Page 7 of Guarding the Billionaire

She led me into a large comfortable looking bedroom. It had a queen sized bed with a comforter that was pure white, matching the carpet. Artfully arranged pillows gave it a pop of color. The room had a wooden desk in one corner, a television affixed to the wall across the bed, and a reading nook with a chair and table facing the windows overlooking the back yard. Two doors inside led to an in-suite bathroom and a walk-in closet with built in drawers and shelves. The room alone was about the size of my entire apartment.

“Does this work okay for you?” Flora asked as she watched me walking around.

“I’ve slept in worse,” I mumbled. “Now let me see your bedroom.”

Flora led me to the room next door, and I cataloged the difference in this space. Unlike the rest of the house, this room was filled with warm colors. The walls were painted a moss green, with a darker green carpet on the floor. Her bed had about a thousand throw pillows on it, all in a riot of color. The chairs near the window were upholstered in a gold fabric that worked perfectly in the room, and abstract art with bright colors adorned the walls. I felt instantly comfortable in here.

“No TV?” I asked.

“I don’t really watch TV,” Flora said.

I nodded. It was the first positive thing I’d heard about her since I got here.

I stepped into the bathroom, noting about a million jars of creams and potions on a shelf next to the sink. In my own bathroom I had two things: shampoo and soap.

“What’s in here?” I asked, pointing to the other door.

“It’s my dressing room.”

I frowned. What was a dressing room? Opening the door I realized it was basically a giant closet with rows of shelves, cabinets and drawers. There was some kind of fancy upholstered bench in the middle. On one side of the space was a brightly lit make-up table with shelves of cosmetics and hair products stacked on either side. A blow dryer, curling iron, and some other appliances hung neatly next to one of the shelves.

Jesus Christ. My mate had ‘high maintenance’ written all over her. I turned around quickly, not realizing that Flora was right behind me. She jumped back, then stumbled on one of her ridiculously high shoes. Fortunately for her, I had supernatural reflexes. I grabbed her arms and pulled her close to keep her upright. The motion made her brush against me, sending a jolt of awareness zinging through my body.

Flora’s mouth opened on a gasp as I stared down at her, my entire body vibrating with the need to claim her.

“Oh my God! Your teeth!”

Flora

Istared in shock as two of Teresa’s seemed to grow right in front of my eyes, pressing down over her bottom lip like something out of a cartoon.

She pulled away from me so quickly I almost fell over again. I thought we’d been having a moment there, but maybe not. It was too bad, because Teresa was a stunningly beautiful woman. I could look into the depths of those brilliant blue eyes forever. But it was clear she’d made up her mind not to like me, which was fine. She could dislike me if she wanted. I would just do what my mother had taught me at a young age: kill her with kindness.

“Sorry about that,” Teresa mumbled, pressing her palm over her mouth.

“But how did that… oh! You’re a vampire, aren’t you?”

I’d never met a vampire in real life, but I’d watched enough episodes ofBuffy the Vampire Slayerto realize what was happening. Although usually inBuffythe vamps had their fangs descend when they were trying to kill someone. Teresa, on the other hand, looked like she was thinking about kissing me.

But then again, I had to be imagining it. Maybe the stress of everything going on was finally getting to me.

“You know about vamps?” Teresa asked carefully.

“I have shifters in my family – related by marriage not blood – so I’m aware of the supernatural world, yes. But to my knowledge, I don’t know any vampires.”

“Well, I’m sorry that happened,” she said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“What causes it?” I asked curiously, waving vaguely at her mouth.

“It’s, uh, a reflex sometimes.”

I had the sense that she wasn’t telling me the truth, but then again, it wasn’t really my business.

“Well I knew that Sapphic Security mostly hired supernaturals, so don’t worry, I’m not freaked out. And your secret is safe with me.”

“It’s not really a secret,” Teresa said. “But there’s also no reason to talk about it in a professional capacity.”

“I get it,” I reassured her. “You want to see the refrigerator now? I’m pretty sure I can figure out what it is.”

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