New Page 3

"Of course. I was a very good fraternity brother," he said, his eyes laughing at her. "It's how I worked my way through college."

"I see. Okay, you can get the straight drinks and the beer. I'll handle the mixes if you don't mind. How much am I paying you?"

"Whatever you think I'm worth, and a Gray Goose with a twist for the lady." He joined her behind the bar as he spoke. Then he sent a few words to Robyna as he mixed a drink for her, before turning his attention to the crowd packing themselves around the bar.

The woman who was handling the bar was easy going, even when it got a bit hairy, Cayden saw. She flirted a bit and laughed easily with the customers. Many of them seemed to know her and teased her about being behind the bar, calling her 'Fi.' Some asked where Sal was.

"His mom's in the hospital. She's doing better but he wanted to talk to the doc. He'll be along soon," she reassured one young lady who looked wistful.

There was a ruckus near the entrance and Fi dropped what she was doing and walked over to the door. The guy causing the problem, someone very drunk, seemed to turn on a dime and walk back out into the night. Then Fi was back behind the bar. Things got a bit less crazy then, and a handsome muscular fellow walked in to a loud chorus of clapping.

"I know, I know!" Fi shouted. "I've not got the touch!"

The guy grinned and sauntered over, walking behind the bar and looking like he was in complete command. "I'm fired and replaced already?" he asked, grinning at Cayden.

Cayden grinned back. "I'd never steal someone else's gig. Wanna flip for it?"

"Get outta here the both of yous," Sal replied. "Thanks though. Fiona, what's the man drink?"

"No idea. I don't even know his name," she confessed laughing. She held out her hand. "Hi, I'm Fiona Gerard."

"Cayden Alaster," he responded, taking her hand. He felt it as soon as their hands touched, the depth of coiled power, the sharp edge of it that surrounded her. He kept all awareness from his face. "It's a pleasure to meet you. And I drink McClellan on the rocks."

"And your girl friend?" Fiona asked, as Sal was already getting the McClellan for him.

"My girl friend? Oh! Robyna. Gray Goose on the rocks with a twist.""

"Great," Sal said. "So, Fi, go put your feet up," he said as he handed the drinks to Cayden.

"Thanks. Would you like to join us?" Cayden asked. Then he groaned to himself. Man, the screeching must have really fried his synapses. What did he say that for?

"Sure, why not. We can discuss employee benefits," Fi replied as Sal handed her a mojito. "Not to mention I should apologize for monopolizing you tonight."

He glanced at Robyna. She was flirting with the two guys at the table next to her. From what he could see she hadn't noticed any monopolizing. "Sure. Right this way."

Robyna looked up as he slid a fresh drink across the table towards her. "Fiona Gerard. Robyna Santiago de Certaz."

Robyna looked from him to Fiona and back. "Nice to meet you," she said.

"Hi. Hope you didn't miss him," Fi replied, sliding into her seat.

"Never," Robyna said. "I'm just sorry you got stuck with him. Really, all he was supposed to do was get a drink and come right back."

"Behave," Cayden said.

"I'm considering offering him a job," Fi replied. "What do you think? Is he reliable? Trustworthy? A good worker? I could teach him to mix drinks."

"Somebody needs to take pity on him. The food stamps are about to run out and he's way past his WIC program eligibility, even though he doesn't act like it."

"Hey!" Cayden said, glaring at Robyna.

"Can't hold down a job, eh?" Fi asked Cayden, her head cocked to one side, fighting off a grin.

"Well, it's hard to say, since he's had so few. The last one, the place burned down, you see. And while no one knows for sure..." Robyna shrugged delicately. "But he is honest and very reliable. Well, maybe predictable is a better word. If you know what I mean."

"Oh, that is too bad. Predictable, I mean," Fi replied. "How about you, Robyna? Are you predictable?"

She studied Fiona then, sipping her drink. "No more than you are I would say."

Cayden leaned into the corner of the booth, his brows drawn tight. Girl bonding. That's all he needed. The perfect end to the perfect night.

A shadow made all of them look up. It was just Sal with three drinks. "Youse guys look way too serious." He paused, then smiled at Robyna. "Hi. I'm Sal."

"Robyna," she said, accepting the drink. "Thank you."

"Hi. Oh, I gotta get back to the bar," he muttered, looking over to see three customers waiting on him.

Fiona watched him walk away. "So, you two go to a show tonight?"

Robyna giggled, Cayden growled. "Screeching," Cayden said.

"Aida," Robyna said.

"Screeching," Cayden muttered.

Fiona grinned. "Aida is not my favorite opera either. I'm more a Gilbert and Sullivan fan myself."

"He liked the elephants. He's just not a soprano fan."

"I'm not a screeching fan," Cayden said. "And stop talking about me like I'm not here. You're already in enough trouble because I'm definitely telling dad on you when we get home."

