“That’s what you keep saying.” Trent’s eye twitched. Taking a tiny sip, he turned to me. “Stanley, this is Rachel Morgan. She’s my security tonight.”

I beamed a false smile. “Hello, Lee.” I held out my hand, careful to keep my ley line energy reined, though with the memory of that man’s screams echoing through me, it was hard not to give him a jolt. “Nice to see the upstairs this time.”

“Rachel,” Lee said warmly, turning my hand to kiss the top of it instead of shaking it. “You can’t imagine how bad I felt for getting you mixed up in that ugly business. I’m so pleased you came away from it unscathed. I trust you’re being compensated properly tonight?”

I yanked my hand back before his lips touched it, making a show of wiping it off. “No apologies needed. But I’d be remiss for not thanking you for teaching me how to play craps.” My pulse quickened and I stifled the urge to slug him. “Want your dice back?”

The vampire slid behind him, her hands going possessively atop his shoulders. Lee kept his smile in place, seemingly oblivious to my barb. God, the man had been bleeding from his pores, and that had been aimed at me. Bastard.

“The orphanage was most grateful for your donation,” Lee said smoothly. “They put a new roof on with it, so I’m told.”

“Fantastic,” I said, honestly pleased. Beside me, Trent fidgeted, clearly dying to interrupt. “I’m always glad when I can help those less fortunate.”

Lee took the vampire’s hands in his and moved her to stand beside him.

Trent took my arm while they were distracted. “You bought the new roof?” he breathed.

“Apparently,” I muttered, noting he was surprised about the roof, not the scuffle in the streets.

“Trent, Rachel,” Lee said as he held the vampire’s hand in his. “This is Candice.”

Candice smiled to show her teeth. Ignoring Trent, she fixed her brown eyes on my neck, a red tongue edging the corner of her mouth. Exhaling, she eased closer. “Lee, sweetheart,” she said, and I gripped Trent’s arm tighter when her voice ran like ripples over my scar. “You told me I’d be entertaining a man.” Her smile went predatory. “But this is okay.”

I forced a breath. Waves of promise were coming from my neck, making my knees weaken. My blood pounded and my eyes almost slipped shut. I took a breath, then another. It took all my experience with Ivy to keep from responding. She was hungry, and she knew what she was doing. If she had been undead, I would have been hers. As it was, even with my scar she couldn’t bespell me unless I let her. And I wasn’t going to.

Aware of Trent watching, I gained control of myself, though I could feel the sexual tension rising in me like fog on a damp night. My thoughts slid to Nick, then Kisten, where they lingered to make things worse. “Candice,” I said softly, leaning closer. I wouldn’t touch her. I wouldn’t. “It’s nice to meet you. And I will break off your teeth and use them to pierce your belly button if you even as much as look at my scar again.”