Bitten By The Bad Boy: A Bad Boy Vampire Romance Read online

  “I’ll talk about Liv if you discuss her boss,” Bree challenged.

  Kyra glared at her friend and went back to work. She picked up the half-opened envelope but dropped it and reached for the envelope Bree arrived with - a note from Liv reminding her to add them to the guest list for Friday.

  “Why don’t you let me do that?” Bree said gently. “I brought some samples from Rey and Liv. You need to pick the centerpieces and that other stuff by close of business today or they won’t be ready by Friday.”

  Kyra reluctantly relinquished her chair to her friend. She really hated decorating for these things. “I’m sorry, Bree.”

  “Me too.” Bree worked through the piles of invites while Kyra unpacked the shopping bags and set out the samples.

  “I hate all of them.” Kyra found the choices either too garish or too dull.

  “What about silver and black for the tables?” Bree looked up. “Then choose flowers that are red or bright pink to add color.”

  Kyra moved things around and contemplated Bree’s suggestion. “That’s not bad. Has to be red though, you know I hate pink.”

  Bree chuckled, “I know.”

  “Bitch.” Kyra smiled and as an afterthought added, “thanks.”

  A knock at the door broke the moment and Sam entered in a rush. “They’re looking for you. I passed them on my way in so they must be heading out for lunch. That buys you at least an hour.”

  “Perfect.” Kyra grinned. “What do you think about this?” She gestured at the arrangement of black and silver with red roses.

  “Classy.” Sam nodded his agreement.

  “What did the bakery say?” Kyra asked.

  “They would love to do it,” Sam continued, “they just need colors by Wednesday and access to set up at least two hours prior to the event. I figured that would work.”

  “Yep. Sounds good.” Kyra pondered the décor. It still felt wrong. “What if we simplify it even more?”

  “How so?” Sam asked.

  “Plain black table linens on each table with just a mirror holding a single white pillar candle as the centerpiece. Let’s keep it clean, polished,” Kyra mumbled, half to herself as she envisioned the room set at bare bones.

  “It could work. It would be cost effective.”

  “Do it,” Bree nodded from the desk as she screwed the lid back on the thermos and tucked it away.

  “Alright then.” Kyra clasped her hands together. “Black and white it is. Bree, can you get everything out of here and make the orders? I don’t want anybody knowing what we have planned until that night.”

  “I can do that. I didn’t make it through all of the RSVPs but there aren’t many left.”

  “I’ll finish them up,” Sam volunteered.

  “No, that’s alright.” Kyra had a better idea. “Sam, can you sweet talk Mary into figuring out a way to keep the gallery locked until the event? Nobody goes in or out without one of us present.”

  Sam smiled mischievously. “Yeah, I’m sure I can do that.”

  “We also need to get that fabric up on the windows,” Bree interjected as she dumped the rejected samples into the shopping bags.

  “I am meeting the maintenance crew in the gallery at two. They promised to have it done before they leave tonight,” Sam confirmed. “Did you really find some videos of Andy Warhol in his studio?”

  “A friend is letting us borrow them, They are family heirlooms or something.”

  “I can’t wait to see them.” Sam sounded just a bit too excited.

  Chapter 8

  “Move the cupcake table a few feet to the right. I want it centered under the Andromeda,” Kyra directed. Sam helped Bree shift the table as instructed. “Good. Much better.”

  “Ready for the linens?” Sam had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt hours ago and still had a sheen of sweat on his face and arms. Kyra would have to send him home soon to shower if she hoped to have him back in time for the gala.

  “Yep,” Kyra nodded, “then head home and clean up. You have your tux for tonight, right?”

  Sam’s head bobbed enthusiastically, “yes, just as you instructed. And it’s still okay for me to bring Drew, right?”

  “Of course, Sam.” Kyra thrummed with anticipation as she surveyed the gallery. Things were falling into place nicely.

  “Rey is on her way.” Bree popped in front of her. “This place looks incredible. You done good, kid.” She play-slugged Kyra in the arm.

