Real Vampires: Glory Does Vegas Bartlett, Gerry (good fiction books to read .txt) 📖

“It seems you have everything organized, Dominic.” The Romanian scientist, Luca Schmidt, was happy with the arrangements. His wife, Adela, was not so easily pleased.

“I want to see the venue. You keep talking and talking, Dominic. Show me this place. Is it as nice as this hotel?” She waved her hand around the suite where they were staying at Caesar’s Palace.

“I wish I could afford to hold it here, Adela.” Dom had been talking a lot, most of it involving data and reservations. “My own club is not this big or lavish.” I could see he was doing everything he could to keep them from going straight to the Velvet Slipper.

“I know you both would like to see a show while you are here.” I picked up the phone. “Let me call down to the concierge and see what’s available. There are wonderful singers performing. Or a magician! What’s your pleasure?” I was doing my best to distract them. I should have known nothing was going to distract a woman whose entire outfit was perfection. She wore designer shoes and a pink diamond in the shape of a heart that made my heart flutter. Adela was a detail person. Her husband was clearly the idea man. He dreamed, she executed.

“Glory, you are being most gracious. But put down the phone.” She smiled but it did not reach her eyes. “We will see this club, this Velvet Slipper. What kind of place is it? Tell me.”

“Dom offers entertainment for men, Adela. The dancers are topless.” I heard Dom groan but ignored him. “Would Luca enjoy such a show?”

“I’m sure both of us would.” She turned to her husband. “Why wouldn’t we appreciate beautiful women?” She made eye contact with Dom. “They are beautiful, aren’t they, Dominic?”

“Yes, yes, only the best.” He glared at me. “Glory does the choreography. Do you know if they are doing one of the dances in cowboy boots tonight, Glory? That’s a crowd favorite.”

“I believe they are.” I forced a smile. “We have the showroom decorated for Halloween. It will be a lovely venue for the tasting. Cozy. I think your potential customers will be more comfortable in a smaller venue where we can control the security.”

“It’s a shame you aren’t having it here, though.” Luca looked around. The suite was gaudy but luxurious. If you liked gold and satin—and who didn’t? —the living area was beautiful and big enough to host a small party.

“We’ve had a tremendous response. Too many for a suite like this, Luca. Which is wonderful, don’t you think?” I finally made Dom smile. “Dom had the clever idea of making the tasting a costume party. The result is, we think we’ll get bidding wars on most of the territories. Has Dom shown you some of the emails he’s received? The inquiries are very encouraging.” I noticed a clock sitting on the marble mantle. “If we want to catch the first show, we’d better get you in a car very soon. What do you think?”

“I think we should go.” Adela made it a command. “Come, Dominic, take us to your Velvet Slipper. You shouldn’t be ashamed of what you have. We researched you. We know exactly what you are doing in that club. We don’t care. Do you think we were always rich? Always able to afford our own jet and jewels like this one?” Adela wiggled her finger with that diamond at Dom.

“Adela, I don’t know what to say.” Dom grinned, as happy as I’d seen him in months. “If the tasting goes as planned and we sell these territories for what I think we will, my dreams will come true. I will finally take my fortune to the next level. I hope we can do this together.”

“We will.” Luca grabbed his elegant wife around her waist. “I can’t wait to see these topless dancers. Did you know there are pictures on the Internet of some of them? It wasn’t easy to find them.”

“Luca wants to see the one called Donna. He has a crush on her. He has always liked red hair.” Adela kissed his cheek. He was a short man who wore thick glasses and had a receding hairline. I tried to imagine him next to the tall and beautiful Donna and almost laughed out loud. He obviously had a thing for tall women. Adela was at least five inches taller than he was. He did wear an expensive suit well. His tie was the same color as Adela’s lavender designer dress. Then I thought about how Lee would react if Luca got too friendly with Donna. I could see trouble on the horizon.

“Donna will be there. Maybe you can get a picture with her. But it’s a strictly ‘look but don’t touch’ policy at the club. Don’t get your hopes up.” I encouraged them to go to the door. They didn’t realize I wasn’t going with them. I’d break the news to Dom when we got to the car.

Luca walked beside me to the elevator. “Do you dance, Glory?” He had his eyes on the low cut of my red dress. I’d worn it because Jerry liked me in that color and he liked to see cleavage. So did Luca.

“No, I work as a waitress.” I steered him into the elevator. “Dom, I need a word with you.”

He was happily telling Adela about the arrangements for the tasting. “In the car. Hey, Luca, we will have another beautiful woman serving at the tasting. In costume. Glory, did she tell you what she’s wearing yet?”

“Connie will be a cave girl.” I squeezed into the elevator with Valdez against my hip. We had three shape-shifters with us—Valdez, Caroline and a man who’d been introduced as simply Stan. He’d stayed by the door to the suite and had never said a word. I wondered if he spoke English.

“I can’t wait for that.” Luca rubbed his hands together. “Adela, we must get costumes