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Darius was leaning against the door, drying his hair in a towel.
    “Ready?” He tossed the towel to Lawrence who caught it on his arm.
    I sighed. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
    “Good.”
    * * * *
    It was five in the evening when Darius honked the horn to his black Lamborghini outside the store. I’ll admit, I was a sucker for that classy car. This was the first time I’d seen him drive it, the only other time I saw it was when I stumbled upon it in his garage.
    I was busy stocking the last of the new dresses and wasn’t quite finished when he got out of the car and walked inside. Hannah, the new woman who recently replaced Annabelle, was at the counter and whistled as she watched in interest as Darius walked through the door. I grumbled in annoyance and tried to stay calm as Darius made his way toward me.
    “Lily, I have come to pick you up. Did you not notice me?” He touched my arm with his icy hands.
    I mumbled, “Oh, I noticed you. How could I not? You’re like a peacock in a pack of pigeons!”
    He was still in the outfit he had put on in the morning, the long white dress shirt, and black leather pants. His chocolate hair was a curly mass that flowed wildly down his back but still managed to have a tidy image about it. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, revealing the pale muscles of his chest. I couldn’t help myself and ran my fingers through his thick mane.
    Darius chuckled at my comment and he pulled on my arm. “If you’re finished, let’s go. I want to be home as quickly as possible.”
    “You live together?” Hannah asked, flabbergasted.
    I fumbled for the right words. “Um, uh, well, he’s my boyfriend and um, yeah, we live together.”
    Hannah gave her short brunette hair a flip and her eyes widened. “Lucky.”
    I frowned at her and turned my attention back to Darius. “Okay, Okay, I’m coming. Just let me sign out.” I hurried to the back room and scribbled my name on the time sheet pinned to the wall. Then I followed Darius out to the car and he opened the door for me.
    “I can open the door myself,” I said dryly as I swung my legs over the beige leather seat.
    He didn’t say anything, just closed the door and got into the driver’s seat quietly. When we were on the main road, I stretched my arms over my head and yawned.
    “You know I could’ve driven myself this morning. I don’t wanna be taken everywhere by you like I’m some kid.”
    He kept his focus on the road but spoke to me, “For now, this the best option, my dear. There are people after you and I am afraid of what will happen if I leave you alone.”
    I threw my hands up. “Well it’s all your fault that there are people after me! I’m sorry that you turned me into a vampire and I have these powers that everyone seems to want. Sometimes I really think I would’ve been better off if you had never turned me.”
    His mouth was rigid as he replied, “You would have died if I hadn’t turned you, my dear. Someone would have killed you. I know. You were too vulnerable as a human. Too fragile.”
    “I’m happy to see you and all but I really think that you’re too overprotective of me. Maybe I should just quit my job and sell my car. Would that make you happy?”
    “That would be wonderful but I couldn’t do that to you. You treasure your job, it gives you comfort knowing that you earn your own money, although you don’t have to since you’re with me.”
    I sighed in exasperation and crossed my arms over my chest. “But why today Darius? Why did you suddenly decide that now was the time to drive me to and from work? And what about while I’m at work? Couldn’t something happen to me while I’m at work too?” Oh, no! Me and my huge mouth!
    He paused and looked at me, concern swimming deep in his eyes in the way he stared at me. “I had a feeling that something might happen to you, that is why I decided to drive you today. And you are right, something could happen to you while you’re at work, which is why