(Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips (45 page)

“Yes.” She reached in a drawer. “Look. This is the picture Ian took.” She flushed. “You’re not going to believe it.”

I walked over, only wobbling a little on the high heels, and grabbed the black and white. “Uh, I think I’m seeing more than one baby in there.”

“You are! Triplets.” Lacy laughed. “My mother is beside herself. It may have helped a little with the rift between us. You know she’s not a fan of shape-shifters.”

“Were-cats are shape-shifters too. Right?” I was fascinated by the blurry black and gray picture that looked like an x-ray.

“Were-cats are were-cats. We don’t shift into anything else.” Lacy reached for the photo. “These precious babies could turn out to be either cats or just shifters. It’s driving my family crazy. Rafe hasn’t told his yet. When he does, all hell will break loose. You know Rafe is from a powerful shifter family. He left home because they wanted choose his mate. He’s not great with being told what to do.” Lacy sighed.

“I’m sure they’ll love you when they meet you, Lace.” What else could I say?

“Who knows when that’ll be? I think Rafe wants to wait to see what we get. If the babies are shifters, then he’ll have to approach his family. If they’re cats,” Her eyes filled with tears. “Well, he may never tell them.”

“No! He would never just deny them, Lace.” I put my arm around her. “You have talked about this, haven’t you?”

“I’m scared to bring it up.” She held the photo against her swollen breasts. “I love Rafe but this pregnancy was an accident. He never said he wanted a family before this happened. I feel like I trapped him.”

“Stop it. He loves you. He told me that himself. He’s excited to have a family.” I patted her shoulder. “It sounds like you two need to talk this out.” I sat down and took off those shoes. The heels were awfully high and they weren’t terribly comfortable. I was taking them anyway, of course. Sexy trumped comfort. “Communicate. Jerry and I are finally talking and I couldn’t be happier. It took us long enough. Secrets will kill a relationship.”

“Glory is right.” Flo walked in from the back room. “I let myself in from the alley.”

I found a bag and dropped the shoes inside. “I’m glad you and Richard are speaking again, Flo.”

“I had to make him suffer a little. No one tells me to shut up and gets away with it.” She held out her right hand. “How do you like my new ring? I always wanted a heart-shaped diamond.”

“Wow.” Lacy got off her stool to look. “I can’t even get a proposal out of my man.” She looked at her watch. “Kira is late. I should be leaving now.”

“Go. I’ll stay until she gets here.” I noticed Lacy’s ankles
were
swollen as she struggled to put her moccasins back on. “Is Rafe picking you up?”

“I’m taking a cab home. It should be here any minute. He has a big band playing tonight. He said some of your out-of-town company booked the upstairs to see them perform. I’m surprised you’re not there.” She pulled on a coat that didn’t meet over her stomach. It was cold outside.

Three days from the wedding. Our outdoor wedding. Jerry had laughed at my worries. Vampires don’t feel the cold and Scots? A Highlander thought nothing of our puny Texas cold fronts. Men. Why couldn’t he get stressed like I did?

“Wait a minute.” I realized I’d spaced about the wedding and totally missed the point of Lacy’s comment. “All the Campbells are at N-V? Including Jerry? Without me?” I thrust my feet back into the boots I’d worn down to the shop. “What the hell?” Not that I was surprised that Mag Campbell would want to see her son without me around to dampen her spirits. But I wasn’t letting her get away with it.

“That’s why I’m here, Glory. Ricardo sent me. He said Jeremiah has been trying to call you.” Flo shook her head. “Didn’t Lady Campbell invite you? I told him you must not know about the party or you would be there.”

“Of course not.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I’d put it on vibrate but realized my battery had died. I’d been so busy doing wedding things I’d forgotten to charge it. “I guess I could give Mag the benefit of the doubt but you want to take bets on whether she tried to call or not?”

“Well, come on. Or do you want to change?” Flo looked me over.

“Oh, I’m going to change.” I wasn’t wearing the plain jeans and top I had on. “Come upstairs with me and help me pick an outfit to wow Mother Campbell.”

“But you said I could leave now.” Lacy sagged back to her stool.

“No, you’re right.” I turned to my best friend. “Will you…”

Flo held out her hand and I gave her my key. “I’ll find something for you.” She helped Lacy to her feet. “I talked to Rafael at the club. He is telling everyone that he is having three babies! How are you feeling?”

“Really? He’s telling everyone? Was he bragging or bitching about it?” Lacy walked outside with Flo.

