Stakes & Stilettos - Michelle Rowen [94]
I put on some new lingerie I’d never worn before because it was too nice and I was saving it for a special occasion, and then got dressed in a bright-pink cashmere sweater and short black skirt. The sweater was high enough in the neckline to conceal the gold chain but tight enough to make up for the lack of cleavage. Black nylons and black stilettos finished things off nicely. I even used Velcro rollers to give my hair a little extra oomph and then spent a good half hour painstakingly applying my makeup, using my large shard to reflect how it was going.
Sometimes I wondered why vampires didn’t have reflections. Really, it didn’t make much sense, did it? I was solid, I felt solid. I wasn’t see-through. But a regular mirror didn’t show me or the clothes I wore.
Too weird.
But I was currently too happy to give a crap.
I finished applying my Viva Glam lipstick and smiled brightly at my well-made-up reflection. I’d ringed my eyes in black liner and had gone extra heavy on the mascara. My hazel eyes popped right off my face. Though, not literally, of course, because that wouldn’t be good.
I’d taken it fairly light on makeup and fashion—all things considered—over the past couple of months. Strange that when you’re scared for your life these things tend to take a backseat to other worries.
But a little polish sure did feel good.
Even George approved. When I finally emerged from my bedroom through a cloud of hairspray and Givenchy eau de toilette, he gave me an appraising look.
“Who’s the Cosmo Girl?” he asked. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
“Very funny.”
“Let’s go. It’s my last night to make tips.”
I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do to make money after tonight. However, with my newly optimistic outlook, I felt rather certain that everything would work out perfectly.
My plan for tonight was to show up at Haven, let Thierry get a load of my new and improved look and outlook, and then force him to take me out on the town for drinks to celebrate Valentine’s Day and my new lease on life. Then we’d go back to his townhome and I’d show him a few other things, not the least of which was my brand-new lingerie, which I had a funny feeling he might like quite a lot.
So what if I was stuck as a nightwalker? As long as I had my new necklace all was right with the world, because none of the symptoms even mattered anymore. I could forget about my problems and think only of my future. With Thierry.
Hell yeah. It was going to be a very good night.
The world seemed brighter. The stars were out. The moon shone large in the black sky above. The night air was cold and refreshing against my face. My feet hurt like a son of a bitch because of the four-inch stilettos, but it was a good pain. And one that, after a lifetime of wearing questionable footwear, I could deal with quite easily.
George and I entered Haven just before it opened. The bouncer, who I knew had a minor crush on me, eyed me warily as I passed him. That wasn’t the usual look he gave me. Strange.
But then I remembered that everyone expected me to be all nightwalker-from-hell. They all treated me like a mental patient on the brink of having a final breakdown.
Not tonight. Nothing could go wrong tonight. I seriously wouldn’t allow it.
Amy and Barry were inside, and they both looked worried, their expressions growing graver as I approached.
“Sarah,” Amy said warily. “Good to see you.”
I gave her a quick look up and down. “Somebody’s a blond again.”
To go with her back-to-normal blond hair she wore a bright red miniskirt and sparkly white shirt with a red sequined heart over her chest. Barry wore his usual minituxedo.
She touched her hair. “I had it done this afternoon. My scalp feels like it’s on fire.”
“I know the feeling.”
Her bottom lip wobbled. “I feel so horrible about everything.”
“Forget about it.” I smiled at her. “What are you drinking?”
“Um… it’s a chocolate martini.”
“Can I have