She was leaving him. Leaving, feeling betrayed. He couldn’t let her go like that. He watched her turn the second and third deadbolt lock. “You were all I ever wanted in a woman.”
Her hand stilled. “Don’t lie to me.”
“The way I felt was never a lie. It was real.”
She turned to face him. Her eyes glistened with tears.
He gestured toward the tapes. “At first, I was curious. I wanted to know what had happened to you. But the more I got to know you, the more intrigued I became. The more fascinated and attracted. The more I realized I was in love with you.”
Her face crumbled. “And now, you can’t bear to touch me. You think I’m repulsive.”
He winced. God, he wished that was true. It would be easier if he couldn’t stand to touch her. But now, even knowing who she was, he still wanted her. “Darcy.” He stood. “You were the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
“Past tense.” She closed her eyes and looked away. “You don’t believe this can work, do you?”
“No. I don’t.”
“I told myself that so many times. I tried to resist you. But I wanted you so much.”
Austin sighed. They were both suffering. Somehow, that knowledge didn’t help much. “If you want Garrett and me off the show, I understand.”
She drew in a shaky breath. “It would be hard to explain this mess to my boss. Sly’s going to be mad enough that I let mortals on the show, but hiring two vampire slayers—”
“We never planned to hurt anyone. We were only gathering information.”
“Which you planned to use against us.”
He groaned inwardly. He couldn’t deny that. “My boss is desperate to find his daughter.”
“And murder his son-in-law?” Darcy shook her head. “Roman and Shanna are very happy. You should leave them alone.”
“You don’t think she’s in any danger, married to a vampire?”
Darcy scoffed. “You don’t understand how much they love each other. But then, I don’t suppose you know much about love.”
Ouch. He knew it hurt like hell.
Darcy sighed. “If you and Garrett can get yourselves eliminated in the next round, that would help. Then, you’d both be gone, and I’d still have a job.”
“Fine. We’ll just keep all the spy stuff a secret.”
She nodded. “That would be the best for both of us.”
“How did you find out?”
With another sigh, she leaned against the door. “The show made its debut on DVN tonight. Shanna saw it and recognized you. She called Connor, and they told me who you are.”
He winced. “We thought you’d finish recording everything before the first show aired.”
A knock on the door startled her. “That’s my ride. I—I’ll see you at the penthouse Monday night?”
“Yes. Wait a minute.” He strode toward the door and switched off the alarm system. “You can go now. Good night.”
She looked at him, her face pale. “Good night.”
She was only a few inches away, but it felt like a chasm stretched between them. Two different worlds.
“Such a shame,” he whispered. How would he ever get over her?
She grimaced. “Yes, it is.” She opened the door.
Austin tensed when he saw the kilted Scotsman in the hallway. The youthful-looking vampire shot Austin an irritated look, then took Darcy’s arm and led her away.
Out of his life. Back to the world of vampires. Austin slowly closed the door.
What the hell was he going to do? Betray Darcy and her friends? Or betray his job at the CIA? Either way, he couldn’t escape the outcome. He would be a traitor.
Ian escorted her around the block to where he’d parked the car. “Connor just called. Gregori’s been trying to find ye. He says yer boss wants to see you right away.”
Darcy groaned. “Of course he does.” Sly wanted to pitch a fit because of the mortals on the reality show. This was the conversation she’d dreaded. Great. Wasn’t it enough that her heart was in shreds? She didn’t want to lose her job, too. Besides, she still thought including mortals had been a great twist. How was she to know those mortals would be undercover spies? That little fact she would never admit to Sly. She was stuck in a weird position. She’d have to protect Austin and Garrett in order to protect herself.
Ian opened the car door for her. “I’ll drive ye to DVN. Gregori’s headed that way. He’ll take ye home when ye’re done.”
“Thank you.” Darcy climbed into the front passenger seat.
Ian zipped around to the driver’s side and got in. “I have a cell phone if ye’d rather teleport. It would be faster.”
