Stakes & Stilettos - Michelle Rowen [46]
“Butch called earlier to say that he will be back on the job today,” Thierry said. “I told him to come directly here.”
Well, that was a relief. As much as I didn’t like having a bodyguard around, it did lessen the stress. A bit.
“I’m not sure if you’ve heard,” Barry said. “But Gideon Chase is dead.”
Thierry nodded. “I did hear that.”
Barry went into the kitchen and returned with a piece of paper. “I printed this off the Internet this morning.”
I looked at the paper. It was Gideon’s obituary on the VHA (Vampire Hunters of America) Web site. Alongside it was a striking picture of Gideon wearing a tuxedo and smiling for the camera. He’d been a very handsome man with chiseled cheekbones, a strong jaw, hair almost as dark as Thierry’s, and piercing green eyes that seemed to stare out at me even through the poor quality of the printout.
My eyes narrowed at the picture. Better luck next lifetime, creep.
Amy peered over my shoulder. “Holy cow, he was hot. Too bad he was evil.”
“Any hunters in town with affiliations with Gideon are currently at his funeral,” Thierry said. “It’s quiet right now in the city. It will help not worrying about that so much as we search for the witch.”
“You will totally find her,” Amy said brightly. “I’m sure of it.”
She’d turned her attention away from her husband and the picture of hot-but-dead Gideon to stare up at Thierry. I personally witnessed a small but disconcerting amount of eyelash fluttering.
Thierry cleared his throat. “Your confidence is appreciated.”
She beamed.
Right. Her crush on my boyfriend was going to have to be addressed very soon.
“What can I do to help?” I asked.
“The best thing for you to do would be to stay here with your friend until we return.”
In other words, I’d get in the way. No big surprise there. I decided not to argue. It had been a hard enough day already.
“Okay, I’ll stay here if you can do something for me,” I said. “Can you swing by George’s and pick up my high-school yearbooks? I had my parents send them a week ago so I could freshen my memory of who’s who before the reunion. Maybe if I go through them again I can remember Stacy better.”
He nodded. “I’ll get them for you.”
“Is it okay if we go shopping later?” Amy asked. “I need a few things.”
Thierry appeared to mull that over. He looked at me. “If you’re feeling well enough when Butch arrives, and if it’s after sunset, then you may leave this house. I’ve informed Butch of the situation, and he will be on the lookout for any unusual signs.”
My babysitter. If it meant I could go out, then I was all for it. I hate being stuck inside for too long. Unless I’m stuck inside a mall.
I chewed my bottom lip. “I’m not planning on biting anyone else. I’m feeling totally normal now.”
“Still.” Thierry’s jaw was set and he came closer to me. He ran a warm hand down my arm. “Please be careful.”
I nodded. “I will.”
I went up on my tiptoes and pulled his face down for a kiss. Our lips met and held before the kiss grew more passionate. Even with Amy and Barry witnessing this, I couldn’t seem to stop. I didn’t want to stop. I tightened my hold on him. His hands were firm on my lower back.
Then he tensed against my lips.
I frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t think we should be too close until we work this problem out.” He looked down at me and his eyes were as black as I sensed mine still were. “There seems to be something about this curse that affects me as well.”
I didn’t let go of him. He didn’t release me either. It seemed odd to see black eyes, completely without any whites, in someone’s face, but it suited him in a very strange way. It looked right. It gave him an extreme edge of danger that I found myself uncontrollably attracted to.
I knew my thoughts were growing cloudy. I noticed this from what seemed like miles away. I wanted to kiss him again. Even his warning didn’t lessen that growing need.
“Okay, what exactly is going on?” Amy asked un-easily.
“I can’t seem to control this.” Thierry ran his fingers along the side of my neck and