I got a grip. Barely. We're friends now, sometimes lovers, but I couldn't or wouldn't just relapse into a quivering mass of female insecurities around him.
“Did you see my shop?” I looked up and saw his teeth clench.
“What was left of it.” His arms tightened around me. “Damn Westwood. I'll find him and rip his throat out. Tear him apart. There won't be enough left of him to interest carrion. He'll pay for this, Gloriana.”
“What if he didn't do it?” I wiped at my eyes, then leaned against his hard chest for a moment longer.
“Who else?”
“I don't know. I've had headaches. And a voice in my head. Menacing.” I looked up at Blade who was glaring at Valdez. Obviously the dog hadn't mentioned this in his reports. Yeah, he's Jerry's furry spy.
“A voice? What the hell is this?”
“Forget it. Had to be Westwood. The voice has to be another vampireâ” I heard Jerry's chest rumble. Had he
growled
? “Come on, Jerry. A vampire wouldn't burn up another one. Plus it was daylight.”
“With enough hatred, some would hire it done.” Jerry put me from him. “I can't imagine you with such an enemy, but tell me more.”
I sank down on the couch. “Not now. I've had a rough night. And quit giving Valdez the evil eye. If it hadn't been for this dogâ” My voice broke. Burned in my sleep. The end. No encores. Hey, I'd decided to be immortal, I damned well intended to keep on keeping on.
“Yeah, I really earned my Twinkies today. Dragging four vampires all the way to the roof, up lots of stairs. And I had to knock down doors with double dead bolts.”
Valdez paused for a weary breath. Oh, yeah, he was pouring on the drama.
“Except for Florence, none of them was exactly a lightweight if you know what I mean.”
Valdez bumped my leg with his nose.
“Someone promised to buy me Cheetos.”
Jerry pulled me up to hug me again, before he settled me back on the couch. “Valdez, you've gone a long way toward earning your freedom. But if you ever withhold information againâ”
“No way, boss. I was gonna tell you if somebody actually made a move on Glory. Hey, it was just a voice. I never
saw
anybody.”
Valdez laid his head on my knee.
“Glory knows I've got her back.”
Jerry frowned, then turned to pick up the door and lean it against the wall. I watched his muscles bulge under his black sweater. Black sweater, dark jeans, black loafers. With his dark eyes and hair, Jerry had the vamp look going on. Not that a mortal would see him that way. All they'd see was a handsome man in his prime. Jerry always could light my fire, and I was feeling an urge to reaffirm life if you know what I mean.
“I heard the fireman tell you to evacuate.” Jerry turned back to me. “Come home with me, Glory. Let me take care of you.”
I had my mouth open to say hell yes when Flo emerged from her bedroom. She was dressed in one of her favorite outfits. I won't describe it, just know it was cut down to there and up to here. And black. She wore red heels, her current favorites. If we were hosting a cocktail party, she was good to go. She was cradling a pair of Manolo stilettos.
“My poor babies. They have survived, but stink of smoke. So do I.” She sighed and stroked the shoes. “I am devastated.”
“You'll come home with me, Florence. I have a steam shower that will set you to rights.
Sì
?” Damian lounged in the doorway. “You can come too, Gloriana. I've offered all the residents of the building rooms.” He winked at me. “Of course it will be a little crowded,
cara
. Some of us may have to double up.”
“Back off, Sabatini. Gloriana's coming home with me.” Blade slung his arm around my shoulders. “Aren't you, sweetheart?”
How nice. I was still dripping and stinky, but two hunky vamps were fighting over me. Well, maybe not actually fighting. And Jerry had asked instead of ordered. He knew Damian had been pursuing me. Jerry was jealous. Excellent. I threw up a block so Jerry wouldn't be able to tell just how
not
tempted I was by the Italian stud's offer.
“Jerry's right, Damian. I'm going home with him. But thanks for the offer.” I glanced at Flo, very aware of my wet jammies, wet sheet, wet blanket . . . you get the picture.
“Leave her alone, Damian. Jeremiah will take care of her.” Flo grabbed her brother's hand and dragged him toward her bedroom. “Come help me. I've three suitcases and my shoes, of course, that you must carry downstairs.”
