Read Online To Catch a Vampire by Jennifer Harlow - Free Book Online Page A

both in black leather suits. Red Barbie slinks in behind us and sits next to the girl, putting her slender arm around the girl’s shoulders and resting her head on her shoulder.
    The other stranger sits in a chair, cigar in his mouth and ashtray on his ample thigh. He’s a large man, and even the expensive pinstripe suit can’t hide that fact. His belly rivals a pregnant woman’s. The rest of him is about as appealing as the potbelly. A bald head with a crown of dark brown hair from ear to ear with a matching mustache covering his top lip. I hate to admit it, but I’m relieved to not be the ugliest person in the room.
    “I apologize, Marianna,” Oliver says. “My wife and I were … distracted.” He wraps his right arm around my waist.
    “Glo, while you’re up, get me a drink,” the cigar man says.
    Passing us, Gloria flips her hair back on the way to the bar. Cole pours some blood into a brandy sifter. He’s a vampire? Wonder how that happened. Normally, from what Oliver told me, a vamp gets lonely or bored and the first person they come across or are doing the horizontal mambo with is turned. Of course, usually they look like someone who struts on a catwalk. Who wants to spend fifty or so years making love to someone they have to pretend is Ryan Gosling every night? Cigar man has a story.
    Marianna raises her hand, palm side up, presenting her cappuccino wrist. Without a word, Oliver releases me, strolling over to Marianna. Taking her hand, he raises it to his lips, kissing the thin skin where the veins meet. “You are as beautiful as I remember,” he says, mouth still hovering centimeters from her skin.
    “As are you,” she says with a smile. “Still enjoy making love with your shoes on?”
    He releases her hand. “Now, you know the only reason I did that was Gustave was returning any moment. It was a good thing I had them on, if you remember.”
    “As if I could ever forget you.”
    Gag me.
    “And who is this … lovely creature you’ve brought with you,” Marianna asks, eyeing me.
    “I’m his wife,” I say harshly.
    Marianna looks at Oliver, mouth agape. “You married?”
    “Yes. A year ago.”
    “Now, I know you are lying,” she says, smiling. My body locks up again, all joints buckling. I’ve blown our cover. They’re going to eat us.
    Oliver stays as cool as the Fonz. “Why do you say that?”
    “The very thought of you in any form of relationship longer than a weekend is incredulous,” she chuckles.
    I have to agree with her.
    “I am a changed man. Love transformed me.”
    “You must be some form of magician, kitten,” she says to me. “You have performed the impossible.”
    “I’m good like that,” I reply.
    “You look it,” the boy on the couch says in a thick German accent. He reaches across to touch my leg, but I move away, flinching. He wouldn’t have gotten me anyway. Oliver moves faster than I can see. One moment he’s next to Marianna, and the next he’s got the boy’s wrist in his hand, teeth snarled.
    “Attempt to touch my wife again and I will break every bone in your hand. Twice.”
    The German snarls back, making his gaunt face close to skeletal. His companion matches his look, but hisses like a snake too. The German yanks his arm away.
    “Everyone,” Marianna says in a calm tone, “we are all friends here. Let us not fight.”
    I touch Oliver’s shoulder, leaning in and whispering, “Let it go.”
    He glances at me and drops the vampire face. The Gruesome Twosome remains poised to strike.
    “Klaus. Ingrid,” Marianna says like a scolding mother.
    It takes a moment, but their faces return to normal. Snooty, but normal. They still shoot daggers at us with their eyes. Oliver crosses his arms across his chest, I’m sure mentally willing them to try again. Gloria, who lounges on the armrest of Mr. Cigar’s chair, winks at me. I suddenly feel like a hick in Beverly Hills, out of place and pitied. Marianna sits up, stretching her long legs in front of