Matthew’s cheeks flooded with color. “Um, can we talk about this later?”
“Hey, don’t stop on my account,” Joni said. “You wouldn’t believe the things I hear. This is nothing.”
“Yeah, go on,” I prodded. “This is really distracting.”
“Fine. I told her I was going to Atlanta,” he said stiffly. “For a conference. And I didn’t mention that you’d be here.”
Joni snorted.
“A conference?” I asked. “That’s the best you could do? Ouch!”
“Apparently so. And hold still. She’s almost done with the stake.”
I could only wonder what Joni thought about my choice of artwork. I mean, who got a stake tattooed on their wrist? I knew it seemed weird—maybe a little goth or emo. Which contrasted sharply with the image I presented in my Lilly Pulitzer sundress and sandals.
She must think I’m nuts.
“Okay,” Joni said. “The stake’s done. You wanted a butterfly, too? Resting on the stake?”
“Forget the butterfly,” I said, unable to bear the pain a minute longer. Anyway, the butterfly suddenly seemed all wrong. If I changed my mind, I could always have it added later.
“You’re sure?” Matthew asked, his brow knitted.
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Okay. Feel free to let go of my hand, then.”
I did so, watching as he flexed it with a wince. “Yeah, sorry about that,” I said.
“Hey, just consider it part of my services,” he quipped.
“I’d sure like to get in on that,” Joni said with a wink. “Whatever it means.”
I shot her a glare. My Megvéd, my inner voice screamed.
“Okay,” Joni said, setting aside her tools, her tone all businesslike now. “Keep it dry and out of the sun for a couple of weeks. Bandage stays on for two hours, that’s it. When you take it off, wash it with soap and water and pat dry. Then apply unscented skin lotion as often as it takes to keep it moist while it heals, okay? About five days. Looks like you know the drill.” She hooked her thumb toward Matthew’s tattoo. “Make sure she takes care of it, lover boy.”
Lover boy? I choked back a laugh, enjoying the stricken look on Matthew’s face.
“I can’t wait to show my boyfriend,” I chirped.
“Let me guess,” Joni said, a smile dancing on her purple-lipsticked mouth. “He doesn’t know you’re here, either?”
“Oh, he knows. Right, Matthew? In fact, they’re sharing a suite at the hotel.”
“Kinky,” Joni said with an approving wink.
I was still busting a gut laughing as a glaring Matthew led me out of the shop and into the bright, midday Georgia sun.
So far, this was the best birthday ever.
18 ~ Surprise!
Wow,” Aidan said, his eyes widening as they swept over me. “You look”—he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat—“unbelievably beautiful.”
I fidgeted with the straps of my pale green shantung silk dress, bought just hours before while power shopping with Whitney at the mall. She’d claimed the dress made my eyes sparkle like gems. I was just happy that it fit perfectly, because nothing else I’d tried on had. Apparently, I’d lost some weight since Christmas break.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I said, eyeing him appreciatively as he stood there in Gran’s foyer, his hands thrust into his pockets. Leave it to Aidan to make a simple dark blue suit—worn sans tie, of course—look like something straight off the pages of GQ. “So, where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise, remember?”
“Well, what are you planning on doing, then? Blindfolding me in the car?”
“Yes,” he said with a grin. “Precisely that.” He pulled a black silk blindfold from his pocket, dangling it from his fingers.
Okay, that was hot. “Oh,” I managed to say, my heart suddenly racing. “Umm, wow.”
He laid one hand against my back. “You ready?”
“Wait, can you help me with this first?” I reached into my little clutch and retrieved my bracelet.
“Sure,” he said, his eyes narrowing a fraction. “What’s that on your wrist?”
“Oh, right.” I cleared my throat awkwardly. “I . . . um . . . got a tattoo today. Matthew took me,” I added lamely.
“You did . . . what?”
“Yeah, it’s a Sâbbat thing, actually. Remember that stuff in the book you gave me? The one Luc translated? I’ve officially taken my mark.” I held out my arm, wrist up. “See?”
He moved closer, taking my hand in his as he examined the tattoo. “It’s nice,” he said at last. “Pretty, actually. And kind of badass.”
“I know, right?” I admired it for perhaps the, oh, hundredth time that day, then pulled my hand from his. “Just be careful with it when you put on the bracelet, okay? It’s still a little tender.” That was putting it mildly, but I hated to sound like the wimp that I was.
“Why don’t you wear the bracelet on your other wrist, then?” he suggested.
“No, it has to be this one.” I had no idea why, but I knew with one hundred percent certainty that it belonged there on my right wrist, tender or not.
“If you say so.” He looped the jeweled links around my wrist and secured the clasp. “There you are. It’s beautiful—a gift?”
“Yeah, from Gran. Wait, whoa!” My wrist felt suddenly warm. It was almost as if heat were emanating directly from my tattoo and warming the stones on the bracelet.
And then I watched in amazement as the white stones—moonstones, Gran called them—began to . . . to . . . glow. “What. The. Hell.”
“What?” Aidan asked, his brow knit with confusion.
“Look!” I held up my wrist, the stones glowing brighter now. “It’s somehow working with my mark!” Full realization dawned on me, and I dropped my voice to a whisper. “I think . . . I think it’s telling me there’s a vampire present. White, because you’re not a threat.”
I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I did. Just like that.
Wow.
“Well, I suppose that’s useful,” Aidan quipped, looking somewhat amused.
“Wait, what about Luc? Is he around somewhere?” Mrs. Girard agreed to let Aidan come with me to Atlanta only if Luc accompanied him, and yet I hadn’t seen the man, not once.
Aidan leaned back against the doorframe. “He’s around somewhere, now that the sun’s set. Lurking in the shadows, I suppose.”
“How’s he supposed to guard you, if you can go out in daylight and he can’t? I’m surprised he’s not taking the elixir.”
“Luc would never compromise his abilities like that. We’ve an agreement, though—he knows I’m not going anywhere. Anyway, you ready?”
I nodded. “I’m ready. I’ll see y’all later,” I yelled out toward the back of house. I was pretty sure everyone was gathered in the kitchen, trying to be discreet.
I heard a muffled reply that might have been “Have fun,” as we stepped outside. The night was beautiful—balmy and unseasonably warm, the sky clear and starry, illuminated by a nearly full moon.
“It’s a perfect night, isn’t it?” Aidan asked, glancing up beyond the curving branches of weeping willow that hung over Gran’s driveway.
I paused on the walk, allowing him to wrap one arm around my shoulders. “It is. So far, this whole day has been perfect.”
“I’m glad,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. Taking my hand, he led me to his rental car—a sleek, silver convertible—and opened the passenger door for me, helping me inside.
I’m not sure why it surprised me that he knew how to drive—after all, he’d had plenty of time to learn. Still, it was weird watching him climb in behind the wheel. This wasn’t part of our normal routine, at least not in New York, where driving was pretty much unnecessary.