Dead End Dating - Sucker for Love Part 1

Dead End Dating.

Sucker for Love.

Kimberly Raye.

For my ultra-fab editor, Kate Collins, for your encouragement, support, and enthusiasm.

I feel truly blessed to have you!

Acknowledgments

Writing is a tough business. Sometimes I want to pull out my hair. Sometimes I want to scream. And sometimes I even want to whip out the Cla.s.sifieds, put an end to my misery, and get a real job. The thing is, I love writing and, really, it's just too cool!

So to those key people who keep me plotting my life away (instead of banging out burgers at the local McDonald's), I want to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

My agent, Natasha Kern-what would I do without you?

My writing BFFs Nina Bangs and Gerry Bartlett-you guys rock.

My own megalicious hottie, Curt Groff-you give good reality check.

The wonderful staff at Ballantine Books-I owe you guys big-time.

And to all of the readers who've fallen in love with Lil as much as I have-I truly couldn't do this without you!

Are you tired of nursing down that bottle of O+ all by your lonesome? Did you spend the last full moon drinking Cosmos and l.u.s.ting over the American Kennel Club finals? Do you spend every evening scarfing a Hungry Man (or woman) and watching TiVo?

If your first reaction was Uh-oh or How'd she know that? to any of the above, then you are cordially invited to a meet and greet dinner party, hosted by Dead End Dating, Manhattan's number one matchmaking service for vampires, humans and Others. Join fantabulous host (and incredibly well-dressed vampire) Lil Marchette for a night of dinner and dancing and romance in the penthouse of the Waldorf Astoria.

Disclaimer-DED is an equal opportunity dating service that does not discriminate based on race, s.e.x, looks (or lack of) or appet.i.te. Net worth, however, is an entirely different matter-i.e., don't forget the checkbook, debit card and/or Visa Gold.

I propped up the framed copy of the engraved vellum invitation I'd mailed out to every appropriate single in Manhattan and tried to calm the b.u.t.terflies in my stomach.

I'm the Countess Lilliana Arrabella Guinevere du Marchette (Lil for short), a five -hundred-year-old (and holding) born vampire. I've got super-fab taste in clothes, a to-die-for collection of MAC cosmetics and a hot, hunky, bounty-hunting boyfriend.

I so had it going on.

Ix-nay the nerves, right?

Wrong.

I'm also the owner of Dead End Dating, Manhattan's primo matchmaking service for vampires, weres, Others and even the occasional human. As of five minutes ago, I had exactly one week to match up over a dozen paid-in-full clients, otherwise I failed to make good on my Find-your-one-and-only-in-six-months-or-get-your-money-back! guarantee.

Since I didn't do refunds (not unless I wanted to return half my wardrobe and say bye-bye to my new iPhone), I had to pick up the pace. p.r.o.nto.

Hence, my latest super-fantabulous brainstorm- the meet and greet dinner party about to happen right here. Right now.

I drew a deep breath (not because I had to, but, hey, when in Rome ...), straightened my green Roberto Cavalli dress (a floor- length, strappy chiffon number a la Rihanna) and finished setting up the hostess table. I added DED business cards, name tags, promotional pens, koozies and calendars, even a few pics and testimonials from previous clients. I sprinkled some rose petals and debated whether or not to hand out the v.i.a.g.r.a samples in my bag or just spike the drinks when no one was looking.

I knew none of the born vamps in attendance would need a little p.e.n.i.s pick-me-up (our entire existence revolved around s.e.x- we were conceived via the nasty, we stopped aging when we lost our virginity, we chose an eternity mate based on o.r.g.a.s.m quotients and fertility ratings), but what about the dozens of Others out there? FYI: While I 'd been spreading the love to the wealthy and weird for several months now, I'd led a very pampered, sheltered, elitist existence in all the 499 plus years before then (emphasis on elitist). In other words, I wasn't exactly Dr. Drew when it came to mating habits of the various species.

The only thing I did know for sure? The hornier the clients, the lower the standards, the sooner everyone paired up.

