Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
“What the hell was that?” Mandy grabbed Spencer’s arm the moment they stepped onto the sidewalk. “I haven’t seen you smile like that in ages, and you run off for what? Because she’s immortal? Famous? Too beautiful?”
“All of the above.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and paced toward the parking lot. Don’t let the rumors fool you. He didn’t have to. He’d let the woman do it on her own.
Mandy stood outside the car, peering at him over the top as he opened his door. He slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, and his sister slowly sank in next to him. Her jaw was tight and her nostrils flared as she stared out the front window, no doubt writing a lecture in her mind.
He was an idiot. He could see the power sparking in Lilith’s aura, could sense she was a formidable being the moment she sat at his table, yet he’d allowed himself to be drawn in, to let down his guard, and to enjoy the attention of a beautiful woman.
Damn, she was good. Her feigned interest in his job and family had sucked him into her trap like a mosquito to a bug zapper.
Mandy puckered her lips, making a popping sound before she spoke. “She seemed like a nice woman.”
“She’s Lilith. She can’t be nice.” He pulled onto the street and headed for his sister’s apartment.
“Then why did you talk to her for so long? Did she glamour you? Were you really held hostage?”
“She didn’t glamour me. She used her magic to make us invisible so she wouldn’t have to rotate, and I didn’t protest. But that’s her game, isn’t it? Using her wiles to seduce men and drain their energy.”
“She’s a vampire, not a succubus.”
His shoulders tightened, drawing toward his ears. “The world’s first vampire. Who knows what kind of influence she has? I’m not about to get involved with a woman who has the power to ruin my life. Been there, done that, still paying for the t-shirt.”
She narrowed her eyes at him before looking out the windshield. “Whatever you say, big brother. I’d hate for you to give away your power. Though it sounds like Isabella still has control of it.”
His teeth clicked as his jaw tightened. “She does not.” His ex could choke on a pellet for all he cared. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m leaving in two days. It’s not like I have time to date.”
“It sounded like you were making plans for tomorrow. I think you liked her and it scared you.”
His slow exhale warmed the back of his throat as he stopped at the curb in front of her building. “Good night, Mandy.”
“At the very least, you should apologize for leaving like that. It was rude. Mom raised you better.” She climbed out of the car and slammed the door before he could respond.
It was just as well. His sister had a point.
He did like Lilith, and it definitely scared him.
He put it in drive and headed to his apartment.
Dating had been the last thing on his mind since Isabella broke his heart and ruined his career.
The moment Alan hired him onto the show, he’d buried himself in his work.
Hell, he was probably driving their producer crazy with all the extra hours he was putting in “helping” the video editors.
He parked in the garage and mashed the elevator button for the tenth floor before leaning against the wall and closing his eyes. Damnit, Mandy, I see what you did. Her friend hadn’t canceled on her. She’d planned to take Spencer to speed dating from the beginning. He should have known.
And Lilith… Gods, she was beautiful. Smart and funny too.
He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had shown that much interest in him.
Usually, as soon as they found out he worked on a television show, their questions turned to whether or not he could get them into parties, arrange auditions—as if he was a fucking agent—or help them meet the stars.
Lilith was more interested in what he did on the show than what he could do for her.
She seemed genuinely interested in him. And that spark he felt when their eyes met?
The electric jolt that zapped his heart when he shook her hand?
It was enough to make his owl take notice, and that was the most terrifying part of all.
He’d made it a rule to never date vampires. The last thing he needed was to fall in love with an immortal being when he was going to grow old and die. Owl shifters had the same lifespan as humans, and he was already thirty-eight years down.
The elevator door slid open, and cool air wafted in from the hallway. He hung a left and paced to his apartment, his heart sinking lower with each step. Inside, he tossed his keys in the bowl by the door and grabbed a beer from the fridge.
Mandy was right, damn her. Spencer had been rude. Despite her reputation, Lilith had been nothing short of pleasant to him. He dropped onto the couch and took a long pull from the bottle. The cool, bitter liquid slid down his throat and churned in his stomach along with his guilt.
Though she’d held her head high as his demeanor had done an about-face, she hadn’t hidden the disappointment in her eyes.
They had a connection; there was no denying it.
He’d let himself get swept up in the magnetic energy dancing between them, and he’d forgotten his no vampires rule. He’d forgotten himself.
