Six, p.19
Six, page 19
“Do I want to know?” Paige asked as they all headed for the stairs.
“All in good time, Miss Paige,” Lorcan said.
He grabbed a baseball hat and sunglasses before he headed out into the afternoon sun. Paige caught a whiff of something burning before he piled into the back of the UV-protected muscle car. Once more, Nadia drove Paige to one of her former homes.
“You’re burned,” Paige said as she saw nasty welts on Lorcan’s arm.
“You aren’t paying attention, Lorcan,” Nadia chastised. “Paige, I keep burn ointment in the glove compartment, if you don’t mind.”
“Sorry; it’s been a long week,” he said. Paige handed him the little tube. As her hand brushed against his, she felt a surprising heat radiating from his fingers. “And I had to eat in a hurry.”
“Paige,” Nadia snapped.
Paige turned quickly, focused on the woman driving. “Yes?”
“I hope you know that we don’t want to keep you from your family,” Nadia started. “Toy has been watching your mother closely, however, and the Jaeger has been by at least once. We need to defuse this—”
“Don’t worry; I’ll blow her off and go back to my cell,” Paige muttered.
“Actually, if you’d like, you can spend the next two weeks at a house,” Nadia said. “I think it would be good for you to have a little normalcy before it’s your time.”
“I have a spare room,” Lorcan said. “If your great-grandfather follows you, I’d rather he be led right to me than to any of my family.”
“Do I have a choice?”
Both Nadia and Lorcan waited too long to respond. Paige stared out the window and muttered, “I’m getting used to this. I’m so glad I’ve kept most of my stuff in my suitcase.”
“It’s not what I wanted—” Lorcan started.
“Can we deal with this later?” Paige asked. “I’ve got to meditate before we face my mother.”
She spent the rest of the forty-minute drive into East Memphis focusing on tightening and relaxing her feet, legs, calf, and core. By the time they pulled up a block away from Maria’s house, Paige was calm and even smiling. A motorcycle pulled up beside the Barracuda.
Nadia rolled down the window to let the driver speak. Paige could recognize the familiar scent of Toy, but her face was obscured by a helmet and visor.
“Give me one more pass, fearless leader. Freckles checked that the cameras were clear, but that won’t catch a fanged friend,” Toy said.
“You put cameras in my mom’s house?” Paige hissed.
“Cameras, bugs, and we hacked her phones. The NSA don’t have nothing on a vampire and his pack of ninja bitches, right?”
“Just do a drive-by, Toy,” Nadia sighed.
In the backseat Lorcan played with his phone. Paige gawked at an ancient vampire hunting and pecking as he texted someone. By the time she looked back, Toy had peeled away.
“I hate autocorrect,” Lorcan grumbled. “Why does this infernal machine think it can read my mind?”
“There is a vampire texting in the backseat,” Paige said incredulously.
“Those that do not adapt are doomed to extinction; besides, I have young people around me to keep me in touch. I do miss the buttons. It’s like I blinked and they all disappeared. Kayleigh calibrated it for me and my different electrical signature. The first-generation phones were a nightmare for all of us.”
“Weird,” she muttered before they rolled forward after an all clear from Toy.
Soon she was sitting in her mother’s cul-de-sac, waiting to find the strength to lift the door handle. Nadia reached over and squeezed her hand.
“Do you think I should go in with you?” Nadia asked.
“Nadia, scout, please,” Lorcan said. “I’ll go in.”
“Wait—what?” Paige asked.
“Read your texts. Apparently your ex has been begging your mother to talk to him. She also mentions wanting to meet the new guy that Cal was whining about,” Lorcan said.
“You’re coming into my mother’s house—”
“If you’re worried, have her invite me in,” the vampire said.
“Invite a vampire in—are you nuts?”
“Forget whatever nonsense you’ve seen in movies,” Lorcan snapped. “Vampires have four laws—no killing, secrecy, hospitality, and the sacredness of an oath. If I’m invited in, I could be prosecuted if I violate the trust and hurt your mother.”
“All right, but later I want to learn more about these laws,” Paige said.
