The men snickered and Hunter frowned.  “Watch it, Trey,” he growled.

“I’m Nathaniel Herschel Thomas Hatfield the third,” he said as he reached over and daintily shook my hand.  “Everyone calls me Trey for short.  But, you can call me friend.”

Trey oozed femininity and true old southern hospitality.  I decided right then and there that I was going to adore him.  I grinned at him.  “I am very glad to make your acquaintance, friend.  I have a feeling you and I are going to get along just fine.”