Wicked Read Online Free Page B

She was bound to gain weight if she kept sampling her recipes.
    Angela’s door was open and Eve peeked in. The room was deserted, the desk was tidy, and the bed was neatly made. Angela must have finished her work and gone downstairs.
    When Eve pulled open the door to the stairwell, she paused. She’d planned to go up to the fourth floor to retrieve her pages from the printer, but she didn’t really want to go up there alone. She was still a little nervous about the creaking noises she’d heard and the idea of going up to the fourth floor after dark made her shiver.
    Ryan would go with her. He had to pick up his pages, too. Eve headed down to the second floor and opened the door to the hallway. Jeremy was still working at his computer. As Eve passed by his open door, he laughed at something he’d written. Eve hoped it was as funny as his laughter indicated. They’d all have to listen to it tonight.
    Scott’s room was across the hall and he was working, too. So was Marc, although he’d already printed out and was proofreading his pages. Dean was playing his keyboard, earphones on his head. He looked strange, moving to the music he was playing, when Eve could hear nothing but silence.
    Ryan’s door was closed and Eve knocked softly. When Ryan didn’t answer, she knocked again. After several more attempts, Eve opened the door and peered in to find that Ryan’s room was empty.
    Where was Ryan? And where was Angela? Eve frowned. Could they be together?
    Quickly, Eve went down the steps to the first floor. There was no one in the kitchen or the laundry room. The dining room was deserted and so was the library, although someone had filled a cooler with soft drinks and set it on the table. Eve walked to the lace curtains and pulled them back slightly to peer out into the courtyard.
    There they were, sitting on the bench, turned toward each other. As Eve watched, Angela threw back her head and laughed at something Ryan had said. Ryan laughed, too, and he looked very pleased that Angela had found his comment so amusing.
    Eve’s eyes narrowed and her blood began to boil. Ryan had that same look on his face, that same sappy, adoring expression she’d noticed when she’d first seen him with Angela. But Ryan was supposed to be her boyfriend, not Angela’s. If he looked at anyone that way, it should have been her. And if Angela thought she could get away with stealing Eve’s boyfriend, she was dead wrong.
    Eve turned away from the window with a determined expression on her face. Her green eyes glittered with icy displeasure, and her lips were set in a straight, disapproving line. Angela wouldn’t play games with Ryan for very long.
    Eve would make sure of that....
    * * *
    There was total silence when Eve finished reading her pages. The silence lasted for almost a minute, and then Cheryl spoke up. “I like the beachfront hotel, Eve. It’s a great setting.”
    â€œMe, too,” Tracie agreed. “And Rochelle’s clothes are incredibly romantic. I especially like the gown she wore to dinner.”
    Ryan looked a little disturbed, but he nodded. “You did a great job with the clothes, Eve. When is the vampire going to appear?”
    â€œI’m not sure.” Eve shrugged. “Whenever he wants to, I guess. Does anyone know where a vampire sleeps?”
    Scott spoke up. “In a coffin. It’s usually in a basement or underground, so that the light can’t reach him. Legend has it he’ll turn into dust if he’s in direct sunlight.”
    â€œNope.” Eve giggled and shook her head. “Any other guesses?”
    Scott looked puzzle, but he shook his head. “Where do you think he sleeps, Eve?”
    â€œAnywhere he wants to!” Eve laughed, and so did everyone except Angela. She was frowning, and Eve turned to her. “What’s the matter, Angela? Didn’t you get the joke?”
    â€œI got it. But I am a