Real Vampires: Glory Does Vegas by Bartlett, Gerry (white hot kiss TXT) 📕

and tossed it on the desk. “That man he bit was up to no good. Valdez was just protecting me.”

“He still must be quarantined. What’s it going to be?” The clerk was serious.

“I’ll arrange for him to stay at home.” I reached for his papers.

“We’ll keep these for now. And we’ll be coming by your apartment to check from time to time. This is very important, Ms. Simpson. We can’t risk public safety with a violent animal on the loose. Are you sure this hasn’t happened before? If Valdez is a violent animal, he should be neutered right away.”

I could feel Valdez shudder as he leaned against my leg. “That won’t be necessary. He’s not a violent animal. He only attacked that man because he was trying to enter my bedroom. My roommate can tell you I am a very heavy sleeper. I didn’t hear a thing, if you can believe it.”

“We will be keeping an eye on the situation, Ms. Simpson. Home visits are part of our policy.” The clerk stared at Valdez, who gave her a doggy grin and a tail wag. “He is cute.”

“He’ll be there but I might be at work. You are welcome to ring the bell and look through the window. He’ll come to the door and bark. You’ll be able to see and hear him. How’s that? Come any day.” I tugged on the leash, eager to get out of there. I was late for work and Dominic wanted to chat. This night wasn’t going well. “Don’t come at night, you’ll wake up my roommate. She’s already upset that he bit her boyfriend.”

“Where are you going now?” The clerk eyed my hair, which I’d spent some time on the night before. The hair spray had held up and I looked like a five-dollar hooker. I was after tips so why not? Since my costume was going to be sluttish, I figured the rest of me should match. I’d slapped on some makeup before I’d come. Blue eye shadow and black liner went with the look. I wore jeans and a T-shirt. This one advertised a car wash where I’d spent a stint until I’d realized the night hours were few and the pay was lousy. My male co-workers enjoyed watching me get the shirt wet. It seemed no matter how long I lived, men never changed.

“I’m going to work. I’ll drop the dog at the apartment on the way. Satisfied?” I lied and then turned to go. I hoped like hell she didn’t follow me to see if that’s what I did. Luckily, we made it out of the building and into the car with no sign of a follower.

“I’m traumatized. Did you hear them talking about neutering me?” Valdez had his head on his paws. “Drive through MacDonalds. I need a Big Mac and a shake. Chocolate.”

“You realize how late I am?” I complained but did swing into the drive thru line. He deserved a treat after his ordeal. “Thanks for saving me from Sid. After you were hauled off to Animal Control, Misty went into my bedroom and tried to wake me up.”

“No kidding?” That got his head up. “What did she do?”

“I like her, but she’s not the brightest bulb. She thought I was just a heavy sleeper and left me alone. I got a note that she’d taken Sid to the emergency room for stitches.”

“Yeah, I just bet he needed stitches.” He made a gagging sound. “I still can’t get the taste of that slimy asshole out of my mouth.” He looked at the line when I was about to move to the speaker to order. “Tell them no onions. I’ll have all those women loving on me again. Hate to have onion breath.”

“Fine. Torture me. You know how much I’d love to eat a hamburger? Just once.” I placed his order then dug in my purse for one of the twenties I’d got in tips the night before. I had no idea what Dominic wanted to see me about, but I did want to keep this job. The tips were good and I hoped Mae could make me shorts that didn’t grab me like I was wearing the world’s tightest thong. Ouch. Then again, showing a little butt cheek might be the reason my tips had been so generous.

“Seriously, Glory? You don’t mind showing off your ass for tips?” Valdez was mind reading again.

“I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ve decided that I need to start saving for the future. I want a business of my own someday. Most vampires have managed to become wealthy. Why can’t I?”

“Geez, how do I know?” He stuck his nose into the cup I slipped into the cup holder between us and drank. “Pull over and unwrap that burger. I’m starving. You think I’d eat that raw crap they served in the dog jail? It’s not exactly steak tartare.”

“Of course not.” I parked and opened the sack, first sniffing the burger before laying it out so he could eat. Oh, but it smelled wonderful. I figured he’d eat it in about three bites and I was right. While he delicately picked through the fries I dumped out on the paper, I spent the time counting my money.

I was going to start thinking about my future. Now. Las Vegas was a good place to do that. A bank was open across from the fast-food place and I wheeled in. I was opening a savings account with the three hundred dollars from the night before.

It was time I grew up and acted like an adult who made plans for the future instead of living from night to night. Too bad it had taken me four hundred years to decide that.

5

Mae looked daggers at me when I rushed in ten minutes late. Then I had to explain that my costume was at home. Could I do anything right? Not according to Mae. She found another pair of black shorts for me, a