  “Thanks for helping.” Kyra wanted to say more but didn’t know where to start. All week Bree had been close, ready to provide whatever Kyra needed. She made sure Kyra stopped to drink and eat, forced her to leave for fresh air and a shower each night, and helped with all of the arrangements. Kyra hugged her friend, not too tight.

  “You’re getting better at hugging,” Bree teased. “And, this is what we do. It’s what friends do for each other.”

  “I didn’t think I deserved it anymore.” Kyra looked away.

  “Why not, K?” Bree didn’t wait for an answer, “you’ve always been there for me. I think you’re the only one who didn’t lecture me for dropping out of college or judge me for my lifestyle. You’re just there, unfailingly supportive. How could I offer anything less in return?”

  Tears welled in Kyra’s eyes. She had no idea. “It’s your life, Bree.”

  “I know,” her friend responded thoughtfully, “that’s why I re-enrolled in school.”

  “What!? How? When?” Kyra squealed.

  “Yesterday. Being with you this week has made me realize how much I enjoy being in this world. I remember why I went to school and suffered through those insanely boring lectures. I lost it somewhere and that’s why I left school.” But, I don’t need that many more credits and I figured I may be able to apply here once we oust your horrible bosses. It wouldn’t be so terrible working with my best friend.”

  “Wow. I had no idea.” Kyra beamed, “and of course I would love to work with you but I wouldn’t hold your breath for this place. There’s still a lot to do and even if we oust the assholes it doesn’t mean we can keep the museum afloat.”

  “Oh, I think things will work out spectacularly tonight.” Bree smiled mysteriously.

  “What do you know that I don’t?” Kyra raised an eyebrow. “What did you do?”

  “Nothing, really!” Bree exclaimed innocently. “I just have faith in our plan.” She pulled her phone from her back pocket, “on that note, I have to go help Rey bring everything in.”

  “And I guess I will just stay here, useless.” Kyra groaned. Still two hours to sunset.

  “It’s fine, Kyra. It won’t take us long.” Bree slipped out the door, putting on a show of being stealthy so Kyra would chuckle.

  Kyra glided around the room while she waited for her friends. It turned out exactly as she’d hoped, very simple, very elegant. Sam had the brilliant idea to use flameless candles – they cost a little more but would be a lot less dangerous when the shit hit the fan. Kyra still couldn’t believe they’d managed to keep the gallery off limits this week, couldn’t believe Mary obliged and changed the security clearance.

  She moved through the tables, made adjustments as needed, and waited for Bree to return with Reina. A knock at the main door alerted Kyra to Bree’s return. Kyra opened it, ready to greet her friends, but found herself face to face with Bill. His features contorted into a sneer. “Oh, you are here.”

  “Of course, where else would I be?” Kyra pushed Bill backward and shut the door behind her.

  “Fretting in your office, picking up last minute items, dressing? Who knows?” Bill shrugged.

  “Can I help you with something, Bill?” Kyra asked sweetly.

  “I was just checking to see if I could be of assistance,” Bill replied innocently.

  “Of course. How kind of you to offer, but I have everything under control.” Kyra beamed at him. “Oh, here are my friends. You remember Bree and Reina.” They could not have timed their arrival any better. “You’ll
excuse us - we have to dress for this evening. The caterers will be here soon and I want to be ready to greet them.

  “So you will have food after all.” Bill’s confidence wavered.

  “Oh, yes.” Kyra smiled wider, she knew they’d been checking in with the usual vendors all week. “Like I said, I have everything under control. I am certain that tonight will be wildly entertaining.” She unlocked the door with her badge and let Bree lead the way.

  “Look forward to seeing you, and your lovely wife tonight.” Reina beamed at Bill as they disappeared through the gallery doors with their bags.

  The door clicked behind them but they didn’t wait to burst into laughter. Kyra hoped he heard them.

  “Careful, Kyra, your mean streak is showing,” Reina snorted.

  “Did you see his face when you mentioned his wife, Rey?” Bree added as she wiped at her eyes.

  “Okay, we really do need to get ready. The caterers will be here and I have to let them in.” Kyra nodded and took some of the packages from her friends.

  “Where’s Sam?” Reina asked.

  “I sent him home to get ready and pick up Drew.” Kyra replied. “We’ll dress in the salon. If it works for brides then it should work for us, right?”

