Page 2 of I Dated a Golden Vampire (Blind Date Corporation #21)

“Of course, Madam. Please come this way.” The woman smiled and led her way into the very elegant corner that Cabree preferred.

She read the menu, and when her server came over, she smiled and made her selections.

The glass of cider was what she preferred instead of wine, but she felt a gaze on her as she gently rotated the stem between her fingers.

She casually looked around and found a few couples looking her way. She sat in shadows, and her glow was unmistakable.

The server came back and settled her napkin across her thighs. “Have a good day, Madam?”

“Yes. It was lovely. I just lay in the sun all day.”

“You didn’t go to the shore?”

“No, I am here for the sun.”

“I see. Well, you don’t look the worse for wear.”

“Thank you.”

She got the breadbasket and the little bars of butter and started her second meal of the day.

Cabree sat and ate calmly, enjoying the silence of being alone on a cruise ship with money. She let her mind go blank and just enjoyed the three courses and the enormous dessert.

Tomorrow was more time on the deck chair. More fruit juices ordered to her side and more heat. Fuck, she was happy about the warmth.

At the next port of call for the one-month cruise, she woke to a card under her door.

Dear Miss Cabree, You are cordially invited to the Gleaming Pearl Casino. A dinner reservation has been created in your name for seven in the evening, and a ticket for the show is being held for you at Guest Services. We look forward to seeing you.

She smiled and considered it. She checked her wardrobe and found a golden dress. The matching shoes and appropriate undergarments were selected, and she verified that they were spending two days on the island before she got her tiny purse out. The card went into it, and she headed off to breakfast.

Cabree loved being prepared.

She caught up on correspondence with Zera over breakfast and mentioned her plans for the evening.

“ Be careful with casinos. You can lose a lot before you know it. ”

“My spending account is fixed. All my other funds require a ton of hoops to get through for access. By the time I got in there, I would sober up.”

Zera laughed. “ Good. Have fun. ”

“I will. The sun here is wonderful.” Cabree smiled. “I needed this.”

“ Well, your patches keep coming, and everything is fine, so enjoy yourself, and I won’t bother you. ”

“You can bother me. I am feeling a lot less outrage. Must be a warm thing.”

Zera laughed again. “ Have fun, Cabree .”

Cabree smiled and finished her coffee, juice, and another juice.

She walked up to the deck and was allowed into the private area. “Miss Cabree, good morning.”

“Good morning. Do you know how long it takes to get to the casino?”

“Fifteen minutes in one of the complimentary shuttles that are at the shore.”

“We are at full dock?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Thank you.”

“Do you want to leave for a certain time?”

“I need to shower and dress, so I need to leave my little oasis here around five?”

“We will wake you at five, Miss Cabree.”

She grinned and settled on one of the chairs that were in full sun all the time. One of the attendants came to her and offered to rub lotion into her skin.

She smiled. “You must be new. I don’t burn. I don’t even tan.”

“Oh, may I get you anything?”

“Pineapple juice?”

“I will be back in a moment.”

“Thank you.”

Cabree opened the wrap dress and set it to one side, settling back on the comfortable cushion and smiling as the sun caressed her skin.

She groaned and heard a chuckle. She opened her eyes and took the pineapple juice.

“Thank you. Sorry. I have been working for years without a break. This is my first vacation, and I just want to get warm.”

He smiled. “Enjoy it, miss.”

He left her, and she sipped at her juice until the glass was empty, and then she surrendered to the light and nodded off. She would turn over around noon, and that was her only plan for today.

She walked toward the vehicles, and instead of the sweaty men in bright shirts, a man in a dark grey shirt stepped toward her. “Madam Cabree?”

“Yes?”

“I have a private vehicle to take you to the casino.”

“Oh, is there a reason?”

“You do not look like the kind of woman who uses sweaty public transit.”

She grinned. “I do not. Your name?”

“Cavel.”

“Thank you, Cavel.”

He offered her his arm, and she took it. He jolted and inhaled sharply. “You are an active.”

“Oh, can you see me glowing? It isn’t normally visible until after sunset.”

“No, ma’am. I am an analyzer.”

“Oh, that must have been confusing for you.”

“It isn’t one I have met before. You are unique.”

“That’s a word for it. I am really enjoying the warmth of the islands and the cruise.”

He walked her to a silver classic car and opened the door for her. She slid in, and he got behind the wheel. “We will be at the private entrance in ten minutes.”

“Oh, good. I have never been in a casino before.”

“You don’t chase luck?”

“No. I work for it.”

He glanced at her and grinned. “Interesting idea.”

She shrugged. “It’s all I know.”

When they arrived, Cabree waited, and Cavel opened her door and offered her his arm. She slid her hand to the crook of his elbow, and they entered the heavily guarded private entrance, where soft classical music played, and the shadows looked soft and comfortable.

“The owner would like to meet you.”

“Of course he would.” She snorted and walked with him to an alcove where two women were visible, writhing against the central figure.

“Lord Denog, I have your guest, Madam Cabree.”

She snorted. “If he’s busy, I can come back if the boat is ever this way. I don’t think it will be, but you never know.”

The two women were dismissed with light kisses while Cabree waited. The ladies got up, shot her contemptuous looks, and sauntered to stand near the wall so they could watch.

Cabree smiled when the man leaned forward, his red eyes and fangs showing in the dim light. His golden skin and hair were incongruous with the vampire aspects.

He smiled slowly. “We have a tradition here. Give me some blood, and I will provide credit for what it is worth to me.”

“Sure. This ought to be fun. Where do you take it?”

“Your choice.”

“Forearm it is.” She let go of Cavel and glided toward him. She brought her arm up and across her body as she offered her forearm to him. “Whenever you are ready, Lord Denog.”

He snorted and grabbed her arm, pulling her close before he sank his fangs into her arm.

He started groaning and shaking a moment after he bit down, and she felt him sucking hard on her flesh.

His eyes rolled and met her gaze as she ignored the bright pain of his bite.

“Areyoudoneyetareyoudoneyetareyoudoneyet?”

He frowned and slurped.

“The sooner you finish with me, the sooner you can get back to your companions. You might need to change your pants, but that should be quick.”

He sucked again and shuddered.

“Okay. That’s enough.” She reached out and pinched his nose shut, counting to ten, and then he opened his mouth as he gasped for air.

She grinned. “There we go. I don’t need a credit. I just want to watch the shiny things and then go back to the ship.”

She patted his cheek and then walked out of the room as the wounds healed. She listened for the louder sounds and soon found a huge space full of people and machines with lights and sound.

Cabree went looking for food and found a restaurant that looked promising.

Cavel slid in front of her. “He wants to talk to you.”

“Colour me surprised. It is my dinner time, and I try to adhere to the timing.”

“He will provide you with a meal.”

“As soon as we get there?”

He spoke into his cuff. “Yes. There is a private dining room.”

“Fine. Let’s go.”

He swallowed and nodded.

“How much trouble would you have been in if you didn’t snag me?”

Cavel swallowed. “I don’t want to guess, but it would not have been good.”

She told him what was going to happen if there was a girl on Denog’s lap again. He looked nervous, but she said, “I will take responsibility. My ass can take it.”

Cavel was laughing when they walked back to the private area once again.