'There wasn't anywhere else to put her.'
'There are eight bathrooms this side of the wall, and you put her in mine?'
I was glad my hair was somewhat dry, and that it smelled like Ellasbeth's shampoo made me feel all peachy-keen. Hopping ungainly on one foot, I tried to get my underwear on, thankful I had only been wearing the nylons that I brought from home when I went into the drink. My skin was still damp and everything was sticking. I almost went down when my foot got stuck halfway into my jeans leg, and lurching, I caught myself against the counter.
'Damn you, Trenton! Don't even try to say that is business!' Ellasbeth was shouting. 'There's a naked witch in my bathtub, and you're sitting in your robe!'
'No, you listen to me.' Trent's voice was iron hard, and I could hear his frustration even from two rooms away. 'I said she's a business associate, and that's what she is.'
Ellasbeth made a harsh bark of laugher. 'From Vampiric Charms? She told me the name of her bloodhouse herself!'
'She's a runner, if it's any of your business,' Trent said so coldly I could almost see his clenched jaw. 'Her partner is a vampire. It's a play on words, Ellasbeth. Rachel was my security escort tonight, and she fell into the river saving my life. I wasn't going to drop her at her office half dead from hypothermia like an unwanted cat. You told me you were taking the seven o'clock flight out. I thought you were gone, and I wasn't about to put her in my rooms.'
There was a moment of silence. I shimmied into my sweatshirt. Somewhere on the bottom of the river was several thousand dollars of soft ribbon gold from Randy's coiffure and one earring. At least the necklace had survived. Maybe the charm worked only on the necklace.
'You were on that boat…. The one that blew up…' Itwas softer, but there wasn't a hint of apology in her sudden concern.
In the silence, I fumbled at my hair, grimacing. Maybe if I had half an hour I could do something with it. Besides, there was no way to recover from the first stellar impression I'd made. Taking a steadying breath, I squared my shoulders and padded in my sock feet to the common room. Coffee. I could smell coffee. Coffee would make everything better.
'You can understand my confusion,' Ellasbeth was saying as I hesitated by the door, unnoticed but able to see them. Ellasbeth stood beside the round table in the breakfast nook, looking meek in the way a tiger looks when it realizes it can't eat the man with the whip. Trent was seated, wearing a green robe edged in maroon. There was a professional-looking bandage on his forehead. He looked bothered—as he should with his fiancée accusing him of cheating.
'That's the closest to an apology I'm going to get, isn't it?' Trent said.
Ellasbeth dropped the department store bag and put a hand on her hip. 'I want her out of my rooms. I don't care who she is.'
Trent's eyes fell on mine as if drawn to them, and I winced apologetically. 'Quen is taking her home after a light dinner,' he said to her. 'You're welcome to join us. As I said, I thought you had left.'
'I changed to a vamp flight so I could shop longer.'
Trent glanced back at me again to tell Ellasbeth that they weren't alone. 'You spent six hours in the stores and have only one bag?' he said, the faintest accusation in his voice.
Ellasbeth followed his gaze to me, quickly masking her anger with a pleasant expression. But I could see her frustration. It remained to be seen how it would show itself. I was betting on hidden barbs and slights disguised as compliments. But I would be nice as long as she was.
Smiling, I came out in my jeans and Howlers sweatshirt. 'Hey, uh, thanks for the pain amulet and letting me get cleaned up, Mr. Kalamack.' I stopped beside the table, the awkwardness as thick and choking as bad cheesecake. 'No need to bother Quen. I'll call my partner to come and get me. She's probably banging on your gatehouse already.'
Trent made a visible effort to purge the anger from his posture. Elbows on the table so the sleeves of his robe fell to show the fair hair upon his arms, he said, 'I'd rather have Quen take you home, Ms. Morgan. I don't particularly want to talk to Ms. Tamwood.' He glanced at Ellasbeth. 'Do you want me to call the airport for you, or are you staying another night?'
It was entirely devoid of any invitation. 'I'll be staying,' she said tightly. Bending at the waist, she picked up her bag and walked to her door. I watched her quick stilted steps, seeing in them a dangerous combination of callous disregard and ego.
'She's an only child, isn't she?' I said as the sound of her heels was lost on the carpet.
Trent blinked, his lips parting. 'Yes, she is.' Then he gestured for me to sit. 'Please.'
Not really sure I wanted to eat with the two of them, I gingerly sat on the chair opposite Trent. My gaze went to the fake window spanning the entirety of the wall that the small, nearby sunken living room took up. It was just after eleven according to the clocks I had seen, and it was dark with no moon. 'Sorry,' I said, my gaze flicking to the archway to Ellasbeth's rooms.
His jaw tightened for an instant, then relaxed. 'Can I get you some coffee?'
'Sure. That would be great.' I was almost faint from hunger, and the heat of my bath had drained me. I looked up with wide eyes as a matronly woman in an apron made her unhurried way out of the small kitchen tucked in at the back of the room. It was partially open to the seating arrangement, but I hadn't noticed her until now.
Giving me a smile that encompassed all her face, the woman set a mug of that heavenly scented coffee in front of me before topping off Trent's smaller teacup with an amber brew. I thought I could smell gardenias, but I wasn't sure. 'Bless you,' I said as I wrapped my hands around it and breathed in the steam.
'You're welcome,' she said with the professional warmth of a good waitress. Smiling, she turned to Trent. 'What will it be tonight, Mr. Kalamack? It's almost too late for a proper dinner.'
As I blew on the surface of my coffee, my thoughts went to the different schedules of witches and elves, thinking it interesting that one of our species was awake at all times and that dinner happened about the same time for both of us.
'Oh, let's make it light,' Trent said, clearly trying to ease the mood. 'I have about three pounds of Ohio River sitting in me somewhere. How about a breakfast instead? The usual, Maggie.'
The woman nodded, the white hair clipped close to her head not moving at all. 'And how about you, dear?' she asked me.
I glanced between Trent and the woman. 'What's the usual?'
'Four eggs over easy and three slices of rye toast done on one side.'
I felt myself blanch. 'That's eating light?' I said before I could stop my mouth.
Trent arranged his jammies' collar, peeking from behind his robe. 'High metabolism.'
My thoughts went back to how he and Ceri never seemed to get cold. The temperature of the river, too, hadn't affected him. 'Um,' I said as I realized she was still waiting. 'The toast sounds good, but I'll pass on the eggs.'
Eyebrows high, Trent took a sip of his tea, eyeing me over the rim. 'That's right,' he said, his voice unaccusing. 'You don't tolerate them well. Maggie, let's go with waffles.'
Shocked, I leaned back in my chair. 'How did you…'
Trent shrugged, looking good in his bathrobe and bare feet. He had nice feet. 'You don't think I know your medical history?'
My wonder died as I recalled Faris dead on his office floor. What in hell was I doing here eating dinner with him? 'Waffles would be great.'
'Unless you'd like something more traditional for dinner. Chinese doesn't take long. Would you rather have that? Maggie makes fabulous wontons.'
I shook my head. 'Waffles sound good.'
Maggie smiled, turning to putter back into the kitchen. 'Won't be but a moment.'
I put my napkin in my lap, wondering how much of this let's-be-nice-to-Rachel scene was because Ellasbeth was in the next room listening and Trent wanted to hurt her for accusing him of cheating. Deciding I didn't care, I put my elbows on the table and took a sip of the best coffee I'd ever tasted. Eyes closing in the rising steam, I moaned in delight. 'Oh God, Trent,' I breathed. 'This is good.'