I eyeballed the bag a split second before stas.h.i.+ng it, complete with samples, under the table. What? So I'm a romantic. I freely admit it (to anyone except my ma, that is). "Help!"

The frantic voice drew my attention and I turned just as a frustrated blonde rushed up to me.

Evie Dalton could man the phones, key in profiles, text multiple clients and suck down a steaming latte-all without smudging her lip gloss. She was the best a.s.sistant a vampire could ask for. She was also human, and completely unaware of my fanged and fabulous status.

The 411 on tonight?

She thought it was just another movie theme party. Like the toga fever sp.a.w.ned by Animal House and the fifties sock hops a la Grease. Tonight's brain candy? Contemporary monster mania courtesy of the barrage of recent horror movies such as 30 Days of Night and The Mist.

In honor of the occasion, she'd donned a silver jacket with eight sparkly "legs," a sequined mini-smock dress and three-inch glitter sandals. She looked like Spidey's wet dream. So good in fact that, with the exception of a fading bruise on her neck and some seriously rank breath, it was impossible to tell that just two short weeks ago she 'd been possessed by a demon. And that she'd come this close to heading downtown (way, way down) to become Satan's own personal bee-yotch.

I'd been so busy hiding her from the long arm of the Prince brothers (a hot, hunky trio of demon hunters who just so happened to be demons themselves) that I'd sort of let the rest of my work pile up.

The demon was now back in h.e.l.l, the Prince brothers were back to making women drool and rounding up h.e.l.l's Most Wanted, Evie was back in the office (and munching Tic Tacs) and I was making up for lost time.

"Say cheese." She snapped several pics with her digital camera before handing me a clipboard and a copy of the invitation. "I need you to take these and brief Nina while I get them to relocate the flambe table ASAP. The fangs on the ice sculpture are melting. Thankfully I got a picture for our brochure before they completely dissolved."

Evie had decided that free donuts and coffee weren't enough. We needed a high quality, full color brochure to pimp our services. She'd found a rock-bottom price (courtesy of her computer savvy/s.e.xual deviant cousin-think small furry animals) and I'd jumped at the idea.

"Now," she declared, turning and glancing around the crowded foyer. "Where the h.e.l.l is that catering manager?"

"Why not just hike the air-conditioning down?" I suggested.

"Won't the guests be cold?"

"They'll be more inclined to pair up and snuggle."

She grinned. "I knew there was a reason you were the boss." She handed me a small box with a corsage. "Make sure Nina puts this on, too. If you can find her. One minute she was at the bar sucking down a b.l.o.o.d.y Mary and the next-poof-gone.

Vanished into thin air."

Or the nearest storage closet.

"I knew it," I declared when I threw open a nearby door to find the MIA Nina.

Nina Lancaster-aka Nina One, the blond half of The Ninas, who'd been my best friends since birth-was the daughter of filthy rich hotelier Victor Lancaster, who owned the Waldorf along with several five star establishments throughout New York and Paris. Nina was rich, beautiful (big surprise, right?) and living with my middle brother, Rob. They'd been seeing each other since I'd hooked them up a few months ago. Judging by the spaghetti straps that sagged near her elbows and my brother's untucked b.u.t.ton- down s.h.i.+rt, they'd been about to see a lot more of each other in the next five minutes. I glanced at Rob. His eyes were glazed and hooded. His fangs gleamed. A hungry growl vibrated the air.

Okay, make that the next five seconds.

Anxiety rushed through me. "Can you please boff my brother on your own time?"

"I'm not boffing him." She grinned and tugged her straps back into place. "Not yet." She touched a hand to her mussed hair.

"Besides, this isn't your time. I donated the ballroom, so that makes it my time."

She had a point.

I traded in p.i.s.sed-off client for desperately needy friend. "But I need you to screen guests at the entrance."

"Get Evie to do it," she said as Rob leaned in to nibble at her neck.