“Trust me; you could write a book on it,” Nadia muttered before letting the vampire out.
Paige stiffened as Lorcan grabbed her hand. Before she could shake him off, the front door opened, and one Maria Lucia Carmichael stared intently at a strange pale man holding her newly shorn daughter’s hand. Nadia managed to slip away.
Maria eyed the beautiful muscle car as she took a few pointed steps toward the couple. She tapped her toe expectantly against the brick walkway. Paige broke away from the vampire and ran to get a hug. Her mom made an audible “oof” as Paige all but tackled her.
“I—” Paige started.
Her mom stopped her by tilting up her daughter’s chin. She gave her a strained smile before looking over at Lorcan.
“Have you had lunch?” she asked. “Come on in, both of you.”
Lorcan paused at the threshold. Maria raised a brow.
“He’s English,” Paige said. “All manners, you know?”
“So you’re seeing my daughter, but you don’t want to come into my house? What are you waiting for, a formal invitation?”
“I wouldn’t presume—” Lorcan started.
“Get your ass in here. Is that formal enough for you?”
“Indeed,” Lorcan said as he took his first step inside. He waited for the door to close before removing his hat and glasses.
“You want to sit on the deck and enjoy a little sun?” Maria asked.
“If it’s all the same, I’m more of an indoor sort,” Lorcan said. “Irish complexion and all.”
“You look like you need the sun, Mr.—”
“Darcy, Lorcan Darcy.”
“You finally found your own Mr. Darcy, Paige. Shame he doesn’t look like Colin Firth,” Maria sighed. “Where are you from exactly, Mr. Darcy?”
“I was born in Northern Ireland, but I’ve spent most of my years in the London area,” he said as they were led to the bar in the kitchen. “Wow, something smells divine.”
“I’m catering a FedEx retirement party. He wanted my Sunday sauce and the rosemary chicken,” Maria said as she wandered over to check the oven. A pair of tented roasting pans exuded a siren song of pork, beef, wine, and tomatoes. Paige’s stomach growled audibly as the oven was opened.
“Are you cooking at home? Isn’t that a big no-no?” Paige asked as she saw the pile of pots and pans.
Maria gave Paige a withering look. “Oh please,” she sighed. “These are for freezing for us. The party stuff is all back at the office. Did I tell you that I hired Rico again? Business has been so good lately that I have help. Of course I might not have needed him so soon if my normal little helper hadn’t dropped off the face of the earth for a week.”
“I get the point,” Paige said, lowering her eyes.
Maria started a pot of water on the stove. “Tea? Coffee? Sodas, anyone?”
“Water is fine,” Lorcan said. “Paige told me that you run your own catering company, Ms. Carmichael—”
“And what do you do?” she asked as she grabbed some glasses.
“I work for the family business mostly, but recently I’ve picked up a few hours working the bar at Mayweather’s Pub,” Lorcan said.
“Family business, eh?” Maria said as she handed him a glass of ice water. Her eyes burrowed right through him. “And exactly what kind of business is your family in?”
“Mom—” Paige started.
Lorcan set his hand gently on Paige’s shoulder. “My father was into politics. I am fortunate to belong to a family with old money, so most of us don’t have to do much of anything. One day I’ll be expected to step back up, but for now I’m trying to find my own way,” he said. “As I’m sure you’ll love to hear, I’m currently recovering from a rather messy divorce, and Paige has been a good friend.”
“So you are a rich, recently divorced bum who thinks he’s worthy of my daughter?” Maria asked flatly.
Lorcan took a sip of his water. It seemed to take an eternity for him to swallow. Paige could only watch in awe as her mother completely stared the vampire down.
“You are quite right,” he finally said. “I’m not worthy of your daughter. She’s far too kind, intelligent, and perceptive for a thug like me, but then again, who would be worthy?”
Paige blushed as her mother walked around the bar and gave her daughter another huge hug. She ruffled the tangle of curls on top of Paige’s head. “Was this haircut his idea?” she asked.
“No, this was rage hair, Mom. I got so angry after what Cal did that I needed to change,” Paige said.
