9. Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
" H ow is granny?"
"The same. The doctor said he wanted to talk to you about her condition."
"Okay," I say in a small voice. Regret overflows me. I shouldn't be here; I should have been there with my granny. Shit. This is bad.
"How are you, honey?" Rosie's soothing voice on the phone makes me shiver. She is the calm in my storm. Letting a shattered breath, I say, "I think I made a mistake."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm at the vampire's hotel. I called Dean to say that I won't be coming tonight." As I say it out loud, part of me can't believe I'm actually here, going along with it. "I will stay here to try what he is proposing."
"Are you sure it's a good idea?" her voice not calm anymore.
I pace from one end to another. Is it a good idea? probably not, but I don't have any others. "No." Stopping, I cast a long look at my reflection in the big mirror. My eyes look tired, and the green in them is brighter than my usual green. I swallow hard. "He has a way to get it, Rosie. Get my magic back. If I could break my family curse, my granny would be okay; she would be healthy again."
"And you believe him?" Do I?
"I can't afford otherwise. You know how much I want this, need this."
She lets out a puff. "I know. I'm just worried."
"I will be okay."
I have to.
"Of course you would. Just don't do anything I wouldn't, would you? though he does have one fine body and a sexy stare." I shake my head. I'm sure she would jump onto him on the first night if the roles were reversed.
"You're unbelievable," I suppress a snicker. "It's not like that."
Is he hot? Yes. Am I imagining his tight muscles under his shirt? Hell yes. But I'm not going to do that. Swallowing hard, I continue, "It's going to be strictly professional."
"Keep telling yourself that."
"I need to talk to the doctor; how is she?"
Rosie lets out a long, shattered breath. "She is the same. You are doing it for her; that's what matters." I nod. "Just take care, okay?"
"Always."
John
I manage to convince Hailey to stay and sleep in the hotel instead of going back to her apartment. She gives me a disapproving look before disappearing into the bathroom.
She is one feisty woman. I'm not sure if I like it, but I do know that I don't dislike it.She intrigues me. She is definitely unlike anyone I have met.
When she emerges, she wears a weird look, something like a mix of self-restraint and boldness. Casting me a glance, she opens her mouth to say something but closes it.
I thought the feisty look on her was cute, but I was wrong. The confusion on her face makes my dick hard. It’s like she’s out of her element, and it freaks her out.
Frowning, she sits on the left side of the bed; I sit on the right.
"You should try to sleep. You must be tired. We have a challenging day tomorrow."
Her scared eyes wander between the bed and the couch at the entrance of the suite before biting on her bottom lip. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’d better go home, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I will take the couch and you the bed,” I say, suppressing laughter.
She just nods. I lie down on the couch with my left arm spread out behind me and my right arm under my head.
"Do you sleep? I mean, vampires. I've never met a vampire before."
Smiling, I answer, "Yes, we sleep. Usually, we don't need as much sleep as humans or witches, but we do sleep. So, I’m the first vampire you’ve met?" I can't help but feel a bit of wonder. New Orleans is known for vampires and witches.
"When you’re born and raised as a human, you learn to stay out of trouble. And vampires are the definition of trouble. "
"I guess that makes sense."
Getting under the covers, she turns off the lamp on her side before saying, "Goodnight."
She turns her back to me, and I hear her rumbling breaths until they calm and she falls asleep.