“Back of the closet,” I said. “And thanks.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Thank me when we’re done,” she pronounced. “Now, let’s get you all slutted up for the vamps. They like their women with a lot of skin showing. Lucky for you, we’ve got some mighty fine choices here. How do you feel about cutoffs?”
“I think I feel sick,” I mumbled.
CHAPTER TWELVE
A short time later, I was fiddling with the knobs of the A/C in Remy’s BMW and scowled at her. “I can’t believe we’re going out dressed like this.”
“Believe it, girlfriend. What’s wrong with what you’re wearing? You look like a woman out to get a man, which is precisely our goal.”
“I look like a streetwalker.”
“Well, as long as you don’t look like a librarian.”
I was pretty sure that was a jab at my museum job, but I decided to take the high road and say nothing. I didn’t want Remy to bail on me and leave me heading to the vampire club alone.
Remy sped down the expressway, bobbing her head in time to an old Duran Duran song. It was blissfully quiet for all of two minutes. Then she glanced over at me. “You weren’t going to snag anyone’s attention in your old getup.”
She just couldn’t let it drop, could she? I didn’t care if she was right or not. I slouched lower in my seat, staring out the window. “Whatever.” I tugged at the hem of my skirt as she crossed three lanes and exited. The corset wasn’t so bad, but the skirt was really bugging me. “I think you can see my underwear when I sit down in this thing.”
“You’re wearing underwear? Who told you to do that?”
I smacked her arm. “Very funny.”
“Hey,” she protested. “Trying to turn into the parking lot here.” She pointed at the long trail of cars streaming outside what looked to be a busy nightclub. There was a line outside the door that wrapped around the building, and I could hear the thumping bass from inside the car with the windows rolled up.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I’m not much of a club goer, and the thought of having to do some Scooby-Doo-style sleuthing in a club full of vampires scared the crap out of me.
“No, this is a terrible idea.” Remy screeched to a halt in front of the valet parking. “But you started it, so we need to finish it.”
“Great,” I said, getting out of the car. “Next time I try to do the right thing, smack me in the head, will you?”
“I can do that.” Remy grinned and slammed her door shut. She held the keys aloft and jiggled them to the waiting parking attendants. “Who wants to take extraspecial care of my car for me?”
I watched in amazement as three guys leapt to take the keys from her. Remy smiled wickedly and held them out to a thin, slightly nerdish man with thick glasses. He gave her an adoring look. “We’ll take great care of it, Miss Summore.”
Either Remy was more famous than I thought, or she was on a familiar basis with the club employees. It bugged me either way. I trotted up to her and grabbed her arm. “I thought you said you didn’t associate with vampires?”
“I try not to, but it still happens.” She gave a tiny shrug. “Hazard of the business. It’s not working with them that’s a problem. It’s the whole ‘double-agent’ thing you’re trying to pull.” She put her hand through the crook of my arm and strolled to the door, past the line of people waiting to get in. “Now, do me a favor and keep quiet while we’re in here. Let me do the talking, all right?”
“Got it.” I glanced back at the line and wondered how long they’d been waiting. If I had been in that line and someone pushed to the front, I’d have raised hell. As it was, the women shot us dirty looks, but the men … well, they didn’t seem to mind at all. I caught one checking out my ass in my short skirt and I gave it another tug with my free hand, positive that my thong was showing under the hem.
The bouncer was a giant of a man, his shaven head covered in complex barbed-wire tattoos. Earrings studded his ear all the way up; he wore an old Metallica T-shirt and the biggest pair of boots this side of Kentucky. He was easily a foot taller than me, and I was no shrimp at 5 foot 7.
He also lit up like a Christmas tree as soon as he set eyes on Remy. “Miss Summore,” he said, awed. “What an unexpected treat. How are you?”
Remy walked up to the giant and patted him on the cheek. “Couldn’t be better, Dingo. It’s sweet of you to ask about me.” She flashed him her best sultry gaze, laying the charm on thick.
Dingo unchained the velvet rope blocking off the door and blushed crimson. “I could never forget you, Miss Summore. Do come in.”
“Cover charge?” She tilted her head and looked at him expectantly.
“None for you. Never for you.” His voice was openly worshipful. “Stamp?” He held up a stamp pad.
Remy nodded. “Tonight’s one of those nights, I think. Stamp me and my friend here.” She gestured to me.
I seemed to register on Dingo’s radar for the first time, and his gaze darkened. “Miss Remy, she’s not on the list. I can’t stamp her without approv-”
“Dingo, darling,” Remy chided. “She’s an out-of-towner and a close friend of you-know-who’s. Be a dear and let her in. I assure you, everything will be fine.” She placed her hand on his arm in entreaty. “She’s a good friend of mine. Isn’t she pretty?”
I supposed that was my cue to turn on the charm. I smiled, thinking I probably looked more like a deer in headlights than a seductive babe. “Hi, Dingo,” I squeaked. “I hate to impose-”
My words cut off in a yelp as Remy’s heel stomped down on the toe of my shoe. Okay, bad route to go. I could see Dingo’s eyes darkening even more, and he was starting to look like a rabid dog. A really huge one. I changed tactics. “I promise I won’t leave Remy’s side all night. Though I wouldn’t mind getting to know you better, if you had a few minutes for me.” I winked, laying it on thick, too.
Both Remy and Dingo looked at me in surprise, and I wondered if I’d said something wrong.
“Any friend of Miss Summore’s is a friend of mine,” Dingo said at last, unable to take his eyes off me. I was a little unnerved at that. Yeah, I’d probably gone and said the wrong thing again. I held out my hand for the stamp and tried to look confident.
The stamper pressed against the back of both of our hands, but nothing showed up on my skin when I looked at it. Remy winked at Dingo and wiggled her fingers at him. “See you later, darling, and thank you.”
He nodded and bowed. “Of course, Miss Remy. You and your lovely friend have a good evening, and come out and see Dingo if you get bored.” Lust-filled eyes followed me in the club.
I tugged at my skirt hem again as I followed Remy through the double doors and into the antechamber where coats were checked and people came out to lounge. Another bouncer stood at the door before us, and the music was even louder.
As soon as the door behind us slammed shut, I leaned in to Remy. “What did I say back there?”
She burst into laughter. “Usually when a girl offers to spend some solo time with a bouncer, it’s a blowjob to get into the club.”
My eyes nearly bugged out of my face.
“Midnight’s a very exclusive club.” She giggled. “And since you’re already in the door, he must assume that you really like him.”
I resisted the urge to punch her. “You should have told me. And what’s with the name Dingo, anyway?”
She shrugged. “I never bothered to ask. Some things you just don’t want to know.”
Amen to that.
Remy led me past the second bouncer without stopping and then we were enveloped in the smoky, throbbing
