Stakes & Stilettos - Michelle Rowen [16]
I looked at the wound very rarely. Even though I was trying to keep up a good front, I was still deeply shaken by what had happened. Being around my friends and going through Amy’s closet seemed like a good way to keep my mind off nearly dying.
I had barely gotten any sleep last night or what was left of the night in question. I’d stayed at Thierry’s townhome both nights, even though I was officially still living at George’s place. Thierry was being very careful not to hurt me, therefore I hadn’t gotten much more from him than a few memorable kisses, so that wasn’t the reason for my lack of sleep. Unfortunately. No, it was reliving the staking over and over, and throw in my meet-and-greet with the Red Devil and you’ve got a recipe for insomnia.
Amy held up an electric-blue micromini with a beaded fringe. I made the gag sign. She pouted and put it away. “You know, it’s okay if you’re attracted to this guy. He does sound super hot.”
“Who? The Red Devil? You think I’m attracted to him?”
She and George shared a look. “Well, of course,” she said. “He did rescue you. And you said he was really sexy.”
“Did I really say that?” I frowned. “Look, even if he was Brad Pitt, it wouldn’t actually matter. I’m with Thierry.”
She rolled her eyes at that proclamation. She had as much of a problem with me being with that, in her words, “boring, stoic jerk” as I had with Barry, the man she’d chosen to marry—a short little creep of a vampire who’d hated my guts from the first moment we’d met.
“You know what they say,” George said, taking it upon himself to fluff up the pillows behind me so I’d be comfortable. “There’s nothing wrong with looking at the menu as long as you eat at home.”
“I’m not looking at any menus,” I said firmly. “I don’t eat anymore. I just drink. Besides, the menu was wearing a scarf so I couldn’t even see what kind of a restaurant it was.”
George cringed away from me. “Jeez. It’s just a saying, Little Miss Cranky Pants.”
I sighed. “I know. Sorry. I’m feeling edgy.”
“What about this one?” Amy pulled out a black dress with a bit of glitter on the top and held it up.
“Not bad.” I turned to George again. “Listen, tell me more about this Red Devil guy. Who is he? What has he done? Where did he come from?”
He scratched his chin. “Well, I don’t know much actually. Other than the fact that he’s a hero. Back in the old days when hunters tried to take out a bunch of vamps, the Red Devil would swing in and save them all.”
I thought about that. “How come I’ve never heard of him before?”
“There’s a lot of things you’ve probably never heard of. You’ve been a vamp for barely any time at all. And besides, until last night I thought he was long gone. Haven’t heard any rumors about him for years, and he’s never even been active in my lifetime. He did most of the big stuff in the old days stretching all the way back to the Crusades. The guy’s got to be over a thousand years old.” He shifted position on the bed. “But still hot.”
I thought about my scarfed hero. “I just can’t figure it out. Why would he be here? Why would he save me?”
George shrugged. “Maybe you should stop overanalyzing it and just consider yourself lucky.”
“Yeah, maybe.” My stake wound itched so I rubbed it lightly. “I never even got the chance to thank him.”
“Maybe you’ll see him again some day,” Amy said. “That would be so romantic.”
I looked at her sharply. “You’ve seriously got to lay off the Nora Roberts, Amy. I’m not interested in him. I would like to thank him for saving my life, but I may never get the chance. Besides, Thierry thinks he’s just some guy dressing up like the Red Devil. Trying to be something he’s not.”
“Oh, brother.” Amy sighed. “Who cares what he thinks? You have a gorgeous vampire superhero who risked his life to save you. You, Sarah. And you’re worried about what that reclusive jerk thinks?”
“I know