Page 29 of The Vegan Vamp


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Ten

Maron

Today was the last date. I didn't mean to put someone up on a pedestal really, but this man had to be perfect. Hehadto. The universe had to have at least one poetry writing man who liked to walk on nicely lit roads, didn't it? I didn't feel like I was asking a lot. Chet and I had never gotten around to talking about poetry or anything of the like, and I had a feeling Sterling hadn't read a word of poetry in his entire life.

Tonight I was dressed to the nines and I had my hair done down at one of the local salons. They always said redheads shouldn't wear red, but I never believed in any of that dribble. However, when I tried on a skintight red dress at the boutique next to the salon, I loved it, but I couldn't stop staring at the emerald green dress right next to it. So even though I wanted to be all daring, I knew I'd look better in the green. When I put it on, I actually gasped at myself in the mirror. The dress was off shoulder and wiggle style, meaning it clung to my waist and hips and flared out a little bit right below the knee. It was stunning. My lighter eyes were set off by the deep color and my hair glowed a deep, burnished auburn. I was a girl who loved me a pattern, but even I was not immune to the beauty of a good solid color dress. I paired it with nude high heels and made sure my makeup was mostly neutral except for a smokey eye.

I looked better tonight than I had in months. I'd chosen to wear my own jewelry tonight and hooked on a pair of deep citrine earrings and a metalworked ivy bracelet, both sturdy and gorgeous. A quick spritz of my favorite perfume and I sailed out the door ready to meet Dimitri, a man from somewhere on the other side of town. He was a distant relative of one of my mother's friends and he had lived here for his entire life. Provided he read the file on me, he wouldn't be surprised by how I ordered tonight.

But if he was really my soulmate, none of that would matter.

Sittingin front of the restaurant he'd chosen, I waited a few minutes before getting out as I tried to steady my heart rate. This was going to be awesome. He was going to be witty and well-spoken and, even more importantly, he was going to be on time. He wouldn't insult me, would be able to order wine without just pointing to it, and he would tell me I looked beautiful.

I glanced at myself in the mirror, added a little more nude lipstick, and said out loud, "This is going to be amazing."

A tap on the window made me screech in alarm. I turned to see who'd done it only to start cursing immediately.

"Go. Away," I said to the handsome werewolf practically leering at me through the glass.

"Is that any way to greet an old friend?" he asked.

"Friend?" I sputtered. "Is that what you call instant hate?"

He blinked in surprise. "Instant hate? Was I really that terrible?"

I stared at him for a minute. "Are you truly that dumb?" I decided I couldn't hold this conversation through a window, so I hit the button to lower it. "Do you ever stand in front of the mirror and wonder if you're an idiot? Because you really should do that if you haven't. The answer might truly surprise you."

"Harsh, Archer," Sterling said. "You really are a ballbuster."

I practically growled at him. "Why are you here trying to ruin my date?"

"Whoa, weirdo," he said. "I just happened to spot you on my way in." He leaned down and grinned at me. "Onmydate."

Something unpleasant reared its ugly head as I heard his words. This guy had a date? Of all the people in this town, the worst one had managed to find someone else to go out with him? Was this date in addition to the other one he’d been set up on? If so, Portia needed a good talking to. I glared at Sterling though the parking lot was dimly lit, so I imagined some of the effect was gone.

"You actually managed to convince someone to go out with you?" I snorted. "She must really be desperate."

Sterling clasped a hand over his heart. "As much as this might pain you, you weird vegetarian fiend -"

"Vegan," I corrected.

"Also, a liar," Sterling continued. "This is our second date." He blew on his nails and rubbed them on his shirt. "And things happen to be going pretty darn well." He winked at me. "She could be my soul mate."

I wanted to grab him by the collar of his shirt and slam his head against the window of my car. "Well," I said instead, "isn't that just wonderful? It really is true that there's someone out there for everyone, isn't it?" I fluffed my hair, hit the window button to close it, and shoved the door open, forcing him to jump out of the way. "I'm sure she has a wonderful personality."

"She does," Sterling said, but his voice sounded strained.

"That's great, Sterling. I hope you have lots of frigid little babies who enjoy their private schools and homemade baby food."

"Now wait just a second, Archer. Don't you think -"

He was cut off by a breathy voice several feet away. "Sterling! There you are, darling. Really, you keep me waiting for more than a minute or two and force me to walk outside in my new heels? The nerve."

A belly laugh burst from me as I shut the car door. "I bet they're Louboutins," I said under my breath. "Super expensive. Super high maintenance. Are you concerned about dating someone whose shoes have more personality than they do?"

"Shut up, Archer,” Sterling growled as he raised his hand to greet the woman. As she walked closer, I had to roll my eyes. She looked like an ice princess.

"After tonight's date are you going back to her castle high on the mountains of Sweden? Perhaps she can show you how to ice sculpt?"