A Vampire's Promise Read Free Page B

the familiar whiff of bourbon, and placed the glass back on the tray. “Tell him thanks . . . but no thanks.”
    Laycee spluttered and almost sprayed beer over the table, while Miss Juicy opened her eyes wide. Confusion was replaced by stunned surprise. Perhaps I didn’t realize who had sent the drink? I could almost see the conflict inside her as she tried to decide whether to do a brisk about-face before I changed my mind or give me the chance to rectify my mistake. She earned my grudging admiration for the choice she made.
    â€œAre you sure?” she asked, “It’s the big blond guy.” Nodding her head in the direction of the bar, she added, “The one all in black.”
    â€œYeah, I know who you mean,” I said slowly. “The guy who looks like a Viking.”
    Any admiration I felt vanished when I saw her face light up with barely contained glee at my apparent stupidity. After landing something so mouth-wateringly delicious, I was throwing it back? How dumb was I? Still, my turning down all that testosterone meant she could have another crack at him. I almost told her to go for it, but I’m not that nice.
    â€œWhatever,” she said, blowing out an exaggerated breath that matched the lift of her shoulders. I watched her walk away, wondering how she would rephrase my refusal.
    â€œAre you like, seriously, out of your fucking mind?” Laycee hissed.
    â€œLaycee, I’m not about to accept a drink from some guy who’s just passing through.”
    â€œYou don’t know that.”
    â€œAw, come on!” I rolled my eyes. “Take a good look at him.”
    â€œI have been,” she snapped irritably. “Problem is, he hasn’t been looking back!”
    I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. This was a big admission on her part. The only guy I ever knew not to look at Laycee had had the world’s only justifiable reason. He was blind. But as his seeing-eye dog did try to sniff her crotch, it still counted as looking in my book. To hear her say that my Viking— when had I become possessive?— hadn’t as much as glanced her way was astonishing.
    â€œNot once?” I queried slowly.
    â€œNot. One. Single. Time.” The end of her ponytail swooshed across her shoulder as if helping to emphasize her point. “Trust me, Rowan, every time his head’s been turned in this direction, his focus has been fixed on you, girlfriend, and only on you.”
    Any comment I was about to make was drowned by the burble of her cell phone. She answered and immediately began glowing. I didn’t need to be a psychic to know who was on the other end.
    â€œGuess you’re not gonna need me to give you a ride home after all, huh?” I said when she was done grinning and murmuring. I poured the last of the beer into her glass, but I lacked her deft touch and the foam spilled over the rim and ran down the side of the glass.
    â€œSorry, Ro, guess not.” Grabbing a handful of napkins, she helped me blot up the mess I’d made.
    I glanced over at the bar and saw Miss Juicy grab her own napkin, only she was using it as notepaper. After scribbling something down, she slid it across the bar to the Viking. I figured it was probably directions to the nearest motel, along with her phone number. She looked like the type of girl who always sat in the front car of a roller-coaster ride and kept the safety bar in the upright position.
    â€œI think she’ll be a much better fit for him, in more ways than one,” I said, knowing Laycee had also witnessed the exchange. A stab of jealousy rolled through me, but I told myself it was only hurt pride. Something that a good night’s sleep would cure.
    â€œYeah, well, you gotta admit he is a looker.” Laycee sounded wistful, and now that the rest of his evening was apparently decided, I could agree. He was incredibly good-looking.
    â€œGuess I’ll just have to put him in the One