Damian held up his hands. "You win. For now. Perhaps I went too far."

"Perhaps?"

"Okay, I did go too far. But I'm not giving up, Gloriana. You saw. We can be great together."

"Did I say little finger? Maybe I meant little toe." I laughed at his expression. "Poor Damian and his teenie, weenie, wienie. Enormous in his own mind. How pathetic is that?"

Valdez jumped up and did one of his patented "I'll eat you for dinner" growls. Damian couldn't get out fast enough. I slammed the door behind him then looked down at the pieces of glass on the floor and picked up the purse.

"Thanks, Emmie Lou and Harvey. Next time could you stick to nonbreakables? That guy's not worth the price of the bowl." I went to the stock room to get the broom and dust pan. Men. Why did I bother?

Chapter Thirteen

I'd just swept up the last of the glass when something told me to look up. Blade. And the bells on the front door hadn't made a sound.

"Would you not sneak up on me? I've had a rough night." I stuck the broom and dust pan back in the storeroom. Valdez greeted Blade like an old friend. Which he was.

"You mean last night? When you went shoe shopping?" Blade had no shopping gene whatsoever.

"I guess the furry snitch here told you all about it."

"Yes." Blade just stared at me. "You could have been killed, Gloriana."

"I know." Oh, shoot, my voice wobbled. Yeah, I was still shook up and being alone in the shop didn't help. Westwood had been in here.

"Come here, Gloriana."

As if I wanted to resist. I moved into his arms and let him hold me, resting my head on his chest. I could feel his strength. Around me, where his arms wrapped around my back. And inside my mind, where he murmured comforting words. I didn't cry. But it was tempting. I saw words appear on the wall behind Blade.

Nice catch. Emmie Lou.

This one's a keeper. Harvey.

I stepped back and pushed my hair out of my eyes. I needed a haircut. A new hairdresser. Maybe I'd go red. Vamp magic let my hair grow just like a mortal's did. I was a mess. My mind was a mess.

"Glory, you look great." Blade smiled. "But I liked your hair best when it came down to"—he reached out to run his fingers down to the tips of my breasts—"here. And do not go red."

My nipples peaked and I swayed toward him. Wait a minute. Mind reading.

"Could I have a little privacy please?" I looked down at Valdez who stared up at both of us. "Both of you need to stop reading my mind."

" Yeah, right." Valdez trotted over to the door and lay down beside it. I didn't know whether to be glad we didn't have any customers or worried that my business was falling off.

"I like your shop." Still smiling, Blade headed over to the rack of men's suits. He hadn't missed my reaction to his touch. No way. But he knew me well enough not to push.

"Thanks. I just added the tuxedos and there's a leisure suit I'm sure will end up in Tony's closet if he comes by and sees it." Blade had stuck to jeans tonight. Which looked good on him. Very good. He turned and glanced at Valdez. "I understand your business is doing well."

"Yes." I wiped my hands on my skirt. Sixties mini with coordinating sweater set. Blue to match my eyes. You'd almost think I knew Blade would be stopping by. Which I'd suspected. No way would Valdez fail to report last night's incident.

"Thanks, by the way."

"Thanks?" Blade looked at me.

Gee, maybe I'd surprised him.

"For Valdez. I know I complain, but, clearly, he saved my life last night." I looked at the dog sitting calmly by the door and he blurred. Oh, shit, I was going to cry.

"Glory." Blade pulled me into his arms again. "Och, now, lass. You're safe."

"But for how long?" I was getting his shirt wet. A nice shirt. Beige. Snap front. Western.

"We're doing all we can to fight him, Glory." He patted my back until I stepped away and grabbed a tissue from behind the counter.

"What are you doing? Be careful, Jerry."

He pulled out the paper Tony had given him last night. "I'm working on this end. Seeing if we can bribe one of Westwood's hired guns. All I need is one unguarded moment." Blade wiped a tear from my cheek. "The bastard will be stopped."

"Did you hear about the Kevlar?" I pulled his hand from my cheek and held on to it. "Vests are made of it, for law enforcement agencies. It stops bullets, arrows. Sails are made out of it too. Because of its strength." Speaking of strength. Blade had some serious muscle in his upper arms. He was definitely bulked up more than Damian.

"I'm supposed to wear a vest? Like I'm afraid to be staked?" Blade shook his head. "That sounds cowardly."

