Real Vampires Hate Skinny Jeans by Gerry Bartlett

Rafe is beyond freaked. But what was he thinking? Sleeping with that skank?”
    “He didn’t sleep with her. It’s a long story. Baby’s probably not even his. Who takes Alesa’s word for anything?”
    “Oh, I hear that.” Aggie waved her hand in front of herface. “I’m out of here. The reek of that demon is getting to me. What did you say you wanted?”
    “I need a blood sample from you. For an experiment. Do you mind?” I eased her toward the stairs. I knew Alesa had batlike hearing and she didn’t need to be in on this. Luckily I could hear an ad for a wonder diaper that was sure to have her riveted. One change a day? Who wouldn’t be glued to the tube?
    I pulled Aggie to the top of the stairs. “The doctor is on his way to see Alesa. He’s a vampire, the same one doing this experiment. Would you let him take some of your blood? Just a bit?”
    “Fangs or a needle?” Aggie gave me a narrow-eyed look.
    “Needle, of course. If he bit you, he’d swallow. It’s what we do, you know. And I bet you’d be delicious.” I hid my smile as Aggie paled. “Come on now, I know you’re not afraid of vampires. You sure showed Ray and me who was boss when we met you.” Aggie had trapped Ray and me in an Austin lake and put us through our paces once when she’d been cursed by an angry goddess. It was a miracle that we were on speaking terms.
    “No, I can handle vamps as you know. But I really, really hate needles, Glory.” Aggie shook her head. “And why are you helping this guy?”
    “This from a powerful Siren who can make men quiver with terror? Or fall at her feet with lust?” I couldn’t help it. I grinned. “He’s my fledgling’s boss. Come on, girlfriend. One little stick. Do it as a favor to me. This will help Penny’s career. Cooperate and I’ll talk to Flo. The three of us can go shoe shopping together.”
    “At the mall?” Aggie’s eyes lit up. There was nothing she wanted more than to have girlfriends. Seems she missed her Siren sisters since she was stuck way over here in an Austin lake most of the time. The rest of the girls were in the Mediterranean, Siren Central apparently. Aggie was being punished and Austin was considered a serious downgrade in Siren terms.
    Flo had invited her to be a bridesmaid in her wedding but hadn’t spoken to her since. Aggie isn’t exactly good company, always threatening to turn you to stone if you don’t do things her way. We were going to have to work on her social skills.
    I felt guilty, playing on her feelings that way. But she’d done some really dirty tricks to me and to Ray, so I pushed down the guilt and went with the plan. And, hey, I
would
arrange the shopping trip. She’d love it. It would be a nice evening for her, and Flo owed Aggie. The Siren had done a decent job throwing a wild bridal shower when Flo had scraped the bottom of the bridesmaid barrel. My bud Flo doesn’t exactly make girlfriends either. Obviously I have interesting friends.
    “Yes, we’ll hit the mall and every shoe store there. Cute boots. Suede platforms. What do you say? Isn’t a little needle stick worth it for some female bonding? Maybe we’ll stop by Rafe’s club after and you can pick up someone to dance with.” I got her to the bottom of the stairs and punched in the security code to open the door on… hello, Ian.
    “Who’s this?” He smiled and gestured for his guards to move on up the stairs. Aggie watched them go, appreciating the way they filled their tight jeans before focusing on Ian. Her eyes widened and she batted her long lashes. The woman didn’t believe in easy on the mascara.
    “Aglaophonos, but call me Aggie. I’m a friend of Glory’s.” She held out her hand. “And you are?”
    “Ian MacDonald. I’m the doctor she may have told you about.” Ian raised a brow at me. “I sense that you are a Siren. Fascinating.”
    “Yes, Sirens are that. If you haven’t tried one…” Aggie did a hair toss and pulled back her shoulders so that