Page 27 of The Devil and the Dancer
Who got an ex-military nanny?
Vampires, that’s who.
“Okay. If you’re sure.” Chloe glanced at her phone. “I’m running late to meet a friend, so I hope you don’t mind—”
“No, that’s cool!” Beatrice waved her hand. “Go. I just wanted to check. We were thinking Wednesday night, Thursday morning to arrive.”
“Sure.” This was going to get interesting. “And if you need more space, I can always stay at Gavin’s.”
Beatrice’s smile went tight. “Right. Gavin. Sure.”
What was it about Beatrice and Gavin? She didn’t have time to mull it over. “I really have to go.”
“We’ll see you in a couple of days.” She leaned over Sadia. “Do you want to wave bye?”
Sadia shook her head.
“Okay. Still having a morning.” Beatrice lifted her hand to end the call. “See you soon, Chloe. Can’t wait to hug you.”
The screen went blank and Chloe rushed out the door. It was only after she found a seat on the train that she remembered that staying at Gavin’s might not be as easy as it usually was.
After all, she wasn’t the only one with company in town.
“Shit.”
6
Chloe could tell when Arthur spotted her from the corner. He cocked his head and watched her approach, two large cups of coffee in his hands.
“Hey.” She reached for the coffee.
“Hi.” He held it out to her, then pulled it back. “You had sex.”
Chloe blinked. “Wh-what?”
“You totally banged someone last night. It better have been Gavin, because that man needed to get some.”
Chloe’s mouth dropped open and she grabbed her coffee from his hand. “How could you possibly know—?”
“Women walk different after they have sex.” He shrugged. “I’ve dressed thousands of you. I can tell.”
“You cannot. You’re making that up.” She sipped her coffee. The temperature was perfect. “Thanks for getting the coffee.”
“You’re welcome.” He hooked his arm in hers. “So… Gavin? I’m going to assume Gavin. You didn’t deny it, and you haven’t been making googly eyes at anyone else even though Lucas is totally into you.”
“I’m not into Lucas, and I would never date a dancer I was in a show with. Do we have to talk about this?”
“About you finally banging your hot boss who’s in love with you? Yes.”
In love with me?Chloe’s heart skipped a beat. “He’s not… Gavin’s not in love with me.”
“Wrong!” Arthur crowed. “He issoin love with you. The way that man looks at you? He’s in love.”
Or he’s hungry. It can be hard to tell with vampires.“Can we drop this please? It’s all… new. And I just don’t want to get overly— Look!” She pointed at a window. “Batik! Pretty.”
“That’s not batik. It’s a damask. Don’t try to distract me with things you know nothing about.” Arthur glanced at the window. “Though… that is nice. It’s thin, so it might drape—” He spun around and pointed at her. “You’re evil.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She sipped her coffee. “Pretty, pretty damask.”
