To Catch a Vampire by Jennifer Harlow Page B

half the men in this town are named JR.”
    “If it helps, the source will continue to aide us when he is able.”
    “Yeah, and until then we have to play lovey dovey.”
    With an honest-to-God smile, Oliver reaches over and places his hand over mine. A feeling like warm honey trickles down my spine. His eyes meet mine, gray and clear. If I could, I’d turn to goo right now. “My darling, will that really be such a hardship?”
    Someone takes control of my body, not me I don’t think, and pulls my hand away. Thank you unconscious mind. “Inappropriate touching,” I hiss. I stand above him. “I warned you.”
    “My dear, if this farce is going to work, there must be some touching and, as you say, lovey dovey involved.”
    “Yes, out there,” I say, pointing to the door. “Inside this room there will be no touching, flirting, nothing. Think you can handle that?”
    “Do you?” he asks, serious as pneumonia.
    My heart skips. “I can’t do this. Call Irie. I can’t do this.”
    He stands up, now towering above me. “I do not want her here. I want you.”
    My mouth flops open. “Did you not hear a word I said?”
    “I will admit that the, how do you say it, ‘icing on the cake’ is a few days alone with you. We both know that. I do not deny it. But you are immune to vampire mind tricks. And we are about to enter a precarious world where we need every weapon in our arsenal. You cannot be forced to turn against me or yourself. We both experienced how horrible that can be.” He gazes at my neck, at the two ragged scars he put there. It wasn’t his fault, he wasn’t in control of his body, but I know he still feels responsible. Instinctively, I cover my neck with my hand as if I’m rubbing it. Oliver steps toward the television with his back to me. “You should not let them know about this immunity, of course. Do what they say, within reason. And try not to use your gift. We need to blend in, draw no undue attention to ourselves.”
    “Got it.” It was my specialty in high school.
    “Well, then. I think it is time to face the world.”
    “You do know that clubs don’t get busy until at least ten?”
    “I have been to a few in my day, yes,” he says, checking his hair in the mirror. He’s leaving it loose and wavy tonight. I like it better this way, but I’d never tell him that. It would mean I’ve actually thought about him. Don’t need to give him any more ammunition. “But it is customary for guests to pay homage to his or her host on the first night. Marianna is a stickler for tradition.”
    “You know her?”
    “Our paths have crossed,” he says with a private smile. Oh, great. She’s an ex. Just what I need.
    “When?”
    “About two hundred and fifty years ago in Barcelona.”
    “And you two were … friends?”
    Grin Number One with full fangs surfaces. “Do I detect a hint of jealousy?”
    Yes, but only an itty-bitty spark. It barely registers, I swear. “No,” I scoff, “but I’m supposed to be your wife. I need to know how to act around her.”
    “It will come to you, I am sure.” He kneels down on the other side of the bed, pulling out his suitcase. Out comes a pair of black cowboy boots with white embroidery. I get my boots off the floor and sit in the chair, pulling them on as well.
    “Nice boots,” I say. “Going native already?”
    “One must adapt,” he says, putting them on. “If you are a good girl, perhaps I will buy you a matching pair.”
    “Oh, we are not one of those couples. I hate those couples.”
    He twists his body around to face me. “And what type of couple are we?”
    “The kind that avoids each other as much as possible. A normal married couple. Think you can handle that?”
    “Why did I ever marry you?” he asks, mock serious.
    “I’m asking myself the same question,” I say, matching his tone. “Now, are you ready? Don’t want to keep your ex-girlfriend waiting.” I stand, smoothing my skirt.
    “Yes, my darling.”
    We walk out of