Sexiest Vampire Alive

“Do you realize he fits every item on your checklist?” she whispered to Madison. “Expensive taste, pale skin, extremely attractive?” She spotted his grin once again. Blast him! “His sense of hearing is downright scary.”

Madison sighed. “I can see where you’re going, but that guy’s not a vampire. He doesn’t sparkle. And he didn’t fly here as a bat.”

He turned toward them, chuckling, and Abigail ignored his dimples to zero in on his canines. His extra-sharp and pointed canines.

He squelched his smile.

Interesting. She strode back into the room. “There’s a rumor going about that the Undead will be visiting the White House. What do you think, Mr. Holstein? Do you believe vampires could be living secretly among us?”

His eyes narrowed, and she felt an invisible crackle of tension as if the air between them had suddenly turned electric.

Warp speed seven. She lifted her chin. “Are you living a secret life, Mr. Holstein?”

His eyes gleamed a brighter green as he stepped toward her. “What about your secret life, Abigail?”

She blinked.

“You are Abigail Tucker, aren’t you?” He stepped closer. “Why do you hide from the cameras?”

“I don’t want attent—” She did a double take at the mirror on the wall. She was reflected, but he wasn’t! With a gasp, she glanced back at him, but he’d moved out of the way. Very quickly.

Had she imagined it? It had all happened so fast. She looked at the mirror, briefly noting her own pale and shocked expression. Madison was also reflected. And her Secret Service man, Josh, who had just returned with the dog bag. They were too busy lowering Dolly into the bag to notice anything amiss.

She cast a nervous glance at Mr. Holstein. He was frowning, his mouth thin with annoyance. He adjusted his tie with an angry jerk.

“You could use the mirror to fix your tie,” she suggested quietly.

He clenched his fists tight, then relaxed them.

He was nervous, she realized. He didn’t want to be . . . discovered.

She gasped. His gaze cut immediately to her, the green of his eyes growing more intense.

Warp speed eight. Her heart thundered in her ears. Could it be true? No. She was a scientist, and all her years of study were clamoring in her head screaming no! She could not accept this.

“I don’t believe it,” she whispered.

He remained silent as he fiddled with his cuff links.

She moved in front of him. “You can relax, Mr. Holstein. I’m not going to accuse you of something that’s not scientifically possible.”

He arched a brow at her. “And what is scientifically possible, Miss Tucker?”

“Facts. What I can observe or measure.”

“And what about the intangible? Do you believe in feelings? Anger, fear, love?”

“Of course. Love is actually scientific.” She stuffed her clenched fists in the pockets of her lab coat. “It generally begins with physical attraction which triggers a chemical reaction that releases dopamine into the bloodstream—”

“Is that why your heart is racing?”

Her heart lurched. Warp speed nine. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. My pulse is perfectly normal.”

His mouth curled into a slow smile. “Tell me, Abigail. Why does a beautiful woman like you hide in the shadows?”

She froze. If he was trying to throw her off her guard, he was certainly succeeding.

He moved toward her. “Do you go by Abby? Or Gail?”

“I—” Good Lord, she could hardly remember her own name with him so close. She lifted her chin. “Do you go by Greg? Or does Gori suit you better?”

His mouth twitched. “Do I seem gory to you?” He leaned in close enough she could feel his breath against her cheek. “Is that why your heart is pounding? Do you think I’m frightening?”

Could he actually hear her heartbeat? She swallowed hard. “I’m not afraid.”

He moved back, his smile fading. “Maybe you should be.”

Her skin prickled with goose bumps. “Who are you? What do you want?”

His eyes narrowed, glittering with green intensity. “I’m not so different from you. I want to be left alone to live in the shadows.”

A shiver skittered down her spine. Warp speed ten. Had he just admitted to being one of the Undead?

No! She refused to believe it.

The door to the Oval Office opened, and a voice called out. “Mr. Holstein, the president will see you now.”

Gregori inclined his head. “Abigail.” He turned and strode into the Oval Office.

She watched him go, her heart still thumping, her head still echoing with the soft way he’d said her name.

“Abby?” Madison sidled up close. “What was going on? Was he trying to pick you up?”

“No.” She eyed the closed door.

“Are you sure?” Madison whispered. “It looked kind of intense to me.”

Abigail drew in a deep, steadying breath. “How’s Dolly?”

“Still asleep. It’s the strangest thing.”

“Yes, it is.” Abigail couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow, Mr. Holstein had caused Dolly’s sleep. With her scientific training, she naturally discounted the existence of vampires, but even she had to admit the circumstantial evidence was piling up. No reflection in the mirror, possible psychic power, heightened senses, pale skin, pointed canine teeth, and something unusual about his eyes. Then there was his aura of power and mystery. “I never thought I’d say this, but you might be right.”

“Really?” Madison grinned, then looked confused. “About what?”

“Dad’s secret meeting with the Undead.” Abigail glanced toward the Oval Office. “Mr. Holstein . . .”

“You really think he’s a vampire?”

“I’m not totally convinced vampires are real. I’ll have to study this further.” Study him further.

Madison grinned and grabbed hold of Abigail’s arm. “Can I help? I love vampires!”

Abigail winced. “Don’t say that! I don’t care if Mr. Holstein is the most handsome and charming man on earth. If he’s a vampire, then loving him would be the height of folly.”

Madison rolled her eyes. “Chill, Abby.” She brushed her hair back over her shoulders. “I didn’t think he was all that handsome and charming.”

“Are you crazy?” Abigail bit her lip. Damn. Gregori Holstein had better be human.

Chapter Seven

Shit. Gregori clenched his fists, then forced his hands to relax. He’d completely screwed up. He was supposed to convince the guys in power that he, along with every other modern-day Vamp, was safe and harmless. But he’d just asked Abigail Tucker if she thought he was frightening.

She’d given him several opportunities to deny he was a vampire. He should have said he didn’t believe in such nonsense. After all, it was also his mission to make sure only a small group of mortals knew that vampires actually