  “Oooooh….the salon….sounds so classy,” Reina teased.

  “Speaking of classy, please tell me you are going to be appropriately clothed tonight?” Bree cast a sidelong glance at Reina.

  “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.” Reina taunted and flitted off ahead of them. “I made it myself!”

  “What do you think?” Bree asked Kyra.

  “It’s appropriate,” Kyra confirmed. “I already stole a peek.”

  “So long as she didn’t switch it out between then and now.”

  “She wouldn’t, would she?” Kyra exchanged a look with Bree and both sped up to catch Reina.

  “Rey, please tell me your dress is appropriate,” Kyra probed, “tonight is so important to me.”

  Rey stopped and turned to face them, hurt prominent in her features, “You really think that little of me?”

  Kyra felt terrible. She reached out for her friend but Reina pushed past them and headed for the door, “don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you tonight, I’ll just disappear.”

  “No! Rey, don’t go,” Kyra protested.

  “Yeah, we’re sorry, Rey,” Bree chimed in. “We believe you, let’s just get ready and have some champagne. We’re all on edge.”

  Reina stopped. She turned halfway, enough that they could see a tear tracing down her cheek, “I really hate that you both think I’m so clueless.”

  “We don’t, Rey,” Bree soothed.

  “But you do. You always comment about my clothes but I picked out some amazing outfits for Kyra this week and nobody said anything about them. Do you even know where they came from?” Reina popped her hip and put her fist on it.

  “My closet. You thought they cost so much money but they were mine. Believe it or not, I have attended professional meetings and even some black-tie events. Just because I let loose and have fun with you doesn’t mean I don’t know how to behave civilly. Shit. It hurts to see what my best friends think about me.”

  Kyra felt like she’d been punched in the gut. The look on Bree’s face told the same story. They had taken Reina for granted, ignored the other side of their friend completely. “I’m sorry, Rey. You’re right. I’m so, so sorry.”

  Reina’s face cracked into a broad smile. “Aw, it’s alright. I’m just screwing with you two.”

  They all cracked up – again. Kyra needed this to suppress the growing anxiety in the pit of her stomach. Tonight was an all-or-nothing event and she needed everything to go to plan.

  “You’re a jerk sometimes, Rey.” Bree nudged Reina with her elbow when she rejoined them.

  “Learned from the best.” Reina responded. “Now, where’s this fancy schmancy salon? Kyra’s hair is going to need a shit ton of work.”

  “Gee thanks,” Kyra muttered.

  “Hey, I call ‘em like I see ‘em,” Reina retorted. “It wouldn’t kill you to take better care of your hair.”

  They continued into the salon where Sam had apparently set out champagne on ice with sandwiches and a note reminding them to eat before getting dressed. He’d set up a clothing rack for their garment bags and brought in a few extra arm chairs.

  “Aw, did Sam do all of this?” Reina cooed. “What a doll! You have to keep him around, maybe even promote him?”

  “If everything goes well and if I manage to keep the place going, then yeah, I will need some more help and Sam is a great candidate.” Kyra set her parcels on the floor and exchanged a meaningful look with Bree, urging her to tell Reina her news. Bree shook her head so Kyra launched into it. “Actually, I may be hiring somebody else to work with me too.”

  “Really?” Reina asked, half-interested.

  “Yeah.” Kyra continued despite Bree furiously waving her off. “Bree.”

  Reina’s head whipped up, looked from Kyra to Bree and back to Kyra. “You’re gonna hire Bree?”

  “Yep. She’s going back to school to finish her degree,” Kyra finished proudly.

  Reina flew across the room and threw her arms around Bree, “I’m so proud of you! I mean, that sounds condescending, I don’t mean it that way. I think it’s great!”

  Bree flashed Kyra a glare over Reina’s shoulder but softened a little when Reina pulled away.

  “Yeah, it’s no big deal. I just realized how much I missed being around art since I’ve been working here this week.”

  “I think it’s brilliant,” Reina nodded excitedly. “If there is anything I can do to help, I’m in!”

