Chapter 14

Taking a night just to be Remi Foster and not the person that ran Serenity was such a nice feeling that she decided she was doing it more often. The bar was packed tonight. The full moon, just two days away, could be to blame, but she wasn’t complaining, or the boss she’d be tomorrow wouldn’t when she did the deposits.

Pascal slid down to where she was standing and leaned down. “I know you’re not working, but can you go grab me a few bottles of Jack Daniels? Seems to be in high demand tonight.” Remi set her drink down and nodded. “Sure thing.” Weaving her way between Pascal’s groupies at the end of the bar, she pushed through into the kitchen and nodded to Baker as he stood at the counter, bopping to the beat of the music. Jack Daniels was always a sure sign that the full moon was only a few days away. A weird fact, but still true.

Going into the storage room, she flicked on the light and froze at the sight of Emery and a girl. He had her pinned against the wall, and her first thought was, oh no and then she saw the girl wrapped around him as much as he was her.

“Oh.” Was the only thing that came out of her mouth as Emery spun around and glared. His eyes flashed red momentarily. Remi could tell by the way his jaw was set that he had a mouth of fang going on.

The girl, half hidden behind him, peeked out. That was all Remi needed to sense she was a normal. Now what?

“Corey,” Emery put his arm around her and pulled into full view, “this is Remi.” His eyes pleaded with her. “My sister.”

Trying not to look surprised, Remi smiled. “And boss.” She raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to deny it.

“Yeah.” He looked down at the small blonde at his side. Remi’s heart jerked in her chest when she saw the look in his eyes.

Crap. He really had it bad for her, and she was a normal.

“You have two sisters?” She turned her pretty green eyes back to Remi. “You guys don’t look alike.”

Emery’s eyes sought Remi’s. “Remi looks like…” he smirked, “Mom.” Clearing his throat, he held her stare. “I was just on break.”

Remi nodded, not sure what to say, knowing she really couldn’t say what she was thinking.

“I’ll let you get back to work, Em.” The girl stretched up to place a lingering kiss on his mouth as her hand rubbed a circle on his chest. Stepping away, she smiled at Remi. “Nice meeting you.”

Remi smiled at her and watched until she was out of sight. Pointing at him, she shook her head. “Stay. I have to take some J.D. out front.”

He crossed his arms and stared down at the floor with a slight nod.

Remi grabbed two bottles from the shelf and spun on her heel. She made it out front without seeing anything. What was she going to do? The safe sex talk was kind of irrelevant for a vampire. Added to that, she was pretty sure Emery was long past a virgin. The normal meets para sex talk was entirely different; forget allowances for blood lust. She was way out of her depth with this one.

Stepping into the flashing lights and loud music, she set the bottles on the back counter and turned to see if she could find Darien. He was halfway across the sea of bodies but still paused and looked her way. A wide-eyed look that she hoped said mayday was what she gave him. Brows furrowed, he started to head her way.

When he reached her, she pulled him into the kitchen.

“What’s wrong?” His eyes immediately began scanning her body.

Shaking her head, she leaned closer to him. “I just caught Em in the supply room with a girl.” He didn’t even react. She filed that away for later; obviously, things happened at Serenity After Dark that she wasn’t privy to. “She’s a normal.”

His eyes widened. “Is she all right?” He looked at the door.

“Yeah.” Remi brushed the hair back out of her face. “Pretty sure she wasn’t a snack.”

“Oh.” He glanced over his shoulder to where Baker was standing, and a knowing look passed between them. Baker cleared his throat and then began whistling.

“So, we should talk to him…” she said, meaning it, but it sounded more like a question.

“Ah.” He looked uncomfortable for a second and then nodded. “Yeah.” Placing a hand on her back, he guided her toward the door.

Emery was standing right where she had left him. The look on his face was one that Remi didn’t need to question. His head was full of Corey. He straightened and looked embarrassed when he saw Darien come in behind her.

“I wasn’t going to hurt her.” He held his palms out.

Remi went over to him. “I know.” She tucked her hands in her pockets and glanced at the floor. “Em, she’s a normal.”

