Part 21 (2/2)

”Perfetto.” Flo hugged me, tears in her eyes. ”Please accept these little gifts. It makes me so happy to see you pretty in something new.” She gestured around the back room, crammed full of vintage finds that had yet to be priced and put out in the shop. ”You deserve it. I hate to see you always wearing someone else's castoffs.”

My hands stilled on the last b.u.t.ton. Flo too. What was with everyone lately? I didn't mind wearing vintage. Loved the history in it and the fun of taking something worn in a previous era and pairing it with a modern piece. I didn't say anything because I knew Flo and I would never agree on this. She liked everything right off the store rack. Had closets full of clothes only worn once because then they weren't ”fresh.” Someday I was going to talk her into letting me have them to sell. Otherwise they were just abandoned, left to languish when someone else could bring them to life again.

”Thank you, my friend.” I smiled and picked up another sack. ”Your taste is wonderful. I can't believe you were thinking of me when you had all of Paris at your feet. Speaking of...Tell me what shoes you bought over there. The ones you have on are fabulous.”

That got her off and running and we spent an enjoyable evening together, catching up. But something was missing. I loved Flo and knew she would do anything for me. We just didn't have the same feelings about certain things. It was a reality check and a reminder that my ordeal with Jerry had given me a new perspective on a lot of things.

By the time we said good-bye, I had cheered up. No big deal. I could still love her, laugh with her and plan an evening out with her and Richard once Jerry got back. Just because she thought my whole business was tacky-my word, not hers-I couldn't let that ruin our friends.h.i.+p.

After Flo left, Lily stuck her head into the back room where I was trying to figure out which bills to pay first. ”I'm going to take my break now.”

”Wait. Tell me how it's going.” I gestured for her to come inside and close the door. ”Any word from your father?”

”He called and told me where to find a gas card in his office.” She smiled. ”That's better than when he went to Scotland. At least I can fill my tank.”

His tank. She was driving Jerry's Mercedes but I didn't correct her. ”Did you tell him about the job?”

”Yes. I told him you thought he should get me my own apartment too. That I was working here to prove I could be responsible. He was surprised.” She examined her fingernails, painted black with white skulls.

”Surprised? By the apartment thing or the job?”

”The job. He wasn't sure I'd like working in a shop.” She started peeling off the black. Stick-ons, obviously. ”I am so over these. Anyway, I told him I didn't mind it. I'd met some nice kids and I like Sixth Street.” She grinned, showing fang. ”Great dining.”

”Lily, remember what I said.” If I caught her taking someone down a pint in a dressing room...

”I take my action outside. Relax, Glory. Dad said he understood about the apartment. He'll get right on it once he gets this deal in Florida worked out. He's interviewing for new management.” She was on fingernail number six. ”You'd think with the job market the way it is he'd have plenty of quality people to choose from.”

”Maybe you should talk to him about what he does. He owns several hotels and casinos. If you're into that scene, you could work for him. Though it would be in another city instead of here.” I don't know why I hadn't thought of that sooner.

Lily dropped the last decal in the trash can. ”Trying to get rid of me, Glory?”

”No, just laying out some options for you. Flo reminded me that your mother might not like the idea of you working in a shop. You do come from a wealthy family.”

”Fat lot of good it's doing me.” She made a face. ”I want to stay in town awhile. Get to know my dad. Sorry if that's cramping your style, but that's my plan.” She opened the door. ”Now I have thirty minutes coming to me for a meal break. If I plan to eat, I'd better hustle.” She flashed the tip of a fang. ”See ya in thirty.” She sauntered through the shop, waving to the other clerk before she headed out the door.

Okay, that had been interesting. She'd talked to Jerry but I hadn't. He hadn't called me and I wasn't going to make the first move. We were at an impa.s.se. Fine by me. We needed to thrash things out face-to-face.

I heard a scratching at the back door, so faint I wondered if I'd imagined it. No, there it was again. I opened the door and saw a familiar face.

”Aggie? What are you doing here?” She didn't look right. Her hair was wild and she still wore the same outfit I'd seen her in the last time we'd met, almost a week ago, at Ian's. Now it looked a little worse for wear with stains on the sweater and the hem coming out of the skirt. She held her shoes in her hand.

”Quick, shut the door.” She ran over and slammed the one into the shop. ”Hide me.”

”What's the matter? Who are you hiding from?” I noticed she was trembling. I helped her to the chair where she collapsed and dropped the shoes carelessly next to her. Not Aggie-like behavior since they were this season's Manolos. I could tell at one whiff that she was still mortal.

”Ian. I...I had to sneak out of his compound, Glory.” She jumped up and ran into the bathroom, stopping to examine her face in the gla.s.s. ”G.o.d! Where are my cheekbones? I look like one of those dolls they used to say came from a cabbage patch. Remember them? I always thought they were scary when I saw mortal children playing with them.” She pinched her cheeks. ”Do you see what he's done to me?”

