A Vampire for Christmas(54)

Could he drink from me often without…killing me?”

A tilt of her head wondered at her brazen claiming of the vampire. Did she really know what she was getting into?

I miss you, Mom. And I need your advice. There’s this guy, who I know you’d like, but…well, he has issues.”

She wanted Daniel to want her. As more than a Christmas liaison.

She’d give anything to make this work.

Even blood?” she asked the mirror, and her reflection nodded.



A CALL FROM HER MANAGER was not unexpected, only not entirely appreciated during her vacation. Olivia set aside the pan of mulled wine as she wished Lisa a merry Christmas and asked the requisite questions about her children.

They’re drooling to open presents,” Lisa replied in her rapid Jersey drawl that no six-shooter could outdraw. “I wanted to let you know I got a date for you tomorrow night.”

A date? I don’t need—”

I know, you never need anything. But you do need all the publicity you can get if you’re going to hit it big. And the performance is going to be aired on a major network that will feature background bios of the performers, along with candid shots of them backstage. Don’t you even want to know his name?”

Olivia’s silence was only allowed a split second before Lisa replied, “Parker Troy. Dude is hot, sexy, has a number-one single on Billboard right now, and he’s singing right after you tomorrow.”

The singer with whom Olivia hadn’t been able to commit to performing a duet. “Lisa, I—”

It’s spin, Olivia. You show up on his arm. The paparazzi goes wild. We get a few shots of the two of you holding hands backstage. Then when we ask his manager to do the duet you’ve been dying to do with him, they agree.”

I haven’t been dying to do—”

It’s what your record label wants, Olivia, and that’s how we’ll spin it to Troy’s manager. You need to take the next step, to be seen, and this is the only way to do it. Oh, and you let him kiss you, too.”

Olivia gaped. She understood that putting two people together before the paparazzi was spin and that it could definitely help her career. But kiss the guy? He was handsome as all get-out, dated supermodels and actresses and was known to spend a fortune on them, but she had no interest in him romantically.

Lately, she preferred her men a little mysterious and sharper of tooth.

Lisa, I don’t think I can do this. In fact, I know I can’t. I have—” A boyfriend? Not really. A lover, more like. But could she even claim that?

No arguments, Olivia. And no avoiding this issue with indecision. It’s your next step. Parker is looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night.”

It’s just a clutch and a cheek kiss,” Olivia said. “I’m not going home with the guy.”

Why? He’s the most adorable thing you could put between two slices of bread.”

Lisa and her weird analogies about handsome men. They were crushable, lickable, swimmable or sandwich-worthy.

We’ll talk more tomorrow night,” Lisa said. “I gotta go. The puppy is tearing a package open!”

The phone clicked off, and Olivia tossed her cell phone toward the couch. Every part of her being cringed and shuddered as if finally her fears over a vampire had arisen, except the only bloodsuckers involved were mortals with dollars signs in their eyes.

She poured a cup of the mulled wine and sat before the kitchen counter, but couldn’t drink the spicy brew. Pressing her forehead to the counter, she kicked herself inwardly for not standing up to Lisa. Screw the duet. She didn’t need that kind of press. Her mother would not have approved. Maybe. She didn’t know anymore. When she looked over her shoulder there was no one standing there to offer a nod and confidence.

But what mattered even more: What would Daniel think?

And why did she care?

You care because he means something to you.”

She only wished she meant the same to him.



DANIEL WATCHED THE CLOUDS move over the moon, which looked full, but he knew tomorrow was the night. The woman who had fallen asleep in his arms had done so only because he smelled vodka on her breath and suspected the entire pint sloshed in her belly now. She was desperate, and he didn’t blame her. But alcohol wasn’t the answer.

Slipping away from her, he rubbed his head and then squeezed his temples, wishing he could make it all better with a snap of his fingers. But that wasn’t the answer, either. Nothing was worth it without a fight and good hard work. Tomorrow night would try his skills in ways he couldn’t imagine. What skills? Mortality retaining powers? Hell.