Real Vampires Have Curves by Gerry Bartlett Page A

out of the car, looked into his eyes, ordered him to go to bed and sleep until morning, then let him go.
    â€œA white haired vampire. I have known a few, but none of them would have pulled a stunt like this. And none of them are in Austin that I know of.” Damian looked at me, his admiration right there for me to see. “You handled this very well.”
    â€œThank you.” I basked in his approval but didn’t need it. I was feeling pretty good about myself. Successful shop, calm in a crisis and with a handsome vamp at my beck and call. I wouldn’t have had to call him at all if I’d thought about it.
    Damned wimpy female mind-set. I’d worked really hard to cure myself, but slipped occasionally. Like tonight. I started to apologize for bothering him, when Damian put a finger over my lips.
    â€œDon’t say it. I’m happy to help you. And we’re sticking together, remember? The man was in no shape to drive even if he’d had a car.”
    True. So maybe I wasn’t such a wimp. Damian wore a black shirt tonight. Silky again. Not that I planned to touch it.
    â€œWe’d better spread the word that a white-haired vamp is risking all of us. He has to be stopped.” Maybe my shop name hadn’t been such a great idea. Ray had come straight to me looking for a vampire. Not exactly blending.
    â€œQuit worrying, Gloriana. The vampire community here is tight. We’ll find him and straighten him out.” Damian frowned and put the car in gear. “If he wants to stay in Austin, he’s got to play by our rules.”
    â€œGood.” I felt a little better. New place, new friends. You never knew what you were getting into when you relocated. The Austin vamps seemed to have it together.
    â€œI don’t know what to make of the praying. Most vampires are afraid God has turned his back on them.” Damian smiled and touched my cheek. “Not you and me, of course. How could God not love us?”
    His smile was charming and I couldn’t argue with his logic.
    â€œThank you, Damian. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything tonight.”
    â€œNot anything important. Busy night?”
    â€œYes. Wonderfully busy. We’re a hit.” I kicked off my shoes and wiggled my toes. “It’s hard work though. And I’m not sure I’ll do enough business between now and dawn to justify staying open twenty-four hours.”
    â€œTime will tell. Give it a while for word to spread. Your shop is interesting. And there are many night creatures looking for a place to shop. Not just vampires, but mortals who work a night shift.” He turned a corner and headed up a hill.
    â€œThank you. And you’re right. There are lots of night owls, mortal and otherwise. I’m impatient, I guess. Always did like instant gratification.”
    Damian’s eyes lit up. “My philosophy exactly. How would you handle a detour before I take you back to the store?”
    â€œDetour?” I looked down to where he held my hand. Boy, he was smooth. Instant gratification. Was it my imagination or did everything he said or did seem to be about sex? Not that I was complaining. He turned up the winding street on Castle Hill.
    â€œI think it’s time I show you my coffin.”
    I laughed and brushed at my hair blowing in the cool night air. “You’ve just reinvented the come-on.”
    He grinned as he pulled into the curved driveway and parked in front of the heavy wooden front door. “Is it working? Will you come on?”
    He was out of the car and opening my door before I could decide. The last time I’d been here, Blade and I had made love. Blade had sent red roses tonight.
    â€œAre you trying to kill this?” Damian pulled me out of the car and looked down at me.
    Of course he’d read my mind. He toyed with the tab on my zipper. It was low enough to show an inch of cleavage, thanks to Emmie Lou.
    â€œThere is no this. And I