He snorted. “Yeah, I noticed, heartbeat and all.”

Darien stayed over by the door, almost like if he wanted to make a fast escape; he could. “Does she know what you are?”

Emery rubbed the back of his neck and looked hesitantly at Darien. “I think so.” He shrugged. “I mean, she’s said things that make me think she does.”

Remi looked at Darien, who just seemed to be perplexed. Filing that information for later, she turned back to the tense vampire. “Em, sex with normals is…”

He held up a hand to stop her. “I don’t need the sex talk, Remi. Trust me, I’m long past that.”

Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes. “I realize that I’m just…”

“I don’t know what to do.” He suddenly sounded like a teen, angst filling his voice.

“About?” Darien finally spoke.

Emery looked at him and then at her. He looked embarrassed all over again. “I,” he rubbed a hand over his face and took a deep breath, which was weird because he didn’t really breathe. “When I’m with Corey, I, it’s…” he closed his eyes and stood there for a moment.

Remi glanced at Darien. He shrugged, looking as confused as she felt.

Emery’s eyes popped open. “I can’t seem to differentiate between sex lust and blood lust.” He said it quickly like he needed to get it over with before he changed his mind.

“Have…” Remi’s heartbeat picked up.

“No.” He stopped her. “I haven’t bitten her.”

Nodding, Remi closed her mouth and looked at Darien. He glanced from Emery and back to her before shaking his head. “Don’t look at me. I don’t suffer from blood lust.” He tipped his head, “Well, except one day a month.” Jamming his hands in his pockets, he shrugged. “I don’t have the urge to bite while having sex,” he looked over her at Emery and then avoided her eyes, “or I haven’t yet.”

Emery made an exasperated sound.

“Would you like to talk to Pascal or Attis about it?” Remi kept her voice steady even though she wasn’t feeling calm.

He looked relieved. “Yeah.”

Darien backed out of the room. “I’ll go grab one of them.”

When he was gone, Remi turned and looked at Emery for a few seconds. “She’s cute.”

He grinned, relief in his expression. “Yeah, and she’s really smart too. I love talking to her.”

Oh dear, was all her brain registered.

“Hey.” He gave her a sheepish look. “Thanks for not freaking out, even though I know you want to.” He looked at her chest. “I can hear your heart having a conniption fit right now.”

Remi laughed. “Well, as your sister, I’m trying to be cool.”

He cleared his throat. “I couldn’t say you were my mom, even though you are to me.” He motioned with his hand. “I look older than you most days.”

She grinned. As compliments went, she’d take it.

Attis glided into the room. “I hear my assistance is needed.” He winked at Remi, “Darien gave me the low down.”

If she couldn’t feel blasé about this, relieved was as close as she was going to get. Crossing her arms, she leaned back against a stack of crates and looked at Emery. He was staring at her. Glancing at Attis, she saw he was also just standing and looking at her, a small smirk on his face. “Oh,” she straightened up, “I’ll go help Pascal until you’re done.”

Attis inclined his head and gave her a little smile. “I’ll help your boy, no worries.”

Help her boy have sex with a normal human without draining her blood; yeah, this day needed to end now.

Going back, she bypassed her drink of juice on the back counter and went to Darien. It wasn’t often he was behind the bar when they were open; as she got closer, she was shocked to see a glass in his hand. He drank, then turned to pour more whiskey. When she reached him, he handed over the glass. Accepting it with a small nod, she gulped it down. It burned a path all the way to her stomach, but the warmth that followed helped to calm her. “Thanks.” She gasped out, her eyes watering, and she handed the glass back. He took it with a smirk and set it in the wash bin.

Pascal handed the customer their drink before turning around to give her a big grin. “So, our little boy is growing up.”

Huffing out a breath, she winced. “I guess it was bound to happen.”

He laughed for a moment and checked the bar to see if he was needed. Looking out across the crowd, he motioned with his head. “Which one is it that has our boy’s head a mess?”

Scanning the bar, Remi looked for Corey and found her in the corner talking to some other girls that were paras. Leaning closer to Pascal, she pointed. “Little blonde in the corner, her name is Corey.”

