Chapter 8
“Friends with benefits?” Pam acted shocked to her core the day after in Nicole's office. “You slut!”
“Shut up, Pam.” Nicole threw a small paperweight off the desk at her.
“So, you're telling me that you can do the friends with benefit deal without getting your heart involved?” Pam put the paperweight back on the desk.
“Yes.” Nicole nodded shuffling papers around on her desk, not looking at Pam to give herself away. She could do this dammit. She was an adult and could have a wickedly delightful affair with one hot vampire. People did it every day all over the world, so why couldn't she, dammit.
“I call bullshit Nicole.” Pam snorted, leaning back in her chair eying Nicole, shaking her head. “You have the biggest most open heart I have ever seen. You give so much of yourself, never asking for anything. I have seen the way you look at Damon and I would bet my bony butt you are half way in love with him already.”
Her stomach felt hollow as she sat listening to Pam knowing she was right, but she could handle it. “I don't even know him that well Pam. I mean, come on, give me a break. Have you never had hot monkey sex with someone without a proposal of everlasting love, etc. etc.?”
Eyes popping wide, Pam laughed out so loud, it sounded more like a scream. Suddenly, Nicole's small office was filled with vampire as they busted into the room, guns drawn. Both women screamed, Pam falling out of her chair. After her initial shock, Nicole slapped her hand across her mouth laughing uncontrollably.
“What is it!?” Jared's eyes roamed the room, looking for trouble.
Picking herself up from the floor Pam looked at Nicole, more laughter bubbled up. “Girl talk.”
“Girl talk?” Jared shouted in disbelief. “Jesus, we thought someone was being killed. We heard a scream.”
“Actually that was me laughing.” Pam snorted. “Sorry, but it was her fault.”
Putting their weapons away Jared rolled his eyes at Damon. “Girl talk.” He turned to walk out of the room disgusted. “Next time you have a girl talk warn us if there is going to be screaming please. Scared the shit out of me.”
Damon glanced at Nicole. “You okay?” His eyes lowered half mast making him look sexy as hell.
“Dandy.” Nicole smiled, her stomach flip flopping all over the place.
He turned to leave but before he did a wicked grin tipped his lips and he left with a wink.
“Yep, you're a goner.” Pam sighed shaking her head at Nicole's dewy eyed stare following Damon out the door.
“Shut up Pam before I throw something heavier than that paperweight.”
“Where to?” Damon got behind the wheel glancing at her. He absolutely refused to step foot in her car and demanded he drive. Nicole agreed without any problems since her car was on its last wheel.
Nicole gave him the address watching him input it into his GPS wondering if Mitch would splurge for one. It sure would come in handy with all the places she had to go. Maybe she would catch him in a good mood one day. Yeah, right.
“What were you guys talking about with Mitch?” Nicole ask as he pulled onto the highway. When she had her caseload packed up she went looking for him so they could get going and found him and Jared in Mitch's office.
“Better security at your offices.” Damon checked his review mirror merging into traffic. “Even when this is over the security should be better. As many people as you piss off on a daily basis they need better security.”
Nicole rolled her eyes. “What did he say?” She didn't piss that many people off and certainly not on a daily basis.
“He agreed and is going to let our team head it up.”
Well, there went the GPS. “Do you really think that's necessary?” Since the club incident there hadn't been any attempts on her life or even a hint that anyone wanted her dead.
“Yeah, I do.” Damon eyed her. “Just because nothing has happened doesn't mean they gave up. These people don't give up, Nicole. Not by a long shot.”
“Well, aren't you Sally sunshine.” Nicole snorted. “It's the third house on the right.”
“You need to take this more serious.” Damon followed her up to the door, his gaze watching the sexy sway of her hips. Yeah, listen to who's talking. They were talking about her life and he couldn't take his eyes off her curvy ass.
“I am taking it seriously. I just don't like having my life dictated to me.” Knocking on the door Nicole peeked back catching him looking not at her face. Heat flared through her body. She had never experienced a man like Damon paying attention to her in any way, let alone checking out her ass and damn, wasn't that a turn on.
His eyes rising to hers he stepped up onto the porch beside her. “Better dictated to than dead.”
Before she could respond the door swung open showing a six year old vampire jumping up and down clapping his hands. “Nicki...Nicki....” He shouted, laughing in delight tiny fangs dipping below his upper lip.
“Hey there Munchkin.” Nicole tapped him on the nose. “Where's your mom and dad?”
“Goodness Austin.” His mom came up smiling. “Calm down and let them in.”
Austin took off running around the house calling Nicole's name sending the dog running for cover.
“Well, he sure looks happy Betty.” Nicole chuckled as she stepped inside, Damon close on her heels.
“We all are, thanks to you.” Betty Rawlins smiled, her eyes bright with tears.
Uncomfortable with the praise she turned to Damon. “Betty, this is Damon DeMaster's. He's helping out on some of our cases so he's riding along with me today.”
Damon stuck out his hand and took Betty's hand in a gentle grasp. “It's nice to meet you Ma'am.” Damon smiled stepping back.