  Bree seemed surprised at the response but she seemed to relax into the moment. “Thanks, Rey. But, we really do need to get ready so if we are over this touchy feely portion of our day, that would be great.”

  Kyra popped open the champagne in hopes of switching gears. “I think we should drink this before it gets warm.” She filled each of the champagne flutes and passed them to her friends. “To friends.”

  “To friends.” Bree and Reina clinked glasses and repeated her toast.

  Reina chugged her champagne and held her glass out for a refill. “Okay, let’s get started on that hair of yours, Kyra.”

  Bree broke into the sandwiches, “I’m gonna eat yours, K. Rey brought you another thermos of blood so you should be good, right?”

  “Yeah, Kyra, drink up. Liv says you’ll have a tougher time with your thirst if you are stressed out.” Reina assembled her hair and makeup products on one of the side tables. Kyra didn’t know what half of the stuff did. Would she even look like herself when Reina was done?

  “I’ve been stressed all week and I’ve done alright.” Kyra looked to Bree for confirmation but found none.

  “You’ve been downing three to four thermoses a day.” Bree bit into the sandwich.

  “What?” Kyra hadn’t remembered drinking that much blood.

  “Don’t worry about it. We don’t want you to be ripping out Bill’s throat,” Bree noted. “Though he absolutely deserves it.”

  “Hell yeah he does,” Reina chimed in. “Kyra, sit. Hair. Now.”

  Kyra sighed but settled into the chair in front of Reina. “Just keep it tasteful, will you?”

  “Of course, dah-ling,” Reina purred.

  ***

  “Alright, all set.” Reina wiped at Kyra’s chin. “You look incredible. Doesn’t she look incredible, Bree?”

  “Yep. Amazing. Stunning.” Bree was on the other side of the room adjusting her gown.

  “You didn’t even look,” Reina chided.

  Bree glanced their way, grinned, gave quick thumbs up and went back to fighting with her dress, a gorgeous royal blue floor length gown that made her look even taller than usual. She’d been struggling with tying it behind her neck for the past fifteen minutes.

  “I will help you with that if you give me a second,” Reina frowned. �
�It’s not something you are supposed to do yourself, silly.”

  Bree groaned. “I just want to be ready. The caterers will be here any minute and Kyra still isn’t dressed.”

  “Fine.” Reina stepped back and set down her makeup brush. “She’s done. Come here and I’ll fix your dress so you can handle the caterers.” She met Bree halfway across the room and adjusted the neckline of their friend’s dress.

  “Just get ready and get out there.” Bree warned them both.

  “Kyra will be out in two shakes,” Reina promised as she traced an imaginary cross over her heart.

  Bree nodded tightly, not amused, and slipped out the door to the salon leaving Kyra and Reina alone. Reina shrugged and headed for the clothing rack. “You are going to look amazing tonight.” She opened a garment bag and slid the dress out.

  Kyra gasped. “Is that even going to fit me?”

  “Of course. I know your size, silly.” Reina shook her head. “Let me help you into it.”

  “It is a lot like Bree’s,” Kyra observed as she stripped out of her clothes and shimmied into the fitted gown.

  “Yep. We are all wearing similar dresses. I thought it would make a statement. Isn’t that what we’re all about tonight?”

  Kyra watched her form fill out the dress as Reina zipped up the back and tied the slender strings around her neck to complete the silhouette. The scarlet dress hugged every curve, slimmed every bulge, and generally made her look better than she’d ever looked before. Topped off with the elaborate arrangement Reina had created with her hair and the stunning but not overdone makeup, Kyra almost didn’t recognize herself. “Wow, Rey. It’s beautiful.”

  “I know, but I had a lot to work with. You’re pretty gorgeous when you’re feeling confident.” Reina beamed. “Now get out there and get this show on the road. I’ll be out soon.”

  Kyra hugged her friend lightly. “Thanks, Rey.”

  “Anytime.” Reina nudged her back. “Now go, you should be out there working, not in here getting all sappy with me.”

  Kyra chuckled and left Reina to prep herself. It was a little difficult to walk in the dress but she learned to take shorter strides so the leg slit didn’t expose too much of her legs. She noticed Bree giving directions to the catering team.