A Bite to Remember Page 0,4

to meet you. I'd appreciate any help you can give me in this matter. Welcome to my home."

Jackie automatically placed her hand in his, then blinked at the little frisson of awareness the contact caused. Startled, she quickly pulled her hand free. Her words came out fast and sharp as she said, "I'd like to have someone come out and set up a proper security system. It will run you a lot of money. If you have a problem with that..." Her voice trailed away as he nodded.

"If you think it's necessary, by all means, arrange it. With that out of the way, perhaps you can concentrate on my saboteur. I realize now I've been lax about such things. I suppose I'm lucky I haven't been robbed blind, or attacked. Thank you for the wakeup call."

Jackie stiffened as she recognized her own words to Tiny moments ago, and suddenly recalled that Vincent's kind had exceptional hearing. They could also read minds, she reminded herself grimly. She'd have to be careful around him and try to keep her thoughts blank when he was near. It was a trick she'd learned years ago. His people could read minds, but梙opefully梠nly if you were thinking something. Keep your thoughts blank, or recite some silly children's rhyme over and over, and they were somewhat hampered. She'd have to remember that around this man.

"I'll leave you to your phone calls and go shower and dress."

His words drew Jackie's attention to his bare chest and she blinked in surprise, wondering how she'd missed that earlier. The man was standing there, his dark hair sleep-tousled and wearing nothing but a pair of dark blue pajama bottoms. It left the wide, pale expanse of his chest on view. Jackie had been so angry with his behavior on answering the door, she hadn't even noticed his state of undress. Or how handsome his chiseled face and silver-blue eyes were. Amazing, she thought with disbelief.

"Once you're finished with the security people, I'll take you and Tiny shopping for the things you'll need in the kitchen during your stay," he announced. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

Turning on his heel, Vincent Argeneau left the room. Jackie moved to the door and stared after him. Her gaze slid with interest over his muscular bare back and his behind in the pajama bottoms as he walked back to the stairs. Realizing what she was doing, she shook her head and turned away to move quickly back to the desk.

"Do not even go there," Jackie reprimanded herself as she searched for a phone book to look up the numbers of local security firms. "The last thing you need is to start falling for a vamp. Been there, done that, and have the scars to prove it."

"Talking to yourself already. That's always a bad sign on a job."

Jackie gave a start at Tiny's words and glanced up to find him standing in the doorway, a large box in his hands. "What's that?"

"A delivery from A.B.B. The delivery truck pulled up as I walked out to the car."

"A.B.B.?" Jackie grimaced, knowing it would be blood.

Bastien had sent from the Argeneau Blood Bank for his mother to feed on while here. He'd warned her that Marguerite Argeneau was flying out to tend to Vincent, whom she was sure was lonely and depressed as he contemplated his single status in comparison to his cousins, who were each finding their life mates. Jackie didn't think he seemed depressed, but then she hardly knew the man.

Tiny shifted, drawing her gaze back to the burden he held. She stared at the box that no doubt held a cooler full of bagged blood and decided this job was probably going to be a trial. They didn't normally have to live in such close proximity to immortals and have their feeding habits in their faces. She didn't think she'd like it.

Sighing, Jackie found the listing of a security agency in the book, and began to dial the number on the cordless. "Put it in the kitchen and let him know it's here. He'll want to put it away."

Nodding, Tiny left the room as she waited for her call to be answered.

Two hours later, Allen Richmond of Richmond Security was rattling off all the improvements that had to be made, and the items that had to be installed, to make Vincent Argeneau's house secure. With each point he mentioned, Jackie put a mental check mark beside each item on the list in her head. This was