“And do you like the G.I. Jane look, Mr. Darcy?” Maria asked. “And if you spout some nonsense about how my daughter is beautiful no matter what she does, I will knock your limey cocksucking ass to the floor. Are we clear?”
“Crystal, ma’am,” Lorcan said. He looked askance. “I did like it longer, I must confess.”
“Oh my god, I’m growing it out,” Paige protested. “Seriously, you guys are talking about my hair?”
Maria squeezed Paige again. “Well, at least he’s honest. I will go unload my shotgun,” she sighed. “Just warning you, Mr. Darcy; if you hurt my daughter, I have friends and family that will hurt you.”
“Of that, I have no doubt,” Lorcan said with a little laugh.
“Now, you are both staying here long enough for dinner, and you are going to tell me all about yourself, Mr. Darcy. Paige, you are going to help me make dinner. You still need to learn how to cook because both of you are stupidly skinny.”
“Yes, ma’am,” both of them said.
They spent the next hour puttering around Maria’s kitchen. Paige found comfort in washing dishes, while a surprisingly game Lorcan chopped vegetables. Both human women watched in awe as he minced an onion with the speed and precision of a Michelin-starred chef. He then ran his knife cleanly through a carrot and made teeny-tiny brunoise with clinical precision.
“Have you ever worked in a professional kitchen?” Maria asked.
Lorcan shook his head. “I’ve helped out Tina and some others from time to time,” he said.
“Those are some serious knife skills for a bartender,” Maria said as she walked by. She gave a little “Hmm” as she picked up a few pieces of beautifully minced celery. “I’d love to see you break down a chicken.”
“Anytime. I’m far better at butchery than this,” he said. Paige stared at him. “Anyway, is there anything else you would like to know?”
“How did you meet Paige?”
“At a party actually.”
“Paige, you went to a party?” Maria asked incredulously.
“Mom, it was that dinner for Tina’s opening. I told you about that,” Paige said as she loaded up the last dish.
“You didn’t mention Mr. Darcy—”
“Mom, please! I’m gonna get some more towels,” Paige muttered as she fled from the room. As she was digging in the linen closet, she could smell a lovely mix of perfume and Italian leather mixed with basil and tomatoes—the unmistakable aroma of her mother.
“Look, I know I come on strong sometimes,” Maria said softly. “But if there is something wrong, I hope you’ll tell me.”
Paige shut the linen-closet door. “Mom, I just lost my boyfriend and quit my job. I’ve pretty much thrown the last five years of my life into the toilet and I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I really just need some space and time to figure it all out.”
Maria gave her another huge hug. “Baby, that is all I wanted to hear from you,” she said softly as she held her close. “Just promise me that you won’t let some guy set you two steps back when you’re trying to take a step forward, OK?”
Paige sniffed back a few tears as she gave her mom the biggest hug she dared. “I promise. Lorcan, he’s just a friend—”
“Uh-huh,” Maria said flatly. “Sure.”
“Mom!” Paige said. She peered over her mother’s shoulder to make sure that the vampire wasn’t looking their way. “Why—?”
Maria gave Paige the knowing look only a mother could muster. “I see the way he looks at you, especially when he thinks no one is looking. That is not the look of someone who wants to be your friend,” she said.
“He is just a friend,” Paige sighed before wandering back to the kitchen to finish the dishes. She caught Lorcan nibbling on a bit of prosciutto. He tore the bottom off the piece and offered it to her.
“I had no idea you could get ham this good in Memphis, Ms. Carmichael,” he said.
“That’s because I cure it myself, Mr. Darcy. Paige and I bought a pig last year as a Christmas present. I hope that two-timing bastard enjoyed those ribs,” Maria snorted. “Actually I hope he got salmonella. If he calls here one more time, Paige, I might not be able to control my temper.”
“Don’t you worry. I’m not going to go crawling back to him, Mom.”
Maria gave Lorcan a quick once-over. “I’m sure you’ll make sure of that, right, Mr. Darcy?”
“Mom!”