Robyna didn't look impressed by the threat.

He turned puppy dog eyes towards Fiona. "She lied to me. She said it was a drama."

"Well, you've got to admit dying in a sealed tomb is dramatic," Fiona suggested.

"Hrmph," was his only response.

Robyna patted his hand. "Don't worry. It'll wear off."

"Is he always this grumpy?" Fiona asked.

Robyna laughed. "No, usually he isn't. But he really hates sopranos and he gave up the ballgame."

"Ah, now that makes sense to me," Fiona replied with a laugh.

Robyna laughed too as her cell phone rang. "Excuse me," said, glancing at the number. "It's Buffy," she added by way of explanation as she left the booth. "Be right back."

"She's on call tonight," Cayden said, keeping one eye on her. "Are you an opera fan?"

"No, most of the stories are way too close to home for me," she said, flushing a bit. "Big family."

"Only child myself," he said as Robyna came back. "I envy you."

"I have to go," Robyna said, reaching for her bag.

Cayden raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing major. Just that problem in the park. Looks like we got a line on it. I'll see you at the morning briefing," Robyna said. "It was a pleasure, Fiona. I hope you offer him that job. He needs a bit of responsibility to keep him off the streets and out of trouble."

"Thanks, I'll take that into consideration," Fi replied. "Nice meeting you, Robyna." Fiona watched her hurry away. "You sure you don't need to, you know, take off too?"

Cayden watched Robyna leave, moving with the breathstopping fluid grace of the vampire. Sal, from behind the bar, was watching her too. From what she'd said they'd found the rogue who was leaving drained bodies in the park. If that was the case she and Ash and Buffy could handle it, no problem. "No, otherwise she'd have said something."

"What do you do, when you aren't tending bar, that is," she asked. "If its a deep, dark secret that's okay too."

"Private security," he said. "Deep, dark secret would be a lot more exciting."

"Ah, perhaps it would. But exciting gets old sometimes." She was toying with her drink.

Cayden considered the tone, the words, and the body language. "If I were the prying sort, which I'm not, and given to guessing, which is rarely worthwhile, I'd say something leading like, 'you've had your fill of excitement', making it a neutral probe designed to elicit a confidence."

She looked up at him. "Thanks for not asking. It isn't something a rational person speaks about so it's best left alone. What game did you miss?"

"Mets at home against the Braves. Are you a baseball fan? I've been hooked since I was four years old."

"No, they didn't play baseball where I grew up. So haven't ever figured out the rules."

"Oh, it's simple," he said in a burst of little boy enthusiasm. "Want me to teach you?"

She rested her chin in her hands and smiled at him. "Really? Think you could?"

He looked offended. "Without question. I play every Sunday afternoon if you'd like references."

"Ah. Can I come and watch?"

"Absolutely. And if things go like they usually do, you'll get to play, too."

"I don't know about that," she said dubiously.

He grinned. She was going to fit right in. "You'll be just fine and it's the fastest way to learn the game."

"What time and where?"

He told her. "You won't be able to miss us. We'll be the biggest little kids there. We usually go out afterwards for beer and burgers."

"Sounds like fun. I'll be there if it is at all possible."

On impulse Cayden scrawled his number on a damp cocktail napkin. "If you can't, and you'd like to get together for a drink or something sometime, give me a call." He winked. "Or if you ever need a spare bartender."

"I'll do that. And if you need a shoulder to cry on, Sal is really good at that."

He raised an eyebrow. "Now that's a very interesting offer. I have to say I've never had an attractive woman offer me someone's shoulder to cry on. In fact, so far as I know, it never happened to any of my frat brothers. Clearly my sangfroid has slipped."

"Well, just as you aren't an ordinary guy, I'm not an ordinary gal. And I do like to be unpredictable."

He hid his surprise. She saw more than he'd thought or else he was becoming careless. He suspected it was more the former than the latter. "My kind of woman."

"Can I walk you home, or do you think you can handle it," she replied, grinning.

"Even if I can, you're welcome to walk me home if you'd like." Cayden's expression turned quizzical. "What about your bar? It's still pretty busy. Sal might need you."

She glanced over at Sal who nodded at her. "He's fine. And this way I get to put off the inevitable questions he has about Robyna. She's quite striking."

"Yes, she is." It was a part of being a vampire, the subtly enhanced beauty, the grace, and the faint aura of sensuality with its promise of unimaginable delights. Fortunately he had been around it long enough, in both men and women, to have gotten used to it.

The side of her mouth twitched up into a lopsided smile. "I see."

"I doubt it," he said. "But that's alright."

She winked, stood and held out her hand to him. "Come on, I'll see you home. I'll even make sure you get there in one piece, Mr Security."

"With you by my side, I'm sure I've nothing to fear."