”Aggie, what are you talking about? Sneak? I thought you and Ian were in love.” I stood behind her while she washed her hands, using lots of soap.

”Get out of here, I have to use the toilet.” She shoved me out the door. ”It's h.e.l.l being mortal.” The door shut in my face and I heard the lock turn.

Well, well, this was interesting. I heard a flush then water running again. Finally she emerged from the bathroom. She'd obviously used the brush I kept in there because her hair, which had been in a tangled mess, was now under control. She'd washed her face too. She looked younger without makeup, almost innocent. I knew better.

”So why did you have to sneak out and how did you get here?” I sat on the table, ready to hear the whole story.

”That a.s.shole, that lying piece of s.h.i.+t won't turn me vampire, Glory.” Aggie grabbed my hand. ”You do it. Right now. Every minute I'm mortal, I'm getting older. Look at me.” She ran into the bathroom again and peered at her reflection. ”Lines! Around my eyes. Do you see them?”

”That's because you're squinting. Relax, Aggie, it's only been a few days.” I leaned back on both hands so she couldn't grab one again. ”Did Ian say why he wouldn't keep his word?” I had a pretty good idea but I wanted to hear it from her.

”Well, first”-she dragged herself from her study of her face and sank into the chair again-”he took blood from me. Claimed I was delicious.” She rubbed her throat. ”I took that as a compliment. It is, isn't it? Coming from a vampire?”

”Sure. I can smell your blood from here. You're A positive. It's pretty common, but tasty.” I smiled and showed fang. ”I wouldn't mind drinking from you myself.”

”Stop it! You will not come near me with a fang.” She glared, like she was still the bada.s.s she used to be.

”Try and stop me.” I laughed at the look on her face when I got up. I walked right past her to my minifridge and took out a bottle of synthetic, twisting off the cap. ”Relax. I have this. Your mortal blood is safe from me. Now go on, what other reason did he give you for not going through with his promise?”

”Well...” She picked up a shoe and slipped it on. ”He realized our love wasn't exactly true.” The other shoe got a lot of her attention and she wouldn't look at me.

”What do you mean? He was certainly declaring his undying love when the Storm G.o.d was there making it rain like we should start building the ark.” I set down my bottle and put my hands on her shoulders. ”Look at me, Aggie. Did you sing him to you? With your Siren's song? Make him fall in love with you?”

”Of course I did!” She threw off my hands. ”How else could I get a man like Ian to love me?” Her eyes filled with tears. ”You think I don't know what you people think of me? I realize I'm not an easy person to deal with. Sirens don't need people skills, we have powers. You guys here in Austin are the first friends I've ever had besides the sisters.” She started sobbing. ”Now my powers are g-g-gone!”

I knew she meant the other Sirens. They called themselves a sisterhood. Basically a group of serial killers who called men to them in the sea, used their bodies for s.e.x, then tossed them on the rocks to die. It still made me shudder to realize I'd been one of them once. I was glad the Storm G.o.d had wiped my memory of that time in my life. Aggie thought we were friends now? Pathetic.

”Why did you do it, Aggie? Why Ian?”

”He is so s-s-smart, handsome, and a w-w-wonderful lover.” That last word was a wail that could have cracked gla.s.s.

”Jeez, Aggie. Have a meltdown, why don't you?” I glanced at the door to the shop and switched on the radio. Okay that wasn't very sympathetic, but she'd manipulated him. ”People will hear. Pipe down.”

”I can't. Look at me. I'm dying by inches. I lost the man I love and now he sees me as nothing more than a meal on heels.” She grabbed a vintage tablecloth from a nearby shelf and cried into it, her shoulders shaking.

”Okay, calm down. Maybe you can go back, work on developing a real relations.h.i.+p with Ian. Become, I don't know, loveable.” I knew it was a stretch, but she did look awful. Nose red, eyes puffy. Heartbroken.

Her head snapped up. ”Are you serious? If I go back there, I know exactly what will happen. I'm nothing but a blood donor to him now. He wants me to be healthy. So I'll be able to give him plenty of that good A positive every night. Did you know he hired a chef? Just for me. You should see the food he has this guy whip up. Gourmet treats, desserts, everything fattening that I love.” She stood and jerked up her sweater. ”Look at me. I can't b.u.t.ton my skirt! And it's been less than a week.”

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. Pet.i.te Aggie, size six Aggie, had a little round tummy. Oh, there was justice in the world. Ian had been stuffing her like a Thanksgiving turkey.

”Where's your resistance? You don't have to eat what's put in front of you.” She'd told me once though that Sirens often had lavish banquets but never gained an ounce. Part of their magic. Obviously another perk gone along with her immortality.

”Oh, yeah? Well after Ian gets through with his mind games, I can't resist jack.” She shoved her sweater back down. ”He's doing it on purpose. Punis.h.i.+ng me. There's nothing Ian hates more than being manipulated. He told me that. I played a mind game on him so now he's getting even. Quid quo whatever.”

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