Flirting Under a Full Moon - By Ashlyn Chase Page 0,63
but I try not to drink alone.”
“Hey, I’d join you, but I’m working.” Unfortunately. I sure could use a glass of wine right about now.
“I know. Well, thank you for checking on me. I really am all right. I just can’t get over this being a safe place for paranormals to mix and mingle.”
“What exactly do you mean by paranormals?”
“Oh, there I go again. I just don’t know what other word to use. Supernaturals? What do you call vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters collectively?”
Brandee almost said “myths,” but this woman was deadly serious.
“Customers, I guess.”
Morgaine slapped the side of her head. “Of course. You make no distinction. That’s very PC of you.”
The outside door opened and Brandee spotted Nick as he walked in. Oh, thank God. But the woman’s husband wasn’t with him. Tough noogies. She was going to confront her boyfriend, and if the woman freaked out, so be it.
***
Wow. Brandee looks furious. She marched over, grabbed Nick by his collar, and led him to the back door. If he hadn’t come willingly, he had the feeling she would have screamed at him in public.
“Nick, what the hell?”
“Shhh. What’s wrong?”
Brandee lowered her voice, but the tone was unmistakable. If yelling in a whisper was possible, she was doing it. And she’d said “hell,” not “heck.”
“The crazy lady you stuck me with said Boston Uncommon is full of paranormals. When I asked what she meant, she said vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters. Oh, she also mentioned a wizard and said she was a witch. I thought you and your twin were some kind of oddball mutation. Like X-Men. She seems to think the world is full of them, and this bar in particular. She even said the owner is a vampire. Is she talking about Anthony?”
“Calm down, sweetheart. Trust me. There’s nothing to be upset about. I’ll straighten this out.” He strode to Morgaine and sat opposite her.
“You have Brandee scared out of her wits. What did you tell her?”
Morgaine blinked. “Oh, my Goddess. She didn’t know about the bar? I got the distinct impression that she knew.”
“She knows what I am, but she thought Konrad and I were the only ones.”
Morgaine’s hand covered her heart. “Oh no. I thought she was offended because I was using some kind of politically incorrect term when I mentioned paranormals. My psychic senses rarely let me down like that. Maybe because I was so nervous and she was so calm, I didn’t pick up the right vibe.”
Fuck. “She said you told her about the owner being a vampire. Is that true?”
Morgaine laid her head in her hands, covering her eyes. “Dear Goddess. Yes. I’m such an idiot.” As she lifted her head, a red tear shimmered in the corner of her eye. “I’m so sorry. What can I do?”
Nick looked over at the bar and saw Brandee whispering frantically to Angie. Angie’s eyes were growing wider by the second.
“Damn. First of all, don’t cry. I don’t know how we’d explain bloody tears.”
Morgaine grabbed a napkin and dried her eyes. Then she swiveled enough to see what Nick was looking at and gasped. “She’s not telling the other human employees, is she?”
“I don’t know. Angie is her best friend and roommate. I need to make sure she’s not confiding in her. Sit tight. Sly will be back soon.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yes, he’s fine. He’s helping the police with another situation.”
“Why him? Why not you?” Morgaine trembled and her breathing appeared to grow shallow and quick, as if she were hyperventilating.
“I’m not supposed to be involved in police business anymore. It’s complicated.” Not as complicated as what’s going on in Brandee’s head at the moment, I’m sure. “I’ll be right back.”
Morgaine rested her head on the table. “Oh Goddess.”
Nick didn’t think he should leave her like this, but he had to get to Brandee before any more damage was done. Sadie’s reading had just ended, and her customers were pulling cash out of their wallets.
“Sadie,” Nick called. “Can you come over here for a moment? It’s important.”
She rose and grasped the money held out to her, then hurried over to Morgaine and laid a hand on her shoulder. She was already speaking to her calmly and reassuringly, so Nick left them and stalked toward Brandee.
She skirted the bar before he got there and waited on a table.
Damn it. She’s avoiding me. He took a seat at the bar next to the man with the yellow streak in his hair. “Angie,” he called to the bartender.