Conner narrowedhis eyes. “What the fuck do you want?”
“What’s up,can’t your big brother pay you an impromptu visit now andthen?”
“You mean checkup on me.”
“No. I’m goingto France for a few days, and just wanted to make sure you wereokay—”
“Well, youdon’t need to. For your information, I’m clean.” He glanced atHarper. “Who’s the new babe, Damon? Not your usual type, I have tosay. Love the hair, by the way.” He flashed her a charming smile,not unlike his big brother.
Must run inthe family.
Conner wasn’twhat she’d expected at all. The guy was clean-shaven, with short,cropped hair—brown, like Damon’s, but without the attractive wavesthat tumbled over his forehead—and smartly dressed in suit trousersand a shirt and tie. Respectable, in fact. He certainly didn’t looklike a druggie. She wasn’t naïve enough to think first impressionscouldn’t be deceiving, but she was prepared to give him the benefitof the doubt. She held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Harper Clarke, fromMagik Dates dating agency.”
He shook herhand. “Ms Clarke? I’m so sorry, I thought you were with Damon.”
“No, I’m not…well, I am here with Da… sort of.” She paused, aware she soundedlike a tongue-tied teen. “Damon and I got stuck in the lift. I’msorry I missed our meeting. Could we possibly reschedule,please?”
He beamed.“Okay, cool, but there’s no need. I’m free right now. I thoughtyou’d changed your mind about the new website, but now you’re here,I have some great ideas I think you’re going to love. Come on in.”He looked at his brother. “Not you, though.”
Damon’sshoulders stiffened.
“Relax, bro. Ijust drained a blood bag, it’s not like I’m going to bite her.”
In a blur toofast for her witch eyes to see, Damon grabbed Conner by his tie,shoved him into the hall and pinned him against the wall.
“Hurt her andyou’ll have me to answer to,” he said through gritted teeth, noseto nose with his brother.
Conner held uphis hands. “Hey, lighten up. Where’s your famous sense ofhumour?”
Damon staredhim out, his eyes narrowed. “Give me one good reason why I shouldbelieve you.”
“Because she’sa client.” He glanced at her. “Sorry, Ms Clarke, ignore my brother.He’s an overprotective jerk, always interfering where he’s notwanted.”
Damon loosenedhis grip. “You never even told me you were designing websites,Conner.”
“Why should I?”He shoved Damon away. “You need to take a chill pill, bro.” Connerstraightened his tie. “I don’t get it. You meet some girl in a liftand suddenly you’re her keeper?”
“I didn’t justmeet Harper. We, err, know each other.”
Harper stoodthere like a spare part. This didn’t bode well for the start of abusiness relationship. “Okay, Salvatore brothers, settle down. Iknow it’s none of my business, but you two clearly have issues. Ishould go.”
A frowncrinkled Damon’s brow, suggesting he didn’t get her reference.
“No, don’t go,please,” said Conner. “I’ve been working on the ideas for your newwebsite for days. I think you’re on to something with an onlinedating agency specifically for supernaturals.” He elbowed past hisbrother. “I don’t know what Damon told you about me, but I’d reallylike to work with you. It’s important to me.”
Damon regardedhis brother for several seconds, then he turned to her. “It’s yourcall, Harper, but I think he’s telling the truth for once.”
She supposed itwouldn’t hurt to take a look at Conner’s work now she was here, butif Damon’s brother was as unstable as he’d implied earlier, andthere was no telling if the sleeping powder would work should shefind herself in a tricky situation, then having a backup plan witha little added security might be wise. Not that entering a flatwith two vamps could ever be entirely safe, but hey ho, she likedto live a little dangerously now and then. And her backup plan hadnothing to do with having unfinished business of a different kindwith Damon. She glanced at him, drawn to the V in his shirt,revealing a hint of dark chest hair. Nope, nothing at all. She toreher gaze away and spoke to Conner. “Okay, I’ll take a look at yourdesigns, but no promises.”
Conner’s facelit up. “Great! Thank you, Ms Clarke.”
“Call meHarper, please, but I have one condition. I want Damon to take alook too.”
His facedropped. “Why?”
“He’s asuccessful businessman, and I’d like his opinion on my businessplan.”
She looked atDamon, hoping he would suss her real reason. “If you wouldn’tmind?”
Please sayyes.
He offered anod and a wicked grin that made her toes curl and her bellyflutter. “I’d love to.”
Hell yeah, shehad unfinished business with the hot vamp all right.
Harper couldn’tstop thinking about how he’d kissed her wrist, and how his fangshad made her so damn horny her thighs had jerked together. No gooddenying it, she wanted Damon with a passion that scared her. Andyes, she craved his bite too.
Later, vamp,later.
Connerharrumphed, clearly not pleased with the arrangement. “I supposeyou better come in then, but start telling me what to do, Damon,and you’re out.”
“Wouldn’t dreamof it, little brother. I’m actually interested to see this businessof yours. You always were a whiz with computers.”
She focused.Business first, and if this played out the way she hoped, pleasurelater.
ChapterEight
Two hourslater, Damon waved goodbye to his brother.
“I think thatwent well, don’t you?” Harper said after Conner shut his door.
He joined heras she walked along the corridor. “It went way better than Iexpected, to be honest.”
Damon had neverbeen more pleased than when she’d asked him to sit in on themeeting, even though he suspected she might have done so as asafety measure, but the fact she trusted him enough to protect herspoke volumes.
He’d listenedintently as Harper told them her ideas about her business. Hehadn’t been able to take his eyes off her as she talked, watchingher mouth, those full lips of hers, and the way she twiddled with acurl of lilac hair. She caught him staring once or twice andoffered a coy smile.
After theirinitial spat, he and Conner had put their differences aside.Whether it was for Harper’s benefit or not, he wasn’t sure, but ithad always been like that between them, one minute friends, thenext minute fighting. Conner’s website designs were inspiring,leading him to believe his little brother was finally getting hislife together.
“Thanks
