Page 16 of Smolder (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 29)

“If it’s a Sunshine Murder there will barely be anything for me to do,” I said.

He studied my face, then said, “You’ll call if you need me.”

“Absolutely,” I said.

“Give me ten minutes, I’ll be out of these clothes, and I can go with you.”

“The pants are still too long for the boots,” the seamstress said as she came back into the room.

“What boots?” Edward asked suspiciously.

I didn’t even try to hide my smile, but I did add, “The boots are actually the most conservative part of the outfit, you won’t have a problem with them.”

“You’d take Ted with you, but you don’t want to leave me on my own,” Peter said.

“I really do need Ted to have his fitting. I need something about this damn wedding to go right.”

“If this is where you need me more, I’ll stay,” Edward said.

“Thank you.”

The seamstress looked at me. “The makeup artist is waiting for you with the clothes that Jean-Claude picked out for tonight.”

“Oh,” I said, “I’ll come back after the crime scene to change.”

She raised an eyebrow at me over her horn-rimmed glasses. “The makeup and hair will take some time, Ms.Blake.”

“Are you trying on your wedding dress today?” Edward asked.

“No, it’s for the date tonight. Jean-Claude wanted me to match his outfit tonight like it’s prom or something,” I said, and couldn’t hide my discomfort at having to get all dressed up.

“Nathaniel has been so excited about helping Jean-Claude put the new act together,” Peter said.

“And they’ve kept it a surprise from me, I won’t even know what color he’s wearing until I see my dress for tonight.”

“I know you have to go be a cop now, but now I want to see the date dress,” Peter said, smiling.

“I’m sorry that I have the date tonight and can’t be there to see you working out with everyone,” I said.

“We came at the last minute,” Edward said. “You can’t cancel a date night this big because our schedule opened up suddenly.”

“Mom would be wicked pissed if you canceled on her like that,” Peter said.

Edward gave a small smile. “Donna would never forgive me if she had professional hair and makeup planned, and then I canceled for less than life and death.”

“If Mom went to this much trouble for a date with you, even life and death wouldn’t be an acceptable excuse,” Peter said.

Edward grinned. “You’re right.”

“I was hoping to see you in all your finery here, since I cannot be at Guilty Pleasures tonight,” Asher said.

I looked at Asher. “You’re ringmaster at the Circus of the Damned, can’t be in two places at once, and I need you to finish your fitting as best man today, too.”

“That is why I am here,” he said.

“I also need you to be okay with Ted and Peter. I need you to not take what we just discussed and be all pissy and bitter at them. I need you to get along.”

Asher got this look on his face that I knew, so I added, “And you’re not allowed to flirt with them or be obnoxious in that way either.”

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