“I may be your mother, but I’m not dead. I’m just happy that you’ve upgraded to a new friend.”
“Well, I’d appreciate it if we changed the subject—”
“Fine by me. How long ago was your divorce, Mr. Darcy?” Maria asked.
Paige sighed, “This is going to be a long night, isn’t it?”
14
“Well, that was interesting,” Lorcan said as he slid into the driver’s seat for the first time since Paige had ever met him. He pulled down the visor, and a set of keys dropped into his lap.
“That’s one word for it,” Paige said. “Where is—?”
Lorcan checked his phone. “Nadia and Toy are taking care of some business tonight along with the twins. I guess now is as good a time as ever to show you your temporary home,” the vampire said.
“You actually know how to drive?” Paige asked.
“Yes, but I only do it at night, for obvious reasons. Dinner was lovely, by the way.”
“I never knew that vampires could eat spaghetti.”
Lorcan paused to enjoy the ferocious roar of the engine. “Well, I did have to vomit it right back up, but it tasted great both ways,” he said with a wicked little grin. “If I had truly consumed that much vegetable matter, you would be driving me straight to Kyle.”
“So he’s a vampire doctor too?”
“One of the very few I trust. He’s my personal physician and veterinarian,” Lorcan said. “I thought you knew that.”
Lorcan drove them back out east, past Germantown and Cordova and well into the high-end suburb of Collierville, not five miles from the gymnasium grounds. Paige surveyed the matching rows of brick houses and the gated community. The beast of a car rolled into the suburban splendor of manicured lawns and identical trim paint schemes.
They pulled into a maroon brick McMansion at the end of one of the streets. A sign for a Republican candidate marked the end of the driveway, and a tasteful row of daylilies lined the front walk. As he got out of the car, a neighbor walking his dog waved ever so cheerfully.
“You live in the suburbs?” Paige hissed.
Lorcan waved to his neighbor before opening the garage door. He had to roll down the recycling bins to the street before he could park the Barracuda next to a sensible Japanese sedan. Paige gawked at the neat rows of lawn equipment and power tools.
“Well, if you were looking for an ancient vampire overlord, would you look here?” he asked before letting her in.
“No—”
“Exactly!”
Paige wandered into a showroom-worthy cavern of beige walls and tasteful neutral furniture. A few vaguely artistic, mass-market décor pieces lined the walls, while the open kitchen looked too shiny and clean to ever have been used by a real cook.
“All of the amenities are over there,” he said, pointing to a little office area next to the kitchen. “There’s a computer, television, and surprisingly comfortable sofa. I’m sorry, in advance, for the state of the refrigerator. It’s just me here, so I only stock it with blood and garnishes.”
“Great,” Paige said. “All a modern vampire could want.”
“It’s really not me, but it keeps up appearances. Kayleigh has the outside camera rigged with a convenient malfunction when I have to leave and the neighbors are remarkably self-absorbed, so I can hide here as the eccentric software developer who works odd hours.”
“It’s really not what I expected,” she said as she took the bag of leftovers to the fridge.
Sure enough, the stainless steel behemoth of a commercial-grade refrigerator was stocked with plasma bags, bottles of booze, a vat of something red and coagulated, and a cup full of fresh mint. Paige nestled the stack of containers on the vodka and gin side of the shelf. She couldn’t resist peeking in the freezer, where more bags of red ice cubes and a large tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream greeted her.
“I have to know—” she started.
Lorcan closed the door. “Yes, I mix the blood with the ice cream when I want a treat,” he said with a sheepish grin. “It has to be mint chocolate chip though. No other flavor will do.”
Paige turned as green as the ice cream. “That is awful.”
“It could be worse. My wife enjoys a very special foam on her cappuccinos—”
Paige barely held back her gag. “Remind me to have you describe vampire food when I don’t want to be hungry,” she muttered. “So, is this couch mine?”
“My house is now yours,” Lorcan said, surprisingly solemnly. “I offer you my every hospitality, and as long as you are under this roof, you are under my protection.”
“So that’s really why I’m here,” Paige sighed. “Is it a vampire thing?”
