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The Lunatic Cafe :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 135 из 234Heraised one hand and I could see the cuffs were open on one side so he could still use his hands. Black jeans and velvet black boots completed the outfit.
I'd seen the pendant before, but the shirt was certainly new. "Spiffy," I said.
He smiled. "Do you like it?" He straightened the cuffs, as if they needed it.
"It's a nice change from white," I said.
"Stephen, we were expecting you earlier." His voice was mild enough, but there was an undertaste of something dark and unpleasant.
"Stephen took me to the doctor."
His midnight blue eyes turned back to me. "Is your latest police investigation getting rough?"
"No," I said. I glanced at Gretchen. She was looking at Jean-Claude.
"Tell him," she said.
I didn't think she was referring to my accusing her of trying to kill me. It was time for a little honesty, or at least a little drama. I was sure Jean-Claude wouldn't disappoint us.
"Stephen needs to leave now," I said. I didn't want him getting killed trying to protect me. He wasn't up to being anything but cannon fodder. Not against Jean-Claude.
"Why?" he asked. He sounded suspicious.
"Get on with it," Gretchen said.
I shook my head. "Stephen doesn't need to be here."
"Get out, Stephen," Jean-Claude said. "I am not angry with you for missing your set. Anita is more important to me than your being on time to your job."
That was nice to know.
Stephen gave a sort of bob, almost a bow to Jean-Claude, flashed a look at me, and hesitated. "Go on, Stephen. I'll be all right."
I didn't have to reassure him twice. He fled.
"What have you been up to, ma petite ?"
I glanced at Gretchen. She had eyes only for him. Her face looked hungry, as if she'd waited for this a long time. I stared into his dark blue eyes and realized that I could without vampire marks; I could meet his eyes.
Jean-Claude noticed it, too. His eyes widened just a bit. " ma petite , you are full of surprises tonight."
"You ain't seen nothing yet," I said.
"By all means, continue. I do love a surprise."
I doubted he'd like this one. I took a deep breath and said it fast, as if that would make it go down better, like a spoonful of sugar. "Richard asked me to marry him, and I said yes." I could have added, "But I'm not sure anymore," but I didn't. I was too confused to offer up anything but the bare facts. If he tried to kill me, maybe I'd add details. Until then. . we'd wait it out.
Jean-Claude just sat there. He didn't move at all.
I'd seen the pendant before, but the shirt was certainly new. "Spiffy," I said.
He smiled. "Do you like it?" He straightened the cuffs, as if they needed it.
"It's a nice change from white," I said.
"Stephen, we were expecting you earlier." His voice was mild enough, but there was an undertaste of something dark and unpleasant.
"Stephen took me to the doctor."
His midnight blue eyes turned back to me. "Is your latest police investigation getting rough?"
"No," I said. I glanced at Gretchen. She was looking at Jean-Claude.
"Tell him," she said.
I didn't think she was referring to my accusing her of trying to kill me. It was time for a little honesty, or at least a little drama. I was sure Jean-Claude wouldn't disappoint us.
"Stephen needs to leave now," I said. I didn't want him getting killed trying to protect me. He wasn't up to being anything but cannon fodder. Not against Jean-Claude.
"Why?" he asked. He sounded suspicious.
"Get on with it," Gretchen said.
I shook my head. "Stephen doesn't need to be here."
"Get out, Stephen," Jean-Claude said. "I am not angry with you for missing your set. Anita is more important to me than your being on time to your job."
That was nice to know.
Stephen gave a sort of bob, almost a bow to Jean-Claude, flashed a look at me, and hesitated. "Go on, Stephen. I'll be all right."
I didn't have to reassure him twice. He fled.
"What have you been up to, ma petite ?"
I glanced at Gretchen. She had eyes only for him. Her face looked hungry, as if she'd waited for this a long time. I stared into his dark blue eyes and realized that I could without vampire marks; I could meet his eyes.
Jean-Claude noticed it, too. His eyes widened just a bit. " ma petite , you are full of surprises tonight."
"You ain't seen nothing yet," I said.
"By all means, continue. I do love a surprise."
I doubted he'd like this one. I took a deep breath and said it fast, as if that would make it go down better, like a spoonful of sugar. "Richard asked me to marry him, and I said yes." I could have added, "But I'm not sure anymore," but I didn't. I was too confused to offer up anything but the bare facts. If he tried to kill me, maybe I'd add details. Until then. . we'd wait it out.
Jean-Claude just sat there. He didn't move at all.