“Shit, it’s my house,” she said, starting to pout. Some women couldn’t pull it off, and some looked charming as hell when they tried. Jessica was one of the latter. “That doesn’t stop them from leaving me out all the time.”
“What is the sound of one woman bitching?” Betsy asked the air. “If nobody’s around to hear the sound of Jessica bitching, does she actually bitch?”
“Oh, you’re so evicted.”
“She’s right, though,” Sinclair said mildly. “It’s inappropriate for Liam to come with us if we leave Jessica behind.”
“Tough shit,” he said. “I’m going.”
Betsy’s eyebrows arched but, shockingly, she said nothing.
“Sophie’s not facing down some bad killer vampire without me, and that’s how it is.”
“So there, Sinclair.” To Liam, Betsy said, “Good for you. It’s kind of romantic. Totally annoying, but romantic.”
“You’re right, yes, you certainly are,” Sinclair said smoothly. Liam was having trouble looking away from the man’s deep, dark gaze. “However, I—”
Suddenly, he couldn’t see Sinclair anymore. After a second, he realized Sophie’s hands had shot out, covering his eyes.
“Sir,” she was saying, “please don’t. He’s been so good to me. So helpful. And it is his truck. And he wasn’t afraid to come. He’s known about me and he…he deserves to come.”
“If he’s going, I’m going,” Jessica said crossly. “I’ve earned the right to come, too.”
Gently, Liam pushed Sophie’s hands down. He guessed the guy was going to hypnotize him or whatever, and he was grateful for her intervention. “Come or stay, but let’s get going. Sophie’s right. Time’s wasting.”
“You guys!” Jessica wailed.
Betsy shook her head. “Too dangerous.”
Tina nodded hers. “She’s right, Jessica.”
“But inconsistent and annoying if we take him and not her,” Sinclair added.
“Look, Jess, let’s settle this fair and fast, okay? Rock, paper, scissors?” Betsy asked.
Jessica brightened. “Sure.”
Both women’s left hands fisted. “Rock, paper, scissors,” they chanted in unison.
Then, “Shit!”
10
“POOR Jessica.” Betsy was gloating. “She always goes for scissors.”
“I’m sorry about your shoe,” Sophie said. They were on cell phones. Sophie and Liam were in his truck. The vampire king and queen were following in an electric blue GT Mustang convertible. Odd that such a cool and controlled man had such a flashy car, but it was none of Sophie’s business. “I do think she shouldn’t have thrown the left one in the blender.”
“She’s got a temper,” Betsy agreed, “and she knew just where to stick it to me. That’s okay. I’ll steal her credit card and get it fixed at the leather shop. Worry about your shoes. Seriously.” Sophie heard the queen laugh, then the click of a disconnect.
“Well, I guess they’ll follow us up there and we’ll…you know.” Sophie paused, then sighed. “Are you not speaking to me?”
“That was the plan. I guess with all the lecturing, you didn’t notice. Then we were talking to the other vampires and I forgot I wasn’t talking to you.”
“It’s the sheep thing, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s the sheep thing,” he said, sounding annoyed. “Shit, what else would it be?”
“I promise, I won’t refer to you like that again, and I won’t allow anyone to—”