Sookie Stackhouse Boxed Set (Books 1-8) - Charlaine Harris [693]
“Don’t they look lovely together?” a well-dressed gray-haired woman said. I realized she was the one who’d come in after me.
“Yes, they do,” I agreed.
“I’m Genevieve Thrash,” she said. “This is my husband, David.”
“Pleased to meet you,” I said. “I’m Sookie Stackhouse, and this is my friend, John Quinn.” Quinn looked surprised. I wondered if that was actually his first name.
The two men, tiger and Were, shook hands while Genevieve and I watched the couple dance a bit longer.
“Your dress is so pretty,” Genevieve said, giving every indication she was speaking sincerely. “It takes a young body to show off a gown like that.”
“I appreciate your saying so,” I said. “I’m showing a bit more of that body than I’m comfortable with, so you’ve made me feel better.”
“I know your date appreciates it,” she said. “And so does that young man over there.” She nodded her head subtly, and I glanced in the direction she was indicating. Bill. He looked very good in his tuxedo, but even being in the same room made something within me twist with pain.
“I believe your husband is the lieutenant governor?” I said.
“You’re absolutely correct.”
“And how do you like being Mrs. Lieutenant?” I asked.
She told some amusing stories about people she’d met while she followed David’s political career. “And what does your young man do?” she asked, with that eager interest that must have helped her husband up that ladder.
“He’s an events coodinator,” I said, after a moment’s hesitation.
“How interesting,” Genevieve said. “And yourself, you have a job?”
“Oh, yes ma’am,” I said. “I’m a barmaid.”
That was a bit startling to the politician’s wife, but she grinned at me. “You’re the first I’ve ever met,” she said cheerfully.
“You’re the first Mrs. Lieutenant Governor I’ve ever met,” I said. Damn, now that I’d met her and liked her, I felt responsible for her. Quinn and David were just chatting away, and I think fishing was their topic.
“Mrs. Thrash,” I said, “I know you’re a Were and that means you’re tough as tough can be, but I’m going to give you a piece of advice.”
She looked at me quizzically.
“This advice is pure gold,” I said.
Her eyebrows flew up. “Okay,” she said, slowly. “I’m listening.”
“Something very bad is going to happen here in the next hour or so. It’s going to be so bad that it might get a lot of people killed. Now you can stay and have a good time until it happens, and then you’ll wonder why you didn’t listen to me, or you can leave now after acting like you’ve been taken ill, and you can save yourself a lot of unhappiness.”
Her gaze was intent. I could hear her wondering whether to take me seriously. I didn’t seem like a weirdo or a crazy person. I seemed like a normal, attractive, young woman with a heck of a handsome date.
“Are you threatening me?” she asked.
“No, ma’am. I’m trying to save your ass.”
“We’ll get one dance in first,” Genevieve Thrash said, making up her mind. “David, honey, let’s take a spin around the dance floor and then make our excuses. I’ve got the worst headache you ever felt.” David obligingly broke off his conversation with Quinn to take his wife to the clear space and begin waltzing along with the royal vampire couple, who looked relieved to have company.
I was beginning to relax my posture again, but a glance from Quinn reminded me to stand very straight. “I love the dress,” he said. “Shall we dance?”
“You can waltz?” I hoped my jaw hadn’t dropped too far.
“Yep,” he said. He didn’t ask if I could, though as a matter of fact I’d been watching the queen’s steps intently. I can dance—can’t sing, but I love a dance floor. I’d never waltzed, but I figured I could do it.
It was wonderful to have Quinn’s arm around me, to