Jo?” Witches’ blood used to be extremely poisonous to Vampires. Thanks to another not-sopleasing-advancement in technology, the blood suckers could now be vaccinated against the previously ill-effects of Witches’ blood.
“I hear, but that doesn’t mean I agree,” Joanna argued.
“I don’t need to worry about you, too. Landon will be here soon and we’ll handle it. One more thing…stay out of my head. It’s distracting.”
The vehicle had hardly come to rest before Royce was on the move. He assumed that Becki was still working and quickly moved in the direction of the bar. Automatically, Royce scanned the crowd as he walked looking for signs of danger. His gaze briefly touched each table and then skimmed those sitting at the bar. Satisfied that everything was safe for the time being, he turned to take in the dancers entwined on the dance floor.
What he saw there caused him to stop mid-stride. “What the fu--”
Royce felt something slam into his back. As glass shattered and patrons nearby gasped in surprise, Royce reached for the weapon still tucked at his waist. He quickly spun around prepared for the worst. Thankfully, he stopped short of actually drawing his weapon as he took in the scene before him. A waitress in a low-cut blouse was soaked to the skin and surrounded by broken glass. To make matters worse, she was pulling pieces of ice from her more-than-ample cleavage.
“What the hell were you thinking?” she screeched in a high tone of voice. “You can’t just stop all of a sudden!”
He guessed that she had been following him, carrying a full tray of drinks. When he had stopped so abruptly, she must have run into him with the tray. She had spilled the entire tray of drinks all over herself and the floor.
“I’m sorry,” Royce mumbled. After grabbing a stack of napkins from a nearby table, he stood helplessly staring at her wet cleavage. He was unsure how he could help her without touching her inappropriately.
Fortunately, the dance floor was far enough away that Becki had not witnessed the incident. That would have escalated the situation from slightly funny but embarrassing to downright humiliating.
“What’s going on Becki?” Trevor had started pressing for answers the moment they hit the dance floor. “Come on-- you can talk to me, doll.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Becki refused belligerently.
“How can I fix it, if I don’t know what’s wrong?” he prodded softly.
Becki sniffed and blinked several times. Despite her best efforts, those darn tears just would not be contained any longer.
“I thought he was different,” she whispered brokenly. “I thought he seemed like a truly nice guy-- the White Knight kind of guy.” A fat tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.
“It turns out he is just like the rest. One girl isn’t enough. At least, I’m not enough!”
She lifted her head looking straight into Trevor’s eyes, “That’s it-- it’s me! I’m the problem. I’m just not lovable, Trev.”
He shook his head, cupping her cheek to thumb the tears away. “Not a chance, doll,” he said with a half-smile. “Everyone I know loves you.”
“Seriously, maybe I’m defffectivve,” she slurred slightly feeling the effects of numerous shots.
“Doll, I promise there’s nothing ‘defective’ about you. And for the record…I’ve never met anyone more lovable than you,” Trevor said as he rubbed his cheek softly against hers.
Royce gritted his teeth. Joanna’s ability to insert herself into his thoughts was quite irritating.
Royce reached for his wallet and peeled off several large bills. He grabbed the soaked waitress’s hand and closed her fingers around the money as well as the napkins. “I’m really sorry,” he apologized again and turned his attention back to the dance floor.
Trevor Simmons was like a ticking time bomb-dangerous to everyone around him. Typical Becki…did she stay away from danger? No! She was holding on to him like a damn life line.
“You have about two seconds to get your shit straight, and then I’m on my way,” Joanna threatened, intruding into Royce’s thoughts once again.
“Back off,” Royce snapped. He made his way toward the couple whose fascination with each other had caused him to stop so abruptly to begin with. Becki, still wrapped tightly in Trevor’s arms, was now gazing into his eyes while they danced and whispered to each other. This shit was going to stop!
“You’ve never met anyone more lovable than me?” Becki questioned, looking at him with wide-eyes.
“Never,” he whispered.
She smiled crookedly, and another tear rolled silently down her face.