“Lord, call me Betty.” She giggled blushing. “Look at me keeping you all standing in the doorway. Come in and have a seat.”
Nicole grinned knowing Damon probably had that effect on all the women he came in contact with. He sure had with her and still did. “So how are things going, Betty?” Nicole looked around with a keen eye seeing a well kept home. Nothing raised red flags. Austin was now chasing the dog around.
“They couldn't be better Nicole.” Betty lead them to the kitchen table where they all three sat down. “Greg got the promotion at work he has been working so hard for and I gave my two weeks notice so I could spend more time with Austin. They didn't have any part-time work, so I already have a job set up that will allow me to be home when Austin is out of school.”
Nicole had pulled their file from her briefcase setting it on the table. “That's wonderful Betty. How is Austin adjusting to school?” Nicole wrote a few notes.
“Like a fish to water. He gets along well with the other kids and is doing good in his school work. The teacher has nothing but good to say about him.” Betty beamed like a proud parent.
Nicole made a few more notes then turned looking for Austin. “Hey Munchkin, want to take me to check out your room?”
Austin jumped from where he was playing with the dog. “Yep.” He ran over grabbing her hand pulling her along behind him, talking a mile a minute.
“He sure loves Nicole.” Betty smiled watching them disappear into his room. “We owe her so much.”
Damon also watched them disappear before turning his attention back to the woman seated across from him. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, but first would you like something to drink?” Betty offered.
“No thank you. I'm fine.” He smiled. “My question is a little personal, so if you don't want to answer that's fine.”
“Mr. DeMaster's....”
“Damon.”
She blushed again. “Damon, my husband and I have been asked so many personal questions since we decided to adopt that I seriously doubt you've come up with one we haven't heard.”
“Yes, I guess you have, especially if Nicole has been on your case from the beginning.” Damon chuckled.
“I see you know her well. Yes, she has been our case manager from the beginning and it has been a pleasure.” Betty chuckled. “I remember once having to call her at three in the morning because Austin was throwing up constantly and we didn't know what was wrong. I mean all kids get sick, but we didn't have any understanding about vampire children. We didn't think they could or would get sick. Nicole came right over and sat up with us until he was feeling better. We still don't know what it was, but she thought it could have been a side effect from being turned.”
“That could be, but the truth of it is, this is even new to us. I have lived a long time and have only now been around vampire children since we cannot have them, they can only be turned.” Damon glanced back toward the room Nicole had disappeared into. “What made you decide to adopt a vampire child?”
“To be honest we were against it.” Betty glanced up at him hesitant. “I mean who in their right might would want to adopt a child who would always be six years old. A year ago your kind didn't exist to us. When we first met with Nicole we never dreamed of adopting a vampire and she didn't ask. Instead she gave us files on children she felt would fit well with us. Little did we know there were human and vampire children in the files she gave us. We picked two we wanted to meet with and Austin was one of them. As soon as I laid eyes on him I was in love and so was my husband.”
“And when you found out he was a vampire?” Damon asked beyond curious.
Betty shrugged her shoulders and smiled with love. “It didn't matter. I saw him playing in a room full of kids, he looked up and came walking over to me and my husband. As big as you please he grinned the biggest grin I had ever seen showing his little fangs, grabbed my hand and said, 'I'm Austin. You want to see my toys?' and that was it for me.”
He could hear Nicole's husky laughter coming from Austin's room. “It seems he is very lucky to have found someone like you and your husband.”
“We're the lucky ones.” Betty glanced back at the room hearing more giggling. “Nicole has set us up with someone to help us understand more about your race and we have learned so much. I now understand that even though Austin will always look six years old, his mentality will mature as he ages. It is just so cruel for someone to do something like this to a child.”
Damon nodded and stood when Austin and Nicole came back. “Well Betty, everything looks great here and this little guy is a joy.” Nicole gave Austin a high five. “I think we can go to yearly visits from here on out. If you need anything at all you have all my numbers so don't hesitate to call.” Nicole wrapped up her paperwork and put it away.
“We will never be able to thank you, Nicole.” Betty walked over to her when she stood and hugged her warmly.
“Just seeing that little guy happy is enough.” Nicole picked up her brief case. “Also don't forget to report any unusual activity, such as anyone contacting you about Austin that is not from my office.”
“I won't forget.” Betty frowned. “That is so awful what people are doing. Using these poor children for their blood just to get a high. Sickening.”
“Yes it is.” Nicole nodded. “So call me if anyone ever approaches you.”
“Better yet.” Damon pulled a card out of his back pocket. “Reach someone at this number. Tell them my name and tell them I told you to call.”
Betty took the card missing Nicole's frown. “I will. Anything to help stop the sickening abuse.”
Damon hadn't missed Nicole's frown. After they said their goodbyes they headed out to the next appointment. Even knowing he was going to catch hell he couldn't help the admiration he had for her. For someone to care so much about another was rare. For someone to care about a race so different from their own was almost nonexistent, at least in his world.