Page 13

13

MOTHER

EDDIE

The Fowles & Tito headquarters wasn’t an ideal place for a party because of its narrow hallways and tiny glass cubicles. Our largest conference room barely fit thirty. For occasions like today, Anthony had hired a conference space three floors above. The vast open room was crawling with people—all employees and their plus ones, PR teams from our corporate clients, and a few additional guests I didn’t recognize.

I felt a little guilty as I ducked behind a pillar, avoiding Cat. Her idea of fun was elbowing my side whenever Russel looked vaguely my way. And since her jokes hit too close, I didn’t trust myself not to give anything away.

Russel kept a distance, which was smart. I had no reason to feel disappointed about it. None whatsoever.

After finishing my second glass of wine, I put it on the nearest bar table. I wondered how long I would have to stay when a lady in a strawberry-red suit appeared before me, seemingly out of nowhere. I’d seen her talking to Anthony earlier.

“Who are we hiding from?” she asked, smiling conspiratorially.

I blinked. “I’m not… Uh. Good evening.”

“Are you one of the PR people?”

Everyone in the room was a PR person. Except for her, it seemed.

“I guess.”

I’d never been attracted to women, but I had eyes and could tell that this lady was objectively beautiful. She had the body and skin of a fit thirty-year-old, but her gaze was ageless, the pupils the deepest black that didn’t reflect a thing, and the irises copper. Those were the eyes of an old vampire. They got half-lidded when she stared at me, and she put a hand on my upper arm as she leaned closer.

“My name is Isabelle. And yours?”

“Eddie.”

“Eddie? How cute. Darling, you look like you know all the juicy gossip. What’s the hottest news in Hollywood now?”

I laughed awkwardly. If I had a dollar for every time people asked me that, I could have paid off my student loans. Where did Anthony know her from? “We’re bound by NDAs.”

“Are you? What a shame. I was hoping you could whisper dirty secrets into my ear.”

Oh Lord. Her lips nearly brushed my earlobe. Panic. Panic! She was hitting on me! “Erm. I…can’t. Sorry. It would get me into trouble. I’m sorry.”

“Goodness, you’re adorable. Are you single, darling?”

Technically, I was, which didn’t feel right at all. But Russel and I hadn’t made any promises… How was it even relevant? I should just lie. While all those thoughts tumbled through my mind, I bobbed my head in a way that could have been a nod or a headshake. Her lips twitched knowingly. I needed to get rid of her, fast. But what if she was a good friend of Anthony’s?

She licked her lips, her copper eyes growing brighter. “How about we have a drink, you and I.”

“I shouldn’t. I already had two and…I don’t tolerate alcohol well.”

She laughed at that. “Unless it’s not obvious, I’m trying to get into your pants, dear. You can have a soda, for all I care.”

Bewildered, I didn’t know what else to do. “I’m gay,” I blurted, and my face burst into flames.

Arching her eyebrows, she appraised me. Her expression turned speculative. “Well, I’m out of luck. You’re very handsome, Eddie.” She took a deep gulp from her glass of red wine. “And you smell delectable.”

When she winked, I must have blushed even harder. “Thank you?”

She hooked her arm through mine and began walking. “You must forgive me for my forward approach. I love young men. I enjoy their blood and their sexual prowess, and I very much like how easily I can seduce them. But I see I won’t succeed with you. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t.” She’d terrified me, in fact.

“I did, and I apologize. But now that I have you in my claws, let’s chat. In this PR business, do you meet many celebrities?”

“I can’t really talk about them. Most of our clients want to remain anonymous.”

“I don’t doubt that. If I hired someone to twist and manipulate my public image, I wouldn’t want people to know they’re being manipulated.”

“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 to you specifically.”

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.”

She offered us a brilliant smile and floated away, heading straight for the unsuspecting brunet.

“Eddie, I am so terribly sorry.”

Biting my lip, I tried to hold back my laugh. “The guy won’t know what hit him.” My laughter burst out as the anxiety bomb in my belly exploded. Tears welled in my eyes, but I couldn’t stop.

Luckily, Russel laughed with me. He had a nice laugh, deep and honest. It made me look up at him. Damn. He was so handsome. Eyes glinting, he met my gaze. We just looked at each other, grinning like fools.

I wanted him so badly I could beg him. Since when had I become so reckless? I could blame the wine I’d drunk. Two small glasses?

Or was it the kaleidoscope of butterflies in my stomach whenever he looked at me like that? He stepped closer to me.

“Eddie.”

His voice felt like a caress.

My gaze dropped to his lips. We were in a room full of coworkers, dammit! We couldn’t make fuck-me eyes at each other.

“Eddie, come home with me.”

If I did that, we’d have sex. He would push his cock inside me and bite me. He’d drink my blood while fucking me .

I never stood a chance.

How could I have believed for one second that knowing what his venom did to me, how his lips felt on my skin, I would be able to resist him?

I jerked my chin in a single nod and turned away. I walked straight to the exit. In the hallway, I pushed the elevator button and stepped into the first car that arrived. The door was just about to close when Russel slipped inside and pressed another button. Then we were alone.