I still didn’t turn around, just picked up a stack of T-shirts and added them to the suitcase.
“Gloriana.” He was right behind me. “Aren’t you going to acknowledge me?”
“Oh, Jerry. Didn’t know you were coming. Did I miss your call?” I made a show of picking up my cell phone. “No, guess not.”
“I was tied up, but I’m here now.” He turned me to face him. He was back in one of his new Rodeo Drive outfits, handsome in faded jeans and a burgundy silk shirt. “Why are you packing?”
“I’m going home. I’ve got a flight in a few hours. Can’t leave too late or I won’t beat the sun.” I shook my head. “Oh, speaking of. What did Angus say when you told him how Ian’s formula worked?”
“He could hardly believe it. Wondered if I’d been tricked somehow. He questioned me for hours. Centuries of distrust don’t go away overnight. Now he’s convinced we’ve got to keep an eye on MacDonald and let him keep making his brews.” Jerry frowned. “He wants me to stay here and do that. Da will go home and start what he calls peace talks with the head of the MacDonalds.”
“You’ll be staying in Los Angeles.” I sat on the side of the bed. Well, I’d always said I wanted to be independent. If both men in my life stayed here and I headed east, then I’d be truly on my own. I swallowed.
“It would be the smart thing to do. If I really want this feud to end. It’s the first real incentive we’ve had to end it. You and Caine said your good-byes just now?” Jerry pushed the suitcase over and sat beside me.
“Yes. He’s staying here too. The music scene is here. And he’s hooked on Ian’s formula. It was amazing, Jerry. Remember? Dune buggies and Jet Skis.” I grabbed his sleeve. “We saw all of that after centuries in the dark. People going about their business in the daylight.” I laughed. “Ian’s brilliant. The Campbells have to let him do his thing in peace.”
“Yes, obviously. Da is already trying to figure out how to buy some of Ian’s formula through a third party so he can try it himself. He doesn’t want MacDonald to know it’s him doing the buying.” Jerry smiled. “I do want to try it again, Glory. With you.” He lost his smile. “But I sure as hell never again want to wake up after sunset to find you practically naked with Caine. Did you and Caine make love in that damned beach house with the sun shining outside?”
I didn’t answer. Just stared at him. He hadn’t even given me time to explain when he’d walked in on us at the beach house. He’d just taken one look at us standing on that deck, shifted and flown off in a rage.
Jerry flushed and stood. “What? I don’t deserve to know?”
“I’ve given Ray back his ring. I never accepted yours. So, no, you’ll not get an answer. I’m a woman who’s free to love any man I wish, Jeremiah. Any man I wish. But I’m on my way back to Austin alone.” I stood and put my hands on my hips. Hips that were wider tonight than they’d been the night before. Too damned bad.
“You don’t have to go alone. I can get one of my brothers to take over here. If I knew you wanted me with you—”
I put my hand over his mouth. Want him? God help me, always. But have him?
“I’ve depended on you too much already, Jerry. I see that now.” I drew my hand across his lips to caress his jaw. “I love you. Will always love you. But I need to do this. Go back and be totally on my own. While I figure out a few things.”
“What’s the rush to go back? Take a few days to think about this. Consider moving here. Look around Los Angeles without the Israel Caine circus going on. Stay with me in my hotel. I put my parents on their plane an hour ago. We can be alone.” Jerry took my hand and pulled it to his lips.
I was actually tempted. What would a day or two hurt after I’d already been gone a week? I started to say as much when Jerry spoke again.
“You’ve not been yourself lately. I blame MacDonald’s swill. I think I can persuade you to reconsider this mad plan.”
“With sex?” I jerked my hand from his. “No, thank you. And just because I’m not melting in a puddle when you touch me doesn’t mean I’m drugged or deranged.” I turned my back on him and stuffed my precious pair of skinny jeans in the suitcase. I felt his hand on my waist and whirled around. “You think all you have to do is bed me and I’ll cave. Well, get this, Jeremiah Campbell, Jeremy Blade or whatever the hell you chose to call yourself this century. I’m more than just a willing bedmate, that idiot who threw away her mortality for a dark and dangerous vampire lover centuries ago.”
“I’m sorry if you regret that choice, Gloriana. But it’s a little late—” Jerry reached for me again.“Damn it. Do not touch me right now.” I leaped over the bed to the other side. “I do not regret my decision. I love this century. Wouldn’t have missed it for anything. I’ve learned so much since I met you. The main thing? Woo-hoo. I actually have a brain. I’ve built a successful business that needs me. People depend on me for their livelihood.” It was true and something I was proud of.
