and red sweater. As usual I'd gone for a V-neck and a color that was good for me. I might not be a six, but I knew how to work what I had. "How did you and Penny meet, Glory? I'm sure it wasn't over a dress rack. Though I bet you're the one who got her into flats. Am I right?" She winked at me.
"Yes, Jenny hates my boots as much as you do, Glory." Penny hunched her shoulders and I felt sorry for her.
"Hate's a pretty strong word. But Penny looks good tonight, doesn't she, Jenny? Josh couldn't take his eyes off of her. And she had another guy hitting on her last night at N-V." I couldn't resist. Jenny was just too cute, and Penny, when she'd shown up on my doorstep, had been far from it. Why the great divide? "Trey couldn't wait to get her on the dance floor."
"You went to that new club last night?" Jenny's eyes were saucers. "You're kidding me."
"Oh, we were there. Glory's best bud owns it. Rafe's cool. And Trey's a hunk, isn't he, Glory?" Penny's shoulders were back again and she was smiling.
"I've never been." Jenny looked me over speculatively. "You already out of school, Glory?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm way out of school." I gave Penny a look that kept her from jumping into the conversation. "Actually, Penny and I have a mutual friend. He put us together. You know how these things work. I had an extra bedroom and needed the rent money." I swept my gaze around the cluttered living room. "And Penny needed to live with someone who could keep her environment reasonably organized." I grinned. "Someone your grandfather would approve of."
Jenny laughed. "Oh, I get that. Good luck to you on the organization thing. I gave up years ago."
"Hello. I'm in the room." Penny glowered at both of us. "Laugh all you want. But when I'm rich and famous and cure the incurable, we'll see who's laughing."
Jenny planted a kiss on her sister's cheek. "My bets are on you all the way, sis. Now I've got to go." She turned to me. "I'll be praying for you, Glory." She hit the door and left without a backward glance.
"That went well. She never really questioned my decision." Penny collapsed on the couch.
"Good thing. Because she wouldn't have gotten any answers."
"Am I a total pervert for having a moment or two where all I could think about was tasting her blood? I know Jen's blood type. It's not exotic like Josh's. It's just plain old B positive. But I had to fight my fangs when I got too close to her and the sound of her heartbeat . . ." Penny stared at me. "Damn, Glory, it sounded loud as a drum to me."
"Only natural. Now you need to grab what you want to take right away. We'll get Damian to arrange for the rest of your stuff to be moved." I glanced at her computer. "You can come tomorrow night and supervise." Booger rubbed against my leg. "You have a cat carrier? We might as well take this guy with us."
"Sure. I have to use it when he goes to the vet. Pick him up first. If he sees me get the carrier out of the closet, he'll hide and we'll never find him." Penny walked into her bedroom.
I grabbed Booger and hugged him. "Such a sweet boy and such an ugly name. I think I'll call you Boogie. Like the way I danced during the war."
"Which war was that?" Penny was back and I felt Boogie stiffen, his claws digging into my arm.
"WW Two, of course. I was over in England and helped keep the troops happy in the USO canteens. I love to dance." I dropped the cat into the carrier and slammed the lid shut while Penny gathered food, litter and the litter box.
"Amazing. I can't imagine what a long life you've had." Penny had her arms full. "Let's go. I have enough underwear in my backpack for tomorrow and you bought me those new clothes. Please call Damian when we get back to your place. I really want my big computer with me. I've got my laptop, but my major work is on Chuck here. I guess it's never too late to call a vampire."
"As long as it's between dusk and dawn, we're good." I lugged the carrier to the door. "You have a car?"