He shrugged. “The boy has good taste.” Glancing from Darien back to her, he placed his hands in his pockets. “Would you like me to take a quick look inside her head and see what she knows?”

Remi bit her lip and looked at Darien. They didn’t encourage Pascal to mind-surf, frowned on it normally. Darien tilted his head, his expression saying what she was thinking. “Yes,” she said to the tall vampire, that appeared frozen on the spot, not moving as he waited.

With a slight tilt of his head, he turned and made a drink. “Watch the bar. I’ll be back.”

Remi glanced up and down the bar to see that no one was waiting to be served. “Do we tell Emery he’s doing that?”

Darien rubbed his jaw and looked down at her. “It might be better if Pascal tells him and keeps us out of it.”

She nodded. “Depending on what he finds out.”

“That too,” Darien added quickly and moved down to the two girls waving for service at the other end.

Remi kept busy by giving the bar a vigorous wipe. Every few seconds, she looked over to Pascal, leaning against the backrest of the booth the girls were in. She didn’t know what he was talking about, pretty sure she wanted it that way, but the girls were smiling and laughing.

Feeling like someone was watching her, she turned to see Attis and Emery standing at the kitchen door. They were both watching Pascal. Emery pointed and smiled at Attis, who nodded and patted him on the back.

Attis strode toward her and gave her a reassuring smile, reaching over to grasp her hand and give it a slight squeeze. “All is well, mama bear. Your cub has it all sorted out now.”

Remi sighed. “Thanks, Attis.” She squeezed his hand before releasing it.

He shrugged. “It’s good to take all these years of living to help someone.” With a grimace, he pulled the cloth from her hand. “I would have killed to have my kind of help,” he laughed, “or killed less.”

Eyes wide, she watched him go down to talk to Darien. Those were just the sort of tidbits she didn’t need to know.

“Can I talk to you?” Emery was suddenly standing behind her. She glanced over to see Pascal weaving his way through the crowd.

“Sure.” Motioning to the end of the bar, she followed him down to the kitchen door. Stopping, she tucked her hands in her pockets and looked at him, then held her breath.

“Thanks,” Emery said with a bashful grin. “I’ve been a mess the last few days with all this.”

Not even knowing what to say to that, she rubbed her hand against his cool arm.

Glancing over at Pascal as he came towards them, he gave her a questioning look. “Pascal looking to see if she knows what I am?”

Remi nodded, holding her breath again.

He nodded slowly. “Okay.” Turning around, he raised an eyebrow at Pascal as he stopped in front of them. “Well?”

“Well,” he smirked, “she thinks you’re cute and sweet and hot,” he said with enthusiasm. “She knows her friends are not all normals and has a really good idea what you are,” Pascal gave him a serious look, “and she doesn’t have a problem with it.”

“Really?” Emery’s expression turned from somber to relief.

He grinned and looked down at Remi. Dammit, she loved seeing him look that happy.

Smacking Pascal on the shoulder, he laughed. “Thanks.” When he went to go around the old vampire, Pascal put his hand in front of his chest and stopped him.

“You have work to do, young one. Your break is over.”

Shoulders slumping, Emery nodded. “Got it.” Straightening, he turned and picked up his tray, and moved back out into the crowd.

Remi looked up at Pascal and made a motion for him to bend down closer to her. “That’s the truth?” He nodded. Stretching up, she kissed his cold cheek. “Thank you.”

With a shocked look on his face, he stood to his full height again. “Anytime.” Clearing his throat, he turned and went down the bar to the girls that were gathering.

Darien came over and stood in front of her. “Now we just have to get through Caitlyn having sex, and then we’ll have dealt with every crisis.”

Remi laughed. “Dare, Cait has been having sex for over a year now.”

His eyes grew huge. “No.”

Remi nodded and laughed again. “Yes.”

Groaning, he rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m getting old.”

Snorting, Remi patted his arm. “And I’m getting tired. I think I’ll call it a night.”

He glanced over to where Kyran was at the door and then gave her an abrupt nod. “I’ll walk you up.”