All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire (Love at Stake #5)

Toni leaned over to study the map. "This is very good." Carlos would make an excellent employee

for MacKay Security and Investigation. "Menina, I know I've been teasing you about Ian, but I'm wondering if it's wise to get involved with him. Don't get me wrong, he's a nice guy, but he is a vampire."

"He wouldn't bite me." Toni blushed as memories of last night's glorious kiss filled her mind. "At

least, not for food." Carlos frowned. "After we rescue Sabrina, you should quit your job here and forget these vampires exist."

"That would be rather rude, don't you think? To just use Ian for his super abilities, then tell him adiós. And how can you tell me to quit when you're planning to work here?"

"You have special plans with Sabrina. I don't. And the truth of the matter is Ian is not your kind." She planted her hands on her hips. "I'm surprised at you, Carlos. I would expect you, of all people, to be more understanding and tolerant."

"I am tolerant of anything two humans want to do with each other, but he's not exactly human." "He's more human than anyone I know. And I love him." "You've known him exactly a week." "And a hell of a lot has happened in that time." Toni pressed a hand to her chest. "I'm becoming a

different person now. I feel like I'm finally growing into a whole person--one who's capable, strong, and worthy. I'm not a wounded child anymore. And I like what's happening to me. I'm not going to give it up."

"All right, then." Carlos touched her shoulder. "I'm very happy for you."

She gave him a hug, then wandered to the window to peek out the blinds. "The sun has set. I'll go get Ian." "Okay. And change clothes. Dress all in black." Carlos moved to his laptop. "Give me your cell

phone." "Why?" She removed it from the pocket of her khaki pants. "Because you need a new ringtone." He took her phone. "Love is no longer a battlefield for you." "Put on something nice," she warned him, then left to find Ian. He was in the silver room, still in his pajamas, finishing his breakfast. She grinned at him. "I got your note. Thank you for helping us." She rummaged through her

suitcase and found some black cargo pants. "Carlos wants us to dress in black."

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Ian's eyebrows rose. "Are we doing it tonight?" "Yes. Is that all right?" "Aye." Ian set his empty bottle in the sink. "I should stay here most of the night in case Jedrek

tries something, but it shouldna take long to teleport yer friend out."

She located a black T-shirt, but unfortunately it had bright white letters on the front. Am I Crazy or What? She showed it to Ian. "The perfect shirt for breaking into a mental institution." He chuckled. "Ye do want to be properly dressed for every occasion." His face grew more serious.

"I'm sorry for the way I reacted last night." "There's no need to apologize. I was wrong to ever consider telling your secret." His eyes gleamed. "Ye've gone to amazing lengths to help yer friend. Ye've survived a brutal

attack, ye've taken a job with the Undead, and ye're about to do some serious breaking and

entering. That kind of loyalty is verra rare." Her eyes grew misty as her heart swelled with love. "You tell me the loveliest things." He made her realize how worthy she truly was.

He glanced at the surveillance camera, then motioned with his head to the bathroom. "Ye need to

change clothes?" "Right." Toni gathered up her black clothes and dashed into the bathroom. She gasped when Ian followed her in and shut the door. "What--?"

He pulled her into his arms and planted his mouth on hers. Her clothes tumbled to the floor as she

melted into his kiss. He suckled her bottom lip, then nibbled kisses down her neck. "Did ye need help getting out of yer clothes?"

"You rascal." She slid her fingers into his soft hair.

He tugged her navy polo shirt up and slipped his hands underneath. "I want you." He surveyed the tiny bathroom with his red, glowing eyes. "This is...a challenge." "Ian." She placed her hands on his cheeks. "We don't have time right now. And I don't really

want a quickie in the bathroom." His mouth curled up. "No' verra romantic, huh?" She grinned. "I think you're very romantic, but Carlos is waiting upstairs, and we have a job to

do." "I understand." He kissed her quickly on the mouth, then exited the room. She changed clothes, then found him in the kitchen pulling a black sweater over his head. He had

on black leather pants and looked deliciously naughty. She almost called him back into the

bathroom for a quickie. "Let's go." She grabbed her coat and took the elevator with Ian to the first floor. "We were getting the ballroom ready today for the big party."

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He nodded. "Phineas said he would teach me how to dance more modern, so I could dance with you. I only know how to do the minuet and waltz and a few country dances." She grinned at him as they exited the elevator. "You want to dance with me?" "Aye. Phineas said I needed to know how to do pop blocking and jam-on-it." She laughed. "You're going to hip-hop in a kilt?"

"Actually I'll be wearing a Santa costume, along with ninety-nine other men." "How come there are so many Santa costumes?" She motioned to the locked door across from the dental office. "What's the deal with the secret Santa thing?"

"If I told you, it wouldna be a secret." She swatted his arm. "I told you my secrets." "No' all of them. I still doona know yer full name." "I see no reason to divulge that at this time." "It canna be that bad. My name is Ian David MacPhie." "That's a good name. It's easy to confess." She opened the door to the conference room. "Here we

are. Carlos has everything planned." "I'm used to making my own plans." He marched inside, frowning. "Good evening, Carlos." "Hi, Ian. Nice pants. Love the leather. Here's your phone, Toni." She slipped her cell phone into a pants pocket. Ian examined the map of Shady Oaks. "This is Ward Three." Carlos pointed at it. "That's where they're holding Sabrina. There's a guard

just inside the front door, but I spotted a back door here. Do you think you can teleport in undetected?" Ian gave him a bland look. "I've teleported into Langley undetected." Carlos arched a brow. "Then I'll take that as a yes." Toni stifled a grin. She hoped these two guys wouldn't get into a pissing match.

Ian nodded. "I can do it." "I'll wait for you in the car. I can park here or here." Carlos indicated the front parking lot and the back service entrance.

