Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs by Gerry Bartlett Page A

He opened the door as soon as the limo stopped. “Say hi to Blade for me. The man doesn’t pose a threat to me, Valdez. He’s stuck in the past. Glory knows it and so do you. My lady’s a ‘now’ kind of woman. When she gets her new look, she’ll be ready for even more changes.” He grinned, then slammed the door.
    “Arrogant son of a bitch,” Valdez muttered as the car pulled away from the curb.
    I looked back and saw Ray surrounded by female fans and a few photographers. He was laughing and signing autographs, the picture of virile hot guy in worn jeans and leather jacket over a white T-shirt. I’d never seen Blade in that kind of outfit. Probably never would. Just like I’d never see Ray in a kilt. Though he had great legs . . .
    “He shouldn’t have gone without his bodyguards.” I frowned as he disappeared from sight. “Some of his fans get aggressive.”
    “He’s only a few steps from the auditorium entrance and he is a freakin’ vampire. But I guess he can’t exactly show fang to his adoring public, now, can he?” Valdez snorted. “Call Brit and have her meet him there if you’re so worried about him.”
    Brittany was model gorgeous, had a killer body and the skills to match. Valdez had something going with the shifter who was one of Ray’s paranormal bodyguards. Ray’s mortal guards still hadn’t figured out why Ray had added her to his security team, but they weren’t complaining. She could twist any man around her well-manicured little finger, my V-man included.
    “Good idea.” I hit speed dial and soon had Brit headed to Ray’s side.
    “Don’t worry about Caine. He can handle a few female fans gone wild.” Valdez sat up when we got near the hotel.
    “I’m more worried about this sunlight thing. I want Brit on Ray’s tail his every waking moment. Get her alone and tell her that. If he tries to strike a deal with Ian to use this new potion, I want to know about it so I can try to head Ray off.”
    “So it’s okay for you to drink whatever swill MacDonald’s cooked up, but not for your buddy Ray?” Valdez nudged me with a paw. “You see the problem with your logic? This Scot’s got a hell of a lot more reason to do something nasty to you than to a world-famous rock star, Glory. You were made by a Campbell. That puts you solidly in the enemy camp in his book.”
    “It’s an ancient feud. Surely they’ve moved past it.”
    “You’ve been to Castle Campbell, heard the laird rant on the subject. These feuds never die. The one with the MacDonalds is particularly grim. Lots of murder and mayhem in the past. Google the two clans and see what you get. I think you’ll find that Blade will have good reason to go nuts when he hears you’ve put your life in Ian’s hands.”
    “That’s overstating it, don’t you think? I’m just trying to lose a few pounds. That’s all.” I frowned at the cloth bag in my lap with my two bottles of supplements. “Ray’s deal is much more serious. He’d have to actually walk into the sun.”
    “Yeah, well, he’d have to stay awake to do that. Seems unlikely.” Valdez showed his teeth. “Once Blade hears the man’s got you drinking God knows what and biting mortals, MacDonald won’t live long enough to give Caine a glimmer of light.”
    “You leave Jerry to me, V. I mean it. Not one word to him. I’ll tell him about this when I’m ready.” As the car pulled up in front of the hotel, I decided Ray was right about one thing. Blade’s reaction to this deal with Ian would be important. If Jerry started issuing orders to me again like he’d done for centuries now . . . Well, it just wasn’t going to work. And I was really tired of the same old arguments. You know?
    With that depressing thought going round in my head, I walked into the hotel. We had to dodge only two paparazzi who snapped pictures of Valdez and me. I’d forgotten V’s leash, which earned us frowns from some of the hotel guests and probably a headline about me and