Page 67 of Grimoires & Glamoury

Charles ignored the security and instead smiled at me. “Hello, Lorna.”

“Charles.” I straightened my own sunglasses and gave him a polite nod.

Before anything else could be said, Chloe scrambled out of the back seat and rushed over to me. “Hi Lorna!”

“Hey Chloe.” I bent over and gave her a careful hug. She too was neat as a pin with perfectly braided pigtails and a pink floral sundress.

Chloe ran a hand over my hair. “Your ponytail is all messy.”

“I was taking a walk,” I explained. “It was windy at the park.”

“Hello, Miss Chloe,” Nadia said from off to my side.

“Nadia!” Chloe promptly abandoned me and threw herself into Nadia’s waiting arms.

Nadia swung her up and Chloe planted a big kiss on the Vampire’s cheek.

“I missed you,” Nadia said, giving the girl a hug.

Chloe gave Nadia a stern look. “I haven’t seen you in a long, long time!”

“Two weeks,” Nadia corrected, shifting the girl over onto her hip. “I’m sorry little one.”

“Where have you been?” Chloe wanted to know.

Nadia gave Chloe’s nose a gentle tweak. “I’ve been watching over Lorna and keeping her safe.”

Chloe looked from Nadia and to me. “Were you babysitting Lorna?”

“Yes,” Nadia answered easily. “It was something like that.”

“For goddess’ sakes,” I muttered, feeling a bit embarrassed by the description.

Charles stepped closer. “Could we talk, Lorna?”

“Sir,” the male bodyguard spoke up. “I suggest we take this reunion indoors.”

“Right,” Charles said. “Lorna?”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and sigh. I knew it was juvenile, but I still wanted to do it out of the sheer frustration of being maneuvered, especially at my own home. Instead of being rude, I dug down deep, put on my best southern hostess smile, gestured for them all to follow me and said, “Come on in.”

Now my living room was filled with two Vampire bodyguards, Charles Montgomery and his daughter. “Be comfortable,” I told them and excused myself to go get some water. I walked straight to the kitchen table and swapped out my prescription sunglasses for my regular ones. Then I filled up a glass with water and drank.

I could hear Charles speaking from in the kitchen. “Nadia?” he began. “Could I impose upon you and ask that you take Chloe in the backyard while Lorna and I speak privately?”

“Of course,” Nadia said. “James and I will show Chloe all of the flowers.”

A moment later both bodyguards were escorting Chloe out into my backyard. Charles walked in after them, but he’d stopped at my kitchen table.

I watched as they took Chloe out back. “I hope they know what they’re in for,” I said only half joking.

“There’s two of them,” Charles said. “I’d say they have a decent chance of keeping Chloe out of trouble.”

Despite my annoyance, that did make me smile. “My money is on Chloe. If anyone could give two vampires the slip—it’s her.” I stayed where I was by the sink, leaned against it and waited. The silence stretched for a moment before I asked, “Why are you really here, Charles?”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Those electric blue eyes were steady on mine. “To begin,” he said, “I want to apologize. I’m sorry that I didn’t have the chance to come and see you until now.”