"Use the parking lot," Ian said. "It'll be less conspicuous." "Agreed." Ian slanted a look at him. "Ye've done work like this before." Carlos rolled up the map. "My research has led me into some strange places and situations."

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"What kind of research?"

"Unusual, primitive cultures, mostly in South America and Southeast Asia." He moved to his laptop. "This is the route I'll use to drive us to the hotel. It's an inconspicuous place in Queens. I paid cash in advance."

Ian studied it a moment. "Looks good. I need to check on things here, so ye drive there with Toni. Then she can call me, and I'll teleport there to meet you."

"Agreed." Carlos shut his laptop. "Let's do it."

At Shady Oaks, Carlos parked his Jaguar in a dark corner. Toni called Ian, and he materialized beside her in the parking lot. "I'm coming with you," she told him. "Nay. I canna teleport two people at the same time." Stubborn man. "Then you can make two trips." Carlos exited the driver's seat. "What's wrong?" "Toni wants to put herself in danger," Ian muttered. "You have to take me with you," Toni insisted. "How else will you know which one is Sabrina?"

"I expect she can tell me her name." Toni gave him an exasperated look. "She could be asleep. Or if she's awake, she could scream and raise the alarm. If I'm there, I can keep her calm."

"I think Toni's right," Carlos said. Toni shot him a grateful smile. Ian's jaw shifted. "All right." "You'll find it easier to approach from the west," Carlos suggested. "I can manage," Ian growled. "Come on, Toni." She strode alongside him as they moved through the parking lot, angling to the west side of the

hospital. "Carlos just wants to help. He really cares about Sabrina." "And you." She wondered if he was jealous. "We're just good friends." "I doona mean to be a grouch," Ian muttered. "I'm just used to doing this kind of work on my

own." "Why?" He remained silent as they walked along the west wall. Finally he spoke, "I never wanted to work

with the other guys, 'cause they would invariably treat me like a child."

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"Oh. I'm sorry. It must have been terribly frustrating to look like a fifteen-year-old for so long."

"Almost five hundred years." He glanced at her. "I'm glad ye never knew me that way. Ye've always seen me as a man, as the man I felt like inside all those years." "You're a wonderful man, Ian." He took her hand. "Och, yer puir fingers are frozen." He sandwiched her hand between his. "That's the oak tree Carlos climbed." She pointed with her free hand. "The courtyard is just over

the wall." He released her hand. "I'll take a look." She blinked when he started to rise to the top of the wall. "All right. Come." He extended his left hand toward her. "I can't--" She stopped when his body dropped a few feet. He grabbed her hand and pulled her

into his arms. Then he levitated back to the top of the wall. She flung her arms around his neck. His teeth flashed white in the dark. "Ye doona need to choke me, sweetheart. I willna drop you." "Sorry." She tried to relax. "I'm not used to floating six feet off the ground." "That is Ward Three, aye?" He pointed. She squinted to see across the dimly lit courtyard. "Yes." No doubt he could see much better than

"Ye see the shadowy area to the right of the building? It's close to the back entrance. We'll teleport there first." "Okay." She steeled her nerves. The black, dizzying sensation sucked her in, then she stumbled as

her feet landed on hard ground. "Steady." He led her toward the back door. It was locked, of course, but through the glass window

they could see a plain hallway, lined with doors on each side. The doors were open, and light spilled from several onto the shiny linoleum floor. A female nurse padded down the hall in white athletic shoes. "Eight o'clock! Lights out!" The lights clicked off, leaving the hallway dimly illuminated with a few emergency lights. The

nurse walked away, presumably toward the nurses' station by the main entrance. "Those must be the bedrooms," Ian whispered. He pulled her to his side. "Let's go." Darkness swirled around her once more, then she found herself with Ian in the hallway. The air

was hot and stuffy. She took the left side of the hall, while he took the right. They moved silently

across the floor, checking the name tags next to each door. Four doors down, she spotted the name Vanderwerth, Sabrina. She motioned to Ian, and they both slipped inside the dark room. She could barely make out the twin-sized bed on a raised platform. There were no dressers, just open shelves like bookcases. No place to hide anything. No lamps, no

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mirrors. A body was huddled under the plain blanket. Sabrina's blonde hair gleamed dully on the

Toni hunched down beside her. "Bri, can you hear me?" She touched her shoulder.

Bri moaned. "Leave me alone, you creep."

"Sabrina, it's me, Toni."

"Toni?" She rolled onto her back. "You can't be Toni."

"I am Toni. I've come to get you out of here."

Sabrina rubbed her eyes. "I'm just dreaming. I'm so delusional." "No, you're not." Toni grabbed her hand and squeezed. "It's really me. Now come on. We're leaving."

Bri struggled to sit up. "I'm kinda sleepy. Can't you come back in the morning?"

"No, we're leaving now." Toni realized her friend was too doped up to think clearly. She located

her slippers beside the bed and shoved them on her feet.

"This is taking too long," Ian whispered. "I'll just grab her and go."

Bri squinted at Ian's dark shadow. "Who are you?"

"He's a friend," Toni explained. "Ian. He's going to help you escape."

Bri giggled. "Escape? You can't escape from here."

"No' so loud, please," Ian whispered. He leaned out the door to check the hallway. "Hurry. I hear

someone coming." "He talks so cute," Bri whispered. "He's Scottish." Toni pulled Bri to her feet and led her to the doorway. "Ian will take you first,

then come back for me." Bri glanced at the back door. "We can't get out that way. It's locked." "Ian can get you out." Toni removed her jacket and put it on Bri. "It's cold outside." "Sabrina, do you have visitors?" A male patient shuffled toward them. His Batman pajamas were