Runaway Vampire (Argeneau, #23)(86)
“Not quite,” Francis countered, and pointed out, “We have everything but lingerie.”
Lucian groaned and sat down again. Russell did as well. Dante, however, moved closer to offer, “I will help with that.”
“Oh, no you won’t,” Mary said at once on a laugh. “Lucian would end up dragging you out of the changing room again like he did at the last store.”
This was the third store Francis had dragged them to since leaving the Enforcer House that morning. The first hadn’t seemed to have much in the way of clothes suitable for warm weather. They’d left the second in a rush after Dante had decided to “help” her change and scandalized nearly everyone in the store with the moans, groans, gasps and cries he’d drawn from Mary as he’d helped himself to her rather than just “help” her undress in the tiny cubicle. If Lucian hadn’t interrupted and dragged Dante out when he had, they’d probably just now be waking up from unconsciousness in a heap on the dressing room floor. Or in jail for indecent something or other.
When they’d entered this store, Lucian had insisted Dante sit with him and Russell and leave Francis alone to help her.
“Mary is right,” Francis said at once, stepping between Dante and Mary. “You would be of no help at all. Go sit down.”
She smiled faintly as disappointment immediately filled Dante’s expression and he turned to reclaim his seat, and then turned to Francis. “Actually, while I appreciate all your help today, Francis, I don’t think I want you helping me pick out intimate apparel either. It’s kind of . . . well . . . intimate,” she said dryly.
“He understands completely,” Lucian said, standing up again. “We shall leave you to it and go have a beverage in the food court while you get what you need.”
Dante looked surprised at the announcement and stood up with a frown. “I do not want to leave her by herself. What if something happens?”
“We are not in Texas,” Russell pointed out reasonably. “She is perfectly safe here in Toronto, Dante.”
“Russell’s right,” Lucian announced, and then turned to begin collecting the clothing Francis had been setting on the last chair as he spoke. “We will pay for all of this now so that you need not be hindered by trying to keep track of it all while you select your intimate apparel. Russell, Francis and Dante will then take it out to the car and join me in the food court for a beverage,” he added, handing items to each man until all the clothing was gathered but he held none. “I shall leave my credit card with the cashier. Just have her ring up everything you want and collect my credit card when she is finished with it, and then join us in the food court.”
Turning away then, Lucian headed for the front of the store. Russell and Francis immediately followed, but Dante paused to kiss her quickly on the forehead. “Shout if you have any problem, anything at all. I will hear you and come running.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said with amusement. “I have shopped before, Dante.”
“I know, Tesoro. But you are my life. I worry.”
“You’re sweet,” Mary murmured and leaned up to kiss his cheek. “Now go. I have scanty silky bits to buy to tempt you with.”
As she expected, his dark eyes immediately began to glow silver and he moved toward her, growling under his throat.
Laughing, Mary ducked the hand he reached for her with and waved to the front of the store. “Go.”
“Dante!” Lucian’s voice rang out. “Get your ass up here. We need the clothes for the girl to ring up.”
Sighing, Dante gave her a smoldering look, and then turned to carry his portion of her clothes to the front of the store.
Mary watched him go with amusement, and then headed to the intimate apparel section of the store. Without Francis there fussing, she was much quicker at picking things. Some white panties and bras, some flesh colored, a couple strapless, and then some sexy sets purely for Dante’s appreciation. Mary picked up some fishnet stockings too, purely for the bedroom. She was not going to actually wear them out of the air-conditioned hotel room. It was too hot in Venezuela for that, she was sure.
Having grabbed everything she thought she might need, Mary headed for the front of the store, surprised to see that the men were just leaving with about a dozen bulging bags of her clothes. She almost picked up speed and called out to them, but then caught herself and slowed instead, making sure they were out of the store before she neared the front.
The cashier was very friendly and helpful when Mary set her purchases on the counter and mentioned that Lucian Argeneau had left his credit card for her. She immediately called a second woman to the front so that she could fold and bag each item as it was rung up. Mary was out of there so quickly she thought she would probably catch up to the men if she moved quickly enough, so she didn’t.
Mary didn’t want to catch up to the men. She wanted to do something she knew none of them would approve of, and didn’t want interference. She glanced in the direction the men had headed as she slipped out of the store. Reassured that none of them were looking her way, she then headed in the opposite direction, in search of the nearest exit.
“I still think I should have stayed behind with Mary,” Dante grumbled as they headed toward the exit nearest to the parking garage where they’d left the SUV.
“She will be fine, Dante,” Lucian said grimly. “Let it—” He paused and sighed as music began to play on his person.