Steal the Light (Thieves #1)(13)

“She’s wearing too much makeup,” Daniel countered.

“I didn’t realize he was a demon,” I defended myself. “I’m sorry my puny human senses couldn’t get past his magic. It’s kind of why I bring Daniel to these meetings. It’s not my fault that supervamp got tricked.”

“Her makeup is extremely subtle,” Sarah huffed. “Do you know how hard it is to keep a transvestite makeup artist to the bare essentials?”

“You never take on a client until you’ve looked into his background.” Dad shook his finger at me to emphasize his point.

“Oh yeah, like you would turn down a million because you hadn’t done a skip trace,” I scoffed.

My father’s face went white. “Did you say a million?”

“She didn’t need a makeover,” Daniel said firmly.

“Did Daniel not mention that little number?” I asked as my dad lowered himself shakily to a chair at the kitchen table. “What a surprise since he practically drooled all over the money. It’s half now and half when we turn over the object.”

“This is even worse than I thought,” Dad said to himself.

Sarah was shaking her pixie bob at Daniel. “That’s because you don’t understand the nature of women. We need makeovers. It’s about renewal and feminine power.”

“There’s nothing powerful about mascara and new shoes.” Daniel faced off with her.

My father let his head sink into his hands in what I thought was a complete over-dramatization of the situation. “How could this happen? Where did I go so wrong that my precious baby girl could get herself into a situation where she could go to Hell like this? If I could only switch places…”

Sarah had pulled out one of my brand new, altogether-too-expensive candy red stiletto heels. She pointed it at Daniel. “Let me tell you, buddy, it’s gonna feel powerful when I stake you with it.”

“Yer mother, God rest her beautiful soul, is crying her heart out somewhere in Heaven.” My father managed to squeeze out a single tear meant to induce maximum guilt.

“My mother is in Cleveland. I talked to her Saturday. She and Leonard, the accountant, are doing just fine,” I pointed out. “She didn’t die, Pop. She left when that pissed off client set a poltergeist on your ass.”

Dad set his jaw stubbornly. “Well, she’s dead to me. I prefer my version of the story.” He paused for a moment and another thought came to him. “Are ya telling me ya have half a million dollars in cash just sitting out in the open in this hellhole of an apartment?”

Daniel was smartly backing up as Sarah moved toward him. “I’m just saying I liked the way she looked before.”

“Of course not,” I replied to my father. “I totally hid it under the bed.”

At least that brought the color back to his face. “Under the bed!”

Sarah continued to back Daniel into a corner with the threatening shoe. “Well, it’s not up to you. Her date is going to think she looks fabulous.”

“Date?” Daniel and my father said in unison, the two arguments finally coming together.

I didn’t like the complete shock that both of the men had written all over their faces. “It’s not like I’m some kind of a monster. I can get a date.”

I didn’t mention that I hadn’t actually gotten this particular date, Ingrid had. They didn’t need to know that.

“You have a date,” Daniel said as though he needed a moment to let it sink in.

“Yes, I have a date, with an actual male,” I replied sarcastically. “Someone in the world who doesn’t mind being seen with me in public.”

“You have a date.” A smile crossed my father’s face. “That’s wonderful, darling. I mean, it would be wonderful if ya didn’t have all of demon kind trying to eviscerate ya.”

“I like the positive attitude, Dad. Now I would like to get this one date in before my inevitable death.”

I picked up my dress and walked into my bedroom, glancing at the clock on the wall. I didn’t have much time before my date was supposed to pick me up. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. Sarah had done a damn good job. I looked polished. I looked like a woman about to go on a date and not make an idiot of herself.

The door opened behind me, and Daniel let himself in. He stared at me for a moment. “I think it’s wonderful. The date, I mean. It’s far past time for you to start seeing someone.”

It took everything I had to keep my face neutral when his words cut so deeply. I was glad I had decided to do this for myself and not to make Daniel jealous. It was so obvious that wasn’t going to work. Ingrid was wrong. There was nothing left between us except his need to see me safe. When he was sure I was secure, he would leave, and I wouldn’t see him again.

“Yes.” I agreed, not looking at him. “I should have done this a long time ago.”

He paced a little, walking from the door to the window and back again. “It’s what I want for you. It’s what I’ve always wanted for you.”

“That’s not true. Once you wanted something else.”

“Things change.” Daniel stopped at the window, staring out. “Now I want you to find a nice man and settle down. I want you to find someone who can give you a good life.”