Darcy fastened her seat belt. “I’d rather you drive, if you don’t mind.”
“All right.” Ian started the engine and they drove off.
Darcy didn’t want to try teleporting again. She was still too upset to concentrate properly. Her last attempt had been so embarrassing. Bouncing off the door? Sheesh. It had reminded her of a sci-fi show where the doors failed to swoosh open and the actors crashed into the door.
She realized she was trying not to think about Austin. Or his confession of love. Or his belief that they had no future. Dammit, future was the one thing she did have. In abundance. Why couldn’t she spend it with the man she loved? Shanna was happily married to Roman. Why couldn’t Austin be happy with her?
Do you expect me to make love to a dead woman? His words rushed back, flooding her with pain and frustration. They couldn’t have a future. His mission in life was to battle her own kind. He would have to give up his job to be with her. He’d have to give up his whole way of life to dwell in the darkness with her. It’d been so hard for her to adjust. How could she expect him to do it? He was right. It was impossible.
Ian dropped her off at DVN. She wandered across the lobby, aware of the furious glares being cast her way by the other vampires. Great. She was enemy number one in the vampire world.
The receptionist frowned at her. “Mr. Bacchus is expecting you. I’ll tell him you’ve arrived.” She punched a button on her phone. “She’s here.”
She’s doomed, Darcy thought as she walked down the hall. She knocked on Sly’s door.
“Come in.”
As Darcy entered, Tiffany rushed past her into the hall. Great. Hopefully, Tiffany had left him in a good mood. Darcy shut the door. Sylvester Bacchus stood behind his desk, his arms crossed, his brow creased with a ferocious scowl.
Tiffany must be overrated. Darcy squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “You wanted to see me?”
Sly narrowed his beady eyes. “I watched the debut tonight. The whole freaking vampire world watched it.”
Darcy swallowed. “That was what we’d hoped for.”
He skirted the desk. “The show finished two hours ago. In that time, we have received fifteen hundred phone calls and emails. Do you know what they’re saying, Newhart?”
“They…like the show?”
With a snort, he stopped in front of her. “They hate you.”
She gripped her hands together. “I can explain—”
“I thought I told you that the Sexiest Man on Earth had to be a vampire.”
“He will be. The mortals will never pass all the tests.”
“Did I say you could include mortal scum on a vampire show?”
“No, but you wanted a big twist, one that would shock everyone. I believe I have accomplished that.”
He raised a hand to hush her. “Let me tell you what you’ve accomplished. You’ve pissed off the entire vampire world.”
“I—” She stopped when he pointed a finger at her.
He stepped closer ’til the tip of his pointing finger was an inch from her face. “I have two words to say to you.”
She braced herself for it. You’re fired.
The corner of Sly’s mouth lifted. “You’re brilliant.”
Her eye twitched.
“You have single-handedly caused an uproa
r! This is the most exciting event since the introduction of synthetic blood.”
“Excuse me?”
Sly paced across the room. “We’re averaging over seven hundred calls and emails an hour. Vamps all over the world are royally pissed. At us! It’s fantastic.”
“Huh?”
“When Wednesday night comes, the entire vampire world will come to a screeching halt while everyone watches our show. Tell me, do they kick off another mortal in the next show?”
Darcy thought back. Yes, Nicholas was booted off when he dropped Lady Pamela in the mud. “Yes, they do.”
“Great!” Sly slapped his thigh. “You’re a genius, Newhart. It’s like you’ve created a war on television. Vamps will be glued to the screen to make sure the mortals are defeated.”
“I see.”
“They will be defeated, won’t they?” Sly paused in mid-stride. “I’m warning you, Newhart, a Vamp has got to win.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Have you finished recording yet?”
“No. We have three nights left.”
“And the last night—when are you shooting that?”
“This Friday.”
Sly nodded. “I want to be there to personally hand over the harem and the check to the winner. It’ll be great!”
“Yes, sir.”
Sly grinned. “That’s it, Newhart. Good work.”