“I'm going to hire a restoration company. They'll come in here. Get rid of the stink. Even clean your clothes.” Damian had a hunted look when Flo started filling his hands with shoe boxes. “You two should be able to move back in a day or two, a week at the most.”
“No company will touch my shoes, Damian.” Flo eyed Jerry. “I don't suppose you'd take down a load for me, Jeremiah.”
“He's helping me, Flo. Make two,”âI watched the tower of shoe boxes Damian was balancing wobbleâ“or six trips.”
“Fine.” Flo is always practical, and she liked seeing me with Jerry. She's convinced we're probably fated to be together, since we've kept our relationship going on and off for centuries. When Flo's through with a lover, they might as well be dead. She never looks back. I've looked back way too often.
“Maybe I'll ask those cute firemen to help me. This
is
an emergency.” Flo picked up a velvet sack with her most expensive ostrich pumps. “Come on, Damian. You'd better have brought one of your big cars.”
Damian muttered something vile under his breath as he stalked into the hall. There was a crash, then a slap and Flo shouted Italian insults. I managed a laugh, even though I was more than a little depressed by the smell and the thought of having to pack. I stood and stretched.
“Let me grab some stuff and get dressed and I'll be ready in a minute.” I patted Valdez on the head. “Jerry, would you help out by grabbing some of this pup's treats from the kitchen? He'll tell you what to bring.”
“I sure will.”
Valdez trotted toward the kitchen.
“The Twinkies are in the cabinet next to the refrigerator. Glory probably wants some of that bottled stuff she drinks too. And the lights are out. There's a rib eye in the freezer that will ruin if I don't eat it soon.”
“One moment.” Jerry reached out and pulled me back into his arms. He looked at me for a long moment. Probing my mind? Or my heart? “Are you really all right? I almost lost you.”
I swallowed. Nobody can do intense like Blade. I reached up and stroked his cheek, rough because he hadn't shaved. In fact, Valdez's report that we were on the roof had probably sent Jerry straight from his bed to my side.
“You haven't lost me, Jeremiah. And you won't.” I pulled his head down and kissed him. Not a little peck either. I was already in life-affirming mode. When I leaned back I glanced at the doorway. Damian was back for another load. He grinned and winked. The man thinks the world revolves around him. I'm sure he interpreted that kiss as an attempt to make him jealous. I smiled back. Whatever.
“Damian, this smell disgusts me. Hurry.” Flo pushed him across the room. “Glory, I take the
Sex and the City
DVDs with me. Okay?”
I shrugged. TV was the last thing on my mind right now.
“You expect me to watch your girlie TV shows?” Damian came out loaded like a pack mule. “I'll pay the company double. You'll be back here by tomorrow.”
Flo sniffed. “I don't think so. And,
caro
, you could learn a lot about women from that show.” She patted his cheek.
“Pah! I know all I need to.” He gave me a smoldering look. “I've had no complaints.”
“Not to your face anyway, little brother.” Flo smiled as two burly firemen appeared in the hall doorway. In minutes she had everything loaded and shouted “Ciao,” on her way out the door.
I headed into the bedroom. Boy, did I need a shower. I reeked. To hell with it. The building looked safe enough to me. Sure, with the electricity out, it was dark, but with vamp vision, that was no problem for me.
I hit the bathroom, shut the door and stripped down. Shampoo, that stupid generic cream rinse that left my hair limp and about ten minutes under hot spray had me feeling a thousand times better. No hair dryer, but I combed out the tangles and pulled my hair back. Of course the clothes I had to put on smelled bad, but I didn't plan to keep them on long. When I got back to Jerry's place I was going to thank him very personally for a place to stay and for making Valdez watch over me.
I stared at my rumpled bed. The fire hadn't made it upstairs, but it could have. And I would have . . . The bed blurred and I grabbed a tissue. Damn it, even
it
stunk like smoke. I threw some things into a suitcase and opened the door to the living room. Blade was there talking to a fireman who obviously was anxious for us to vacate the premises.
“We're leaving. Right now.” Jerry smiled at me. “You look wonderful, dearling.”
“We need to know where to reach you. The arson crew's down there right now. This fire was no accident. An investigator's going to want to question you.” The fireman glanced at the door leaning against the wall. “As soon as we get a structural report, we can let you know when it's safe to return here.”
