Page 23 of Vampires, Whiskey, and Southern Charm
How did he know about me taking over the Rooster? The only explanation was that he hadn’t been lying when he’d said he had eyes all over town. “Yes.”
“Then I will be here, too,” he said, “looking after my proper…”
I narrowed my eyes. “You were just about to call me your property. Werncha?”
“You caught me.”
I leaned into the bar, closer to him. “I ain’t your property, Stark,” I sassed again. “And neither is this bar. Now get on your way. I’m busy.”
His pale eyes flickered with curiosity.
Had my con worked? I wanted him to believe he didn’t terrify me and that my racing heart was in response to his handsome face. The way I saw it, my chances of him letting his guard down were far greater if he thought I secretly wanted him. A little game of hard-to-get was in order.
My heart continued pounding away, knowing a vicious killing machine was standing two feet away.A vampire. A real-life fucking vampire.
Lord, I needed to stop swearing. What would Mamma say?
She’d say, “Who gives a flying weasel about your language, Masie. You need to fight this predator. You need to stay focused.”Which meant I had to try harder to sell my story.
I quickly shifted my gaze to the bulge in his jeans.
He laughed. “You are a dirty little thing, aren’t you?”
My gaze bolted up to meet his eyes. “You need to go now.” I feigned embarrassment.
Smiling, he dipped his head. “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. And the night after that and after that until—”
“I already told you, leave,” I barked. “But let me add: don’t come back.”
I could hear Maybell gasp.
Stark’s eyes narrowed, and his lips went flat. I could see the anger behind his pale eyes.
I had gone too far, but I couldn’t backpedal. Not now. I was selling a story, and he needed to bite. Not literally, I hoped.
I cleared my throat, deciding to double down. “Look, I see that you’re used to getting your way, Stark. It’s clear as, well, night, in your case. But I am not for sale. I am not a mountain to be conquered, and I don’t give a devil’s left nut how good-looking you are. You can’t have me.” I whispered, “So if you ain’t good with that, kill me now. Because my feelings are what they are.” I folded my arms over my chest.
“You are…serious?”
Clearly, he didn’t believe me. I twisted my neck to one side, exposing my flesh. “Do it. Go ahead. I ain’t scared of nothing except being owned by a man who thinks he’s some sorta god—doing what he likes, when he likes. I’d rather die.”
He stared as if he’d been punched in his soul.
After a long moment, I lowered my head while he sat there looking dumbfounded. “You…are…just like her.”
“Who?” I hoped he meant his worst nightmare.
“My Anna.” His Adam’s apple bobbed on his strong neck. “She said those exact words when we first met.” He took a step back, a haunted look in his eyes.
No, no, no. I’d just given him proof that I was his reincarnated love? I only wanted to toy with him and learn what I was up against.
On the other hand, having him believe I was Anna two-point-oh might get me to the goal line faster.
I played along. “I just speak from the heart like Mamma taught me.”
He took two more steps back, his face a poster child for shock. “I must go.”
“Suitcherself, Stark.” I shrugged coyly.