Free Fangs And Fame by Heather Jensen

morning. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

                                          Chapter 11
     

     
    Aurora
     
    I HADN ’T ANTICIPATED JUST how hard it would be for me to leave Trey for a few days. I wouldn’t be gone long, but the rushed goodbye kiss and hug we’d shared before he’d climbed into the waiting car with his brothers to head to a local radio station wasn’t satisfying in the least. I’d worried about him the entire flight, and I wondered how much of it was the sense of responsibility I felt for him as his maker, and how much of it was because he was my husband. Whatever the ratio, I had a whole new appreciation for Antonio and his patience with me. I couldn’t imagine the weight of having more than one vampire to teach and care for. I had no idea how he did it. I made a mental note to thank him, as small a gesture as that seemed in the scheme of things, I owed him at least that much. I’d created vinyl stencils of Trey’s tattoo for him so he could stay on top of airbrushing it without me. I just hoped he’d manage to get enough blood while I was gone.
    I stood in front of The Waking Moon, eyeing the paintings on display through the large windows. It was strange being home. I don ’t know how I’d expected to feel being here again, but this wasn’t quite it. I saw Kacie coming down the stairs from the loft, and I enjoyed the look on her face as she noticed me through the windows. She waved happily and took the stairs two at a time as I opened the door and walked inside.
    “ You made it,” she said, coming to throw her arms around me.
    I hugged her back, genuinely happy to see her. My new-found sister role to three brothers had improved my hugging skills dramatically. “Long flight,” I said, “But I’m here.” I walked around, pleasantly surprised at how well organized everything seemed. The place looks great,” I added. “You’re doing a great job, Kace.” She beamed at me, and I knew O’Shea was partly responsible for the sparkle in her eyes.
    “ Thanks,” she said. “I’m glad you approve.”
    “ Have you eaten lunch?” I asked.
    “ Not yet,” she said.
    “ Order us something. I’m buying. We have a lot of catching up to do.” I smiled at her and she grinned back at me, pulling her phone from her pocket.
    Forty minutes later when the food arrived, I was already in need of a break from pouring over the books. Kacie had done everything just as I ’d asked while I was away, but running a business long-distance always made for some headaches. Kacie and I took the food upstairs to the loft and pulled up chairs to the small table in the corner to eat. I realized as we talked about the boys and ate that she and I hadn’t enjoyed this kind of relationship before Trey came along. He’d forced me out of my comfort zone in so many ways. Kacie and I had always gotten along, but more in an employee/employer type way. Trey and the guys had taught me that I could still relate to humans in ways I hadn’t thought possible It was only natural that it trickled down into my relationship with Kacie, as well. I’d been missing out not knowing Kacie in this way, but Trey had been the only one who made me brave enough to let my guard down long enough to find out. Kacie was full of questions, and I expected nothing less from her. She wanted details about what it was like to be on tour, what it was like being in Trey’s world, and of course she wanted to hear everything about O’Shea that I could think of. More than once I burst out laughing at her antics.
    “ What are the fans like? I mean, the ones at the album launch party were cool, but are they all like that?”
    “ I’m sure they’re not all cracked up about me, but for the most part they’ve been really accepting of Trey and I. I can’t ask for more than that,