Chase, there’d still be a place in the city vamps could go to have some fun until other clubs got back on their feet again. It was a strange tribute to the hard-to-forget leader of the vampire hunters.
I grimaced. “I’m sorry, George. I know I’ve been a mooch. But I appreciate your patience. And I thought you were going to work for me at the club?”
His eyebrows raised. “There has not yet been a formal offer of employment.”
“Consider this formal. You can be my manager.”
He gave me a big hug. “I totally accept. And when it comes to our current living arrangements… well, maybe it’s finally time for you to shack up with tall, dark, and fangsome over there. As far as I’m concerned, it’s way overdue.”
I glanced over at Thierry. “We’ll have to see about that.”
The fact that Mr. Fangsome wasn’t giving me back my promise ring was a sign any shacking up might not be in the cards. But I tried not to think about it for the moment.
Today was all about Janie and Quinn and the eternity that had just begun for them.
Everyone began leaving for the restaurant in two separate cabs, but Thierry held me back.
“I wanted a chance to speak with you privately first.”
My stomach clenched. “That sounds very ominous.”
He held his hand out to me. “Walk with me.”
If I’d known we were going to be doing any power walking I would not have worn these heels, but I could handle it for a little while. I took his hand and walked with him over to
Nathan Phillips Square near the outdoor skating rink.
Here it goes, I thought. He was going to break up with me. Officially. It was over. I’d kept telling him that I was trouble and a burden. After everything we’d been through over the last few months, he’d obviously decided I was right.
Maybe he wanted to see other people.
That was it.
Hell, if Veronique didn’t care if he dated other women… vampire chicks or even humans… then why wouldn’t he want to?
He obviously wanted to make up for lost time. About six hundred years’ worth.
It was okay. Really. I could handle it. I wouldn’t demean myself and cry when he ended things. I was an independent vampiress. I owned my own business now, even though I’d come by it in a very unusual way. I planned to throw all of my energy into keeping
Darkside—to be renamed The Chase—open so vamps in the city would have a place to hang out and relax and enjoy themselves and maybe do a little dancing. I’d land on my feet. I was all about the girl power.
Men… meh… who needed them?
“So why can’t I have the ring back?” I asked simply. Calm. Collected. Totally mature.
“Because I don’t have it anymore,” he said simply.
“Oh.” I frowned.
“Besides, it was only a small piece of metal with some tiny diamonds on it—meaningless, really.”
“Meaningless, huh?” I felt my cheeks heat with anger. Maybe I wasn’t all that calm and collected after all.
A smile tugged at his lips. “You are upset over this. Why?”
I shook my head. “I’m not upset. I’m perfectly fine.”
“I didn’t think that something like a ring would mean anything to you. After all, you agreed to be with me even knowing about Veronique, knowing that she has been my wife for a very long time. Even after she refused to agree to the annulment, you still wished to be with me. Has that changed?”
“Of course not.” I blinked. “I love you. A stupid piece of paper doesn’t change anything.”
“It doesn’t?”
“No.”
He crossed his arms. “Then I guess it won’t matter to you to learn that before she left
Veronique did consent to sign the annulment papers after all. The fact that you were able to see past my mask when she was not made her realize how deep your feelings for me are, and in return how deep mine are for you.”
I stared at him. “Uh… what did you just say?”
“Which part would you like me to repeat?”
“Veronique signed the annulment?”
“She did.”
“Holy crap.”
“Indeed.” He looked amused by my reaction. “I was as surprised as you. But as self-
involved as she might seem on the surface, Veronique is a romantic. She experienced true love herself a long time ago and that has stayed with her. She knows that I want to be with you, and since there is no chance at a reconciliation between us, she did what she knew was right and finally freed me from our vows.”
This I didn’t expect. I never would have thought, after everything that had happened, that
Veronique would sign. But she did? She signed the annulment. She and Thierry were no longer married.
I was officially no longer the other woman!
I smiled at him and reached down to take his hand in mine. “Then I totally understand the ring thing.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. After six hundred years, give or take, you’re finally a bachelor again. Why would you want to get tied down so quickly? We can date, if you want to. Maybe even go to the movies some time. I haven’t done that in ages.”
He tilted his head to the side. “You want to date me?”