Page 169 of Vampire so Virtuous

He grinned. “No. Our boy Antoine most certainly isn’t. But you’ve met Minh, if I’m not mistaken?”

“Oh,him. Yeah, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t listen to Chopin.”

Gabe’s grin widened. He gestured toward the sofas. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable? We’ve a few hours until it will be conducive for Antoine to travel. Can I offer you food? A drink?” He looked pointedly at the shoulder of her hoodie. “Perhaps a change of clothes?”

Her stomach rumbled as she made her way to the nearest sofa. “You have food? I didn’t think vampires ate anything.”

“Not a morsel,” he replied, settling at the other end of the sofa. “But my thralls inform me there’s a deli five minutes away. Burger and chips? Caviar and champagne?” He paused. “Apparently, their recommendation is a turkey and ham sandwich with lettuce and honey mustard. Does that sound good? I can procure caviar if you prefer.”

Cally relaxed despite herself. “You’re not French, are you?”

“Moi?” He laid a hand dramatically over his chest. “Madam, I am offended you cannot detect it from my accent. I’m Spanish.”

“Really?” He didn’t sound Spanish at all.

“Well, I was once,” he mused. “But it has been so long, the language has nearly slipped away from me. No, I’m from Virginia.”

That made much more sense. “Some food would be welcome if it’s not too much trouble. But I’m vegetarian.”

“No problem!” Another pause and a distant look. “Well, my thralls haveno recommendations for that, but they’ll get the best they can.”

“That’ll be fine, I’m sure.”

“Not at all,” he said with a slight shake of his head. “And to drink? You strike me as a coffee girl, but perhaps I’m mistaken.”

“Latte, please.” She leaned back into the sofa. “You’re not what I expected.”

“Oh?” He scratched his chin. “I do have a black cape in my wardrobe with averyhigh collar. Should I put it on for you?”

Cally laughed, surprising herself. “No, it’s fine, but thank you.”

He nodded, eyes twinkling. “Now that the food is on its way, what about the rest of you?”

“I don’t want to be a bother. Some food will be fine, and I’ll stay out of your way.”

“Nonsense,” he said. “First, my Southern hospitality would be offended. Second, normally I’d be resting at this hour, but your presence is a breath of fresh air I cannot ignore.” He sobered, his voice deeper. “And third, I promised Antoine I’d take care of you. What would he think if I returned you still injured and covered in blood?”

Cally shifted uncomfortably. “It’s a shoulder wound, and it’s mostly healed already.”Which was unbelievable.She pulled back the cut edges of her hoodie to inspect the wound. It was only a deep gash where two bullet holes had been. It still hurt, but nothing like it had. How long had it been? An hour?

“And your thigh,” he said. “Forgive my forwardness, but you’re bleeding there as well.”

She’d almost forgotten she’d stabbed herself with Zoey’s knife. The blade was still in her pocket, folded neatly away. “It’s a newer wound but very minor.” If she could heal bullet holes so swiftly, a little cut was hardly worth worrying about.

“I can smell the metal. Are the bullets not out?”

Cally winced. “One is. The other… we got interrupted.”

“Hmm,” he mused, brow furrowing. “That’ll need to come out, I’m afraid. Otherwise, the body will reject it. It’ll ache for weeks instead of healing properly.” He sounded like he spoke from experience. “I can take care of it for you, if you wish?”

She ran a hand through her hair. “I suppose it was inevitable.”

“It’ll mean cutting those away,” he said, gesturing at her shoulder, “so we may as well get you some new clothes as well.”

She gave him a pointed look. “You mean to tell me you keep women’sclothes in your bachelor pad, Mr. Vampire?”

“That’s a rather personal question,” he said playfully. “But no, I was suggesting the thralls could go shopping, too. That way, I can learn your measurements.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Are all vampires this smooth when they want to be?”