“Bragging, of course. You know men. He is powerful. He can make three babies at once. So macho, this shifter! Bang, bang, bang.” Flo moved her hips in a parody of a man putting it to a woman, then laughed. Lacy was laughing too as they parted.

I smiled, glad Flo had said the right thing. I had just started straightening stock when the door opened. Kira walked in, smiling when she saw me.

“Boss lady. Good to see you here. Finally. Are you going to be working with me tonight?” She threw her purse under the counter and went to the stock room to hang up her coat.

“No, I’ll be leaving in a few minutes.” I hated to admit that. Was I going to get a lecture about how I was abandoning the shop again?

“Well, can we talk?” Kira came back and leaned against the counter. “About Ed or Edwina or whatever the hell he wants to be called.”

“He’s my accountant now, Kira. You have a problem with that?” I looked her over. She’d been buying in the shop again. I recognized the vintage shirt.

“My problem is that gorilla beat me to a pair of gold pumps I’d had my eye on. Now I find out he’s getting the same discount I get.” She cocked one hip and leaned closer. “If he starts trying to beat me out on the cocktail wear, then I’m going to have to put my foot down.”

“Well.” I didn’t know what to say. Kira was as tall as Ed, but not nearly as wide. “You’re stressing over nothing. You know Ed must wear about a twenty-two and you can’t be more than a twelve.”

She smiled and straightened. “You’re right. That hulk could never squeeze his shoulders into the kinds of things I wear.” She sighed. “But those gold pumps! Glory, they were perfect!”

“I’m sure they hurt like hell.” I grinned and she laughed. “You ever go out with him?” I had to say it. It wasn’t like me to play matchmaker but those two would be perfect for each other. “Ed seems straight to me.”

“Oh, he is. Just because he likes his cross-dressing doesn’t make him gay. He’s gone out with some women I know.” Kira looked thoughtful. “We’ve had words though, about the shoes. It pissed me off. He had to know I would want them.”

“Maybe you could offer to watch for things he’d like. In his size. And take turns on the shoes. I can’t fire him. He’s done amazing things with the books. And he did say you were hot.” I patted her shoulder.

“Oh, he did.” She stuck out her chest. “Man wants to take me out, he’d better not show up in those gold shoes, that’s all I’m saying.”

I nodded, hiding a grin when I heard the front door open. “Here comes Flo. I’m going to change then I’ve got a party to go to. Will you be okay by yourself?”

“Aren’t I always?” She raised an eyebrow and turned to Flo. “Hey, short stuff. Did you see that we got in a vintage Chanel bag last week? I know you don’t like old things, but this one is a beaut.”

Flo practically threw my clothes at me and followed Kira to a locked case. “
Davvero
? Vintage Chanel? You know they make fakes, Kira.”

“Honey, I’m an expert on this stuff. I would never show you a fake.” Kira unlocked the case then turned to wink at me. “Party? Go change. I got this.”

I shook my head and walked to the dressing room. Flo had brought a pair of brown velvet jeans, a purple and gold satin blouse and a gold chain belt. With a gold leather jacket I was definitely going to be noticed. By the time I got out of the dressing room, Flo was moving her credit card, compact, lipstick and phone into the small gold quilted Chanel bag.

Flo slung the chain over her shoulder. “What do you think, Glory?”

“It looks perfect.” I smiled at my clerk then looked around the shop to make sure we didn’t have any customers. With the all clear I glanced skyward then braced myself and did something I wasn’t sure was wise.

“Mother, Dad, if you’re listening, I’d like to invite you to meet the Campbells.”

“Darling, I thought you’d never ask.” My mother appeared in front of me. She was dressed in her usual perfection in a black dress that could have come from a Paris designer’s showroom. Dad appeared a moment later and he was in a business suit and tie for a change.

“No, Mars. Too dressy.” Mother flicked a fingertip and he was in slacks and a silk shirt with a velvet sports coat over that.

“Really, Hebe. You could have just told me what to wear. I can dress myself.” To prove he could, he changed the coat from black to navy blue and added a pocket square in bright red. “Gloriana, do you approve?” He kissed me on the cheek.

“You both look perfect.” I turned to Kira who was standing next to the register with her mouth hanging open. “These are my parents, Kira. They are Hebe and Mars, from Olympus. If you tell anyone who they are or where they come from, they can make you very sorry.”

“Yes, indeed. You can’t imagine the tricks we have up our sleeves.” My mother’s smile was so evil that even I shivered. “Florence, I see you are here as usual.”

