Vincent gave a bark of laughter. Interfere was an understatement. If Marguerite Argeneau knew someone was sabotaging her nephew's business, she'd be determined to track them down and sort it out. She was very protective of those she loved and he was fortunate enough to count himself in that category.
"Dear God," he said unhappily.
"Just stick her in a guest room, give her a bunch of tourist pamphlets, and let her entertain herself," Bastien suggested. "She'll get bored and move on eventually."
Vincent grimaced, thinking nothing was ever that easy. "I'm guessing I wasn't expected to pick up this Jackie and..." He paused, trying to recall the second name Bastien had mentioned.
"Tiny," he supplied. "No, they'll have a rental too. Otherwise I'd have called sooner."
"Right." Vincent sighed.
"I'm guessing you probably have about half an hour before they get there. I figured that was enough time to get ready."
"Yeah," Vincent agreed.
"Okay. I guess I'll let you go wake yourself up before they arrive."
"Yeah, okay. Hey, tell Terri? Vincent paused and glanced toward the hallway as a knock sounded at his front door. Frowning, he stood and headed out of the office, taking the cordless phone with him. "Hang on. There's someone at the door."
"That's probably the package I sent out for Mom," Bastien said. "If so, you'll have to get it in the refrigerator right away."
"Must be nice having your meals prepared and delivered," Vincent said dryly as he walked up the hall.
"We'll eventually sort that out too, cousin," Bastien said quietly, and Vincent felt guilty for bellyaching. Bastien had set his scientists to work on finding a cure for his problem years ago. If there wasn't one yet, it wasn't for lack of trying.
"Is it the blood?" Bastien asked as Vincent pulled the front door open.
"Umm... no," he answered, his gaze running over the duo on the marble step before him. He'd never set eyes on such an unlikely pair. The woman was blond, the man a brunette. She was extremely short and curvy, he was a great behemoth of a man who stood well over six feet. She was dressed in a black business suit with a crisp white blouse underneath, he wore casual cords and a sweater in pale cream. They were a study in contrasts.
"Vincent Argeneau?" the woman asked.
When he nodded, she stuck out her hand. "I'm Jackie Morrisey and this is Tiny McGraw. I believe Bastien called you about us?"
Vincent stared at her hand, but梤ather than take it梡ushed the door closed and lifted the phone back to his ear as he turned away. "Bastien, she's mortal!"
"Did you just slam the door in Jackie's face?" Bastien asked with amazement. "I heard the slam, Vincent. Jesus! Don't be so damned rude."
"Hello!" he said impatiently. "She's mortal. Bad enough she's female, but I need someone who knows about our special situation to deal with this problem. She?
"Jackie does know," Bastien said dryly. "Did you think I'd send you an uninitiated mortal? Have a little faith." A sigh traveled down the phone line. "Look, her father started the Morrisey Detective Agency and did lots of work for us. She's known about us since she was in her late teens and has always kept the secret. Jackie has run the company since her father's death. She has a bit of an attitude when it comes to our kind, but is the best in the business. Now, open the goddamned door for the woman."
"But she's mortal and... a girl," Vincent pointed out again, still not happy with the situation.
"I'm hanging up, Vincent." Bastien hung up.
Vincent scowled at the phone and almost dialed him back, but then thought better of it and returned to the door. He needed help tracking down the saboteur out to ruin him. He'd give Ms. Morrisey and her giant a chance. If they sorted out the mess for him, fine. If not, he could hold it over Bastien's head for centuries.
Grinning at the idea, Vincent reached for the doorknob.
"The nerve of the man!" Jackie scowled at the door that had just slammed shut in her face. She was exhausted after their long flight and this was the last welcome she'd expected after dropping everything to fly out here to help Vincent Argeneau.
"It isn't the warmest reception we've had," Tiny agreed, his voice as deep and powerful as mountains shifting.
Jackie snorted at the understatement, then glanced at the big man curiously as he moved sideways on the wide marble stoop under the portico at the entrance of the two-story mansion. She raised an eyebrow in question as he peered through one of the narrow windows on either side of the entrance, but was then distracted by the low murmur of a voice coming from the other side of the dark oak door.
Frowning, Jackie leaned forward and pressed an ear to the wood, trying to make out what Vincent Argeneau was saying. Her eyes narrowed and she began to fume on hearing the protest that she was mortal and a girl.
The door suddenly opened again and Jackie straightened abruptly. A blush tried to make its way up her face at being caught with her ear to the door and that just made her angrier. It put her on the offensive. Before he could say a word, she spat out the facts from the file she'd studied on the plane.