“Thank you.” She headed for the door.
“Just remember, a Vamp has to win.”
“No problem.” Darcy exhaled in relief as she strode to her office. She still had a job. And Austin had agreed that he and Garrett would get eliminated in the next round. In her office, she worked on the second show that would air on Wednesday.
After a few minutes, the receptionist came in with a stack of phone messages and emails. “Sly wanted you to see these.”
Darcy thumbed through the messages. Oh, no. Vamps from around the world were complaining about the ex-harem’s old clothes and hairstyles. Some were even poking fun at them.
Darcy had tried so hard to get the ladies to modernize. These messages might do the trick.
She worked until Gregori and Maggie arrived. They were relieved she still had a job and that the show would continue.
Maggie studied the messages that blasted the ex-harem’s taste. “You know what this means?”
“That Lady Pamela will have the vapors?” Gregori muttered.
Maggie smiled. “Yes. But then, we’ll be doing makeovers.”
Chapter 19
“This is just wrong,” Gregori muttered. “You can’t pay me enough for this kind of humiliation.”
Darcy winced. “Actually, I’m not paying you at all.” It was Monday night, and she was in the hot tub with Gregori and Vanda, getting ready to record the fourth episode of The Sexiest Man on Earth. “You agreed to help me out of the goodness of your heart, remember?”
Gregori sank deeper into the hot bubbly water. “That’s my problem. I’m too damned nice. Nice guys never get the girl.”
Vanda laughed. “Come on, Gregori. You have two women all to yourself right now.”
He snorted. “I haven’t noticed either of you being very friendly. I’m sitting here all alone in my little corner—”
“Pouting.” Darcy finished his sentence for him.
He splashed water at her face. “You said I would be well dressed for the show. That means tuxedos, not this—this spandex underwear I’m wearing. It barely covers the goods.”
“Stop worrying.” Darcy splashed water back. “You look great in a Speedo.”
“Yeah.” Vanda winked at him. “You look as sexy as those male dancers last night.”
“Don’t remind me.” Gregori scowled at them. “I never should have taken you ladies to that raunchy club.”
“But we had fun,” Vanda protested. “And we needed to celebrate the successful makeovers.”
“You cost me four hundred dollars!”
“We did?” Darcy asked. “But we only ordered one drink apiece and that was just for looks.”
“You forget that Vanda stuffed some money into the leopard guy’s furry underwear,” Gregori grumbled. “Money she got from me.”
Darcy shrugged. “It was only a buck.”
“It was a twenty,” Gregori growled. “And then all the ladies had to try it. Over and over.”
Darcy winced. No wonder the male dancers had practically climbed all over the ex-harem ladies. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize they were spending so much money.”
“Why didn’t you stuff some money?” Vanda asked.
Darcy shrugged. “I wasn’t in the mood.” And they weren’t Austin. Even with male dancers gyrating in front of her face, she’d only wanted to think about Austin. She should have been angrier with him. He’d lied to her. Spied on her and her friends. But he’d also confessed to being in love with her. How could she stay angry when he loved her?
“Not in the mood?” Vanda looked aghast. “But leopard guy was so hot. And I loved that cowboy with the sexy pants.”
“Those were chaps,” Darcy clarified. And they were indeed sexy when the cowboy forgot to wear his trousers underneath. At some point, while she was getting whiplashed with the flying fringe of Cowboy’s chaps, she’d realized how easily she had forgiven Austin. The only explanation she could come up with was that she still loved him very much. Too much to just give up.
“Well, I was definitely in the mood.” Vanda fanned herself. “Cowboy was packing quite a six-shooter.”
“Yeah.” Darcy grimaced. “I was afraid he’d have an accidental discharge.”
Vanda laughed. “And that firefighter guy—wow! I’ve never seen such a long hose.”
“Enough!” Gregori growled. “I really don’t want these mental images. It’s bad enough that…”
“What?” Darcy asked.
“Nothing. I’m glad the ladies enjoyed themselves.”