“Sure. Fine.” I grabbed a magazine, tore off the cover and scribbled my cell phone number on it. “You can reach me here.” I thought about shouting accusations along with the name of suspect number one. Brent Westwood couldn't be allowed to get away with this. But Jerry squeezed my hand. He had his own plans for Westwood.
If the billionaire was responsible, the fire was just the latest in the hunter's attacks on vampires. The man had almost killed me more than once, and he wore a necklace made of fangs. I shuddered, remembering. Two of those fangs had belonged to Jerry's best friend.
Valdez woofed and headed for the door, obviously ready to get out of here. Me too. I held on to Jerry's hand and looked around. My home. I wasn't sure if I'd ever feel the same way about it again.
“We're outta here.”
"Come here, Gloriana.”
I slammed the lid on the washer and turned the knob. At least I'd have clean clothes tomorrow. I smiled at Blade who'd been beyond patient as he waited for me to cook Valdez's steak, rare of course. Then throw my first load into the dryer.
“Is that an order?” I moved up close and put my hands on his sweater, dark, like his eyes. His hair was wild, like he'd run his hands through it. I reached up to tweak it into place, almost holding my breath while I waited for his answer. This was old territory with us. He ordered, I didn't obey. Splitsville.
“Nay. I may have been slow with ye, Glory, but I finally understand that ye dunna take orders well.”
“And you also understand that I melt for the whole Scottish Highlander thing.” I grinned and slipped my hand under his sweater. Firm stomach, warm, not cold like people think vampires should be. We have a little heat, though not the same as mortals.
“Are ye? Melting?” He pushed his own hand into the back of my hair and looked into my eyes.
“Aye.” I stretched up to kiss his smiling mouth. “Take me to bed, ye lusty Scot. I have a need forâ” He kissed me silent, then swung me into his arms. He strode past Valdez who was sacked out on the living room couch, his paw on the remote control as he searched for porn. Have I mentioned that the dog is such a . . . guy?
“Hey, look. We're on the ten o'clock news.”
Jerry stopped behind the couch. “You were on the roof.”
I felt his arms around me. Good, at least he wasn't dumping me on my ass. Gloriana with a sheet over her head was not a pretty sight.
“Must be a slow news day.” The reporter's voice described the scene, but the billowing smoke told the tale. Then we were in front of my shop. The interview. Valdez was by my side looking like a regular dog, a black Labradoodle with a cute face and wagging tail. Amazing that he looked so ordinary. Especially since he'd spent the afternoon dragging vampires up flights of stairs to safety.
The camera panned to my burned-out shop and I swallowed. Would I be able to rebuild? I'd sunk everything I owned into that shop. I'd never let Jerry take care of me, though he'd offered often enough. I could always waitress again. I'd gotten good tips, especially if I showed some cleavage. Forget cleavage. On TV I looked like hell. Wet hair hanging, raccoon eyes because I'd fallen asleep with my makeup on. A bad habit, but my skin will always be twenty-four years old. Don't you hate me? I don't even use moisturizer.
On TV Flo was clinging to me like plastic wrap and all of Austin now thought we were a couple. Though why a hottie like Flo would hook up with a woman who looked four feet wide in her fireman blanketâ
“I think you and Florence make a cute couple.” Jerry dropped a kiss on my head.
I socked him in the arm. “How about some sympathy here?”
“You have that.” A softer kiss this time, close to my ear. “I'm sorry about your business, Gloriana. If you want to rebuild, I'll help.”
Help. As in labor? Knowing Jerry, it was help as in throwing money at the situation. Unless he was needed for swordplay, that was his best move. He could afford it. But could I afford the complications?
“Thanks. Let me see what the damage is first. And if Damian had any insurance.”
Valdez was doing his thing with the remote again. Forget Valdez. Jerry carried me up the stairs. To his bedroom. I admit I've spent a few nights there. He has a really nice home that he rents from Damian, who is a real estate tycoon. Renting. Like maybe he wouldn't stay in Austin. Jerry had moved here from Shreveport to be near me. But he didn't have any other reason to stay. I had to quit thinking. No problem. Especially when he dropped me on his king-sized bed.