"No. It's a precaution." I should have known a Highlander would resist this kind of technology. "Think. You used to use a shield. And body armor. It's the same thing."

"When you put it like that. But I only wore those things for battle. Not every day in case a danger leaped out of the bushes." His mouth tightened.

"You did when you were at war. And that's what this is, Jerry."

Blade looked thoughtful.

"Just think about it. Until we can neutralize Westwood." I couldn't take my eyes off his mouth. I wanted to kiss him. To compare to last night. Not that there had really been a last night. Just virtual sex with Damian.

"You had sex with Damian?" Blade's chin jerked up and he looked around like he wanted to punch or tear or rip something or someone apart.

"No! I mean I thought I did but it was a trick. One of Damian's stunts. A mind game." Oh, God. I should have known Blade wouldn't stop reading my mind.

"Do you want to have sex with Damian?" Blade's hands were fisted. "He's seduced many, many women, Gloriana."

"He won't seduce me. Not after last night. He pulled some kind of whammy." Why didn't a customer come in? And I had the distinct feeling that Emmie Lou and Harvey were all ears.

"I know I have no right to even ask you about this. You've made it very clear that you're on your own." Blade turned away as if he couldn't bear to look at me.

"Jerry." I put my hand on his shoulder. Like iron.

"Damian's not for you, Gloriana. But I know you're a passionate woman." He whirled around in one of his vamp moves. "And that you don't want to be committed to me. But if you need… release, I will always be available to you. No strings, as you wish."

Oh, gee. The back was much easier to deal with than the front. His x-ray eyes raked over me. Need release? What? Use him instead of a vibrator? And was passionate woman another way to say whore?

"By God, you are not a whore." He jerked me into his arms and took my mouth, kissing me until I grabbed his hair and opened my mouth to taste all of him. The doorbell tinkled. Oh, great. Now I get customers.

"Sorry." A deep male voice.

Blade tore his mouth from mine because I simply couldn't.

"Collins." Blade put me away from him. All business. "What's wrong?" I smoothed my hair and pulled down my sweater. I couldn't remember Blade reaching under it, but obviously one of us had felt up my breast.

Kenneth Collins stood just inside the door, looking around. He was obviously upset. "Have you seen Marguerite? She was supposed to meet me next door. At Diana's coffee shop. Then we were going to come here."

"No, she's not here. Maybe she's running late." I put some space between me and Blade because he was seriously interfering with my thinking.

"Her car's outside. But Diana hasn't seen her." Kenneth started toward the back of the store. "Maybe she's in the dressing room."

"No. No one's here." I looked at Blade. "Maybe you should help Kenneth look outside." I had a queasy feeling in my gut. Nowadays when a vamp went missing, it was only natural to fear the worst.

"Outside. Yes." Blade put his hand on Kenneth's shoulder. "You check the vacant lot across the street and I'll go around back and look in the alley." Blade and I exchanged a look. "Have you tried to call her, with your mind? She is your mate."

"Yes! That's the first thing I did. We always communicate in our minds." Kenny took a shuddering breath. "She's not answering me. I'm afraid—"

"Maybe she's mad about something. Not answering on purpose." I reached for the Open sign and flipped it over. "I'll help you look."

"No, you will not." Blade turned the sign back over. "We have enough to worry about without you presenting a target."

"Okay, then." I recognized that this wasn't the time to quibble over whether I'd take orders or not. What Blade said made sense.

"If she shows up, I'll tell her to call you, Kenneth."

"Thanks." Kenneth headed across the street. From the look on his face, I could tell he was calling Margie in his mind. He also pulled out his cell phone and hit the speed dial. I held my breath and listened, but didn't hear another cell phone ring.

"I don't like this." Blade said what I was thinking. "Unlock the back door and I'll go out in the alley. I can't imagine Margie would be back there, but it can't hurt to look around. Be sure to lock the door behind me."

"Jerry, be careful."

"Of course." He touched my cheek, then stepped outside.

I locked the door behind him and leaned against it. The front doorbells tinkled. Customers? I hurried out in case it was Margie. No such luck. Just a pair of night owls shopping for antique furniture. I tried my best to work up enthusiasm for a Victorian washstand, but I was almost relieved when the two left without buying.

I really wanted to close, but another customer came in, so I occupied myself with shop business, ringing up a sale, answering a phone inquiry. An hour went by and I was going crazy. I was alone when I heard pounding on the back door.