Free Date with a Vampire by Raine English Page B

not to sneak up on me like that?” Theo snapped.
    “I’m sorry, sir. I did knock. And as I’m not light footed to be sure, I felt certain you’d hear me approach.”
    “Well, I did not. Now what do you want?”
    “Your father asked me to call upon you, sir. Shall you be dining with him tonight?”
    Theo’s gaze settled on the goblet, the side rimmed with blood. “No, tell him I’ve already eaten.”
    Blakesley followed his gaze. “Will that be enough, sir? I must say it appears to be no more than an appetizer. There’s plenty of meat in the banquet hall. The animals were just freshly slaughtered.”
    Theo bit back his harsh words. The old man was just doing his job. Or was he? Theo narrowed his eyes and studied Blakesley intently. Perhaps he was spying for Guystof. If that were true, Blakesley would be sorry indeed.
    He smiled wickedly. “Thank you, but I’m fine for now. And if I get hungry, I can find someone to satisfy me.” Blakesley hated to be fed upon, but if he continued to bother Theo, he would not hesitate to teach him a lesson.
    “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” The old man backed out of the room, not taking his eyes off Theo. It seemed his threat had not gone unnoticed.
    After Blakesley closed the door, Theo let out a roar of laughter. He would not be coming around anytime soon.

 
    C HAPTER F IVE
     
     
    G uystof lay in bed, on top of the sheets, wearing only his boxers. The air was thick and humid. A lone candle on the bedside table gave off the only light. The flame flickered and danced over the wall like a ghost. What was he doing wrong? He’d been so sure Melody liked him. He’d felt the connection when he’d kissed her and again when he held her after pulling her from the water. She’d trembled not just out of fear, but from desire too. Yet, not more than ten minutes later, she was in the professor’s arms. The very man who’d embarrassed them in front of the other bachelors.
    Not only did Guystof feel like a fool, but he felt betrayed. Although why he should care whom Melody kissed, he couldn’t quite figure. Melody was simply a means to an end. He needed a rich wife. She fit the bill. Hadn’t he learned from his father the mistakes of the heart? Twice married, both times for love, and both ended tragically. Well, that would not happen to him.
    Guystof closed his eyes and was drifting off to sleep when he heard a knock on his door. Had Melody come to apologize? Well, he would give her a piece of his mind, then kiss her like she’d never been kissed before. If that didn’t make her forget the professor, Guystof wasn’t the contender he thought he was.
    He rose slowly. Let her wait. Better to appear nonchalant than too eager. He started to put on his jeans but kicked them off. He glanced down at his white boxers and smiled. Melody’s shock when he greeted her in his underwear would be payback.
    Casually, he strolled over to the door with an “Oh, it’s you” look pasted on his face. To his surprise, though, the dark-skinned beauty whose family owned the island stood before him. In her arms she held a stack of terry-cloth towels that she nearly dumped at his feet.
    “The towels you ordered, Mr. Guy.” Her lips, full and red like overripe strawberries, quivered. Her face, warmed by embarrassment, turned a deep rose.
    He’d called for towels earlier and had completely forgotten, as his thoughts were focused on Melody and the professor. “Thank you, Serenie.”
    She gazed at the floor, making a noticeable point not to look at him. “Where would you like these, sir?”
    “The dresser is fine.” He stepped aside so that she could enter his bure and watched her cross the room. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I thought Tommy had forgotten his key,” he fibbed, “or I would have dressed more appropriately.”
    She giggled. The sound was musical, just like her voice. “That’s all right, Mr. Guy. I won’t look. Much.”
    Now it was his turn to laugh. “I’m surprised at