with clotted cream. I love them enough to suffer the consequences even though I know what they’re going to do to me.”
Roz regained her sense of humor, at last, and giggled. “Go ahead. Eat a lot of them. It’ll serve Nick right.”
***
Nick waited to meet Sly and Morgaine at the bar the next afternoon. He had hoped he’d have time to talk to Brandee first, but she was busy with a table full of tourists who wanted to chat. Just as she finished up with them, the mysterious daytime vampires entered and spotted him in the booth at the back.
They strode over. Sly removed Morgaine’s purple jacket and his long, black coat and tossed them over one of the hooks on the wall. Then they slid into the booth across from Nick.
Sly smiled. “I can’t get over how much you and your brother look alike. I almost called you Konrad.”
“I’m glad you brought your lovely bride, Sly. I didn’t think you were going to come, Morgaine.”
Morgaine squirmed. “I might as well confess. I have agoraphobia, although it’s getting better. I’ve been going out short distances with Sly or my cousin, but today will be a major step for me.”
“Really? How?”
“I plan to wait here by myself until Sly returns.”
Sly glanced around. “This place is cozy enough. She should be okay. Especially knowing this is a safe place for our kind. Trust is a big part of overcoming her fears.”
“Fears?” He probably shouldn’t have said anything, but he was fascinated by the thought of a phobic vampire. So much for the bad-ass stereotype.
“I also have nyctophobia,” Morgaine said. “Fear of the dark.”
Nick raised his eyebrows. “Are you going to be all right after we leave? It’s late afternoon. The sun might set before we’re back.”
“I’m fine in a lighted room.” She smiled at her husband. “And I’m fine even outside at night as long as I’m with Sly.”
Brandee strode up beside them and smiled. “Hello, everyone. Can I get you anything from the bar?”
Nick rose and gathered Brandee into a side squeeze. “Sly, Morgaine, this is my girlfriend, Brandee.”
Sly rose and shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brandee.”
Morgaine stayed seated but reached out and shook her hand too. “Likewise.”
“Nice to meet you both.” When Nick gave her another squeeze, Brandee whispered, “I’m working,” and squirmed a bit until Nick reluctantly let her go.
He knew she could whisper all she wanted and the vampires would still hear every word, but she didn’t know that. He was slightly embarrassed that she hadn’t acted as proud to be with him as he was to be with her.
Perhaps Anthony had some sort of unwritten rule about fraternizing with the customers. He didn’t know that for sure, but perhaps it was frowned upon.
“So…drinks?” she asked.
“Nothing for me,” Sly said.
“Are you sure?” Nick returned to his seat. “How about a nice Bloody Mary?”
Sly rolled his eyes and put an arm around Morgaine’s shoulder. “No. I’m all set. How about you, hon?”
“No thanks. We just had a couple glasses of wine before leaving the apartment. Maybe later.”
Wine before going to a bar? Maybe that’s necessary for her to relax a bit and leave the apartment. I’m glad Brandee doesn’t have any phobias—that I know of. He turned to Brandee. “In that case, sweetheart, one butt wiggle as you walk away is all I need.”
“You’re incorrigible.” She winked at him and left.
“She seems like a nice girl,” Sly said.
“She is. Talented too. She went to art school but waits tables to pay the bills.”
“Oh. That’s too bad,” Morgaine said. “Too many artists are undervalued. That’s where the term ‘starving artist’ comes from, I guess.”
Nick eyed Brandee’s retreating backside. “She won’t be starving for long. She’s very talented.”
Sly twisted to look behind himself, then faced Nick again. “So this is the bar, eh? Who here is paranormal? I can’t tell just by looking.”
“Neither can I.”
A tall man with sandy brown hair sporting a bright yellow streak walked through the front door and glanced around.
“Take the guy who just walked in, for instance. I can tell there’s something different about him, but I don’t know what it is. I’ve never seen him before.”
Sly eyed the same guy and nodded. “I guess you’d have to ask him. Is that how it works here?”
Nick shook his head. “It’s not that simple. Sometimes my sense of smell will tip me off. But we get to know each other first, by striking up a conversation like in any other bar. Eventually, when