Page 14 of Grayson’s Challenge

“And here I thought the world revolved around you,” Cain said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I stand corrected.”

“I’m not a little pawn for you to push around on your chessboard.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Oh, no? Isn’t it enough for you that Scanguards is opening a branch in New Orleans that you’ll be involved in? You want family ties too? So the princess becomes the sacrificial lamb.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. You’re blowing this out of proportion.”

“Am I? How would you have liked it if your father had decided who you were allowed to love? You would have shoved it up his—”

“Enough!” Faye suddenly interrupted. “You’re both hotheads. Calm down.”

Monique exhaled sharply through her nostrils, while still glaring at her father.

“Monique,” Cain started again. “All we’re doing is making an introduction at the New Year’s Eve party tonight. Just so you two can get to know each other.”

“I’m not interested. I won’t be paraded around for a selfish jerk to check out if I’m good enough for him! This is not the 19th century. And I’m not going to that damn party. You can tell Grayson I wouldn’t want to date him if he was the last man on earth and the survival of our species depended on it.”

“Grayson doesn’t know anything about this,” Cain said. “If he did, he wouldn’t be showing up at the party either.”

Monique huffed. “Way to sell it, Dad! He clearly doesn’t want me. And you expect me to go to the party so he can reject me in person? Wow, great thinking there, Dad! What a way to boost my self-confidence. Grayson fucking Woodford, the same little jerk who ridiculed me when I was eleven now gets a do-over? So he can embarrass me in front of everybody twenty years later? No, thanks!”

“Ridicule you? What are you talking about?” Faye interjected. “What happened?”

Monique tossed her mother a surprised look. “You don’t remember? He and his family were visiting us when he was twelve. We were all playing outside, Zach and David, and Patrick and Grayson. Isabelle was in the house. We went to that small lake just beyond the woods, and Grayson was daring everybody to jump into the water from a rock on its edge. But when it was my turn, I saw an alligator approaching. So I didn’t jump. I screamed, warning them to get out of the water. But then the alligator was suddenly gone, maybe because I screamed. And Grayson made fun of me saying I was a coward and a liar.”

“Oh, honey,” Faye said. “You were just kids. I’m sure he’s totally changed.”

She doubted that very much. “Oh really? Then maybe you didn’t hear what David said about Grayson when he visited San Francisco two years ago. Trust me, he’s an even bigger prick now.” She lashed a pointed look at Cain. “And that’s the guy you want to set me up with? How could you, Dad?”

“Monique, please,” Cain said, a little calmer now. “I’m telling you Grayson has grown up to be a very responsible young man, and what you need is a man who’s your equal. Not those human men that you lose interest in within a week.”

There was a kernel of truth in her father’s words. Yes, she needed a man who kept her attention, a man who was as strong and powerful as she was. But there were plenty of vampires and vampire hybrids who fit that bill. And she’d spent an amazing night with one of them. She certainly didn’t need Grayson.

“I can find somebody on my own. I don’t need your help.” And she used the word help in a very loose context. “Besides, I’m not desperate. I don’t see you setting Zach or David up with somebody. And we’re the same age. So they get to make their own choice, but I have to pick a guy you approve of? One you pick out for me? Thanks, but no, thanks!”

“Just come to the damn party tonight,” Cain coaxed. “You’d be in the driver’s seat, because Grayson doesn’t know anything about this.”

“Have you not been listening to a single word I just said?” Monique huffed, annoyed. “I don’t like Grayson. I won’t date him. So stay the fuck out of my love life! And if you can’t do that then I’m gonna get out of your life and move away from New Orleans.”

When Cain’s jaw tightened visibly, Monique pulled in a deep breath and stormed past him into the hallway. Fine, if he couldn’t stop meddling, then maybe it was best if she left.

“I’m going out,” Monique said to William who was standing in the foyer. “Alone.”

7

The V lounge looked festive. The women were wearing elegant evening gowns and the men classy tuxedos. Even the few kids in attendance, two-year old Harry and ten-year-old Dean mimicked their parents’ elegant clothing. Several waiters were roaming the room, offering alcohol and finger food to the humans, and human blood to the vampires and vampire hybrids.

Grayson looked around making sure everything was perfect. Tonight, after the lightshow at midnight, he would approach Samson and Cain and make sure that they knew he was serious about wanting to run Scanguards’ New Orleans branch when it opened in early January.

After the amazing night he’d spent with Mona in his arms, he was determined to pursue her in earnest, which meant it was essential for him to relocate to New Orleans. He wasn’t interested in a long-distance relationship, because already he was craving Mona’s touch, her fangs in his neck, his cock impaling her. He was surprised at his reaction to her, but he was no idiot: he knew when something felt right. And being with the sexy vampire hybrid who’d sunk her fangs into him felt utterly right.

He’d briefly flirted with the idea of inviting her to the Scanguards party, but had dismissed it just as quickly. He wanted to spend more time with her alone, before he subjected her to his family and friends, and before she found out that he was the heir to the Scanguards empire. He didn’t want her to be blinded by who he was, but rather like him for his own sake.

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, and Grayson turned to look over his shoulder.

“Really nice setup, bro,” Cooper said.