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“Hope you enjoyed the show, Dana,” Vi tossed over her shoulder as she stepped away from me, the chill in the sudden space between us uncomfortable as I tugged my robe back on.

I moved aside and opened the door, giving her enough space to pass.

“Thoroughly,” the vampire replied with a dirty smile. “Let’s do it again soon.”

“Break a leg, Els,” Vi purred, lips grazing my temple before she disappeared back into the club.

I reached up to run my hand through my hair, finding it blocked by the curlers still pinned into place.

Oh god.Vi just fucked me in Dana’s office. With Dana in the office. While my hair was still incurlers?

I pulled one of the Velcro rollers out and lobbed it at Dana’s head.

“I can’t believe you just sat there and watched, youpervert.”

She shrugged, light brown eyes filled with mischief. “I, for one, don’t mind a little show with my dinner.” She pushed aside her empty takeout container and leaned back in her chair, booted feet coming to rest on the tabletop.

“I thought you were upstairs,” I groaned. “What gives?”

Dana shrugged noncommittally. “I like my office.”

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. We’d had this fight at least once a week since Cherie had passed and Dana took over the club.

“Upstairsis your office. Are you worried about ghosts or something?”

Her expression soured. “Two minutes thirty, and you need to touch up your face.”

I lost the battle and rolled my eyes. In a few careful steps, I’d crossed the room, leaning over the desktop with my palms flat against its surface to press a kiss to her cheek. “I miss her too, but you’re torturing yourself.”

“I’m not.”

Our eyes met, and I hesitated, but I’d never been good at knowing when to keep my mouth shut. “In case you haven’t noticed, there is a very real, veryalivegirl out there who wants you as much as you want her. Maybe you could stop teasing and take some goddamn initiative.”

Dana pushed away from the desk, her expression stormy. “Go dance, Elsie. Don’t make me make it an order.”

I sighed and headed for the door. It was not the time to fight when I had a call time.

“I love you, Dana, but sometimes you’re a real…” I inhaled sharply, walking through the door, calling back to her as it swung shut. “Coward.”

vi

. . .

Sure,a mid-shift quickie with a side of accidental voyeurism seemed like a great idea in the moment, but as I returned to the bar with damp panties and my head positivelyswimmingwith Elsie’s venom, I was seriously questioning my choices.

Plus, I still wasn’t entirely sure about getting mixed up with the whole coven of vampires who were also my coworkers.

You should have thought of that five minutes ago when you were begging for Elsie to bite you, idiot.

“I’ll handle this,” I said, nudging Cole out of the way to take over filling a tray of flutes with bubbly. “Go get something to eat.”

“Let me just make sure none of my guests need anything,” he said with an appreciative nod, turning to check in with the customers seated at the bar.

O was so packed that I couldn’t spot an empty chair in the entire place, which meant that my silly little idea wasn’t just a success—it had absolutely exceeded expectations. And thank fuck for that. It bothered me to see Dana so worried, especially when the things bothering her were mostly out of her control.

The memory of the hungry look in the vampire’s eyes when she’d let us know she’d watched me and Elsie made heat flare up the back of my neck.

Maybe, if I played my cards right, all this success would come with a reward.