His quick exit had been for his own benefit, and he’d disregarded her feelings. He’d been an ass, and he owed her an apology.
* * *
Lying on her side, Lilith held the pillow against her head, trying to drown out the incessant pounding noise. It had been two days since the speed dating incident, and the stupid seed Venus planted in her mind had already grown into a sapling.
Could Spencer be her soulmate?
No, the idea was preposterous. A soulmate—if they even existed—would never run out on the person fate chose for him. Not like that, with no explanation. Of course, he hadn’t needed to explain anything. His facial expression alone had sent the message loud and clear.
Percival flew into the room and landed on her hip, pecking at her arm. Caw, caw.
“Leave me alone. Can’t you see I’m wallowing in self-pity?”
He hopped onto her shoulder and pecked at her hand, which was holding the pillow against the side of her head.
“Percival, please.” She tossed the pillow aside, and the pounding intensified.
“Lilith, I know you’re in there,” Eve’s voice drifted in through the windowpane. “Either let me in, or I’m going to bust down your door.”
She groaned and rolled out of bed. “I’m coming.”
Poor Esther hadn’t moved since the last time Lilith returned her to her terrarium, and she stopped, resting her hands on the cool glass as she gazed at her companion. “I’m sorry I failed you.”
“Lilith!” Eve shrieked from outside the front door.
“No one has any patience these days.” She paced to the living room and opened the door.
Eve and Deirdre stood on the stoop. Concern tightened Deirdre’s eyes, but Eve parked her hands on her hips and shook her head. “It’s about damn time.” Without waiting for an invitation, she marched inside, and Deirdre followed.
“What in Lucifer’s realm is going on with you?” Eve sank onto the sofa and crossed her legs. “We haven’t heard from you in two days.”
“We were worried.” Deirdre sat next to Eve.
Lilith curled into the dark blue accent chair, folding her legs beneath her. “It’s Venus’s fault. If she hadn’t coerced him into playing, I…”
“By him, do you mean Spencer?” Deirdre asked.
“Of course she means Spencer.” Eve squared her gaze on Lilith. “Venus told us everything. You met your soulmate.”
Lilith scoffed. “That’s what she told you, is it? As if that could happen.”
Deirdre folded her hands in her lap. “How’s Esther. Has she shown any signs of improvement?”
“She ate the mouse I left for her while I was playing that horrid game, but by the time I got home, she’d returned to her rock and still refuses to move. I don’t think having a little fun every now and then is going to save her. I need to do something else.”
Eve screwed her mouth over to one side. “Do you—”
“What about The Fang and Flask?” Lilith asked. “I could work behind the bar, mixing drinks.”
Wariness flickered in her eyes, and she fought a lip curl. “Umm… We’re not hiring.”
“Really? You seemed short-staffed when I was there.”
Eve leaned forward to pat her knee. “No offense, hon, but do you remember what happened when you filled in for someone a while back? We had to buy a new blender after that.”
“I didn’t know how to use the machine. I can learn.”
“What happened?” Deirdre asked.
“She was mixing a drink for Samyaza and didn’t secure the lid on the blender. She also didn’t attach it to the base properly.”
Lilith pouted her lip. “It was only a small explosion.”
Eve smirked. “I had to clean sticky daiquiri mix off the ceiling…after I calmed Sam down and convinced him not to bludgeon you.”
Lilith sighed. “Do you see what I mean, Dee? Everything I touch turns to disaster, including my supposed soulmate. Ugh.” She dropped her head back on the chair. “He’s a cinnamon roll, just like you said I needed.”
Deirdre leaned her elbows on her knees. “What’s he like?”
Her lips curved upward against her will. “He’s handsome. A cameraman for an adventure show, so his job must be exciting. He was charming, sweet, and funny…until he found out who I am.”
Eve smiled. “Holy hellhounds. You like him.”
“I did. I don’t anymore.”
“Yes, you do,” Deirdre sang.
She huffed. “Only because Venus said he was my soulmate. If she hadn’t told me that, I’d have already forgotten about him.
But I can’t stop thinking about how much I enjoyed his company, and how royally I screwed up yet again.
If soulmates exist, that means fate tossed me a bone and I buried it in the graveyard without even getting to the marrow. ”