Page 55 of Bite Me

“I try not to see it that way.”

“No? How do you see it?”

“Fame is a trap. It looks seductive and glamorous from the outside, but it’s fickle, demanding, lonely, and terribly expensive on the inside. We help people navigate that with their dignity intact.”

She paused in the middle of the room. “You’re not just a pretty face, are you?”

I chuckled. “I feel like I’m being evaluated.”

“Maybe.” She winked again. “Since you’re single, delectable, clever, and like men, I have someone you need to meet.”

“Oh no. Please, no.”

But she wouldn’t be deterred. “He’s here somewhere. He’s a grump and a little prim but very attractive, even for a vampire. Something tells me you might like him. He tends to get philosophical too.”

“I’m…ah… I don’t want to cause any offense. But I don’t want to be…dinner.”

“Nonsense. Have you tried it?”

“Yes.”

“What’s not to like?”

“Forgive me, madam, I really can’t. Technically, I’m at work and…” I was about to tell her I had a boyfriend—I wished!—but I never got the chance.

She ignored me as she paused behind a group of men in suits. “There he is.”

Could I rip my arm out of her grip and run?

And then she called, “Russel?”

My stomach lurched.

Russel turned to face her. The play of his features would have been hilarious if I weren’t drowning in embarrassment. He went from annoyance to surprise to sheer horror at the sight of me hooked to Isabelle by the elbow.

“Russel, dear, this is my new friend, Eddie. Isn’t he delightful?”

“Mother, stop harassing my coworkers! Eddie, I apologize. She doesn’t mean any harm, I promise.”

This was Russel’s mother?!Oh. My. God.

“Of course, I don’t. So, you two already know each other? Huh. And you do know Eddie here is gay too? He told me.” She turned to me, frowning. “I’m sorry. What are the rules? Can I say that you’re gay to another gay man if you’ve told me, or am I, what’s the word, outing you?”

Russel dragged a hand down his face. “The rule is to never say anything to anyone about anyone’s sexuality, and it applies toyouspecifically.”

Russel’s mother cackled, unconcerned. “See? Like I said, he’s all prim and proper.”

Seeing the frustrated expression on Russel’s face, I hurried to diffuse the situation. “Russel and I know each other well, madam. We work on the same team. In fact, I’m his direct subordinate.”

She looked from me to Russel and back. “Goodness. This is a hilarious joke, isn’t it? And here I was, hoping I was getting my boy a meal like a good mama.”

Closing his eyes, Russel took a deep breath.

“But this is the twentieth century. One shouldn’t feed from one’s colleagues. Oh. Who’s that?” She pointed at a tall, dark-haired man who looked only slightly older than me. I recognized his face but couldn’t place him.

“He’s in HR at one of our corporate clients,” Russel said in a vaguely menacing tone. “I believe he’s working now, Mother.”

“Is he? He looks bored. Excuse me.”