“I always knew you were intelligent, Gloriana. Otherwise you would have bored me long ago.” Jerry was pretty smart himself, staying on his side of the bed and jamming his hands in his pockets.
“Well, would it have killed you to have said something?” I wanted to throw a chair at him. “Never mind. Hear this. I want to go back, Jerry. I know you have no real ties to Austin. L.A. will be a good move for you. You’ll enjoy the structure of the Council and it’s important to keep an eye on Ian.” I couldn’t resist the wounded look in his eyes. My big bad vampire wasn’t used to being dumped. Well, not dumped exactly. I was definitely leaving the door open for him. Couldn’t imagine not having him back in my life sooner rather than later.
I walked around the bed and eased up in front of him. “Come on, Jerry. Surely you can see this is for the best. A little time apart. I’m not saying it’s forever. We’ve done this before and survived it.” I pulled his head down to kiss his cheeks, his chin, then his mouth. “Get to know Ian and the other members of the Council. Try the daylight drug again.”
“I’d want to share it with you, Gloriana.” He crushed me to him and stole my breath with a kiss that was part good-bye and part stay.
I twined my fingers in his thick hair and held on, tempted to give in to his persuasion. So many memories. I finally had to push him away before I ripped open his shirt and pants and knocked him to the floor. Damn me for a slut.
I stepped back from him. “I’ve made up my mind, Jerry. I’m going. Maybe not forever. Maybe I’ll sell the shop or let someone else run it eventually and come back here to Los Angeles.” I ran my hands through my hair, my mind so muddled I didn’t know what I was saying. “But I’m getting on that plane. I have to.”
“Then take this.” He shoved a packet in my hand and took a step back. “Valdez told me what you were planning. Use it when you need to. Or want to. Call me and I’ll come. Just don’t forget who made you. Who loves you. Who is always going to be yours.” He spun on his heel and slammed out of the room.
I stood there, still out of breath and off-kilter. I looked down and began to laugh. Yep, I had another first-class round-trip ticket from Austin to Los Angeles.
The flight attendant warned us that they were about to close the doors when a man slipped into the seat next to me. I’d been alternately crying and just staring out at the dark tarmac as the other first-class passengers boarded the plane. I’d left one piece of unfinished business that bothered me. Oh, come on, Glory. “Bothered”? Hell, I was beside myself. I’d wanted to talk to Rafe. Explain why I wasn’t going to have a bodyguard anymore. But I hadn’t been able to find him.
I’d talked to Brittany. Asked her to explain. She’d been happy to pass the word. Right. I could just imagine how that conversation would go. My Rafael Valdez deserved so much more than a secondhand kiss-off and the hastily scribbled note on hotel stationery I’d managed before the limo had picked me up to take me to the airport. I’d insisted Ray not see me off. The paparazzi would be rabid enough as it was. We planned to have Nate issue a statement in a few days about our engagement ending. But Flo had already called me to let me know that TMZ had reported that I wasn’t wearing my engagement ring when I was spotted by a reporter as I was heading for the airport.
Oops, more tears. I turned away so the stranger couldn’t see. Stupid. Tears did nothing but make my eyes red and swollen. A tissue suddenly appeared in front of me.
“Thanks.” I grabbed it and dabbed at my wet cheeks.
“You’d better buckle your seat belt. We’re getting ready to take off.”
I knew that deep voice. I whipped around to make sure.
“Rafe! What are you doing here? I left you a note.”
“Yeah. Saw it.” He frowned and waved to the flight attendant. “I’ll take Jack Daniel’s neat as soon as you get a chance. Thanks.” He smiled at the woman, who looked only too happy to serve him anything he wanted, then he turned back to me. “You really going to do this thing all by yourself?”
“Yes.” I didn’t share the thought that I was scared spit-less. Any vampire would worry about vulnerability during daylight and the death sleep. But my building was owned by Damian, a vampire who’d planned for those kinds of security issues. I just had to be careful. That’s all.
“Fine.” He leaned back and closed his eyes as the jet engines revved for takeoff.
“Fine? Then what are you doing here? You know I can’t afford you. And I don’t want a bodyguard now anyway. That’s for rock stars and gangsters.” I sat up and buckled my seat belt.
He just kept his eyes closed. “I get that.”
“Answer me.” I shook his arm. “What are you doing on this plane?”