Page 12 of Dad Bod: Vampire

Her eyes close and she shakes her head. “I came here to apologize for my inappropriate voice memo and then I just said something way worse. I mean who offers to peg their boss?” she asks in a hushed voice.

I don’t know whether to laugh or kiss her. She is so fucking adorable.

“It’s fine, Rosie. Maybe you should just go. We can forget about the voice memo. It won’t affect your job. I can switch you to be under my second in command’s charge if it will make you feel more comfortable.”

“Please don’t do that. I really enjoy working with you. I know I’m probably a pest, but I really do want to make your life easier. So I hope you’ll let me continue being your assistant.” Her big brown eyes look at me pleadingly.

“Fine. We’ll figure it out.” I scan the lobby to see that the monsters are all watching our interaction. Most with open curiosity, but a few with a predatory gleam that I don’t like. “But you should go ahead and leave.”

“Not a good idea, boss man,” Chester says from behind me.

I shoot a glare at him. “Why is that?”

“Nasty storm approaching. It really wouldn’t be safe for her to be out there in the woods during the dark and the rain.”

“My car has headlights,” she offers.

I swallow a chuckle. “How bad of a storm?” I ask my familiar.

“Potential flash floods, upwards of six inches in an hour in some places.”

“Fuck.” I blow out a breath. Something about Screaming Woods attracts not just monsters, but dramatic weather patterns as well. “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. Rosie, come with me.” Again, I take her elbow and drag her with me. I should probably slow my steps since her legs are considerably shorter than mine, but I don’t.

But then she comes to a screeching halt. “Wait. Figs!”

“What?”

“My cat. He was napping in his kennel, so I just left him in there since the weather was cool enough.”

I hold out my hand. “Keys.”

She drops them into my palm. “Chester, go get Ms. Breit’s belongings from her car. Including her cat.” I practically spit that last word.

“Do you not like cats? You’re not allergic, are you?” she asks.

“No, cats are fine. They just normally don’t like me. We’ll be in my suite,” I tell my familiar after Rosie gives him a description of her vehicle.

And then I’m leading my gorgeous assistant up to my private suite. Again, I say, fuck my life.

chapter

nine

Rosie

Oh my God, he’s so much better looking in person. I wouldn’t have thought that was possible. Especially all decked out like a sexy vampire. Evidently, I have a new kink that just unlocked.

I walk as quickly as my chubby legs can go, considering he’s moving at a rapid pace. Of course, his stride is probably double mine.

“This hotel is really something special,” I say. “You’ve built a magical place. It’s a shame more people don’t visit. Though I’m guessing this conference will change that.”

He just grunts. Then he’s tapping on a keypad and opening a door. The room on the other side isn’t a standard hotel room. It’s not even a hotel suite. No, it’s like I’m stepping into a home. It’s clearly been renovated to match the house’s Tudor style. Dark wood paneling covers the walls and gorgeous wood beams accent the high ceiling.

“This is beautiful,” I say.

Again, he grunts in response. He leads me all the way in and walks me into a large open space where there’s a sitting area and a massive stone fireplace.

“There’s a kitchen through there,” he points to an arched doorway to the right. “The bedroom and bath are that way.” He lifts his chin in the opposite direction.