"I'm sending her back to the office on a 'dating emergency.' I want her out of here before the party's in full swing." Which was why I'd purposely scheduled a new client this evening. My plan? To pretend I 'd forgotten the newbie. I would then beg Evie to handle the profile meeting while I stayed and captured pics for the infamous brochure. "She's the best a.s.sistant in the world. I can't have her wind up as some vampire's s.e.x slave, or the midnight snack for a hungry werewolf."

Or worse, realize that the fangs I was sporting were the real deal. I wasn 't ready to break the born vamp's number one commandment-Thou Shalt Keep a Low Profile-and come out of the closet to Evie. My mother would kill me. Even worse, I wasn't sure if Evie was ready to work for a vamp. So far, she'd been wonderful. But it was a lot to swallow and I just wasn't sure whether she'd take me out for chocolate martinis to celebrate or call in the rowdy villagers. I hadn 't gone into mega credit card debt decorating my office to have the whole thing wind up torched.

Rob kept nibbling and Nina all but swooned.

"h.e.l.lo? Did you hear a word I said? I've got a no-human policy happening here."

"You're talking," Rob murmured, "but there's nothing coming out."

I leaned in and pinched my brother. He paused to glare and I appealed to Nina again. "Evie won't be here. She can't be. You have to do it."

"Who says?" she asked as Rob resumed his nibbling.

"Your best friend in the entire universe." I gave her a knowing smile. "We're practically sisters. You know you'd do anything to help me."

"Which is why I loaned you the ballroom for free."

"And I totally appreciate it, but I still need this one teensy, tiny favor."

"Tonight's my night off." In addition to being Daddy's Little Vamp, Nina was also the hotel's chief hostess. "I just showed up to tell you to make sure that n.o.body gets blood on the white settees. Daddy will kill me."

"I'm willing to beg."

"I'm a born vampire. We're not genetically wired for sympathy."

"Are we genetically wired for greed? Because I'm willing to pay."

She grinned and shooed away Rob's hands. "What'd you have in mind?"

I did a mental of my most recent purchases, singling out the key items that I knew would melt her hard-a.s.s resolve. "Ferragamo sungla.s.ses?"

"I've got three pairs."

"Michael Kors bangle bracelets?"

"Got 'em."

"Hermes lipstick compact."

She shook her head. "There's no such thing."

"If you think so." I shrugged a shoulder. "But I just happen to have one from the insanely small, limited edition collection purchased by a select few clients who have the right connections. " In this case, a bis.e.xual sales a.s.sistant at Barneys who I 'd glammed ages ago. I'd been scamming primo purchases ever since. "But if you're not interested-"

"Okay, okay. I'm going." She gave Rob an apologetic smile. "Sorry, babe. What can I say? I'm shallow."

He grinned and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. "Just one of the many things I love about you."

Awwww...

My heart swelled for about an eighth of a second before I remembered who was actually in the closet with Nina.

My very own flesh-and-blood brother.

Middle-born son of Countess Jacqueline and Count Pierre Gustavo Marchette of the French Dourdou Valley.

Descendant of one of the first (and snottiest) born vamp families in existence.

Propagator of the species and all-around playa playa.

And he'd just used the L word.

Shut. Up.

Before I could find my voice, Nina grabbed my hand and hauled me off toward the entrance to the ballroom. "What color?"

Rob. Nina. Love? "What color what?"

"The lipstick case." She nudged me, shattering my thoughts. "What color is it?"

I shook away my sudden excitement and focused on the here and now. "Hot pink with rhinestones and Swarovski crystals."

"No way."

"And there's even a tiny diamond inlay on the inside mirror near the Hermes logo."

She squealed and s.n.a.t.c.hed the corsage from my hands. A few seconds later, she had a single red rose pinned on the bodice of her Carolina Herrera original and the clipboard in hand. "I'm armed and ready. What do you want me to do?"

"Just greet everyone and check invitations. No one gets inside without one."

"What if he's cute?" "It doesn't matter. No invitation, no party."

"Well dressed?"