“Me, too.” Darcy nodded. After their makeover, the ladies had looked young and beautiful. It had been wonderful at the club, watching them realize how attractive they still were. And how much power they could still wield over men.
Gregori crossed his arms, frowning. “If you ever want to go there again, I’ll drop you off and come back later.”
“You didn’t enjoy it?” Vanda asked.
He snorted. “The cowboy asked me for my phone number.”
Darcy choked, trying not to laugh. “Poor Gregori. Too sexy for your own good.”
He glowered at her. “And now you want to use me as man bait? This was not part of my job description.”
“But it’s the only way to test the next qualifier,” Darcy insisted. “Qualification number seven states that the Sexiest Man on Earth has to like women.”
“That was my idea.” Vanda smoothed back her wet purple hair. “That’s why I get to do the judging tonight.”
“And qualification number eight says he must know how to please a woman,” Darcy continued. “Vanda will verify that, too.”
“Yes.” She sighed. “It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.”
Gregori looked appalled. “You’re going to make out with all six guys? In front of the cameras?”
“Don’t worry.” Vanda adjusted her bikini top so her purple bat tattoo could be seen. “I won’t do anything too shocking.”
“No nudity,” Darcy warned her. Sheesh, Sly was going to love this episode. She only hoped Austin would refuse to get in the hot tub with Vanda. The thought of Vanda making a move on him was too awful to contemplate. But surely, Austin would refuse to cooperate. After all, he was supposed to get eliminated tonight.
Maggie walked across the lit pool area until she reached them. “The men are ready and waiting in the greenhouse.”
“They’re all wearing swimsuits?” Darcy asked. “And their anklets?”
“Yes. And they drew numbers to see who would go first.”
“Who is first?” Vanda asked.
“Otto.” Maggie grimaced. “
He’s wearing an itsy-bitsy bikini. And he’s oiled his skin up. He said he wanted his bulges to glisten in the moonlight.”
Darcy groaned.
Vanda grinned. “I’m ready.”
“I’m not.” Gregori sank in the water up to his chin.
“Let’s get started.” Darcy cued the cameramen.
Maggie walked back to the greenhouse where she’d release the men one at a time. The pool lay between the greenhouse and the hot tub. A patio chair had been positioned on each side of the pool. Maggie opened the glass French doors to the greenhouse. Otto appeared in the opening, his massive body swallowing up the entire space.
“That’s our cue.” Darcy climbed out of the hot tub. With a groan, Gregori did the same. Darcy sauntered to the patio chair on the south side of the pool. Gregori headed to the chair on the north side. The cameras followed their progress.
It was a bit embarrassing, she had to admit. Here she was in a revealing bikini, dripping water as she walked, just to see if she could catch a man’s attention. And all of this would be seen on international vampire television.
Poor Gregori. This could be really embarrassing for him.
Otto strode across the terrace. As soon as he realized the cameras had turned to him, he paused to strike a pose.
“Ya, I am pumped up for tonight.” He turned his back to the cameras to show off more bulges. Then he pivoted to the side to show off his biceps.
Darcy grew tired of watching and sat in the patio chair. She waved at Gregori on the other side of the pool. He sat and scowled at her. The purpose of this exercise was to test each man’s sexual preference. When the contestant left the greenhouse, he would either look in Darcy’s direction or Gregori’s. Unfortunately, Otto was too in love with himself to notice either of them.
Finally, Otto ran out of poses and strode around the pool. He stopped in front of Darcy. “You vant de Otto, ya?”
“Oh, yeah.” Darcy pointed at Vanda. “But she wants you first.”
“Ya, de ladies have to vait deir turn.” Otto chuckled as he strolled toward the hot tub. He jumped in, sloshing water over the side. “De Otto has arrived to pump you up.”
It wasn’t long before Vanda was personally checking out Otto’s bulges. Darcy turned her chair to the side to keep from seeing more than she wanted. Gregori drew her attention when he pretended to be choking himself and gagging.