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

little looser this time, but not by much. I still felt them crawling up my butt. This sparkly bra top was cut low but the underwire put my boobs right out there, guaranteeing big tips. Valdez gave me the stink eye, his voice in my head reminding me that I’d always prided myself on being hard to get, not an easy lay.

I grabbed his collar and escorted him to the break room, which was blessedly empty. The dancers were in their dressing room, getting into their costumes.

“I told you I’m serious about saving for my future. I’m not going to change my values, you furry fathead. I’m just working for tips. Quit judging me.” I sat down to put on a new pair of heels. Mae had given me some padded insoles for these and they made all the difference. Bless her. “Besides, I’ve worn bathing suits skimpier than this.”

“Yeah. In the dark on a deserted beach. I remember.” He sat down with a thump. “I get it, you’re fired up. But the message you’re sending in that outfit is pretty plain. The customers are going to try to take advantage.” Valdez stared at me. “Are you prepared to handle it?”

“What do you think I did last night?” I stood and walked around. Comfortable heels. “I handled any guy who got too close. If I’d needed backup, I’d have called you. But Manny has bouncers, you know. I’m fine out there.” I picked up my fanny pack. I’d have to check in with the bartender for change but, first, I needed to stop and see if Dominic was in his office.

“I’m going with you.” Valdez stayed by my side.

“No. I can handle Dominic.” I gave Valdez a look he couldn’t misinterpret. It said “Stay!”

“He’s a vampire. Are you sure?” Valdez wasn’t backing down. “It’s one thing to slap a mortal’s hand, another to keep a vamp in line. This is in my job description, Glory. Now let’s go.”

I knew all about his job description. It seemed designed to keep me from having a decent relationship with other men. If I complained to Jeremiah, Valdez might find himself out of a job. It had happened before. I’d lost count of how many bodyguards I’d had over the centuries, all of them named Valdez. Why? They were recruited from a clan of shifters from an island somewhere off the coast of Spain. It seemed to be a big family with an endless supply of cousins, all good-looking men.

Anyway, Jeremiah wanted me happy so he would switch guards if I complained. That didn’t mean they would be any less intrusive or aggravating, but it did show he listened to me. I suppose if I really wanted to be independent, I’d refuse the bodyguard. But no protection during my death sleep? The very thought gave me shivers. I’m not a fool.

I knocked on Dominic’s door, giving up the argument. I’d give this Valdez a pass since he was fresh out of dog jail. However, we needed to talk. His constant presence was getting on my last nerve.

Dominic opened the door. “Thanks for stopping by. You’re cutting it close. The bar will be opening in a matter of minutes.”

“You have another waitress. She can handle the crowd until right before the show starts.” I smiled to take the sting out of that. I’d scanned the almost empty parking lot. Dominic had to know there was no crowd now. The bar had a couple of patrons taking advantage of a happy hour special but that was all.

“Okay, come in.” He glanced at Valdez. “Really? Don’t trust me with the mistress?” He laughed. “I get it. I’ll even take it as a compliment. Come in as well then.” He threw open the door. “I have a proposition for you, Gloria.”

“Call me Glory. It’s closer to my real name.” That’s as much as I’d tell him about my past. I could feel him probing my thoughts and blocked them even though doing it gave me a headache. I had already taken a peek into his mind and found he’d thrown up his own block. Not surprising. It was rude to even try to read each other’s thoughts in a social setting. Simple vampire courtesy.

“Glory. Fine. Call me Dom.” He gestured and we all sat in the same places we had the night before. “I know this club isn’t exactly doing a booming business. The topless act was a last-ditch effort to turn a profit.”

“It seems to be working. Men love it.” I smiled. “Sex sells. That’s never changed.”

“You might be older than you look.” He ran his eyes over my outfit and smiled.

“Aren’t we all?” I sat back and crossed my legs, trying not to flash him my crotch. Damned shorts. “What’s the proposition?”

“My real business is in synthetic blood. That’s the money maker for me. I’m sure you buy some now. The pressure’s on for us to be ‘civilized’ these days.” He used his hands for air quotes. “Know what I mean?”

“Sure. I hated stalking mortals. Once synthetics became available, I jumped on them. Though they can be expensive.” I knew exactly what he was talking about. The movement to use synthetics had started in the fifties of this century when scientists, vampire scientists, had discovered they could create a pretty good blood substitute. Jeremiah could afford the best of it but didn’t drink it himself. He preferred to get it straight from mortals, old school. When I was with him, I enjoyed it. As the years went by, more synthetics became available and the prices began to vary, from cheap to luxury brands. I was stuck with cheap and had to be desperate these days to hit a mortal vein.

“Expensive? Yes, they can be. The profit margin is tremendous. They’re actually cheap to make once you have the formulas.” Dominic got up and walked over to a cabinet against one wall. When he opened it, I could see a hidden refrigerator. Inside were bottles of what