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I had to give it to the guy. He actually remembered my preferences. But maybe that was something he’d learned at the agency — memorizing details that could be useful to his case.
I wasn’t his case, though. Harlon was.
And, oops. Technically, Harlon wasn’t his case either, because Nash had left the agency.
I did my best not to wonder what exactly had led to that…and failed miserably.
“With a slice of lemon?” he went on.
God, were we turning into an old couple. Too bad we’d skipped over many happy, horny years of courtship to get there.
“Yes, please.”
On the first day of our uneasy alliance, simple questions like that had turned into major negotiations. Who would fetch what? One bill or two? And so forth and so on. By now, we’d started going with the flow. And gee, was that easier.
As Nash walked away, my eyes followed his perfect ass.
The woman sitting two tables over watched just as closely, then shot me a look that said,Lucky you.
I wanted to tell her it wasn’t like that between us — God, no! But when I glanced back at Nash, my mind went blank. It was only when he turned the corner that I focused on Sedona’s second-best sight: the red rocky outcrops. I zipped my jacket high, turtled my chin into the collar, and stuck my hands into my pockets, feeling the cold for the first time. Hadn’t it been warmer a moment earlier?
I stared off into the distance, thinking. When footsteps sounded behind me, I almost stuck out a hand for my drink. Then the hair on the back of my neck stood in warning.
That wasn’t the familiar stomp of Nash’s work boots. More like the light click of a woman’s heels.
“Well, well. Who do we have here?” a haughty voice snipped.
I whirled, then froze at the sight of a too-thin, too-pale woman with strangely dark lips, black hair, and an outfit better suited to Beverly Hills than Sedona.
Angelina.
Her outfit was rounded out by a silk scarf and a pair of huge, movie-star sunglasses, so as not to leave too much skin exposed. Because, you know. Vampires. The sun didn’t fry them instantly — that was an urban legend — but it did hurt enough that they preferred the indoors and nighttime.
“We?” I glanced behind her, searching for her evil twin or reinforcements.
God, please, no,I prayed quietly.No twin, no reinforcements. This vampire alone is bad enough.
Luckily, it was a royal we. So, whew. Just one vampire to deal with, though that was still one too many.
I glanced again. The table, chairs, and my body all threw shadows. Not Angelina, though.
Angelina’s cheek twitched. “You’re the balloon pilot, aren’t you?”
I did my best not to show my unease. Harlon hadn’t introduced us, but clearly, they’d talked.
“And you’re a friend of Harlon’s,” I said flatly.
She flashed a shark-attack smile, all teeth and gums. “Business associate.”
Her eyes swept over the table, and her nostrils twitched as if to locate someone.
Shit. She was after Nash, wasn’t she?
When she half turned to check the entrance, I snatched away the sole evidence of his presence — a crumpled napkin. Boy, did I hope Nash would spot her in time to stay away.
“Angela…” I started.
Her voice turned to pure ice. “Angelina. Angelina Saint James.”
