Wanton With a Vampire Read Online Free Page B

me,” Ivy said
with a smile, reaching out a hand. “I’m Dr. Ivy St. James.”
    The young doctor shook her hand and
recognition lit in her eyes. “You work with crime victims,
right?”
    Ivy nodded, and Trish sensed Ivy trying to
calm the doctor using more than just comforting words. In fact, she
could see the soothing blue waves of energy pulsating out of Ivy
and swirling around the room. That had never happened before.
    “I’ve met your sister,” the doctor said.
“Will she be there to help with Ms. Williams?”
    “She’ll be staying with me,” Alek said from
the door. “There’ll be a doctor close by, a family member of
mine.”
    Ivy flashed a tight-lipped smile. “As you can
see, Trish is wanted in two homes with doctors available to help if
she needs anything. Naturally, Trish will decide which she
prefers.”
    “I’d rather go back to my home,” Trish
said.
    “Someone needs to stay with you,” Doctor
Hollis insisted. “I’ll draw up the release papers, and you can work
this out and let me know where you’ll be staying before I sign
them.” With that, she walked out of the room.
    Trish opened her mouth to argue, just as her
phone rang. “That might be my mom,” she said. “Can one of you bring
me my purse?”
    Alek handed it to her, and she rifled through
the bag until she found her phone, not at all sure why she’d
stuffed it in the main pouch last night instead of the little
section designed for her cell phone. As it turned out, putting her
phone in the wrong pouch had probably saved it from being broken
when her purse fell onto the street. Thankfully, she hadn’t used it
much the previous day, so she still had a charge.
    “Hello,” she said without looking at the
number.
    “Trish, oh my God!” Nathaniel sounded near
panic. “I just heard what happened. Are you okay? I’m trying to
arrange a flight back now. I know you probably want to stay at your
own home, so I’ll sleep in the spare room at the condo.”
    “No!” Trish said quickly. Nathaniel was
translating the writing on the wall of a recently discovered
temple. Being selected for this project meant a lot to him, and
Trish would feel terrible if he missed out on this opportunity.
Knowing him, he’d insist it wasn’t that important, but Nathaniel
wouldn’t have agreed to spend two weeks away from Hope if that were
true. “I’m staying with my mom until I’m better. She’ll be angry if
I don’t let her take care of me.”
    There was a long pause. “Are you sure?” he
asked.
    “Absolutely,” Trish said. “How’s the work
going?”
    “Fantastic!” Nathaniel said enthusiastically.
“I’ve worked on some exciting projects in my life, but nothing like
this. I wish you could be here to see it.”
    Nathaniel had invited her along, and Trish
had wanted to go but needed to work extra hours to pay for books
for the upcoming semester. They chatted for a few more minutes
before ending their call with a promise that she’d call him if she
needed anything.
    When she looked at Alek, his lips were
pressed into a thin line, and it was obvious he was upset about
something. “Don’t even try that line with me. I already know your
mother is on a cruise and won’t be home for three weeks.”
    Trish sighed. “You’re both right,” she said.
“Staying alone is stupid when I have a concussion. Still, I want to
stay at my own home. Things are creepy enough without having to
stay in a strange place.”
    “Then I’ll stay with you,” Alek said.
    Hands on her hips, Ivy glared at Alek. “The
last thing Trish needs is you staying with her.”
    Alek raised an arrogant eyebrow. “And why
would that be?”
    “Give us a minute,” Ivy said to Trish as she
grabbed Alek’s arm and dragged him out of the room.
     

Chapter Five
    Alek knew he was in for a lecture from Ivy,
but he didn’t give a damn what she said. Trish was staying with
him. His deplorable behavior during dinner had played a big role in
her distraction when she’d