Real Vampires Hate Skinny Jeans by Gerry Bartlett Page A

her impressive boobs, showcased in cashmere knit, couldn’t be missed. Not that Ian had missed them. “Well, let me say this.” She licked her lips. “We have a certain reputation for seduction. And we’ve earned it. Google us.” Her smile was an invitation for more than an Internet search and I fannedmyself while the two sent each other scorching mental messages. Whew.
    “Dial it down, Aggie. Ian’s here to see Alesa. The pregnant demon upstairs?” I tugged on Aggie’s elbow. “I just asked Aggie about the blood sample, Ian. Well? Are you willing to let Ian stick you? With a needle?” I wanted to laugh at the look on her face. She was torn. Fear of needles versus hot doctor. The battle didn’t last long.
    “Sure, why not? You won’t hurt me, will you, Doctor?” She leaned in. “But then if it’s for a good cause…” She smiled and ran a fingernail down his bicep. “I never did get to play doctor as a, um, child.” Aggie as a child? My mind boggled.
    “I promise to make it painless.” Ian grinned, clearly interested. He put his card into her hand. “If I didn’t have a patient waiting, I’d definitely be all yours right now. For any games you wished to play.” Ian winked at me.
    I rolled my eyes. “Why don’t you two set a date? I’m going upstairs before Alesa takes off. She’s reluctant to let you examine her, Ian. She’s going to take some convincing.” I headed up the stairs. I could hear more flirting going on behind me. Seriously? Did Aggie not care that she sounded like a slut? Oh, wait, that was in the Siren job description. Along with luring sailors to their deaths. Of course that was old-school. Aggie had confided that new technology had made the Siren business more difficult. So her boss, the Storm God, was working on a new game plan. I shuddered to imagine what it could be. A Siren app?
    Ian caught up with me. He was chuckling as he reached around me to open my door. His bodyguards took up posts on either side of it. He ordered them to stay outside unless he called for them.
    “Aggie’s quite a character.”
    “Yes, she is. Be careful around her. She can turn you to stone if you displease her.”
    “So can I, Doc.” Alesa had moved to the sofa, her shoesoff, her empty ice cream carton and spoon making a puddle on my lacquered table.
    “Then I’ll have to be careful, won’t I, Miss Alesa?” Ian set his black bag down on the table then handed me the carton and spoon.
    “Who says I’m going to let you anywhere near me?” Alesa gave me a dirty look when I grabbed a cloth and quickly wiped up her spill. I gave her the same look back. “Glory and Rafe think they can get rid of me and my baby. They can think again.” She used the remote to turn off the TV.
    “
Is
there a baby?” Ian sat in a chair across from her. “Perhaps proving that should be your first step. That would be a fine slap in the face to Glory here and Valdez. That is who you claim is the father.”
    “I don’t just claim that. He is my baby’s daddy.” Alesa swung her feet to the floor and sat up. “You doubting me?”
    “Don’t get huffy. I’m offering you a way to prove some things. That puts me on your side, I would think.” Ian smiled. “Watch the anger. It’s not good for the baby. If there is one.”
    Alesa put her hand on her swollen belly. “There is one. Feel.” She gestured for Ian to join her on the couch.
    I sat in a chair, afraid to say anything as Ian walked over and sat beside her. He let Alesa take his hand and put it over her tummy.
    “Well, I do feel something. Let me use my stethoscope to listen for a fetal heartbeat.” He frowned as he moved his hand over her brown knit maternity top.
    “Guess listening couldn’t hurt.” Alesa watched him carefully as he opened his bag and pulled out his stethoscope. He fixed it around his neck, put the ends in his ears and began to listen. When he pulled up her shirt, Alesa didn’t object, just let him move the stethoscope around on