“Yeah, I get that.” Ray looked me over. “I so get that.”
“Let’s take this out of the public eye.” Rafe grabbed my elbow. “My crew is loyal, but big bucks from a tabloid would be a temptation I wouldn’t expect anyone here to resist.”
My stomach twitched. “I’ve had enough tabloid headlines to last me a century.”
“Comes with the territory. You don’t want to go public with the V-man, Glo? Can’t say I blame ya.” Ray gave Rafe a sneering inspection. “What do they say? Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas?”
“You son of a—” Rafe pushed Ray toward the office door, which I managed to open just in time for them to stumble through.
“That’s enough.” I shoved between them after I got the door closed. “I know you’re not fighting about me, because you’ve decided I’m not worth it. Right, Ray?” I had my back against Rafe and could feel his tension.
“I’d never say that, babe. But I took your advice, got with someone willing to show me the vampire ropes.” Ray grinned and winked. “All the ropes. And chains and even a few gadgets I’d never heard of before.”
“Ooo. I really like this guy. Come on, Glo. Can’t we do him too?” Alesa urged me toward Ray. I told her to stuff it. That earned me a stab to the eye and a hot flash.
“Nadia. Yeah, she’s been around and won’t get hurt when you take your show on the road.” Rafe backed up. “Which you always do. Am I right?”
“You in a hurry to see me leave, shifter?” Ray kept smiling. “Feeling threatened, are you?”
“Not in the least.” Rafe slipped his arm around my waist. “I’ve seen you in action, remember? Seen Nadia’s action too. You’re a matched set. A lot of fun and games, and then ‘See you around, sucker.’” Rafe tightened his hold on me.
“Nadia said you’d been there, done that.” Ray sat on the edge of a crowded desk. “We’ll see who gets bored first, won’t we?” He smiled with a hint of fang. “Hope that doesn’t tie your tail in a knot, Valdez.”
“Nadia and I are just business partners. Go for it.” Rafe released me and walked over to open a laptop. “Sounds like you’re off the hook, Glory. Nadia can mentor your fledgling now.”
“Ray, I’m glad you’re having fun.” Yeah, right. My hell-bound side wanted every hot guy I knew to stay mine all mine, but I stuffed her back down again. “But I’ll always be here for you, if you need me.” I ignored Rafe’s grumble. “For mentoring.” Oh, I was so good. Alesa gagged.
“Offer a trade. You give him vamp tips, and he can show us those ropes and chains.” Alesa really liked Ray.
“Sure. I get it.” Ray looked from me to Rafe. “Can’t wait till Blade gets back in town. I want a front-row seat.”
Rafe was by my side again, his frown ferocious. “Glory, didn’t you say you wanted to talk to some of the guys out there about working for you Wednesday night?”
“Yes, I do.” I fake smiled at Ray, who was way too easy to read. If it wasn’t for Nadia, he’d have already told Rafe to forget the club opening. Distraction time. “I’m throwing Flo’s bachelorette party here.”
“Nate said you propositioned him. You hiring male dancers?” Ray began unbuttoning his shirt. “How about me? I can bump and grind. I’ll even audition.”
“You wouldn’t—” I laughed, couldn’t help it. A famous rock star strutting his stuff would make my party impossible for Aggie to top.
Alesa was all over it. “He can bump and grind me anytime.”
“Glory’s got the entertainment covered. She’s looking for waiters and bar help.” Rafe really wanted to toss Ray through a wall. Didn’t take mind reading to see that.
“Then maybe I can stop by and sing a song.” Ray hadn’t rebuttoned a single button. Such a yummy chest.
“Flo would love that, if she’s sober enough to remember it.” I grinned just thinking about it.
“Oh? How’re you getting a vampire drunk?” Ray was suddenly really interested.
Uh-oh. Ray had been a week away from rehab for alcoholism when he’d been turned vampire. Besides sunlight, the thing he’d missed most since his vamp initiation had been booze.
“I really hate to tell you this, as your mentor and all, but there’s a synthetic blood, several actually, with an alcoholic kick. Blott-O, Undead Drunk, to name a couple. You can get a pretty decent high.” I glanced at Rafe. “Like the Vampire Viagra, they also make you horny. We’re going to have plenty of it at the party, courtesy of Damian, Flo’s brother. He’s a local supplier. I didn’t realize it before, because it’s not in my budget, but apparently he’ll sell to anybody who’s got the cash to order an exotic brand. I’m surprised you didn’t discover it in L.A.”
“Chip probably made sure I didn’t. I have way too many people in my life who try to run it. You know what I mean?” Ray moved close despite Rafe’s growl.