“Yes. The Campbell family is down the street, at a club called N-V. I came to get Glory. Her phone wasn’t working and she almost missed the party.” Flo looked nervous now and I didn’t blame her. My mother was examining her like she would a cockroach that had crawled out from under a dress rack.

“Mother, Flo is my best friend. My matron of honor. Be nice.” I grabbed Flo’s hand.

“I am always nice.” Mother took Mars’ arm.

He laughed. “Nice? Dear, I love you but I’d never say you were nice.” He patted her hand. “I am not fond of nice anyway. You are much more exciting than a bland nice woman.”

I rolled my eyes when Mother practically melted into his arms. “Let’s go, please. We’re going to walk down Sixth Street. Like normal people. It’s only a few blocks. Can you act like a mortal for a little while?” I directed this at both my parents but mostly at my mother. “I don’t want anything to disappear or any unusual weather patterns to happen around us. If you need a coat, Mother, snap it on now, before we step outside.”

“Yes, I suppose it is chilly.” She snapped on a chinchilla shrug.

“Not that. Austin isn’t friendly to people who wear furs.” I ignored her pithy opinion of the barbarians in Texas then sighed in relief when she snapped on a pretty blue cashmere coat.

“Is this better?” She also added leather gloves.

“Perfect. Thank you. This is a big deal to me. I want you to get along with Jerry’s parents. So please make this a nice evening.” I ran my sweaty palms down my velvet pants.

“Hmm. Nice again. Well, Hebe, clearly our daughter is ashamed of us.” Mars nodded. “But I should remind you, Gloriana, that, as mortals and blood suckers, these Campbells are our inferiors. I hope they remember that.”

“Oh, boy,” I said to Flo as I pulled her along with me.

“Tell us about these people, Gloriana.” Mars opened the door to the sidewalk. Then he looked back. “Kira, is it? We will not hurt you. But Gloriana is right. Keep your mouth shut about what you saw tonight. I am Mars, god of war.” He smiled and thunder clapped, making the room shake just a little. “I don’t play around when I’m betrayed.”

“Yes, sir.” Kira sank down on the stool, her lips trembling. “Good night.”

I wanted to go back and give her a hug but figured that would spoil Dad’s warning. So out we went. I gave my parents a quick summary of the Campbells. The fact that the entire clan was vampire got a reaction.

“How can they change their own children into blood suckers?” Mother looked at Mars. “I can’t wait to meet these people. Do they still live in caves and carry clubs, Gloriana?” She shuddered. “You must rethink this alliance.”

“The wedding goes on, Mother. The Campbells have a castle in Scotland. Dad, the Laird is a famous warrior over there. I think you’ll like him.” But then I felt I had to warn them that Mag, Jerry’s mother, had never thought I was good enough for her son because I’d been an actress back in the day. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mag didn’t show some of her negative attitude, even in front of my parents.

“Not good enough, Gloriana? Well, we’ll soon straighten out that woman.” Mother’s lips were firm.

“No, you won’t. I’m not turning this night into a free-for-all with thunder and lightning.” Though that would be fun to watch. “Jerry and I are marrying and I’m stuck with his family. You can’t hurt them.”

“What about his father, this warrior? Does he also disrespect you, Gloriana?” Mars looked ready to take on the entire clan and teach them a lesson.

“The Laird likes me. He’s never been the problem.” I stopped and pulled them both into an alley. “Listen to me. It’s like when I announced I was marrying a vampire. You were instantly prejudiced. Even without meeting Jerry. But, Mars, you came to admire him as a fellow warrior once you got to know him. Right?” I noticed Flo sidling away toward the club. I let her go.

“Yes. He was very brave in Olympus. But he wasn’t a blood sucker there.” Mars kept looking toward the street. People walked past, ignoring us.

“Well, just try to forget your prejudices when you meet the Campbells. They have their own biases. But I’m betting they will be impressed when they see how important my parents are. Remember, when they first met me I was nothing, a poor widow with no background. Now look at the pedigree I have.” I put my arms around both of them.

“Do you hear that, Mars?” Mother kissed my cheek. “Gloriana is proud of us.”

“So she says now.” Mars stepped back. “But if I hear that Campbell woman say an unkind word to our daughter, I’ll not stand for it.” He patted his jacket pocket. “You think I came unarmed to meet a potential enemy, Daughter? Not on your life.” He nodded toward the street. “Let’s go. If your man is still the warrior he was on Olympus, he won’t allow his mother to disrespect you either.”