Broken Heart 02 Don't Talk Back to Your Vampire Read Online Free Page A

to Patsy's beauty parlor and Patsy gave my brown locks a sassy new cut and highlighted them with red and gold. I followed her directions for "sexy-messy" hair and to my delight, scrubbing gel into it made my new bob look all… well, sexy-messy. Linda, the manicurist, also gave me a pedicure and a manicure. My toenails and fingernails were a frosted pink color called Fairy Dance.
    I put on gold hoop earrings and tucked my feet into a new pair of white high-heeled sandals. "You look fabulous, darling," I said to my reflection. Then I winked at myself. Oh, Lord, I was such a dork.
    As I closed the lid to my jewelry box, I spied Lorcan's gold rose. I had tossed it into a little slot with no intention of wearing it. Then again… I pinned it to the left edge of the halter and instantly felt as though I'd done the right thing.
    I hurried up the stairs and into the large kitchen. On the left side was a nook with built-in seats and a small round table. This was where Tamara, wearing a black kimono, was eating pancakes with Charlie.
    Charlie was in his late thirties, with a balding blond pate, a round face, and pale eyes—like watered-down whiskey. He favored rumpled khakis and plaid shirts, to hide his slight paunch, and he always wore loafers.
    A forkful of pancake was headed toward his mouth when he turned to look at me. His eyes went wide behind his black-rimmed glasses and he poked himself in the cheek with the fork.
    "Ow. Shit!" The silverware clattered to the plate. He grabbed a napkin, blushing furiously as he rubbed syrup off his jaw.
    Tamara howled with laughter.
    " Tamara ," I said sternly, though it took a lot of willpower to still the bubble of laughter in my own throat.
    I rushed to the table and tried to help dab, but he shooed me away.
    "I'm fine." Obviously nervous, he finished cleaning his face. Then he pushed his glasses up on his nose and looked at me sheepishly. "You look very nice."
    "Thanks." Was I crazy or was Charlie giving me the once-over? No way. Charlie was like a comfortable pair of slippers or an old, warm robe. He made me feel cozy. I did not like the stare he was giving me now. Smiling weakly, I looked at Tamara. She shrugged and returned to her pancakes, but not before I saw the little smirk that flitted across her lips.
    "Are you ready, Eva?" Charlie stood up. He knew I didn't like to feed in front of my daughter. It was one thing to be a vampire and another thing to do vampire-like things around your children.
    We went into my office. The big, decrepit desk was filled with papers, files, and books. Books lined shelves around the room and were piled on the floor. Two big leather wingback chairs were parked in front of the desk, but one was filled with—you guessed it—books.
    Charlie sat in the empty one and I looked at him blankly.

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    "Er, how am I supposed to get close enough?"
    Charlie grinned and patted his leg. Okay. I was getting really weirded out. He had been my donor for the three months I had been a vampire, and this was the first time I'd gotten these kinds of vibes from him. Like he wanted to bite me . Still, maybe I was being too squeamish. Even though I had accepted that drinking blood was the only way to stay alive, it still wasn't an enjoyable part of my daily ritual. I was probably blowing everything out of proportion.
    "Well, then… I guess we should… uh, proceed." I clapped my hands together and perched on his knee.
    He bumped me up, like a lascivious uncle playing horsey, and I fell into his lap.
    "That's better," he said. "Drink up."
    He bent his neck and though I didn't want to move, I was at too awkward an angle to put my fangs into his artery. Wiggling closer, I put my arms around him.
    "Yeah," said Charlie faintly. "Oh… yeah."
    "What?"
    "N-nothing."
    I was hungry, so I dismissed all the weirdness. My fangs descended and I sank them into his flesh. The blood flowing into my mouth tasted like