Stakes & Stilettos - Michelle Rowen [56]
“That’s nonsense, Sarah. You may have spoken poorly during this one moment in your life, but that doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.”
“Sure it does.”
He sat on the edge of the desk near me. “No, it doesn’t. What happened in the past is just that, the past. You are a different person now. You’re older and wiser and see the error of your ways.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. “Isn’t it funny how you can give me that advice, and yet when it comes to your own past you can’t take it?”
“That is different.”
I shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. I know I’m not the same person I used to be. But I’ve always thought that in high school I was the nice girl. That people liked me. That I had a lot of friends. Sure, I didn’t like school very much and I wanted to get the hell out of my hometown at my earliest convenience, but I’d always thought of myself as one of the good guys. But maybe I wasn’t so nice after all. If I was a mean girl to Stacy, who else wasn’t I nice to? What else might I be conveniently forgetting?”
“You are one of the good guys. There is no doubt in my mind that you are good, Sarah.”
“If you say so.”
He gave me a very rare smile. “I do. I’ve met many people over my existence, be they human or vampire. Out of everyone I’ve ever met, I would have to say that you are one of the most genuine and special of them all.”
“You really mean that?”
He nodded and reached down to take my hand in his. “Most assuredly.”
His hand felt warm against mine. “Should you really be touching me?”
He didn’t let go. “I am not feeling the darkness at the moment, only the light.” He paused. “Besides, Butch is waiting just outside the door. I’ve asked him to intervene if anything… unusual occurs.”
I grinned at him. “That sounds vaguely voyeuristic, but I’m okay with it.”
He drew me closer, the chair rolling smoothly against the floor, and leaned over to kiss me chastely on the lips. He threaded his fingers through my hair. “I know we haven’t found her yet, and I am very sorry for that, but it won’t be long.”
“When we do find her, or if she finds me first, I know what I’m going to do.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
“I’m going to apologize to her. Now I know I have something to apologize for, I’m going to beg her forgiveness and hopefully that will convince her to break this stupid curse.”
“That’s a very mature decision.”
“I’m very mature.” I kissed him then pulled back a bit. “Hey, listen, Ron has an interesting theory about the Red Devil’s reappearance. You should ask him about it.”
“As I’ve said before, it’s not the Red Devil. The man you met the other evening was an impostor.” He said it with such certainty.
I shook my head. “You don’t think it’s even possible that he’s the real deal? Maybe he is. Stranger things have happened.”
His jaw tightened. “If he attempts to make contact with you again, Sarah, please let me know. I am wary of his true intentions.”
I crossed my jeans-clad legs and tried to feel comfortable but I only felt tension emanating off Thierry in waves at any mention of the Red Devil. “Wary? But he saved my life.”
Thierry stood up from the desk and crossed his arms. “He happened to be in the same area as you when you were in danger, and he acted on that. Whether it was truly to save you or perhaps to wedge his way into your life we don’t know.”
“Why would he want to do that?”
He shook his head, his expression tense. I don’t know what it was about this guy that got Thierry all wound up, but it wasn’t a good thing. Not at all.
“Okay, forget it,” I said. “I promise you’ll be the first person I tell if he sends a smoke signal my way.”
His frown remained. “And you mustn’t let his charms work on you.”
“Charms?”
He raised an eyebrow. “They do say that the Red Devil is a charming man.”
“And you think my head would be turned so easily?”
He shrugged slightly. “I don’t know.”
“Obviously you didn’t get the memo that stated I’m only interested in one ancient vampire with issues, and it’s you.”
“Issues?” he repeated.
“So many you should offer yearly subscriptions.”
His mouth quirked. “I see. Well,