“You bet I do.” I smiled because Ray and I were friends in that moment. “But we just want you to take care of yourself, Ray.” I put my hand on his arm.
“I get that.” He ignored Rafe, who was looking dangerous and ready to pounce. “I appreciate it, sometimes. Right now I’m going to practice my acoustic number on the piano, then I’m heading out. I’ll let you know if I decide to drop by Wednesday. But anytime you need me, Glory, you have my number. That hasn’t changed.” He slid his thumb down my cheek, then opened the door and walked out.
“Always makes a move, doesn’t he?” Rafe glared after him.
“Was that a move? Didn’t notice.” I shrugged. “But I hated turning him on to the blood with alcohol. He’s going to run straight to Damian, I know it.”
“He’s a big boy, Glory. If he gets addicted, tough shit.” Rafe settled at his desk again. “Let me know which guys agree to work Wednesday night. I’ll send the bills directly to Flo. You did say she’s paying, didn’t you?”
I sighed and sat on the edge of the desk. “Yes. I hate that I can’t afford to do this for her on my own.”
“Well, that’s the way it is. Not many working stiffs could. She wants everything first-class, and that’s what she’s getting. It’s making her happy so just relax and enjoy. You’re arranging some neat things. If getting asshole Ray to dance in the buff would make the party better, hell, call him and say come on.” Rafe grinned. “I’ll take pictures and sell them to the tabloids. Make us both some serious coin.”
“I’m sure Alesa would say go for it, but don’t you dare.” I heard the piano and Ray’s sexy voice start in the other room. “Great acoustics, Rafe. Just listen to that sound. Ray’ll make this club opening a tremendous success. I doubt it’s in your best interests to throw him to those tabloid wolves.”
“Damn, I hate when you make sense.” Rafe stood and kissed me. “Go on out there. You know you’re dying to listen. I’ve got paperwork. Just keep your distance. Now that you’re mine, I’m not sharing.”
I eased out of his arms when he tried to make the kiss into foreplay. So possessive. Man, was I in deep. I should call him on it, but then I’d miss hearing Ray. So I just smiled and walked out to sit and listen while Ray did a complete set, much more than he’d do for the opening. He’d always been able to seduce me with his music. It was all a fantasy, of course. He’d pulled his shirt out of his pants, and it was open over a chest still and forever bronzed from when he’d been a sun-worshipping human, prefangs. He sang of love found and love lost and lovers who needed each other.
I sighed and just drank him in, lost in the whole Israel Caine mystique. I could have had him once. Yeah, right, Glory. And he would probably already be tired of you by now. Rafe was right about that. Ray has a pattern. You made a study of the rock star. Remember? That was my own common sense talking. Alesa was silent, just soaking up Ray’s sexy singing.
When he’d sung the last note, Ray just got up, nodded in my direction without even a smile and walked away. I heard the back door click shut behind him. Israel Caine. If I’d had this bit of demon in me back then, there was no way I would have put him off and not sampled every bit of what he had to offer. A little heartburn later would have been so worth it.
Rafe came out of his office, took one look at my dreamy face and stomped back inside, slamming the door hard enough to make glasses rattle behind the bar. I didn’t want to hurt him, but a little space between us right now wasn’t a bad thing.
I got up and approached Jimmy, who’d been busy setting up shelves. Flo’s party had to be priority one for now, and sighing over lost opportunities got me zilch. Guess that’s why I couldn’t beat myself up for what had happened with Rafe. I had always wondered. Now I knew. It had been incredible. And if Jerry hadn’t already owned my heart, I could probably be perfectly happy with Rafe. I doubted that would be much consolation for my shifter. I just hoped I could find a way to fix things so we could still be friends.
Alesa cackled and heated me to near boiling. “Good luck with that, sister. My money’s on my demon honey. Somehow I doubt this Jerry can beat him in the love department.”
I asked Jimmy for a glass of ice and rubbed it on my face. Alesa was so wrong. But I hoped she was long gone before Jerry got back. Had to be. This torture had to stop.
Alingerie shower. And of course Flo wanted to drive me out there in her new car. How could I say no? I sure didn’t want to drive that horrible old car Westwood had given me. It started, but when I’d used the window defroster, there’d been a terrible smell, like maybe a small animal had died inside the dashboard. Eww. Add a weird whistling noise, and you had creepy and eww. The driver’s seat had a loose spring. Hit a bump and you were spanked. I was not accepting the junker. Either Simon or Westwood were buying me a new car. Alesa cheered me on.